Boulder Aikikai Fall Seminar Day 3

One Eye on the Choices, One Eye on the Risks

The first class on Sunday started with more advanced training by Saotome Sensei, including an iriminage-to-shihonage kaeshiwaza, iriminage-to-ikkyo kaeshiwaza, and a few tsuki-to-kokyunage kaeshiwazas as well. Saotome Sensei emphasized that this type of training is only for higher ranks because of beginners need to understand and know basic keiko, the techniques towards understanding the principles of aiki. Saotome Sensei continued his discussions on aiki, that ki is not magic but the most basic energy of everything, that communication at its most basic of connection or aiki. The sub-title from this post comes from the general immersion in budo and bujutsu I feel directly from Saotome Sensei. The older I get and the more I train in Aikido, my budo is expanding and deepening and every moment I spend on the mat learning, listening, and training with Saotome Sensei, I feel a great honor and a responsibility to the future of our art.

To be, to live, the first goal of any martial art. - Saotome Sensei.