2006 Bondi Beach Dojo Aikido Gasshuku - Blue Mountains
together for two very full days of keiko, laughter, play, communal meals, sunshine, bushwalks, crackling log fires, sushi, sake and not a whole lot of sleep!
As a special treat at the end of day one, a local massage and yoga teacher (and very dear friend) came to lead to a 2 hour shiatsu workshop in front of the open fire for the battle-weary participants.
Many of us, so at peace from a solid day's training and playing, drifted off to sleep! We were woken, bodies nicely pummelled, to hungry calls for dinner and so filed out the door into the cool winter night to a nearby Japanese restaurant.
Several raucous and rowdy courses of miso, udon, nabe, sushi, sashimi, tenpura, maccha and azuki ice cream, and chocolate birthday cake followed, not to mention a splash or two of hot sake!
Back at the dojo, we gathered sleeping bags and pillows and huddled around the log fire to watch DVDs hot off the burner of Takeda Shihan's 8th dan enbu and of Kadoya Sensei.
Shortly after midnight, I was the last one left in the dojo. Lured by the warmth and crackle of the fire, and perhaps most by the energy the space now held after all our hard work, I dragged my mattress in from the dorms and settled in for 4 hours rest.
We were awake again at 5:30am, rekindling the fire, as well as our bodies, for asageiko. It was still pitch black outside as we started to train but the winter light soon begain to strengthen, illuminating and awakening the native bushland outside the windows in the most beautiful way.
A quick breakfast and some warm chai then we were back into it. Shortly before lunch, participants were asked to muster their
remaining energy (if any) and share their spirit through an Aikido enbu (available on DVD). Before we knew it, the weekend had passed and we were busily folding dogi and hakama, and packing up the dojo.
One of the things that impressed me most about this year's camp was the spirit in which people approached atogeiko. Apart from one scheduled half-hour session of ukemi, all other such training was completely optional, yet everyone stayed behind of their own volition after every single class and got thrown and thrown. And then thrown! Even the beginners. In fact, especially the beginners!
This was such a huge and important step forward, a sure sign of the growing hunger and passion in our group but also of a strengthening of spirit. We are often reminded by our senpai that atogeiko is the singlemost important part of our training yet seldom do people push themselves with the necessary intensity and determination. To see it happen at this gasshuku was so very encouraging and inspiring.
So thank you all for yet another sublime weekend of Aiki magic and for not holding anything back. Heartfelt thanks to Julia for the wonderful shiatsu workshop she led, and to our hosts Malcom and Nara for making us feel welcome and sharing this very special place with us.
We're already looking forward to next year's gasshuku, so much so in fact that we quite literally can't wait! - plans are already afoot for our inaugural summer gasshuku at the end of this year on the south coast so keep an ear out! In the meantime, set your hair on fire and train, train, train!
- Berin Mackenzie
Gasshuku Schedule
Saturday 24th June 2006
0600 Carpool leaves Bondi Beach
0800 Arrived in Blue Mountains and begin preparing dojo
0900 Keiko
1100 Atogeiko
1130 Lunch/bushwalking
1330 Keiko
1530 Atogeiko and soji
1630 Shiatsu workshop
1900 Dinner at Japanese restaurant HanaEfollowed by videos of Takeda
Shihan and recent training in Japan
Sunday 25th June 2006
0545 Soji and fire-lighting
0600 Asageiko
0700 Atogeiko and breakfast
0900 Keiko
1100 Enbu and atogeiko
1130 Break for lunch/bushwalking
1330 Keiko
1500 Close of camp and photographs, soji, packup and farewell!
Participants' impressions
What a weekend!! Where to start? So many special moments with the most hilariously unforgettable, for me, being Berin and Stando skipping, hand in hand, along the bushwalking track!
This is the second time I have tried to write about the experience of a gasshuku in the Blue Mountains with Berin. Last year, I seem to recall, writing that the venue and the Aikido were breath-taking in their beauty. However this seems to inadequately convey the entire picture. This time round it is no easier to capture some of the magic of the place, the people and the training.
The joy of Aikido for me (the movement and the connection with my Aikido family) was distilled to it's very essence in such an intense environment. If you will indulge me for a moment and try to equate our learning of Aikido with learning a language (with basic moves like hanmi and strikes being letters and words, and techniques being properly formed sentences and paragraphs) then at this gasshuku we were dealing with poetry. We were encouraged to play with the language and break the rules to come up with exquisitely delicate poetry that was profoundly affecting in it's strength.
Perhaps it is the teaching, perhaps it is the environment or the relentless training or more likely, a combination of them that allows us to move beyond everyday training and begin to explore the artistry of Aikido. Whatever it is we need to recall the magic that we experience at these sorts of gasshuku and take it onto the mat every time we train.
Thanks to Berin for this wonderful opportunity. A great weekend!
Incidentally, this gasshuku was held the week after the 4th anniversary of Bob Gibbon's death. I like to think that we can still feel his presence and legacy at events like this.
- Fiona Hawke (AKI Orange)
High Remains
Blue Mountains high
Three dojos in one
From sea, city, country
Water, metal and earth
Mountain air
Open fire
All the elements
Hard nuts and old buggers
Fresh faces and youthful energy
Gathering in one place
To eat, train and grow
Together
A traditional gasshuku
Aussie style
Blue Mountains high
Winter beauty, bush surrounds
Mud bricks housing us
Cold floors underfoot
Native garden at our middle
Peaceful centre
Early mornings, visible breath
Bush walking to valley views
Communal meals from split kitchens
Improvisation on the menu
Celebration dinner
Japanese cuisine
Sake flowing like endless ukemi
Kanpai Berin San, Happy Birthday!
Blue Mountains high
Training intense between green and green
Hearts open, minds still as the pace increases
Spirits soar, bodies connect on jigsaw blue
Questioning, seeking
Creating, exploring
Extending, challenging
Dogis dampen, bodies ache
Shiatsu for repair
Can't go on, Can go on
Pushing beyond self limits
Surprising ourselves
Knowing ourselves better
Touching heaven and earth
Blue Mountains high remains
- Stephen Nugent (AKI Orange)
What a memorable weekend! From when we left Sydney early Saturday to arriving back Sunday evening I was on another planet and can't believe all the experiences could fit into that small time span.
The place is of course very special, and that it is in the bush and isolated from the day to day of city life intensifies the uniqueness of the experience, the only thing lacking being a couple of hot spring baths.
Everyone's openhearted spirit pervaded the gasshuku, both on and off the mat, and it was great to meet up and train, and sit around in the sun with such a great bunch of people.
A special thanks to Berin for all the preparation, but mostly for keeping the weekend focused, encouraging us to do those few more ukemi, teaching his unique blend of Aikido, and for just being Berin.
- Peter Baillie (AKI Bondi Beach)
After last year's intense training and all the fun we had, I was convinced that there is no way that this weekend could be any better. But I was wrong. This weekend was just amazing.
It was great to meet some new people and train with them, as I have not had much experience training with people, outside of our dojo, prior to this weekend.
Pushing yourself to your limit is always a great way to see one's potential, and having about 16 other exhausted Aikidoka around you never fails to bring you back up on your feet.
Even though I was forced to sit on the side for a while due to a minor back injury, I was still able to observe some beautiful Aikido by all the participants.
The shiatsu workshop was simply breathtaking, as I have never had such a massage before, which is why I am still wondering how I could have fallen asleep in the middle of the massage.
Thank you for taking us on this incredible journey Berin. I won't be forgetting this event any time soon, and I am sure that next year's gasshuku will be just as amazing.
- Dominik Schlueter (AKI Bondi Beach)
Taking out my old backpack, packing in thermals and sleeping bag it felt like I was back in high school, preparing myself for a school camp. I concentrated on packing trying not to worry about whether I can keep up with everyone in all the training. Although Aikido Gasshuku in the Blue Mountains was only for the weekend, I was well prepared.
Despite my little worry, the time spent in the mountains I was happy to be surrounded by people who were also glad to be there. It was a space so pleasant to be in. Without this and the good laughs we have had there was no way I could have trained so hard.
It was lovely to train with people from different dojos.
I had a good 12 hour sleep on Monday night, totally missed the (world cup soccer) game and the morning keiko....
That was the best gasshuku I have ever been to, better than the swimming gasshuku I went to when I was little.
Thank you Berin.
- Akari Kambara (AKI Balmain)
Not knowing what to expect from myself or the weekend and feeling very much
like like a fumbling beginner, it was with trepidation and excitement that I
signed up for my first gasshuku. All preconceptions were broken down as I
entered into a world of great heartfelt connections with fellow students,
long hours of training that seemed to get smaller the more I smiled, and
sake-filled dreams. The weekend significantly expanded my knowledge and
understanding of Aikido and my own practice. There is something special
about committing your energy to two whole days of training with
dertermination and focus, with the occasional distraction of beautiful
mountain views, yummy food and a good laugh! Well done to Berin and all the
other participants who helped make the weekend so enjoyable. All the bumps
and bruises were well worth it!
- Lucy Matthews (AKI Bondi Beach)
Thanks for inviting us to your gasshuku again. Now I think it was a
good timing. It helped me to get my energy and confidence back
for my training. There are so much laugh and smiles in the pictures we took in this gasshuku.
We had such a nice group of people to train together. First day was very tough,
feeling my limit and to push myself to the next level. It was very encouraging to see
those senior students training hard with open minded and staying back for long
atogeiko. I am glad to feel that I can push myself a little more. I really needed
this intensive keiko with fun and energetic people. Thank you Berin for organising
this wonderful weekend gasshuku in a beautiful space, and helping us see the lines
of extension in every movement. It's so rewarding to experience stepping out of the
mental limitation.
- Rina Abe (AKI Balmain)
I was so scared of training at my first time gasshuku up the freezing mountain. I felt so exhausted and had very enough training on the first day, but it suddenly happened on the second day that something clicked in my body. I felt beyond my limit, mentally no pain, mind free... and very calm. How amazing feelings it was!! I could push myself and achieve it! I did my very best as Berin taught me!
Thank you Berin for giving me a great opportunity!! I now more enjoy Aikido! It was so unexpected in a wonderful way!!
- Mikiko Tanihata (AKI Balmain)
It was very realigning and enjoyable to train with other dojos, to see the differences
and similarities, in a gasshuku way. People genuinely persevering with both physical things like ukemi
and technique as well as the mental, such as different ideas and attitudes from people and techniques,
spread many good things back into their own dojos and families. It was a great training weekend gasshuku.
Arigato everybody. See you next time.
- Jason Burrell and Asano Hasegawa (AKI Orange)
Blue Mountains snapshot: Cold feet, sore knees, tired body. Lucy's chai, shared meals, miso soup. M&Ms. Bush walking, shiatsu massage. Japanese restaurant with lots of sake and Berin's chocolate birthday cake. Watching Aikido DVDs next to warm log-fire. Scary enbu. New friends and fond memories.
- Grant Humphries (AKI Bondi Beach)
Thanks for putting on the gasshuku in the Blue Mountains. While it's hard to
see the wisdom in holding it up there in the middle of winter, this year the
weather was relatively pleasant. Just cold enough to accentuate those little
aches and pains we accumulated during keiko. The training was very
interesting with a very nice feel. This combined with a great bunch of
people and a really nice atmosphere made for a great weekend all round.
- Simon Wong (AKI Balmain)
The recent Blue Mountains gasshuku was a surprising exploration of both my understanding of Aikido and myself. There was no doubt I found the experience physically demanding, however I found by pushing myself a little beyond my comfort zone I was starting to discover more about blending with the flow of energy and an awareness of Ki greater than that created by muscular effort.
It was also brilliant to spend time with people tuned in to the same journey, some obviously far further along the path than myself, and the feeling of selfless sharing of their experience was truly a gift in these times of self interest and competition. I'm looking forward to the next opportunity to totally exhaust myself!!
- James Genge (AKI Bondi Beach)
Although injuring myself and not being able to participate in all of the training, the Blue Mountains gasshuku was an amazing weekend. Being my first gasshuku and also the first time training with people from outside Orange dojo, it was interesting to see other people's approaches to Aikido techniques and exercises. It was also a great social weekend, meeting and chatting to people of the wider Aikido community created a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, further promoted by the natural backdrop and fantastic venue.
All in all it was an amazing weekend and I am eagerly looking forward to the next gasshuku.
- Paul Wembridge (AKI Orange)
The Blue Mountains gasshuku, organised by Bondi dojo and led by Berin, allowed me to train with old friends from Balmain and Orange and meet new ones, in a beautiful dojo and bushland setting. The training was extremely enjoyable and challenging on several levels, building on themes I'd encountered before in new ways. Simple movements guided by rising, falling and expanding feelings were beautiful to watch and experience but difficult to reproduce !
I was really impressed with the enthusiasm, patience and spirit of everyone at the gasshuku, it was an inspirational weekend and I'm already looking foward to the next one.
- John Porter (AKI Balmain)
Experience through life has taught me that friendships are built on common or shared experiences. Total strangers from very different backgrounds can come together through a common experience, or experiences, that bind them together and form the foundations for future friendships - whether it be through enjoyable experiences such as travelling though other countries, or through adversity like enduring a storm at sea, being bogged in the desert, (or worse still trapped in a gasshuku in the Blue Mountains in mid-winter for two days).
And as shared experiences go, there is something intimate about Aikido that binds us together in a particularly close bond. Perhaps it is because we work within the personal space of each other, but it is a bond that carries on into our training. It offers us a safe environment in which to train.
For me, having the opportunity at the recent Blue Mountains gasshuku to spend the whole weekend living and training together offered me not just the opportunity to extend myself beyond my limits of comfort and find new depths to my training, but enhanced this bond. I see developing this bond with each other as an important part of our Aikido as it's a step toward developing a universal bond.
And there is nothing quite like the relentlessness of the gasshuku to explore the boundless depths to our training. The knowledge and understanding is fathomless, and the intensity of the gasshuku gave me the opportunity to taste that. I love when I capture that feeling, albeit briefly, but it's that taste for it that keeps me going and indeed it's what kept me going over the years. The gasshuku gave me a glimpse again into that well of learning and inspired me to keep at it.
Thanks Berin for organising and leading a very enjoyable gasshuku, and thanks to everyone from Bondi, Orange and Balmain dojos for the training, the company and of course, the laughter.
P.S. And thanks Akari-san for driving us back home on Saturday night!
- Jeff Standen (AKI Balmain)
2nd Annual Bondi Beach Dojo Gasshuku 2006
(See how we've grown!)
(L-R, front row: John Porter, Peter Baillie, Jeff Standen, Fiona Hawke, Berin Mackenzie, Steve Nugent, Simon Wongyouwai; middle row: Mikiko Tanihata, Akari Kambara, Lucy Matthews, Asano Hasegawa, Rina Abe; back row: Paul Wembridge, Dominic Schlueter, Jason Burrell, Grant Humphries, James Genge)
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