Furuya Sensei posted this to his Daily Message on July 22, 2003.
I think we think our minds are very stable because of our intellect but in reality it is not. Indeed, our minds are, in a way, very un-stable. How many times do our minds change in one day from happy to sad, to calm, to excited, to angry, to sleepy and on and on. How can we call this stable? Indeed, our minds are extremely sensitive to changes even more subtle than we can consciously imagine.
Within all of these changes, we must find that part which is unchanging, that part of our minds which is eternal. This is the meaning of training. In our training, it is important to be able to note, see and comprehend all these subtle changes, not focusing on change itself but change as it merges into the unchanging. This is called in martial arts, “mind focusing on mind."
If we theorize about martial arts and techniques, we can create any number of interesting moves. If we talk about the "reality" of martial arts, then it is important and vital to practice the basics over and over again. Just a few techniques will work all of the time in a real situation
and we have to know how to do these even in your sleep! In Aikido, we have to have a balance between the two but the requirement of constant training is still there.
If my students know anything, I hope they will know Ikkyo, Nikyo, Sankyo and Yonkyo very well and also Irimi-nage. If they know this, I know that all of the other techniques will come very easily for them and they will be good students.
Teaching fancy stuff is like trying to catch clouds floating in the sky. Stick to the basics even though you might be criticized. Teaching is for the good of the student despite themselves.