Home again, home again, giggity gig...

Well, the first ever CAF Gasshuku is over and this is the last entry from your intrepid aiki blogger. For those who were unable to attend this weekend you were sorely missed but the Rochester Dojo was well represented. Everyone complemented the new logo (thanks Jen) and the atmosphere of friendship and camraderie was awesome! It really felt like we were all family. Special thanks to Sensei Goldsmith for his hospitality and to his uchi-dechi for cleaning up after all of us. TTFN ya'll...Coyote.

Gasshuku ends like it began...

Takaguchi Shihan managed to tie everything together in a wonderful way...just learn to connect to...yourself.

Take the slack out of the chain...and connect.

Bob...need I say more?

First we hit...then we hugged...then we flicked!

Sensei Mike when interviewed said, "Techniques are like putting on your clothes...in the right order...looks good. Put your clothes on in the wrong order...looks wierd." He credits his Aiki influences to Senseis: Kamura, Takaguchi,  Chiba and Ken Cottier of the Hong Kong Aikido Association. He explained that his intent is to use his experience and put his own spin on their techniques. During his lesson he tried to show his current understanding of the Aikido that Takaguchi Shihan teaches and the qualities of his style. In Takaguchi Shihan he sees similarities with that late Tamura Sensei. His parting thought to the class was, "Not only should Aikido be fun in training, but there needs to be a conveyance of joy between uke and nage. He explained that this can be done without sacrificing the martial effect. So...smile more when you train!!!

Sensei Colin's Aikido codes to practice by...

When I asked Sensei Colin what her theme was she said, " Hanmi, posture, and extension." We delved into this primarily through ushiro techniques.

1st thought of the day...connection.

Sensei Obrecht focused on the hips and connection...he said that all practice is "research"...so slow down and do you homework.

And so it begins....again!

As you can see there are a derth of yudansha on the mat getting the kinks worked out before the first Sunday practice.

Sundays CAF summer camp schedule

8:00 am - Sensei Jaime Obrecht: Capital-Lincoln

9:00 am - Sensei Cathy Colin: Woodstock Aikido

10:00 am - Sensei Mike Martin: Capital Hill Aikikai

11:00 am - Shidoin Bob Poresky: Capital-Syracuse

12:00 pm - Shihan Clyde Takaguchi: Capital-Silver Springs

The usual suspects.

Well, the Rochester Pheonix Aikido club was well represented as you can see. Be sure to ask Vic about the "monster" margaritas...where are Min and Mike?...at the cool kid table...they weren't coooooool enough to get their picture taken by your intrepid correspondent...haha.

The cool kid table...

We all went to dinner at a nice local Chinese buffet...as you can see all the "cool" kids got to hangout at the big table...ha!

PS: Special thanks go to Sensei Asim for doing the leg work and heavy lifting that made this all happen...the CAF brain trust joked that he is now coordinator for life...ha!

And now...the Timothy Leary of Aikido...

Bill Plank!!! Why? You ask...because he blows minds!!! Today he used the most humbling martial tool of all time...the JO!!! He did a post-mortum of Takaguchi Shihan's class using the Jo to "clarify" what the core of his lesson covered. Sensei Plank defined the theme of the class as: "spirals...most people associate circles with Aikido...but circles are closed shapes...spirals are infinite...." Yeah like I said...mind blowing.

Dave Millar Sensei...the Sensei who is always smiling.

The theme of Sensei Millar's class was....hanmi, hanmi, hanmi. Specifically, his lesson was, in classic Capital Aikikai fashion, the ability to change hanmi with your hips without using your feet...awesome class!

Sensei Jack Simpson

Simpson Sensei's theme for class was and I quote " Defense against samurai on horseback with uzis"...if you can't tell he has quite the sense of humor!!! PS he's not the pretty one.

Working plan for the afternoon practice.

2:00 pm -Sensei Jack Simpson: Western MD

3:00 pm - Sensei Dave Millar: Capital Aikikai

4:00 pm - Sensei Bill Plank: Capital/Jackson Hole

Takaguchi Shihan says...

The theme of the second lesson was: Blending omote & ura. All I can say is "Wow!"

1st Up: Asim Sensei

Asim Sensei' s class focused on spacing and timing. Sensei is on the right.

The quiet before the storm...

The quiet stretching before the Seminar starts. There are Shihan, Sensei, sempai, and kohai everywhere...wish the whole Rochester group was here...know that all of you are here in spirit...

CAF

Aviv Goldsmith Sensei's Dojo is a dream come to fruition. This space according to Sensei Goldsmith is the realisation of a 20 year dream. It is patterned after the Iwama Dojo in Japan and is a sustainable green building.

Live from CAF!!!

Here are a few pics of the Dojo.

Capital Aikikai Federation 2010 Summer Camp "Gasshuku", July 17-18

  The first annual Summer Camp of Capital Aikikai "Gasshuku"* will be held in this weekend. Enjoy!

* Summer camp is called "Gasshuku" in Japanese.