Patricia Hendricks Demo: A Case Study in Collaboration

On July 15th and 16th, Aikido Journal invited Patricia Hendricks Shihan (7th dan) down to Ikazuchi Dojo for an interview and video shoot. We used a small part of the action footage we recorded to put together this video. This 3-minute demo showcases Hendricks Sensei’s aikido in 4K HD video and incorporates an original score composed by Roy Dean. We recommend watching the video full screen with audio on your device.

A Case Study in Collaboration

In our interview with Pat Hendricks Sensei, she noted that emerging leaders in the aikido world will be well-served by developing an understanding of everyone’s talents, abilities, and martial styles. She encouraged us to cultivate appreciation and respect for the path of others and to prioritize bringing people together to form strong community.

We hope the creation of this video demonstrates putting that advice into action. Aikido Journal brought together a diverse team to work on this project that was able to produce a showcase video of Hendricks Sensei over a very short time horizon.

We filmed the demo at Ikazuchi Dojo, a school that doesn’t practice Iwama style aikido.

One of the signature weapons in the demo, a razor sharp black kukri machete, was provided by Mark Cheng, a Kali instructor under Dan Inosanto.

The video was filmed and edited, by Roy Dean, a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Professor. He also wrote and recorded the musical score for the video.

The event was organized and photographed by Anne Lee, a yoga instructor, who is not an active aikido practitioner.

Within 10 days of Hendricks Sensei’s visit, the team was able to review 90-minutes of action footage from multiple camera angles, compose music, edit the video, and package it for release.

We hope you enjoy the video. We think this is a demonstration the entire aikido community can be proud of. Hendricks Sensei’s technical execution is spectacular and serves as an exemplary showcase of Iwama aikido. We’ve included a few photos below from shoot day.

Photo Journal

Upcoming Content

We look forward to releasing more content with Hendricks Sensei in the near future. She is a world-class technician and has great wisdom and insights to share. We will soon begin releasing interview videos, more photos, and potentially more action / demo footage. Some of the discussion topics we covered in our interview with Hendricks Sensei include:

Her early training days in Monterey with Stanley Pranin and the birth of Aikido Journal (including a story about a dojo hot tub!)

Advice for emerging leaders in the aikido world.

Thoughts about developing, supporting, and elevating women practitioners, instructors, and leaders in the aikido world.

Taking Classes from Kohai: Hendricks Sensei is known for participating in classes led by lower-ranked instructors. We talk with her about her thinking and motivation behind this somewhat unorthodox approach.

Uchi-Deshi Programs: How to run a relevant and successful uchi-deshi program and what a student who commits to a program can expect.

The greatest challenge facing the next generation of leaders in the aikido world.

Thank you for being part of the community. We sincerely appreciate your support and enthusiasm.