| name | Sander |
| year of birth | 1973 |
| grew up in | Tilburg until 13 years old, then Nieuwegein and Montfoort |
| aikido since | 1994 |
| rank | 4th dan (meanwhile 5th dan) and shidoin |
What do you find beautiful or inspiring in aikido?
The philosophy of aikido doesn’t contain “yes but” because it is a martial art. I find it beautiful that in the practice of aikido people can no longer hide behind excuses. And you discover a sincerity, dynamic and flexibility to make the world for your and others a little bit more enjoyable and at the same time release what you would like to do in your life.
What is your favorite technique and why?
My first love was shihonage, much later iriminage and genkeikokyūnage were added. I like the complexity and feeling-wise attunement of these techniques. Another example is a hip throw on one leg. More and more I actually find all techniques interesting.
Attack with which I like to work are yokomenuchi and katadorimenuchi because of the respectively intensity an complexity. I like mainly katadorimenuchi iriminage on katanote because it can fail easily. For a good execution, both person have to work acurately on all aspects such as posture, distance, exchanging interaction, timing and contact.
Also zantokokyunage is fascinating for me. The attacker has a lot to give and to give away at the same time and there is completely no time to think. When performed properly both the attacker and defender can experience feeling part of a greater context. This technique is part of our logo for a reason.
How do you apply aikido in your daily life?
By timely seeing what cannot be altered and I have to accept and what can be altered and how I can do that in a pragmatic way. In aikido, I have learned a lot about emotions of myself and others and how to cope with these. That is how you get results in a respectful cooperation. Results which you would have never achieved on your own.
What do you do in daily life?
After a technical study, I have build a career in information and communication technology (ICT). Since 2008, I am a self-employed entrepreneur under the name Hellebaard. I do assignments which are related to business and information analyses, open source software, open exchange formats, open data, spell checking, education and typography. Meanwhile I have gained experience in many several industries and try to get the best out of the combination of being a human and technology. From time to time I also write and publish books, a part of those are aikido related. Ah, and I am the main teacher of Sanshinkai Aikido Utrecht.
What makes you laugh?
Currently Plinkett Reviews and Steward Lee and Bill Murray, before a lot of Jiskefet.
What is your favorite quote?
“I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.” Frank Herbert, American writer in Dune.
What else should we know about you?
I love hobbies.