Training in aikido has helped this Malaysian stay safe, happy and healthy

Raja Sazita started her aikido training more than 20 years ago and over the years has progressed to be a 4th dan black belt exponent. Aikido, she says, is a good sport for women of any age. — Photo: LOW LAY PHON/The Star

It was early in her aikido journey that Raja Sazita Raja Siffudin realised just how practical (and effective) the martial art is as a tool for self-defence.

She was out with her friends when a young man “tried to be funny” – he wrapped his arm around her and got too close for comfort and Raja Sazita wasn’t having any of that.

Without anyone else realising, she executed one of the locking techniques she’d learnt in aikido on the unsuspecting boy, leaving him temporarily in pain and allowing her to extricate herself from his advances. She moved as far away from him as possible and continued to enjoy her night.

“I was then that I realised just how powerful aikido is. I didn’t need to be aggressive or to cause a commotion, but I could still fend him off and control the situation. That is the beauty of this martial art.” she says.

It has been 21 years since Raja Sazita, now 55, started training in aikido. She is now a 4th dan black belt exponent and is the honorary secretary of the Malaysian Aikido Association (MAA).

Raja Sazita has been an aikido practitioner for over 20 years. - LOW LAY PHON/The Star

“I started aikido in 2002. Actually it was my younger sister who introduced it to me. She started aikido first and then persuaded me and some family members to join her. So we did but now, I’m the only one still doing it,” says Raja Sazita.

“I enrolled with an open mind. I’d never done any martial arts before so I went in with no expectations, like a blank sheet of paper, and I absorbed everything I learnt. And I liked it. Not only is it a good workout – you really sweat – but it has also taught me humility, focus and mutual respect.

“In aikido, we have to work with our partners and take care of each other. Aikido is not a competitive sport – that’s one reason why it’s less known. It focuses on self-development and inner growth and unlike many other martial arts, it is collaborative.

“We can’t do it alone but need to work with a partner and from there, we learn to take care of each other in order to progress. This, I feel, teaches values and it has helped build my character,” she says, adding that Hollywood actor Steven Seagal has a black belt in aikido and uses some of the martial arts techniques in his fight films.

Although she got into aikido because it was a good, healthy activity to be immersed in, she gradually began to appreciate the value the martial art has brought into her life and the sense of community – not individuality – it promotes.

“Firstly, it’s a good, healthy activity. You sweat and the environment is good. I work out with a good group and I have a good sensei. And without even realising it, I have been practising aikido for over 20 years and am a sensei myself with responsibilities in the Aikido Association.

"I never thought that ‘Oh, I want to be a sensei one day’ or anything like that because it is a huge responsibility – you have to be an example to your students and the juniors. But I went with the flow and as I kept upgrading myself, I found myself progressing to this rank. Aikido has become my routine and I am now responsible for promoting the art,” says Raja Sazita, who works as head of corporate communications for a telecommunications services company based in Bangi.

Raja Sazita during an Bokken training during sun rise during a two-day day camp recently. - Photo: RAJA SAZITA SIFFUDIN

All about harmony

Aikido, the Japanese martial art founded by Morihei Ueshiba in 1930s, is loosely translated to “the way of the harmonious spirit”. It is often referred to as an alternative to more aggressive martial arts like karate. Aikido is about defence, using throws and joint locks to deflect an attacker’s attacks but in a way that does minimal harm.

In fact, says Raja Sazita, most times only the attacker is aware of the moves that are being executed against them, not onlookers.

Though there are ranks of skills and practitioners go through assessments, aikido is not competitive. What this means is that there are no winners or losers in aikido but practitioners who help each other with the common goal of self-improvement.

Raja Sazita says that the rules and rituals in aikido training is important in instilling discipline in practitioners. — Photos: LOW LAY PHON/The Star

“In fact, aikido teaches us patience, not brute force. And a lot of what we learn we can practise in our day-to-day living. For example, we learn how to accommodate to a particular situation – if a technique we use doesn’t work, we are taught to think of something else. There isn’t just one way to confront an attack. This can be practised in our daily life; how we think of other constructive solutions when faced with challenges,” she says.

“Once you step on the mats, you have to focus or you will not be able to follow the (training) sessions. So once I am there, I leave everything behind ... what happens at work, home or anywhere else is out of my mind. And that’s a very important skill to master,” she says.

“Above all, in aikido, collaborative solutions trump aggression,” she adds.

Consistent training is important. Raja Sazita trains twice weekly and makes it a point to train consistently.

“Consistency is important. I used to train three times a week but now, I go on Tuesdays and Saturdays for an hour and a half. I train under my sensei and sometimes, I take over the class if he is not around,” she says.

“Aikido has definitely built my confidence, without me even realising it. There are ethics involved ... like how we have to bow when we enter the dojo and before we start. All these are ethics of the martial arts that teach us respect and discipline, check our ego and become a part of us. It teaches us to respect our seniors and take care of our juniors which are all principles that promote a healthy environment that we can carry with us in life,” she says.

In the past two decades, Raja Sazita has had the opportunity to travel to international Aikido Federation meets every four years where she attended classes by world masters. She also makes it a point to attend every class at these meets. She’s been to meets in Japan and Australia, among others.

Not only is it a healthy activity, Raja Sazita says she enjoys the camaraderie among her training buddies. - Photo: RAJA SAZITA SIFFUDIN

A good sport for women

Although there aren’t as many women as men in the aikido circles in Malaysia and worldwide, it is an excellent activity and practice for women, says Raja Sazita.

“At the moment, in Malaysia, there aren’t many women in aikido. It’s male-dominated. But it’s really good for women. For one, it’s not competitive so there is less stress and you can concentrate on your own growth.

"The martial art itself is all about directing our energy (in the movements) and not so much about physical strength. And so, while women are generally not as physically strong as men, this disparity is not a barrier in aikido,” she explains, adding that on the mats, women and men train together.

“I hope that more women will join aikido. It’s not just a good form of exercise but also self-defence,” she adds.

Given her age, Raja Sazita says there are physiological changes that are sometimes apparent when she trains, but they don’t hamper her from continuing (and progressing) in her aikido training.

“In Japan, you see many aikido practitioners who are in their 70s. Age is not an issue at all and you can even start later in life; how you progress depends on how you train,” she says.

In Malaysia, aikido practitioners’ age under the association ranges from six to 68.

For the mother of one – her daughter is currently in Australia – age is definitely not a barrier. She not only practises aikido but also other martial arts such as the Chinese wing chun (under the same sensei) and Filipino art of kali. She also cycles and goes deep-sea diving.

“To me, knowledge is never wasted. And different discipline focuses on different things and so I keep learning new things and new ways. These knowledge make be better, so why not?” she says.