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In addition to teaching in Sacramento, Suenaka gave several demonstrations in the city and surrounding area, including one in San Francisco’s Veteran’s Hospital. It may have been at one of these demonstrations that Suenaka came to the attention of actor and producer Ben Alexander, perhaps best-remembered by most as Sgt. Frank Smith in the early seasons of the Dragnet television series. Alexander hosted a local television talent show. One day, Suenaka received in the mail an invitation to appear on the show to discuss this new and strange martial art, aikido. The appearance went well, and several months later, Suenaka received another invitation to appear on the program, this time to demonstrate aikido technique.

Suenaka opted to perform the demonstration with his uke (demonstration partner) using a “live” (or sharp) blade, a bayonet from an Ml Garand (minus the rifle, of course). After the first few techniques, Suenaka’s uke came charging in with a munetsuki attack (a thrust to the belly). Suenaka turned to the side, preparing to execute kote-gaeshi (a wrist-cutting throw). The uke, however, anticipating what Suenaka Sensei was about to do, “choked” his attack, changing the angle and following Suenaka’s turn, thrusting the foot-long blade full-speed directly at Suenaka’s abdomen. Suenaka was able to pivot out of the way of the altered thrust, though just barely—the blade penetrated his gi, barely missing his flesh as Suenaka captured the uke’s wrist and, reflexively, delivered a kote-gaeshi so powerful, the wrist was fractured. The uke collapsed to the floor, writhing in pain, the studio audience burst into wild applause, and Alexander quickly cut to a commercial, ending the demonstration. Suenaka was not invited back. Though gratified that his training saved his life, Suenaka is not proud of the incident, stating: “We were young.”