Aikido Summer Camp Day 3

The first class at 6:30 in the morning was taught by Hara Sensei. Most of the class focused on ukemi, both forwards and backwards rolls. I must have had a short-circuit for being up some early because I could do a sitting backward roll on my left side. When doing a technique or rolling on my right side I didn't have any problems but for some reason I couldn't do something I have been doing since 1997. I tried to cover it up, but, again I am experiencing more of a beginner's mind set.

The second class was held outdoors and was taught by Ushiro Sensei. I thought we were going to work on weapons, but instead we worked on ki and breath training exercises. He demonstrated fine control in the exercises, emphasizing opening the mouth when doing ki training. Again, I learned a lot from his class with the karate focus on breath control.

The third class I attended was Saotome Sensei's indoors class. Saotome Sensei lectured about budo and the how budo is not just about survival of oneself, but also extending to one's family, nation, and the world. His techniques were about extending ki through your hands and about extending into one's partner.

The forth class was taught by Ikeda Sensei with his focus on katetori ki and flowing from one's center. When uke grabs and presses down, the mechanics of the attack makes uke lighter and easier to move. At least that is how he demostrated, when I tried the techniques, it varied depending on uke and my own ki awareness.

The fifth class was Doran Sensei's outdoor's weapons class. We alternated between bokken and empty hand with Doran Sensei stating that when you practice with the sword, you need to practice like you have open hand and when you practice open hand, believe you have weapon. His class showed the relationships between weapon practice and empty hand practice. A good and enjoyable class and I learned a new irminage variation.

The sixth and final class was taught by a guest instructor Sakabe Sensei. His style was different from all of the other instructors at Summer Camp but actually was the most familiar to me as it reminded me of the Tohei Sensei from MAC and follows Knut's style as well. The class went longer and I wish he would teach more classes this camp.

Tomorrow is a "fun" day with only two Aikido classes. My plan is to do laundry in the morning and then try some fly fishing on the Colorado river.