André Nocquet
Encyclopedia
André Nocquet was a French
aikido
teacher holding the rank of 8th dan
. He was one of the very earliest non-Japanese to practice the art.
as a young man. He began the practice of Jujutsu
in 1937 with Israeli professor Moshé Feldenkrais
. Later Mikonosuke Kawaishi
came to Feldenkrais's dojo
to teach and Nocquet became Kawaishi’s 17th student.
to travel to Japan to see Morihei Ueshiba
and study at the Aikikai Hombu Dojo. Nocquet stayed for nearly three years (1955-57), living in the dojo
; he was one of only two non-Japanese to enjoy this privilege during that early era, the other being subsequently Terry Dobson
. This was a difficult time for him as a westerner as there were virtually no other non-Japanese
practicing aikido at the time.
During Nocquet's initial time at Hombu, he was the only uchi-deshi
. Later Nobuyoshi Tamura
and Masamichi Noro
took up residence there. Nocquet and Tamura, both of whom held the rank of first dan at the time, trained extensively together.
He returned to France
in the summer of 1958. He practiced alongside Tadashi Abe
when the latter came to France. In 1959-1960 Abe returned to Japan
, leaving Nocquet to teach aikido in France.
Nocquet founded the Groupe Historique Aikido André Nocquet (GHAAN) in 1988 within the Fédération Française d'Aïkido et Budo (FFAB) headed by Tamura Sensei. This structure gave him the possibility to teach autonomously while participating in the technical organization of the FFAB. After his passing, Nocquet left the technical direction of his group to his four most advanced students (sixth dan) Jo Cardot †, Claude Gentil, Claude Cébille and Hervé Dizien.
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
aikido
Aikido
is a Japanese martial art developed by Morihei Ueshiba as a synthesis of his martial studies, philosophy, and religious beliefs. Aikido is often translated as "the Way of unifying life energy" or as "the Way of harmonious spirit." Ueshiba's goal was to create an art that practitioners could use to...
teacher holding the rank of 8th dan
Dan rank
The ranking system is a Japanese mark of level, which is used in modern fine arts and martial arts. Originally invented in a Go school in the Edo period, this system was applied to martial arts by Kanō Jigorō, the founder of judo and later introduced to other East Asia countries.In the modern...
. He was one of the very earliest non-Japanese to practice the art.
Early life
Nocquet studied Greco-Roman wrestlingGreco-Roman wrestling
Greco-Roman wrestling is a style of wrestling that is practised worldwide. It was contested at the first modern Olympic Games in 1896 and has been included in every edition of the summer Olympics held since 1908. Two wrestlers are scored for their performance in three two-minute periods, which can...
as a young man. He began the practice of Jujutsu
Jujutsu
Jujutsu , also known as jujitsu, ju-jitsu, or Japanese jiu-jitsu, is a Japanese martial art and a method of close combat for defeating an armed and armored opponent in which one uses no weapon, or only a short weapon....
in 1937 with Israeli professor Moshé Feldenkrais
Moshé Feldenkrais
Moshé Pinchas Feldenkrais was an Israeli physicist and the founder of the Feldenkrais Method, designed to improve human functioning by increasing self-awareness through movement.-Biography:...
. Later Mikonosuke Kawaishi
Mikonosuke Kawaishi
was a master of Japanese Judo and Jujutsu, reaching for the life of the 7th Dan, who led the development of Judo in France and much of Europe. The application of belt colors associated with different degrees of learning resulted in a very effective teaching approach for the development of martial...
came to Feldenkrais's dojo
Dojo
A is a Japanese term which literally means "place of the way". Initially, dōjōs were adjunct to temples. The term can refer to a formal training place for any of the Japanese do arts but typically it is considered the formal gathering place for students of any Japanese martial arts style to...
to teach and Nocquet became Kawaishi’s 17th student.
Aikido career
In 1954, Nocquet was encouraged by Tadashi AbeTadashi Abe
was the first aikido master to live and teach in the west. He is considered by O'Sensei Morihei Ueshiba and his students as the "Happy Aikidoka" because he was always smiling when he trained. He began training in Aikido in Osaka in 1942 and went on to train directly under the founder of the art...
to travel to Japan to see Morihei Ueshiba
Morihei Ueshiba
was a famous martial artist and founder of the Japanese martial art of aikido. He is often referred to as "the founder" or , "Great Teacher".-Early years:Morihei Ueshiba was born in Tanabe, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan on December 14, 1883....
and study at the Aikikai Hombu Dojo. Nocquet stayed for nearly three years (1955-57), living in the dojo
Uchi-deshi
Uchi-deshi is a Japanese term for a live-in student/apprentice who trains under and assists a sensei on a full-time basis...
; he was one of only two non-Japanese to enjoy this privilege during that early era, the other being subsequently Terry Dobson
Terry Dobson
Terry Dobson birthname Walter Norton Dobson III was an American aikido pioneer, aikido teacher and writer. Dobson is one of the Western aikido practitioners who studied directly under the founder of aikido, Morihei Ueshiba.- Early life :...
. This was a difficult time for him as a westerner as there were virtually no other non-Japanese
Gaijin
is a Japanese word meaning "non-Japanese", or "alien". This word is a short form of gaikokujin , which literally means "person from outside of the country". The word is composed of two kanji: , meaning "outside"; and , meaning "person". Thus, the word technically means "outsider"...
practicing aikido at the time.
During Nocquet's initial time at Hombu, he was the only uchi-deshi
Uchi-deshi
Uchi-deshi is a Japanese term for a live-in student/apprentice who trains under and assists a sensei on a full-time basis...
. Later Nobuyoshi Tamura
Nobuyoshi Tamura
was a prominent aikidoka and a direct student of Morihei Ueshiba. Son of a kendo teacher, Tamura entered the Aikikai Hombu Dojo in 1953 as an uchi-deshi of aikido founder Morihei Ueshiba. He was one of Ueshiba's favorite pupils and since 1964 has greatly contributed to the development of aikido in...
and Masamichi Noro
Masamichi Noro
is the founder of Kinomichi and was an uchi-deshi of Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of Aikido.- Formative Years :Masamichi Noro was born January 21, 1935 in Aomori, Japan. One of the characteristics of his early years is the musical universe that surrounded him, and which strongly influenced his...
took up residence there. Nocquet and Tamura, both of whom held the rank of first dan at the time, trained extensively together.
He returned to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in the summer of 1958. He practiced alongside Tadashi Abe
Tadashi Abe
was the first aikido master to live and teach in the west. He is considered by O'Sensei Morihei Ueshiba and his students as the "Happy Aikidoka" because he was always smiling when he trained. He began training in Aikido in Osaka in 1942 and went on to train directly under the founder of the art...
when the latter came to France. In 1959-1960 Abe returned to Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, leaving Nocquet to teach aikido in France.
Nocquet founded the Groupe Historique Aikido André Nocquet (GHAAN) in 1988 within the Fédération Française d'Aïkido et Budo (FFAB) headed by Tamura Sensei. This structure gave him the possibility to teach autonomously while participating in the technical organization of the FFAB. After his passing, Nocquet left the technical direction of his group to his four most advanced students (sixth dan) Jo Cardot †, Claude Gentil, Claude Cébille and Hervé Dizien.
Writings
- O'Sensei Morihei Ueshiba: Presence and Message (1975) Originally published in French in 1975 as Présence et Message and subsequently translated into English in 1994 by Robert Cornman. A collection of reflections on the philosophy of the founder of aikido together with some 80 photos of Morihei Ueshiba, Kisshomaru Ueshiba, Koichi ToheiKoichi Toheiwas a 10th Dan aikidoka and founder of the Ki Society and its style of aikido, officially Shin Shin Toitsu Aikido , but commonly known as Ki-Aikido.-Koichi Tohei and aikido:...
, et al. - Aikido: Heart and Sword (1991) Originally published in French in 1991 as Le Coeur Épée and subsequently translated to English in 1996 by Aiki News. The author trained extensively in Japan, and this book contains some of his perceptions of the teachings of O'Sensei, and the basis of the spirit of Aikido.
External links
- "Nocquet, Andre". The encyclopedia of Aikido. 2007. Aikido Journal
- "Returns to Japan". The encyclopedia of Aikido. 2007. Aikido Journal
- "Heart and Sword". Aikido Journal Bibliography. 2007. Aikido Journal
- "Presence and Message". Aikido Journal Bibliography. 2007. Aikido Journal
- "Principles of Aikido". Exclusive article by André Nocquet (in English).
- "The force of the Japanese spirit". Exclusive article by André Nocquet (in English).
- "The heart against the sword". Exclusive article by André Nocquet (in English).
- "Aikido - Unification of body and spiritt". Exclusive article by André Nocquet (in English).