2004 Winter Gasshuku with Suzuki Yasuyuki Sensei
and special guests from Japan
   
Suzuki Yasuyuki Sensei, 6th dan
The 2004 winter gasshuku was held in Sydney and was lead by Suzuki Yasuyuki Sensei (6th dan) of AKI Japan. This year marks the 25th year since Suzuki Sensei first brought our style of Aikido to Australia and introduced us to Takeda Yoshinobu Shihan. Accompanying Suzuki Sensei on this visit were a record seven guests from Japan! - Tokiwa Sensei (5th dan), Yamamoto Hiroshi Sensei (4th dan), Ken Schulz (4th dan), Hirayama Genji-san (3rd dan), Komie Yasujito-san (3rd dan), Ishiwata-san (2nd dan) and Sato Emiko-san (1st dan) - an incredibly rare and wonderful opportunity to learn, to grow and to forge spirit and friendships. Sixty Aikidoka from all over Australia gathered to take part in the gasshuku and it was a huge success, both on and off the mat, with Suzuki Sensei delivering his trademark high-powered, yet subtle and soft, style of Aikido.
We were also very fortunate to have the chance both before and after the gasshuku to train with our guests in the smaller, more intimate setting of the Bondi Beach Dojo. It was an auspicous occasion, being the first ever visit by friends from Japan to the newly opened dojo. It was an honour to have Komie Sensei, Tokiwa Sensei and Yamamoto Sensei teach classes and share their love of the Art with us. Ken Schulz and Hirayama-san also came and kicked us black and blue! Here's hoping this is just the beginning and that the coming years will bring even more visits and friendships that will enrich us and last a lifetime.
- Berin Mackenzie
2004 Winter Gasshuku, Sydney
Impressions of Bondi Beach Dojo students
Thinking back on my experience of the winter gasshuku, which was the first one for me as a member of AKI, words of gratitude, awe and fun come to mind. Training with so many genuine and receptive people made me feel welcomed and happy.
Suzuki Sensei's presence and elegant style demonstrates the deep level to which Aikido empowers people in a beautiful and meaningful way. Receiving ukemi from Sensei was sensational and uplifting. I really appreciated the simple way he approached us and corrected our movements. My impression of AKI style is that it promotes a healthy spirit of respect and initiative.
Thanks again for Sensei and the senpai for coming to Sydney, and thanks to Berin who knows how to teach Aikido in an inspiring way.
- Genevieve Autret
Special keiko at Bondi Beach Dojo led by Tokiwa Sensei and Yamamoto Sensei
(L-R, front row: Hirayama-san, Ken Schulz, Tokiwa Sensei, Berin Mackenzie, Yamamoto Sensei, Mike Dunne; back row: Rina Abe, Simon Wong, Paul McKey, George Kamencak, Peter Baillie, Emily Griffiths and William McNeil)
Although a full weekend of Aikido with many participants is always exciting, the presence of the Japanese visitors added enormously to the occasion. Suzuki Sensei moved with a sense of relaxed dynamism and I came away from the weekend with the mantra 'In every technique, irimi.'
Monday night's training at my dojo at Bondi followed with the arrival of not one but 4 of the guests including Tokiwa Sensei & Yamamoto Sensei who taught the first and second parts of the class. The scene was different from the weekend because it was a much smaller group and the teaching and training was more individual. Again the idea of irimi was there, but also the feeling of expanding along a line, encouraging uke full expression of their intention, and the idea of not "doing" a technique but allowing it to develop inevitably from the attack.
After training we went to a local restaurant to celebrate and farewell our guests. This was great fun and it felt as if a real bond had developed between us. I look forward to many more such occasions.
- Peter Baillie
I attended the Sunday classes of the gasshuku. The experience was amazing. The sessions were led by Yasuyuki Suzuki Sensei whose subtle, powerful style was inspiring. It was great to be able to meet and train with so many high ranking practitioners from Japan, as well as local instructors and students from around Australia. I was also fortunate enough to take part in atogeiko, taking ukemi from Yasuyuki Suzuki Sensei as well as a number of the other visiting instructors. After a day of such intense training, I felt my mind starting to let go, and my own movement becoming more relaxed.
I was able to train again the next evening at the Bondi Beach dojo with Tokiwa Sensei and Yamamoto Sensei taking the class. The smaller class allowed us to focus more on the feeling that the instructors were explaining to us, which again, enhanced the experience of the whole weekend’s training. I look forward to the next opportunity to do it all again, and to build on that momentum.
- George Kamencak
  
Yamamoto Hiroshi Sensei, 4th dan
While this was only my first gasshuku, I was aware just how lucky we were to have so many Japanese senpai sharing their experience and passion for Aikido with us. This was clear just by the number of people at the camp! It was definitely interesting training with so many people on the mats! While I gained a lot from the gasshuku itself, including an appreciation of the intensity required at a gasshuku, I gained even more insight from the keiko at Bondi taught by Komie Sensei, Yamamoto Sensei and Tokiwa Sensei. We were very privileged to learn from so many senpai over in Australia for only a week!
- Paul McKey
Komie Yasujito Sensei, 3rd dan
It was great to see that so many people train in Aikido in Sydney and it was amazing to watch the best [yudansha] in action.
The best part about the visit was when I trained with Komie Sensei and Yamamoto Sensei and Tokiwa Sensei. That was so cool. They were so fast and strong and happy when they trained. I liked being thrown by them. I want to go to Japan when I'm 15. I hope Mum can afford it. Training with them has made me want to train harder and harder. I am getting stronger every day I train.
- William McNeil (12 years old)
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