‘Gentle martial art’

Published July 6th, 2008

By Dale M. King
CITY EDITOR

When Norman Gardner of Boca Raton saw the film, “The Bucket List,” it made an impression on him.

The film is about two elder gents who want to try things they’ve never done before they “kick the bucket.”

“When I turned 80 last month, I decided to finally pursue an unfulfilled goal I have had for many years,” Gardner told the Boca Raton News.

“Before I kick the bucket, I would like to earn a black belt in the Japanese art of
Aikido, the newest and most unusual of all the martial arts,” he said. “This is the impressive self-defense technique that made the movie actor, Steven Seagal, world famous.”

Gardner found that he only had to walk down the street from his home on SE Mizner Boulevard to find a studio that teaches Aikido.

“As luck would have it, I found one of the best Aikido schools in all of Florida right here in Boca Raton, just a few blocks from my home.”

Certified Instructor

He said the school is run by Richard Ciriello, a third-degree black belt and certified Birankai instructor. “He currently holds the rank of Sandan - Fukushidoin and studied under the grandson of the original founder of Aikido, O’Sensei Morihei Ueshiba.”

Ciriello, called “Sensei Richie cordially welcomed my interest despite my advanced age,” said Gardner. “He even invited me to take a few
classes at no charge to see if it was something I could physically handle.”

Actually, there are few things Gardner hasn’t tried.  He was a stockbroker, college professor at an art school and real estate agent.  He is certified as an instrument-rated pilot. And in his retirement, he does wood sculpting and carpentry.

“I have a background of regular exercising, and having tried Karate, Tai Kwan Do and Krav Maga in the past, I knew this would be no problem for me.” But Gardner said he is still glad that Ciriello’s dojo is equipped with heavy foam tatami mats. He does rolls and falls perhaps two or three dozen times a class.

And he doesn’t want to lament that he’s “fallen and can’t get up.”

“The classes far exceeded my fondest expectations,” Gardner said. “Aikido differs from all other martial arts in that there is no violent punching, kicking or wrestling involved. Neither are there competitive tournaments to contend with.”

“That’s why it’s been called the gentle martial art -- more like a sophisticated combination of yoga, ballet and stretch class. That’s also why there are as many
women taking the class as there are men.”

Better Workout

He said he’s now into his second month of classes going three times a week. “I come home after each one-hour session with a better workout than any health club exercise class I’ve ever attended.”

Gardner said his wife, Katy, tried it, but had to stop because of a shoulder injury.

The couple will visit the nine grandchildren this summer.  But Gardner is looking to return and resume his classes.

He said one of the Aikido techniques is so intricate it takes 20 years to master.

“That challenge in itself gives me the inspiration to see if I can make it to 100,” he said. “And who knows, maybe even a little beyond.”