By Russell C. Chitty
It was in the mid 1980s that I first met John Sukumar Ratnam at the Fort YMCA as fellow students of Sensei Hideo Sakamoto being taught the techniques of Aikido -- a Japanese martial art.
It was introduced to Sri Lanka by Sensei Sakamoto, an Aikikai second Dan black belt in Aikido. He had come to Sri Lanka as a Japanese overseas volunteer, an architect by profession.
At the time Kumar joined the class, Sensei Sakamoto was coming to the end of his stay in Sri Lanka. Once smitten by the Aikido bug or having metaphorically fallen head over heals in love with Aikido, Kumar never looked back as he learnt the art under Sensei Jayadeva who had studied the art in Japan.
Kumar continued to progress in Aikido with single mindedness using and applying the three Ds – Desire, Discipline and Dedication.
When I met him again many years later he had been awarded the 4th Dan black belt by the Aikikai Foundation in Japan and was a fully fledged Aikido instructor based in Dubai where he is the Chief Instructor of the Dubai Aikido Club. He also teaches self defence to the Dubai Police and the cabin crew of a leading airline. As an instructor he regularly visits Aikikai-affiliated dojos in Cape Town, South Africa, Kuwait, Malaysia, Azerbaijan, and Switzerland.
Kumar to his friends and Sensei Kumar to his students began the study of martial arts with karate, judo, kung fu and wing tsuen but it was in Aikido that he found his life’s calling or his niche. The symmetry, circular movement, harmony and the physics in Aikido fascinated him and captured his imagination.
Aikido is a fairly new martial art when compared with other Japanese martial arts like Kendo, Judo or Karate or Jujitsu. O Sensei (great teacher) Morihei Ueshiba developed it using his deep knowledge of other older systems of fighting and self defence and in 1940 gave this art the name Aikido. The Japanese ideograms (kanji) in AIKIDO bring a wealth of insight and meaning to those who can see them for what they are -- Ai means harmony; Ki means spirit, breath or energy and Do is the path or a way of living.
Kumar was born in 1955 to a family of three brothers and two sisters and after his education at St. Mary’s College, Bandarawela stepped out into the world to make a living. A self-made person, Kumar used to the full the many and varied talents he was blessed with. At different times he worked as a bill-board painter, choreographer, a stunt coordinator and an advertising company owner.
He then joined the Sri Lanka Magic Circle and turned out to be a successful magician as a student of award-winning magician Noel Wickremesinghe.
“I am grateful to Noel for all what he taught me and for what I am today as a performing magician in Dubai,” Kumar said. His patter is almost similar to that of Noel whose command of the English language is a treat to listen to.
After some 10 years of learning and teaching Aikido in Sri Lanka, he travelled to Japan to hone his skills in the art he loved and treasured so much.
He had the privilege of studying in the Aikido Hombu Dojo under the guidance of the Dosho Moriteru Yueshiba.
“It was a difficult time for me in Japan. I had very little money to pay my Hombu Dojo tuition fees for my board and lodging in Japan. But when I was almost down and out it was thanks to magic that I managed to survive. I diligently applied myself to the study of Aikido by paying my fees with what I earned as a street magician there.”
As a member of the All Japan Kendo Federation, Kumar also mastered the art of Kendo; the live sword art of Iaido; Jodo; Bokken; Hambu Jutsu and the Pilipino fighting art of Escrima.
As Kumar delved deeper into Aikido and continued to search for its Ki element, he was introduced to Fumio Toyada Shihan from whom he gleaned its valuable secrets.
“He passed away some years ago but my thoughts continue to be with him,” he said. “My knowledge of Ki has helped me bring fluidity to my practice of Aikido and also use it to by in harmony with those I come in contact with.”
Kumar said his vision and goal in life was to return to Sri Lanka one day and teach the youth in this beautiful country the techniques of Aikido -- the way of peace and harmony -- so that they could become worthy citizens of mother Lanka.
“The greatest fight one can have is the fight against self or ego,” Kumar said.
While paying homage to O Sensei Morhei Ueshiba, and second Doshu Kisshomaru Ueshiba, Kumar says he is deeply grateful to Doshu Moriteru Ueshiba and all his other instructors and students who continue to interact with him in his journey.
Incidentally Sensei Kumar 4th Dan black belt (Aikikai) will be conducting an Aikido seminar on Saturday July 31 at AHBC (PVT) Ltd., No: 25 Laurie’s Road, Bambalapitiya from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Those who wish to attend this seminar could call telephone No. 0779217931
Sensei Kumar could be contacted by email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or you could browse his website at www.aikido.ae Arigatou gozaimasu
