Interview with Penny Bernath, 5th Dan

By Malory Graham, 3rd Dan

[Editor's Note: Penny Bernath is an Instructor at Florida Aikikai. She is well known throughout the US for her strong technique, captivating personality, and her organizational skills. She, along with her husband, Peter Bernath, are the organizers of the annual Winter Seminar in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

This interview, conducted at the Florida Aikikai Winter Camp in November 2001, is taken from a forthcoming video about top-ranking United States Aikido Federation women instructors entitled, ""Holding up Half the Sky". The video includes interviews and demonstrations of ten USAF women instructors and is expected to be completed in 2003. For more information contact Malory Graham, Instructor at Puget Sound Aikikai in Seattle, WA at malorygraham@hotmail.com or (206) 335-9801.

This interview was edited for Aikido online. Photos courtesy Florida Aikikai]

How did you first start practicing Aikido?

I started Aikido in 1973. I was 20 years old. I wanted to be able to protect myself so I was interested in taking a martial art. I visited a couple of karate dojos, but they were practicing exactly what I wanted to avoid, direct physical confrontation. I wanted to be able to protect myself without a confrontation. Then I saw an Aikido demonstration in a park. It was energetic and intriguing. It looked like a powerful dance. I signed up, telling myself – I’m going to take this just one month at a time. Aikido was much more complicated than I expected. But, I’m still going, just taking one month at a time.

Who were your first instructors?

Steve House was my first sensei. He was a serious teacher and I loved and respected him. We were under the direction of Yamada Sensei, who came down periodically and to whom we were loyal. In 1980 Steve took a job as a Police officer in New Mexico and had to leave the dojo. (Years later Steve died in the line of duty.) Yamada Sensei wanted to have a home dojo here in Florida so he asked me to run the school and said he would send an instructor – I agreed and he sent Peter, who is now my husband – it was a business arrangement that worked out well.

I have also been fortunate to have a lot of involvement with the Shihan. Kanai Sensei liked to visit Florida as well as Sugano Sensei. Even Doshu (then Waka Sensei) came to do a seminar and vacation. Additionally, we hosted the United States Aikido Federation annual meeting that brought Chiba Sensei, Tohei Sensei and a number of Hombu Shihan like Shibata (before he moved to the US), Arakawa, and Masuda sensei to name a few. So I had a lot of exposure to the Shihan which has made a big impression on me.

Was it difficult to have a new instructor come to the dojo?

It was a difficult situation for Peter and for Steve’s students. The existing students were loyal to Steve and used to his style and mannerisms on the mat. Peter was not an experienced teacher –though he had a lot of talent, he thought he had something to prove. It is hard to take a sensei’s place. Eventually what happened was that Steve’s students left and Peter developed his own style of teaching and his own students. Actually, at one point, it was just Peter and I. Everyone had quit except for the two of us.

I remember Kanai sensei asking us at that time, “How many black belts do you have in the dojo?” We looked at each other and said, “Two, us”. And then he asked, “How many students do you have?” and we answered, “Two, us!” It wasn’t looking good. But since then Florida Aikikai has grown to 100 members strong. Recently someone came to visit and train, he said to me, “You are so lucky. You have a large beautiful dojo and you have blacks belts of all ranks to practice with.” I stopped and reflected just how far the dojo has come. It has been a slow, steady, rewarding process.

How would you describe your development in Aikido?

It has been a slow, steady, rewarding process. Aikido was not a natural act for me. It has been a difficult path. First I was afraid of falling down, mostly because I couldn’t figure out how to do it. Years of bruises later I am still working on it. Among the many things Aikido has taught me is to be patient with myself, not to give up. Take it from where it is and work on it. Yamada Sensei once said to me, “You are like a sword that in the beginning is very rough, but after years of pounding on it, it becomes a good solid sword because it has taken a long time to get there.” I think that says it all.

What is it like to be a woman instructor? Do women have special challenges?

I think the first time I considered my gender in the Art was right after my black belt test when I took responsibility for teaching one sometimes two classes a week. Especially the first class I taught. I remember bowing in and turning around and there were all men in the class and me. I kept saying to myself, “I am in control. I know what I am doing. Stay strong.” But inside there was the female in me saying, “This is a martial art and you are a woman.” I’ve since gotten past that.

I have to say that I don’t think Aikido is about male/female gender. I think it is about movement, the power of movement and position. If you’re in the right place at the right time, you create a powerful blend of energy with your partner. It really doesn’t matter if you’re male or female, it’s timing, it’s mai. Instead of finding the focal point of conflict, it’s finding the focal point of movement past the conflict.

One of the nicest compliments I have received about my Aikido was after I taught a seminar, can’t remember where it was, but a female student said to me, “The great thing about your Aikido is that you are powerful and feminine all at the same time.” I truly appreciate that thought. I don’t want to give up my femininity to be successful. I don’t want to have to be man like to be respected for my abilities.

On the mat, yes I have been challenged, time and time again, especially by men of up and coming rank that do not know how to behave. It keeps me honest, strong and flexible. I have learned to stay centered and focused, not worry about the male/female thing – to trust the Art and keep moving.

How do you maintain a balance among all the activities in your life?

I have two children, a thirteen year-old daughter, Madison, and a seventeen year-old son, Kale. Both my children are competitive and I love being part of their lives. My daughter is a baton twirler. She is Miss Majorette of Florida for the second year running and ranked 9th nationally. My son is a catcher on his high school baseball team. I have a full time job as a teacher at Nova Southeastern University, I am working on a master’s degree in education and I am a 5th degree black belt and shidion in Aikido. So I am busy. I am rarely home and when I am I’m doing homework or laundry. It can be stressful, some days I can’t remember where I am supposed to be, the gym, the baseball field, school, or the dojo. Aikido is my great escape – the power of movement - I can throw people around, a wonderful feeling.

What has Aikido done for you personally?

When I was a kid I was always the last one picked on any sports team at school (not that I wanted to play) and I was the wallflower that never talked or went out on dates. Aikido has given me confidence and courage. It has taught me to believe in myself and be patient and persistent. It has developed my center, both physically and mentally. It has kept my body strong and flexible (it has also sprained and broken a few parts along the way). And it has been responsible for long lasting friendships and relationships. I would be a much different person had not seen that Aikido demo in the park.

What about being a woman in the martial art of Aikido?

I have found being a woman in Aikido to be to my advantage. I like the odds – many men, few women. I have gotten a lot of personal attention because of my gender and I appreciate it. I enjoy the male friendships I have been able to develop because of my involvement in Aikido. I spend my days with women and children at school; I like spending evenings at the dojo with the other side, meaning males. I am not politically ambitious in the dojo, so I am not a threat to most men in that way. I do Aikido for the pleasure of the art. There have been times when I have been caught up in the martial sense of Aikido, wanting to prove my strength, but I have matured. I now concentrate on the Art of Aikido – lead and avoidance, movement, centering and mia – all blended, a powerful combination.

Have you ever had to use Aikido on the street?

Yes, years ago I did actually have the opportunity to use Aikido in the purest sense. It was when gold prices were very high and people were stealing jewelry, the early 80’s. Late one night I went alone to the post office where our Aikido mail was to check our post office box. (I was young and innocent). It was walking distance from the dojo. As I arrived I noticed that there were some suspicious young men hanging around outside but I didn’t pay any attention to them.

When I came out of the building one of them grabbed me from the front to knock me down and tear my necklace off. But what happened was that as he lunged at me I naturally tenkaned. I didn’t think about it, I just moved with his force and he fell down in front of me. Then someone else attacked me from behind, again grabbing at my neck, and again I just tenkaned and he fell down as well. Then they both just looked at me, jumped up and ran away. I was in disbelief, I wanted to call out, “Wait a minute I’ve been practicing for years. Come back. I can hurt you.” of course I didn’t. And then I felt violated, with scratches on my neck, how dare they try to take something of mine right off me.

But once I thought about it I realized it was Aikido as it was meant to be – no fancy footwork – just blended movement, tenkan and tenkan. Both bad guys had fallen and run away – but they were OK, I had my necklace and I was in tack and OK. The confrontation was resolved without confrontation and all was as it should be. Which was my initial reason for starting Aikido.