Instructor's passion for Aikido spans 50 years
Fifty years as an Aikido instructor is just one part of Victor Arcega’s pledge to live life to the fullest.
The energetic 75-year-old from Duncan shows no signs of slowing down. He still teaches Aikido classes at the Vimy Hall Monday nights, instructs at the Victoria College of Art and generally keeps busy doing everything that’s second nature for him.
“Otherwise, I get bored,’’ he said. “On a Sunday, I keep wondering, ‘is there something I’m missing?’ I don’t know if there’s a difference between weekdays and weekends.’’
Arcega was born in Manila, the Philippines and came to North America in the 1970s. He lived in Los Angeles for a while before relocating to Canada and operating a dojo in Calgary for many years.
Arcega moved to Victoria to satisfy his desire to try something else.
“I stayed in Nanaimo for a while and finally I decided I’ll take the in-between,’’ he said. “For some reason, I got a special attachment to this place.’’
Arcega first lived in the valley briefly in 2000 and came back to stay in 2002.
He was on the faculty at Malaspina Colege in Nanaimo teaching art and lived on Gabriola Island after obtaining his master’s degree. Arcega now teaches painting and drawing at the Victoria College of Art.
Arcega’s interesting and varied background even included stints in the newspaper business in Los Angeles and Calgary.
Martial arts have long been a favourite pastime of Arcega’s.
“I was doing judo,’’ he said. “I had my black belt in judo and then I got tired of it. It’s hard on the body.’’
When Aikido was introduced in Manila in 1962, “I happened to be around,’’ said Arcega. “I thought I’d try Aikido. I never regretted it from the get-go.’’
The Vimy Hall sessions attract about 12 regulars.
“We used to see a lot more people practicing,’’ conceded Arcega.
“This dojo started in Nanaimo actually, only because it was convenient for me.
“As far as Lantzville, I used to run a few classes there and, of course, Victoria. We like to be based here. Most of the students that come are not even from here. These are the regulars and fanatics and buffs.’’
Arcega has also taught sessions at the Island Savings Centre.
Students love his approach to the discipline.
“I’ve studied with Victor for 15 years,’’ said Floyd Blades of Nanaimo. “He’s just an awesome guy. He’s so humble.’’
“This is a group of people, you can call them a society,’’ said Arcega. “I just help teach them. It’s just a group of students who like to come together and learn.’’
Arcega refers to himself as the head of the Vancouver Island Takemusu Aikido Society.
The word Aikido, he adds, means “integration.’’
“It calls upon the mental and physical process of the body.’’
Aikido blends the motion of an attacker and redirects the force of the attack rather than opposing it head-on. It requires little physical strength and techniques are also used with wooden swords or sticks.
“We practice with all of that,’’ said Arcega.
“It used to be good to have young people start with it. They want a bit more excitement. A lot of the older people we get are veterans of other martial arts.
“It is a very natural study of the human movements and it’s very social.’’
It also blends in nicely with all of Arcega’s talents.
“I write and paint and Aikido,’’ he said. “That rounds it out right there. It keeps you grounded socially and physically.’’
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