Learning To Be Silent

Let’s start this at the end, on the last day of the seminar.

So there I am, having an amazing time, practicing shomen-uchi with Gorman, a talented Aikidoka with whom I should be training more often.

Keller Sensei is watching, of course, and notices something that in ten years of practice had never occurred to me.

The stance I had taken—as clearly as if I had spoken the words aloud—was telegraphing my thoughts to my partner. Not only my thoughts about the technique, but thoughts about my Aikido as well.

More specifically, because my hanmi was slightly askew, and no center connection was made, I was telling my partner that I lacked the confidence to survive the encounter. It was, Sensei explained, a subtle opening, more psychological than physical. But an opening nonetheless.

With that one, insightful comment, Keller Sensei had cut to the heart of my practice.

And not just that one comment, either. For all our students, Sensei took the time to explain, compliment, and correct. And we were all made the better for it.

I can tell you that Dee and I left jazzed about our training. I can also tell you that our students felt the same way.

So thank you, Lane Sensei, for hosting this wonderful seminar. And on behalf of our students, thank you Claire, for your insight and good humor.

We had a great time.

This is a love letter to New York Aikikai.

My fondest Aikido memories—the lessons I remember best, the stories I think most about—all begin in New York. I don’t think it an exaggeration to say that my first visit to the dojo eight years ago transformed me. It was, in a very direct and practical sense, my first real exposure to this wonderful martial art.

Recently Dee and I returned from their Christmas seminar, after a short week training. Of course for Dee, New York Aikikai is a family reunion. For me, however, it’s something else: a glimpse perhaps, at the possibility of Aikido, when practiced at an exceptional level. I’ve experienced this before, at other seminars, and I’m always left astounded.

And of course we saw Tonya test for shodan. For her, I’d imagine the seminar to be an ending of sorts, as well as a new beginning. I remember well when she first stepped onto the mat, and then later, her adventures as an uchi deshi. To her, Sensei and I wish a warm congratulations.

But it’s more than that. New York Aikikai is more than that.

In my mind’s eye, when I picture my Aikido self, my idealized sense of me as a martial artist, I see myself with Dee, leading me up that narrow staircase, the sound of bodies crashing in the distance.

That’s what New York Aikikai means to me.

My apologies for the hiatus: Sensei and I just returned from New York Aikikai and we have lots to share. In the meantime, I’m posting a few photos from the Christmas seminar at Brevard Aikikai, held earlier this month.

This was a fascinating seminar. In addition to Dee and Grady Sensei, Dan Dease Sensei of Central Florida Aikikai and Dan Fernandez Sensei of Tampa Aikikai taught. Having received some instruction from students of Saotome Sensei in the past, I was largely familiar with Fernandez Sensei’s chosen topics and points of emphasis. I enjoyed his class greatly and particularly enjoyed speaking with him off the mat.

However, I had few points of reference for Dease Sensei’s class, which made it all the more interesting. Dease Sensei is a student of Seishiro Endo Sensei, an Aikikai shihan teaching at hombu. I learned quite a bit watching his class; to get an idea of his approach to Aikido, you can read a comment he wrote here.

I look forward to attending his classes again in the future.

By Buck Pittman

The Aikido seminar held October 3 at Brevard Aikikai in Melbourne to help support financially and spiritually one of our oldest and best instructors in the Federation, Nobu Arakawa Sensei, was inspirational. It was also fun. There was a great sense of camaraderie as we gathered to train together in the true spirit of ai-ki. As Peter Bernath Sensei noted, it is great thing that we can support each other in need, that we are all part of a large family.

It was also intense. We trained under six instructors over a four hour period in which we never broke for more than 10 minutes. I was pleased to have taken ukemi from four of the six instructors. Grady Lane Sensei, our host, opened the seminar with yokomenuchi kokyunage, emphasizing a stretched arm across the body to keep things as tight as possible.

Nobu Sensei taught the next session and demonstrated a variety of techniques from morotetori. The one I took ukemi for was a variation of jujinage in which the lower arm is pushed through like a lever to turn uke over and pin him on his back with arms crossed overhead. Nobu Sensei also pointed out the proper way to take nikkyo ukemi and perform kotogaeshi.

Penny Bernath Sensei taught the next session and focused entirely on henka waza, flowing from one technique to another. She demonstrated many natural transitions starting from different opening attacks and partners were left to find their own way back and forth.

Richard Wagener Sensei taught the fourth session, also focusing on transitions, from morotetori. We practiced nikkyo from this attack, transitioning from to one hand to the other, directly and with tenkan.

Youssef Sensei taught the fifth class and demonstrated ikkyo and other techniques from ushiro kubishime. His techniques were very clean and direct.

Peter Bernath Sensei completed the seminar with a series of techniques which focused on changing directions to upset uke and create the desired effect. He demonstrated this from katatatori with a slight push-pull that transitioned into techniques like hanmi handachi katatatori nikkyo, shihonage, and iriminage.

After formal bows and thank-yous, we concluded our time together outside the dojo, relaxing with pizza and beer and welcome breezes on a beautiful afternoon. Nobu Sensei left with a with a big smile on his face and an envelope full of donations that will help him through this difficult part of his life’s journey. In his own words: “I not give up so easily.”

Editor’s note: As well as teaching at the dojo, Buck is the President of Pittman Landscape Architecture, a Jacksonville based land planning firm.

By Maggie Schill

On Sunday October 3rd, Grady Lane Sensei generously hosted a fundraiser seminar for Arakawa Sensei, who is in the midst of a battle with cancer. Many great instructors came out to show their support, including Peter Bernath Sensei, Penny Bernath Sensei, Richard Wagener Sensei, Grady Lane Sensei, and Youssef Sadkane Sensei. Nobu Arakawa Sensei also taught a class with great enthusiasm.

The turnout for the seminar was overwhelming. It was inspiring to see so many Aikidoka come out in support of one of their senior instructors. Everyone coming out in support of Arakawa Sensei affirmed for everyone present that the Aikido community of Florida is a strong and caring family.

Best of luck and much love to Nobu Arakawa Sensei during his battle. He is truly a giving instructor and a gentleman. His knowledge is invaluable. We look forward to learning and sharing Aikido with him for years to come.