From Death's Door To Japan's Embrace: One Man's Journey Into Aikido

Stephen Ohlman is a fascinating man. At six weeks old he was diagnosed with meningitis. The doctors gave his mother two dreadful options -- euthanasia by morphine or a Lumbar Puncture that would leave him 70% retarded. She chose the Puncture, which was a qualified success. Stephen had severe problems with equilibrium that left him isolated on the sidelines for most of his childhood. His journey through the martial arts -- particularly Aikido -- enabled him to overcome his disability and to attain a peak form of physical conditioning and performance that would rival an Olympic athlete. Indeed, he became an internationally recognized Aikido master. His extraordinary story is an inspiration for anyone. Far more than a system of self-defense, Aikido has the power to position the mind-body axis toward an apogee of spiritual and physical health.

(PRWEB) November 4, 2004 -- How does a Canadian from North Bay, Ontario, end up in Japan studying one of the most unique martial arts known to man?

The roots of that answer go back some thirty-seven years to when Stephen Ohlman was six weeks old and diagnosed with meningitis. Stephens mother was presented with two impossible options: allow the doctors to give her newborn a numbing amount of morphine and watch him slowly leave the earth, or perform a Lumbar puncture that was guaranteed to leave her son 70% retarded. Mrs. Ohlman chose the puncture - Stephen was her son, in any form he came.

The procedure was a success. Stephen survived. He did not suffer any retardation. The only negative aspect of this procedure was that it upset his equilibrium. A simple somersault could cause Stephen to convulse and be rushed to the hospital. He spent many years watching his older brothers play hockey, while he was forced to live like a boy in a glass house.

By the age of twelve Stephen had become fascinated with the martial arts, partly due to the on-screen charisma of Bruce Lee, Chuck Norris, and Jackie Chan. North Bay, however, was not the melting pot of martial arts masters. And Stephen was both too young and fragile to study Karate. He settled for Judo.

But how does a boy with an equilibrium problem study a martial art designed to throw the body in all directions? The secret, Stephen would learn from a caine-assisted middle-aged master, rested in how one rolled and fell. Imagine twelve years of concern and trepidation disappearing with one simple lesson.

In the years that followed, Stephen learned many more ways to counter his childhood condition, finally overcoming the ordeal altogether. He would become a 2nd degree black belt in Karate and a brown belt in Judo. He would open his own dojo and continue to pass on his knowledge.

Then, one day, fate intervened. Stephen was a spectator at an Aikido exhibition. The fluid, almost effortless movements of the Aikido masters fascinated and mystified the young martial artist. He had to learn more.

Aikidos origin dates back to the days of the samurai. It was a valuable study that taught an unarmed man how to face an armored, sword-wielding opponent and defeat him. For hundreds of years it remained a system imparted to a select few. In 1927, one man would change all that. Morihei Ueshiba, a deeply spiritual human being and highly skilled martial artist, began to refine these methods, combining jujutsu, fencing, and spear fighting. It was Morihei Ueshiba who would name these methods Aikido and transform this martial art into spiritual lifestyle that would be embraced by men, women and children around the world. At its core, Aikido is about harmony. It is primarily a defensive art that utilizes your opponents own anger and energy against him. The idea, when possible, is never to truly harm your attacker, but subdue him - in essence, creating harmony between you and him.

Aikido is a martial art that can be practiced by people of all ages and used as a form of physical fitness. It is also beneficial for people with physical conditions, particularly certain kinds of arthritis. It can provide a path to discipline and self confidence. It can benefit children with mild attention disorders. It is an effective form of self defense, ideal for women since it requires finess, not brute strength. Yet the personal,intangible benefits that one receives when studying Aikido over many years are its true gift .

Stephen Olhman spent six years in Japan intensively studying this beautiful art and rose through the ranks to become a respected member of the Aikido community and an international authority on Yoshinkan Aikido. He was appointed to the title of teacher by Tsuneo Ando Sensei, one of the highest level masters of Yoshikan Aikido, and became Chief Instructor of Maihama Dojo in Chiba, Japan [1997-2000. He held a position as Senior Apprentice and main demonstration partner to Master Ando from 1996-2001. Stephen was the Keynote Demonstrator at the Meikai University Cultural Festival in Urasasu, Chiba, Japan in 2000. He has appeared several times as a technical model in the Japanese martial arts magazine Hi-Den [1998-2000. He is currently a 5th dan and the highest ranked teacher of Yoshinkan Aikido in Central and Northern Ontario. Stephen is highly skilled at wielding the Japanese sword. He is also an adept practitioner of both the Japanese short staff, and the Japanese knife. He teaches Aikido 6 days a week from his dojo in Barrie, Ontario.

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