I arrived in San Diego at around 12:30 Pacific time. I drove the rental car to the hotel, ate a late lunch, took a nap, and went to the first Aikido class that started at 6:00 p.m.
Ikeda Sensei started off with a short warm-up. He talked about the purpose of the seminar was not to keep techniques hidden but in the spirit of friendship and openness, allow everyone to ask questions of the visiting shihan and to internalize the teaching for oneself. Ikeda Sensei worked on connection between uke and nage and he didn't want uke to just pretend in their attack. When he was demostrating katatetori kokuho omote he made a small point that the power comes from the elbow and not the wrist or upper arm, we practice on the mat with the intention not harm but the technique is more brutal and pratical now that I realize the power comes from the elbow. Cool stuff.
Doran Sensei taught the second 40 minutes. He worked on ryotetori techniques including shihonage and a number of kokyuages. I focused on watching his footwork while he demostrated the techniques and how he got out of the way when attacked. His footwork was always sharp and solid, no wavering through-out the techniques he was demostrating at the time.
The final 40 minutes was taught by Tissier Sensei. He demostrated a number of ryotetori and katatetori techniques with a focus on shionoage. He and then went around and worked with various groups and often threw ukes with full breakfalls. I am looking foward to the rest of the seminar.
Just an aside, I got lost when I drove back from the dojo. I missed the turn, had to turn around a couple of times before finally finding the right street to my hotel. I talked to my cousin's wife and the three of us are planning to go out on Saturday for a few drinks.
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