Boulder Aikikai Spring Seminar Day 3 (4/26/2009)

Heiny Sensei had use work for an hour and a half on one technique, ryotedori tenchinage omote. She had us visualize the nage's lower had becoming a spiral of energy while nage's upper hand also does a spiral towards the sky. This intense study of one technique tied nicely to Heiny Sensei's comment from the first class of the seminar about how every technique in Aikido contains the essence of Aikido. The complexities of a technique are there underneath the surface of these common techniques and having us focus on one technique, I was able to better understand the larger forces, philosophy, and energies in my own Aikido practice. Heiny Sensei experiences as a young person learning Aikido at Hombu Dojo in the years immediately following O'Sensei's death in 1968 provide an unique opportunity into the development of Aikido and a good takeaway from her classes is that you never fully are a "master" of Aikido.

In my personal practice, I have tried to learn something from every time I do a technique with my partner and I try to ignore my ego by not caring about my partner's rank or experience. Heiny Sensei on multiple occasions through-out the seminar talked about how she learns from each person she trains with and that is part of her own practice. She also warned about not assuming we know our uke or the person we are partnered with and that by making these assumptions, we are applying our own ego onto our partner. We finished the second hour of class by working an different ai-hamani kokyunage that differed from Hombu dojo style.

Every time I go to a seminar, I always enjoy the diversity of people and practice. I am starting to get to know various Aikido people from Boulder and around the West. I am planning to go to Boulder Aikikai in June for a long weekend of practice to tune up for Summer camp. I had a great time this weekend between the great Aikido practice and visiting my great sister and her wonderful family.

UPDATE:
Here are a couple of photos from Boulder Aikikai's website from class. I am in the lower corner with my back towards the camera while reaching for katatetori on nage.
This second photo is more of a formal photo of the seminar's participants.