Above:    The Antennae Galaxies, two colliding spiral galaxies Back to Main          Volume 7, September 2007  Online Newsletter of Aikido Kenkyukai International Welcome at loooong last to Volume 7 of e-Aikitsushin! They say good things come to those who wait... so, thank you for your patience and I'm sure that as you read on, you'll find it was worth it : ) In this issue, we feature:      AKI Honbu Dojo - Message from Takeda Shihan      AKI Australia - Blue Mountains Winter Gasshuku 2006      AKI Australia - Kids star in Orange demo      AKI Australia - Aikido in Dubai      AKI Australia - 2006 Godogeiko and Enbukai at Bondi Beach      AKI Australia - Takeda Daiyu Sensei returns to Sydney      AKI Australia - Summer Gasshuku by the Sea      AKI Australia - A salute to Stephen Seymour, 5th dan      AKI Australia - Orange Aikido - Relaying for Life      AKI Australia - Canberra Easter Camp with Jean-Rene Leduc      AKI Australia - Introducing Salisbury East, AKI Adelaide's new dojo      AKI Australia - Blue Mountains Winter Gasshuku 2007      AKI Australia - Flying south for the winter (...gasshuku)      AKI Australia - The Year (and a half) in Review: Orange Dojo      AKI Australia - The AKI Way      AKI Australia - News from Tengoku, Erindale and the new Griffin Dojo      AKI New Zealand - Annual Easter Gasshuku with Numata Sensei      AKI Japan - Etsunen-geiko, NYE 2006 at Hachimangu Shrine      AKI Japan - 2007 International Kids Camp      AKI Japan - Akiyama Kyodai Dojo Gasshuku      AKI Canada - A busy 12 months for Kootenay AKI      AKI Chile - First Semester 2007 in Hakusan Dojo Upcoming AKI Events     September 22 - Floriade Keiko and Tulips, Canberra     October 20-21 - AKI Orange 5th Anniversary Celebrations, Orange     Nov 30 - Dec 2 - Aikido Summer Retreat, Royal National Park, Sydney     December 29-30 - Suzuki Yasuyuki Sensei Summer Gasshuku, Sydney To join the AKI mailing list, or to send articles, comments or suggestions for future issues, please contact aikidosydneycity@gmail.com AKI Honbu Dojo, Japan Cultivating Our Inner World 'Cultivation' is similar to 'development' or 'search' of our inner world. All the inner seeds are waiting for your awareness of their exsistence as Life itself. Pour and spray your love energy on them and motivate their genes of possibilities. It's a direct conversation with your 60 trillion cells or DNA, without any obstacles. The modern world is filled with the idea of chaos, which means filled with the idea of impossibilities However, Aikido will let us know the idea of possibilities, If we notice or cultivate our inner world connected with the whole universe... Purification, in other words. It's like a clearly purified lens to see the universe. Y. Takeda Yokohama, Japan 13 July 2007 AKI Australia Blue Mountains Winter Gasshuku 2006 On the weekend of 24-25th June 2006, Aikido Kenkyukai Bondi Beach held its second annual winter gasshuku in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney. A very full house of 17 Aikidoka, including close friends from AKI Balmain and AKI Orange, gathered 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 (AKI Bondi Beach) Click here for further articles and photos from the camp Kids star in Orange demo In mid July 2006, Aikido Kenkyukai Orange took a big step in its development with the introduction of children's classes. It is a big commitment for our small dojo but has proved to be a delightful one. Without advertising, using word of mouth only, we began classes with 10 students of 6 girls and 4 boys aged between 5 and 9 years old. The children have learned very quickly and are now working on a number of different techniques. Each class we build basic skills through games and then transfer them into a technique. Eight weeks down the track we felt confident enough to accept an invitation from Orange Public School (one of the largest primary schools in Orange) to do an Aikido demonstration at the school's fete. It was the club's first public demonstration. Both the adults class and the kids demonstrated, with the kids going first. They were absolutely charming and represented our group very well. We took them through some warm ups and games, finishing with katate dori kokyu nage. Quite a large audience had gathered while they went through their paces. We got quite a few enquiries subsequently. Six people from our adults class demonstrated straight after the kids and although the demonstration was a good one, it was clear that the kids were the hit of the day!     - Fiona Hawke (AKI Orange) Aikido in Dubai Between July and September in 2006, I was sent to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates to work on a few projects for Nokia. I didn't really didn't expect to find any Aikido in that part of the the world, but after a number of fruitless internet searches I came across an Aikido group in Dubai. I emailed them and asked if I could visit and they were very gracious enough to allow me to join their classes. The Dojo-Cho of Aikido Dubai is Sri Lankan-born Sugumar John Ratnam. The Aikido Club Dubai is affiliated with the Aikido Association International and follows style of late Fumio Toyoda Shihan. John Sensei opened dojo's in Colombo Sri-lanka and in Dubai in 1995. Alternating between Dubai and Colombo, eventually settled in Dubai to fully concentrate on the establishment of the Aikido Club Dubai. Since them he has been running Aikido in Dubai and holding three-seven classes a week for anyone who is interested and now has a loyal following of over 20 adult students plus kids classes. It can be very nerve-wracking going to a new dojo, especially one which has a different style and I was keen to ensure didn't make any great mistakes, but I needed have worried, everyone was exceedingly friendly and welcoming. Dubai is an international city which draws people from across the world to live and work. The dojo was no different with a large cross-section of people from all over the world including Syria, Egypt, Lebanon, Australia, Canada, Italy, South Africa and many more. The dojo has lots of people who 'train in transit' and they are very used to visitors. I spent about 8 weeks training with John Sensei and while the style was very different, I learnt a lot and it provided a good opportunity to get out of ones habits - not to mention training in very hot conditions. The average daily temperature was 46 degrees centrigrade, and while the dojo was air conditioned - I don't think if worked very well! John Sensei practices weapons, usually jo-kata and boken-kata for 30-40 minutes of every class. This was something I had not been exposed to with such continuity before and found very interesting. The AAI group have a very different focus on ukemi and there was no ate-geko as we know it. It was great to try new things while at the same time, it was very interesting to see who much is also the same. The emphasis that each teacher has a different, but there is definitely a common heritage. John Sensei and his students were generous and gracious and it was a delight to have the opportunity to visit them. The experience reminded me that Aikido opens the doors of friendship around the world. I made many friends. Indeed, I think the only real friends I made during my short stay came from the Aikido class. If you are ever in Dubai I am sure that John Sensei would make you welcome.     - Lou Ingram (AKI Balmain) 2006 Godogeiko and Enbukai at Bondi Beach In September 2006, Bondi Beach Dojo marked its 3rd anniversary with its annual godogeiko and enbukai. Aikidoka from Sydney, Orange, Canberra and the South Coast came together for the event. Steve Seymour, Mike MacGregor and Berin Mackenzie each led classes in the morning, followed by lunch overlooking the beach and bay. In the afternoon, each of the different dojos represented gave short demonstrations. It was a wonderful chance to get together with old and new friends, to share in training, and to appreciate and celebrate the many different approaches to this Art that were beautifully expressed by each participant. At the end of a day like this, we are reminded once again just how lucky we are to have a teacher who gives us the freedom and wholehearted encouragement to 'find our Way'. Click here to view more images from the day Takeda Daiyu Sensei returns to Sydney In October 2006, Bondi Beach Dojo was very proud to host a visit by Takeda Daiyu Sensei, chief instructor of AKI Tatebayashi in Gunma Prefecture. It was Daiyu Sensei's first visit to Australia in 7 years and he brought with him his wife, Keiko, and his son, Hiroki. Our guests arrived on a warm spring morning and went straight to Bondi Beach. After breakfast in a sun-drenched café, they hired bodyboards and hit the frosty waves before a nap on the sand. That evening, Daiyu Sensei, Keiko-san and Hiroki-kun joined us for training in the city and officially opened our new Sydney City Dojo. The dojo is situated on the top floor of the historic City of Sydney PCYC - the first PCYC to be built in Australia and home to one of the very first Aikido dojos in this country, founded by Sugano Shihan back in 1973. Early members of AKI Australia, such as Steven Seymour and Chicko Xerri, once practised there. Daiyu Sensei's class was very dynamic and inspiring, hinting at what lay ahead for us that weekend! The next morning, we woke at dawn and travelled to the Blue Mountains for some sightseeing. There, we enjoyed abseiling and lunch on Mt York, and a much anticipated but ill-fated trip down Empress Canyon. Thanks to an all-too-leisurely breakfast in Katoomba, the sun set midway through our descent, leaving us to downclimb one waterfall and jump another in almost total darkness! After a rather heart-pounding and delicate traverse over a condemned bridge, we reached the car and drove to Echo Point where we sat and ate fish and chips, squinting at the Three Sisters and Jamieson Valley through the blackness. The gasshuku delivered all it had promised and more. Daiyu Sensei's Aikido was breathtaking in its warmth and disarming softness. He connected so beautifully and gently with everyone he touched as he moved around the room, smiling, laughing and sharing his wonderful expansive feeling. Through a variety of relaxed spiral movements, playful turns and sharp lines of extension, Daiyu Sensei illustrated how to blend with and lead our partners while remaining relaxed and centered. It was a very humbling and inspiring weekend, and Daiyu Sensei gave us much to take away and study. Having the whole family on the mat together also brought a very special dimension to the training. It was an absolute pleasure for all of us to be practising with them. The next few days passed all too quickly and before we knew it, we were back at the airport farewelling our friends. We hope they enjoyed their stay as much as we enjoyed hosting them, and we really hope we don't have to wait another 7 years before seeing them down under again! No more canyons guys, I promise… ; )     - Berin Mackenzie (AKI Sydney City & Bondi Beach) Click here to view more images from Daiyu Sensei's visit Summer Gasshuku by the Sea, Australia Day Weekend 2007 On the day we call our national day When beach and cricket converge We gravitated north and east For a family, seaside, holiday gasshuku Getting There Directions great Then grate This house is on a street that is nowhere But asking bares fruit And there it is Up and down Hilly huge Big enough for all 19 of us! Keiko By the ocean wild Bodies roll like summer waves Beach waza dreaming Thanks for the Memories Walking to dojo … before dawn .. in the quiet Serious hills to climb and re-climb Keiko commencing as the sun appears at the edge of the ocean Birds seeking breakfast Meals shared as eaters come and go SURF'S UP - a southerly swell! Free massages from five year old feet The Great Spudinsky entertains all High stakes chess - CHECK MATE - underwear becomes headwear - OH YEAH! 3 Days in Killcare, 10 Days in Africa New Day brings New Training Sand on every surface Dogis drying on every line Happy Birthday Pete! - pick a colour, pick a number Thanks for everything Berin-san     - Stephen Nugent (AKI Orange) Click here for more photos from the gasshuku A salute to Stephen Seymour, 5th dan Stephen Seymour was awarded his 5th Dan by the Doshu at a ceremony at Hombu in Tokyo Japan this 14th January. With usual humility, he kept this momentous event very very secret, but the Aikido world is very small and eventually all such secrets get out. So while he would not be so keen to see the achievement celebrated on a personal level - it is an achievement which celebrates and acknowledges both his contribution and the ongoing contribution of Aikido Kenkyukai. Such a grade is about more than just technical excellence, which he certainly has, but is reflective of the dedication to the art over many years. He has been tireless in his pursuit of the art and extraordinarily generous in the time and commitment to anyone and all who are interested in 'finding their way'. Steve often tells the story of about Stewart asking Takeda Sensei what should the grading panel be looking for when they are grading students. The answer Takeda Sensei was said to have given was a simple and single word, 'change'. No doubt this 'change' is about continual improvement in technique, hara, awareness and focus as well as spirit. However, perhaps we can consider another element and that is the impact that one person can have on a whole community and Steve has certainly had that. He has changed the lives of nearly everyone he has met on the mat for the better - especially of all those who have trained at Balmain Dojo. In Australia, in our causal and knockabout way, we don't often stick to the full forms of dojo etiquette. We don't 'Hai Sensei!' and 'oous' with every bow and breath, but that doesn't mean that we don't respect our teachers. While we don't often call him Sensei, for many of us, especially those from Balmain, Steve is truly our Sensei to the very essence of the word is meant to convey. We thank him - because of his contribution to both individuals and the group. We salute his achievement - because it honours us all. We honor the man - because he deserves it! Congratulations Steve!     - Lou Ingram (AKI Balmain) Orange Aikido - Relaying for Life Sometimes on our Aikido journey it's good to get up off the mat, wander out the dojo door, smell the chrysanthemums, and walk the oval less trodden. That's what the Orange Dojo found itself doing for 18 hours on the weekend of the 17th and 18th of March this year. As a way of connecting with our community (as an organisation and as individuals), Orange Aikidoka joined the 5th Orange Relay for Life, a fundraising event organised by the Cancer Council in search of a cure for cancer. The event involved more than 50 teams and 750 participants, including our team of 12, lovingly dubbed Aikido A Go Go. We relayed our way around a 300m circuit overnight for 18 hours, simulating the relentless, inescapable effort of living with cancer. Along with other happy campers, Aikido a Go Go set up a base camp in which team members tried to catch a couple of hours sleep during rest breaks. Stephen's work, OCTEC, lent us their marquee which we decorated in lanterns and Japanese style screens and umbrellas, as well as our Aiki banner from Takeda Sensei. It looked great, especially at 2am when the body is screaming for a good sit down and a warming hot chocolate. We raised a good amount of money (thanks to those of you who made a donation in response to Stephen's email,) and clocked up 495 laps between us. This equates to almost 150km, a distance that would have taken us from Orange to the Blue Mountains. Fiona topped the individual effort with 116 laps keeping just out of reach of Stephen's big 4am to 6.45am dig, finishing on 103. Paul was also a big contributor in time and laps - 77 in total including 28 between 2am and 4am. Freya and Eden from the Kids Aikido Class managed 7 laps between playing badminton and other games, but it was 5 year old Portia who surprised us all and plodded away for 15 laps before bedtime in the tent. A number of Aikidoka were joined by partners, parents and siblings. Tom dragged partner Zewlan away from her studies, Fiona recruited her brother Phillip, and Eden brought his parents Sarah and Jeremy and brother James along, helping make it a real Aikido family affair. The Relay for Life is a wonderful event and an unique way to get to know people. There is nothing quite like the 3am conversations while walking around and around an oval in Orange. We are fortunate to have a terrific group of Aikidoka here and we're very glad to have been able to share this experience with each other. For more information on the Relay for Life please visit www.relayforlife.com.au     - Fiona Hawke & Stephen Nugent (Orange Dojo) Canberra Easter Camp with Jean-Rene Leduc The 2007 Easter Camp was held in Canberra from the 6-8th April at the Tuggeranong P.C.Y.C. The camp was led by Jean-Rene Leduc, 5th dan head instructor from Kootenay Aikido Kenkyukai in Canada, who was accompanied by one of his students, Dana. The training area in the P.C.Y.C. seemed huge at first, but due to the great turn out of more than sixty people the area was completely taken up. As soon as Jean-Rene stepped on the mat, his warmth and energy was felt, with his beaming smile and gracious appreciation of being able to train with us again in Australia. The training on the weekend was very tiring both physically and mentally, but extremely rewarding. Jean-Rene`s teaching was very free flowing and he talked about creating space whilst extending your energy in both directions. He also stressed that the role of uke in the movement is to keep entering but to be aware of ma ai and not put yourself in a position to be struck. Focusing on this seems to make ukemi easier and more natural to take. Saturday night was a chance to relax, with us all huddled around the campfire at Laurie`s, with plenty of food to refuel the body. Sunday morning saw just as many people on the mat eager to soak up some more of Jean-Rene`s wonderful feeling and knowledge of Aikido. With the body getting tired and sore, it was important to stay focussed as Jean-Rene had instructed, but was mentally challenging to do so. As well as the training, two shodan gradings were held on the Saturday and three nidan gradings on the Sunday. Congratulations to all involved. All too soon the weekend's training was over, with our bodies saying 'finally!' but our hearts wanting more. The training was a wonderful and insightful experience and many thanks must go to Jean-Rene Leduc and to all the people who made it happen. It was great to be training in Canberra at easter again. Hopefully we can look forward to more in the future.     - Paul Reid (AKI Adelaide, Salisbury East) Click here for more photos of Jean-Rene's Australian visit Introducing Salisbury East, AKI Adelaide's new dojo Whilst we are a relatively new club, starting our dojo in Salisbury East in September 2006, we have a great bunch of committed students already. Being able to attend recent camps by Suzuki Yasuyuki Sensei, Takeda Daiyu Sensei and Jean-Rene Leduc Sensei has given us plenty of new and wonderful ways of exploring and furthering our Aikido. Although our lessons are officially an hour and a half long, most nights go for two-three hours with lots of ukemi until we are so tired that we finally become a flowing part of the movement without a conscious effort on our part. We are looking forward to holding our first camp in July run by Berin Mackenzie, which will no doubt give us even more great ideas to work on during our training. We strive to improve ourselves on and off the mat through the studying of Aikido, and hopefully instil the same passion that we have for Aikido in our future students.     - Paul Reid (AKI Adelaide, Salisbury East) Blue Mountains Winter Gasshuku 2007 How lucky are we? To be able to attend an inspirational winter camp in the Blue Mountains with a wonderful group of people is a thing to be treasured! Returning to our peaceful venue, it felt very much like walking into an artists community with three days of creativity and artistry ahead of us. And that we had. As the weekend progressed, however, it also occurred to me that it was a lot like a science laboratory, a place to study and experiment. The analogies continued as the experience then became like a garden. A garden which we were entering at the beginning of spring ready for some hard digging. The soil had been fertilised earlier by the visit by Jean Rene. Here we could plant the seeds of concepts and nurture suggestions of movement. Here we were inspired to connect with the other gardeners to dig more deeply and embrace Aikido more lovingly. Here we were cajoled by Berin to "let our spirits shine" to help our delicate seedlings in pushing their way from the earth. I don't want to take this analogy too far and create a load of fertiliser, but I felt that after all our hard work in this gasshuku garden, each individual had something unique to take home and bring into full bloom. And as a final thought, it seems to me that it's not just about what happens on the mat that's important, but also the sharing (of laughter and living) that makes this type of camp impact so strongly on our Aikido. I look forward to sharing many more in the future and letting "our spirits shine".     - Fiona Hawke (AKI Orange) Flying south for the winter (...gasshuku) In July 2007, I was delighted to be invited to lead a gasshuku at Paul Reid's new Salisbury East Dojo in South Australia. Seven Aikidoka from NSW, including Peter Baillie, Jason Jarred, Ben Tan (AKI Sydney City and Bondi Beach), Stephen Nugent (AKI Orange), Sven Baumgartner (AKI South Coast) and Bertrand Doulliard (AKI Balmain), all flew to Adelaide for the camp. Paul and his students were gracious hosts and took wonderful care of us during our stay. I was very impressed with the openness and enthusiasm of his group throughout the weekend, both on and off the mat. They were warm-hearted and genuine, and held nothing back when it came to their training, especially atogeiko! Despite the considerable distances involved, the members of Salisbury East have always been a regular presence at AKI events here on the east coast so this invitation and weekend was a nice chance for us to return the support and share some energy with this young club. On behalf of the visitors, I would like to thank Paul and all of his students, especially Rick, Anthony and their families, for opening up their homes and making us feel so welcome. We look forward to watching your dojo continue to thrive and grow. Best wishes and happy training,     - Berin Mackenzie (AKI Sydney City and Bondi Beach) The Year (and a half) in Review: Orange Dojo It's often only in retrospect that we appreciate the significance of an event or a period in our life. Looking back on the past 18 months (January 2006 - June 2007) for Aikido Kenkyukai Orange, it strikes me as an important period in the life of our young dojo. The major event in the early part of this period was the move to our new location. As recounted in a previous article, we had to move out of our first dojo at short notice back in February 2006. This lead to 6 weeks training outside on the grass (not great for the mats) and no training for the month of April 2006, while we looked for a new dojo. The month of May saw us back on the mat in our new location - bigger (14 mats up to 27), more accessible and closer to the centre of town. What had seemed at times like a major hassle, became a major opportunity. Since the move, the dojo has expanded with 6 new adult members. Classes have grown from a regular 4 to 6 students per class, to between 8 and 10 most nights - still not large, but filling the increased space. We recently completed our first year in the new location! Commencement of Children's Classes was the other major event of 2006. The classes commenced at the start of the third school term in July, under Fiona San's direction and teaching. We've had a solid core of 10 students since the beginning, and in 2007, this has grown to 14. With the children have come their parents, not necessarily to train (although one parent has started), but adding energy to the dojo and community understanding of what we do. This was aided by a demonstration at the Orange Public School fete (see Fiona's article for details). The major highlight of 2007 to date, has been the visit by Jean-Rene Leduc Sensei. We were very fortunate to have Leduc Sensei teach at our dojo for two nights leading into the Easter Gasshuku in Canberra. For some of us, this meant training under his inspirational direction for 5 to 6 days in a row (and 7 for one)! The training and partying in Orange was short and intense, but helped to cement the sense of community in our group, and has led to quantum leaps for a number of students in attitude and attention both on and off the mat. Other highlights for Orange Dojo in the past 18 months include grading three of our long-term students to 3rd kyu, training at eight gasshukus including the 40th anniversary celebrations of Aikido in Australia, participating in Berin-san's 3rd anniversary enbukai, and celebrating Orange Dojo's 4th anniversary. What a time it has been for Orange Dojo and for Aikido Kenkyukai Australia generally. We can only hope that the next 18 months will be as rich in experience and as rewarding for ourselves and our students. Hope to see you all on the mat soon!     - Stephen Nugent (AKI Orange) The AKI Way This year, 2007, is a particularly active one for AKI Australia members. The group has been invited to a number of international events with high grade Aikikai instructors In May in Sydney, there was a one day seminar conducted by Terrey Hills Aikido and taught by Rosso Fernandez 6th dan, head of Auckland NZ Aikikai. Last year, we had 18 AKI members attend this event and this year we managed six. A great opportunity to meet our kiwi cousins and what a nice group they are. They enjoy our participation also, and as a consequence have invited us to NZ in October to join in Fujita Sensei's gasshuku over the weekend of 27-28th. Fujita Sensei is part of Aikikai history and currently holds these positions: Aikikai Hombu Shihan (8th dan), Director of General Affairs of Aikikai, Standing Director of All Japan Aikido Federation, Director of Japan Budo Council, Technical Advisor of Japan Overseas Co-operation Volunteers/Japan International Co-operation Agency, Auditor of Japan World Games Association, Aikido Technical Supervisor to British Aikido Federation, Hungarian Aikido Cultural Federation, Aikikai of Romania We have also been invited by Riai Aikido NZ to participate in their gasshuku with Robert Nadeau Sensei, 7th dan Aikikai, from 5-7th October. We were also invited to a seminar conducted by Australasian Aikikai, featuring Gordon Jones Sensei, 7th dan UK Aikikai. The fact that we are considered worthy of invitation to these high grade teachers is significant both for the way AKI is viewed and also how we conduct ourselves when we participate. Our standard is best assessed in these unfamiliar environments where we must be sharp to truly say we can modify to the prevailing waza and style. It is all so easy to think that we are improving when training in our familiar and habitual way, but the real test is when you need to connect with an unknown uke/nage, and to do so for a period of time under rather intense circumstances. The way we maintain composure (calmness of mind), posture, firm extension, stable balance and the ability to immediately reproduce unfamiliar waza and respond perfectly as uke is the real measure here. The fact is that we are, as are all humans, creatures of habit! It is the habit that tends to control us and diminish our ability to manifest the qualities of true Aikido. Only through constant training and self observation is it possible to change our constitution and thereby come out of the image we operate under. It is our own ideas which stand between us and our partner, or as O'Sensei said, "Universal Mind". We cannot 'know' Universal Mind for ourselves as a separate entity. We can only merge with it as it is the substratum of our mind. It is therefore useful to join with other groups when the opportunity arises and push ourselves beyond our normal comfort zone. It is at this point that change is possible and real improvement can take place. I know this is not really what we prefer but it is a necessary wake-up and has its place. Another aspect of participation is that AKI, Takeda Sensei and our sempai, become known and acknowledged. Word gets around in Hombu and it is very useful that shihans report AKI participation in their events. Our willingness to participate/support and quality of training is what honours Takeda Sensei in the eyes of his peers. This is vital to consider and reason enough to make the effort. This type of approach develops a selfless attitude. We train for Sensei's sake, to return what he has given us through his life's study. This attitude should cause us to give of our best and strive for improvement for the benefit of others (those we train with as well as the reputations of our teachers). With these thoughts in mind, I hope some of you will wave the AKI flag and enjoy the company of others who have chosen to study Aikido. I'm sure they will enjoy your company on the mat and maybe they will have some insight through your efforts. Remember, O'Sensei said that his wish was for Aikido to bring people of the world together! Ganbatte ne!     - Stephen Seymour (AKI Balmain) News from Tengoku, Erindale and the new Griffin Dojo Griffin dojo opened in January 2007 with a warm welcome from over 20 Aikidoka. It is a joyful and light dojo to train in. New faces, stalwart regulars, and long absent friends now grace the (rubber) tatami. Laurie Nash Sensei - the chief instructor of the dojo - brings much fun and humour to the training sessions. Laurie Sensei likes to incorporate his favourite dance routines from Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly when teaching ikkyo techniques, as well as his famous 'wax on, wax off' routines. Laurie Sensei's classes, while entertaining, are nonetheless intensive and full-on, and we've had many lessons in flying ukemi! I frequently find, also, that after a class with Laurie, I better understand what our senior instructors have been trying to teach us. The Griffin dojo kids' class has grown from four students initially to a regular group of ten (and on occasion up to thirteen!). Our kids have achieved so much in the last six months. From humble beginnings, they have developed much confidence, self-discipline, motivation and co-ordination of their movements. Ten students experienced their first grading, with seven achieving orange belt (those that began in Term One), and three receiving an orange tip (those that started in Term 2). Suffice to say, they did very well demonstrating shikko, backward and forward rolls, suwari waza ikkyo, and shiho nage (tenkan and irimi versions). Nigel Carruthers-Taylor Sensei is about to begin Saturday morning classes at Griffin dojo. This will be a welcome introduction for the city dwellers. First class begins on the 30th of June at 9.00 am, so if you're about, please come and join in the fun! Coffee at one of many fine local cafés is a must after training, and an incentive for those requiring a caffeine fix to get up early on a Saturday. Scot and Monty have been training at ungodly hours (5.30am - I know some of you out there may think it wussy, but it feels ungodly in the depth of a Canberra winter) in preparation for gradings. We have also joined forces to introduce some Jodo to the senior kids' class at Erindale PCYC on a Saturday morning (not quite so early - 9.30am) which has been well received by the students. They are a very keen group, and their already-sound skills in empty-handed Aikido techniques have made the introduction of Jo much easier to integrate. The classes combine Aiki Jo and Seitei Jodo, and the techniques are harmonised well. It is a joy to be part of such an enthusiastic group! We also recently had a 'reunion' night at Tengoku - just about all our Tengoku crew trained together that night - a random gathering of like minded spirits - see the photos! What a night!     - Monty Gallacher & Scot Burns (AKI ACT) AKI New Zealand Annual Easter Gasshuku with Numata Sensei This year saw Numata Sensei visit New Zealand for his fourth visit in as many years, to join in our annual gasshuku (seminar). There were many happy smiles of recognition as well as a number of new faces in the group. Below are some impressions of attending a seminar with Numata Sensei from one of the club's core members, Naomi Yuhara. I'm a relative new comer who has trained in aikido for 2 years. I came to New Zealand in 2001, and was a student for a while and now work at a childcare centre in Wellington. Since I met Ralph Pettman at Victoria University of Wellington, I've come to love aikido and enjoy training with my friendly, caring mates at the club. This is the third time I've attended a seminar with Numata Sensei. I'd only just started training in aikido a few weeks before the seminar in 2005, so I felt a bit nervous about going. But my senior mates encouraged me, "Don't worry, we'll look after you". Because my mother tongue is Japanese, I could really appreciate what Numata Sensei said and meant, at a different level to the understanding I might have gotten from an English explanation. By 2006, I had more experience in aikido, and I was able to welcome Numata Sensei back and was really positive about attending the seminar. His warm smile and kind words helped me learn, but I noticed that understanding it in my head is different from doing aikido! In 2007, many of the same faces returned to the seminar with Numata Sensei and the seminar started with a relaxed mood. At the beginning of the first day, we learnt using bokken (wooden swords). It helped us to learn how to move and to keep centred. We also learnt how aikido movements relate to katana (swords). The good position of zanshin (a relaxed, attentive posture) is identical with the end of a katana movement. In the afternoon of the second day, we learnt about the protocol for embukai (demonstrations). Each dojo performed their Aikido, and we could also see Numata Sensei's Aikido. It was the first time I'd seen an embukai. It was an extraordinary experience. I was fascinated by the dignity of Numata Sensei's aikido. Once we had bowed out, we met up and ate and drank together, as we often do after trainings. There were so many good aikido-ka from the seminar to talk with about the seminar and investigate the ideas of aikido. As Ralph sys, "We need to search out the 'do' part of aikido by ourselves". Indeed, that is what we are doing! After the seminar, I tried to remember what we learnt in the seminar, not only in dojo but also at work. I practised some of the basic movements with the preschool children. "Stretch your arm like this…" When I showed them how to do it, they were so good at copying. It was such a fun time. These children are so open-minded to learning and growing well. And I'm learning something from them everyday. Every year, when Numata Sensei comes, I reflect on what I have done so far, and I can also see how long I will be able to go on doing aikido in the future. I deeply appreciate encountering aikido and my aikido mates who take care of me: To open my mind and learn well, to keep my centre and to care for each other. The philosophies of aikido link to world peace and contribute to my happiness. There are a lot of things to learn, but I like to do it with my head high and to make progress. Naomi's impressions capture how Numata Sensei has helped us to build on the lessons he has introduced over the past few years, and which have helped us make progress as individuals and as a club. He has shown us how to work on good posture, centred movement and blending ideas from weapons work into our training. In addition to sharing his knowledge on how to improve and expand our aikido, sensei encouraged us to share ideas between the aikido-ka represented at the seminar. We held a short demonstration (embukai) along with the two other Wellington club's represented at the seminar, and we had a chance to see sensei's aikido above and beyond what he shares with us while instructing. It was a testimony to the spirit of cooperation and curiosity sensei inspired. Thank you doesn't seem to capture our gratitude for Takeda-sensei and Numata Sensei for their support for AKI, NZ. But we hope that this simple word communicates the message we intend. A sign of the strength and importance of the seminars is the on-going support we receive from the Wellington community. We would like to thank in particular VUWSA, the New Zealand Community Trust and Riai Aikido Wellington. We were also lucky this time to be joined by David Lynch-sensei, who acted as a translator. Aikido requires us to connect. And through these connections we learn from others and have the chance to research and develop our aikido.     - Rosemary O'Hara (AKI Wellington) AKI Japan Etsunen-geiko, NYE 2006 at Hachimangu Shrine Between 31st of December 06 and 1st of January 07, like every other new years eve, Etsunen-geiko was held at Hachimangu Shrine in Kamakura. More people than usual participated this year and we all celebrated New Year together. This New Years Eve training called Etsunen-geiko is one of the oldest traditional events in AKI Shonan Aikido Renmei, and was started at Sasame Dojo in Kamakura nearly 40 years ago. Sasame Dojo was the place AKI began where Takeda shihan and other senseis used to practise. Its size was 20 tatami mats and quite small comparing with other dojos we are using now but was built along side the street from Kamakura station towards Hase Great Buddha (daibutsu) and had an admirable appearance and great atmosphere. Seino sensei and other senseis all started aikido at Sasame Dojo and it used to be the central dojo of Shonan Aikido Renmei before Higashi Totsuka Dojo was built. Sasame Dojo was closed and the building itself was pulled down. Without Sasame Dojo, AKI Shonan Aikido Renmei wouldn't exist. After Sasame's closure, Hachimangu Shrine became the new place for NYE training. The year Takeda Sensei turned 60, we had his birthday party around the birthday cake (Sensei's birthday is 1st January). NYE training starts around 11pm then stops training and meditate at 12 O'clock to celebrate the New Year then training is continued until 1am. When Sasame was the dojo for NYE training, participants used to take train to Yokosuka afterwards and drink together until the first sunrise in a small bar called "Kikusui". It was very small space, ones who couldn't get a seat had to stand inside the shop or go over the serving counter and serve and drink at the same time. When I was a student, I didn't have a seat. Some years after I graduated uni, finally I could sit down at the counter. This bar used to be popular with defense force officials in Yokosuka but business was closed last few years so we now go to "Mame-danuki" near where Sasame dojo used to be. Not many people stayed for the party this year but we enjoyed the company as usual until 6am in the morning. If you are coming to spend New Year in Japan, I highly recommend to join our Etsunen-geiko.     - Hiroshi Yamamoto (Kanazawa Hakkei AKI) First Kids Connection Aikido Camp The first Aikido camp as a part of 'Kids' Connection' was held 22-30 July this year in Nelson, Canada. Children from Japan, Canada and Chile attended. Kids' Connection was set up to promote international cultural exchange between children from overseas dojos. Daiyu Takeda (4th dan) led members from his AKI Tatebayashi Dojo children's class, as well as some members from Zushi Dojo. Jean-Rene Sensei from AKI Canada and Manuel Sensei from AKI Chile led children from their dojos. Everyone had a wonderful time at this camp. Here are some reports about the camp by one of the attendees, as well as by Daiyu Sensei. Enjoyable time and happiest time in Canada What I enjoyed most in this trip to Canada was that I made friends from other countries. We exchanged conversation and became good friends. They were so funny and enjoyable. We could become friends very quickly. I took many photos of my new friends. What surprised me in Canada was that there were many mountains and I saw bushfires in a lot of places. However, I didn't like many insects in the mountains. I saw unusual flowers and I thought it would be relaxing surrounded by nature but I was busy running away from bees. What I enjoyed in Canada was people's faces, my friend Andreas (from Chile) would make funny faces when he was surprised or scared. I really enjoyed this camp in Canada.     - Mizuho Yamasaki (AKI Tatebayashi Dojo Childrens Class) Experience and Development The Canada International Aikido Camp for Kids has finally manifested after over a year of planning. This camp has successfully become a bridge to the future to connect different nations. Over 20 children with different language backgrounds seemed rather shy on day 1 and stayed with their peers of the same nationality. However, I could see they were so curious of each other that they soon started to communicate using their body language. It was so nice to see the process of the children getting along together. The first 2 days, they were so excited and played until late. Attendant teachers suffered from lack of sleep! The children who attended from Japan were fascinated by the diet. Pop & Chips was one of the most popular meals. They enjoyed eating piles of potatoes at every meal everyday. Aikido training was also a new experience as different methods of training were used by each teacher. The children enjoyed themselves of course, and the teachers also found these classes enjoyable. Half way through the camp, children were able to communicate to each other and could read each other's feeling and expressions. They seemed to have developed friendship though physical contact without having a common language or knowledge of each other's cultural background. At the end of the camp when they had to farewell their friends, some of the children had become such good friends that they had tears in their eyes. It was only a short and joyful camp for the children but I hope this experience will nourish their life and broaden their mind. In a larger scale, I would be grateful if this experience brings them understanding of various cultures and a way of thinking as we live in an international society. The background to this camp was an idea that came up during a casual conversation with Jean-Rene Sensei and Manuel Sensei when they visited Japan in May last year. We thought this camp would be the place for children from all over the world to get together and also be part of the Kid's Connection program. However, the actual preparation was unlike an adult event, full of concerns about language problems, transport, entertainment other than training, finance, and responsibility as a supervisor to prepare for health problems or accidents. There were a lot of issues we had to discuss, and this delayed our ability to provide a clear statement at the time we promoted the camp. It was a lesson for the next event. The local schedule went well as Joan in Canada assisted us with great care and I am sure all the attendees truly enjoyed themselves in a relaxed environment. Our 4 attendees from Japan have returned to regular training in their dojo and they seem to have gained more confidence since the camp.     - Daiyu Takeda (AKI Tatebayashi)     The above articles were generously translated by Rina Wong Click here to view the Kids Connection image gallery Akiyama Kyodai Gasshuku A gasshuku was held in Akiyama Kyodai Dojo (the origin of Akiyama brothers) from the 16~18th June 2007. The camp was led by Yoshinobu Takeda Shihan, 8th dan, and attended by 24 members of Aikido Kyokai-Kanagawa. Even though this was our third gasshuku, I felt nervous close to the date. I wondered to myself what would be the best approach to take in order for everyone to say at the end of the gasshuku, "It was very meaningful to train at the dojo where Masayuki Akiyama's Aikido style originated". This thought was always present while coordinating the event, talking to the shihans and the staff, and even while talking to the bento box delivery man. However, once the gasshuku had started, everything went smoothly, much smoother than what it seemed before it began. Being impressed by the fullness of energy people brought to the keiko I was overwhelmed, and before I had realized, the gasshuku had already past. When I saw people's smiling faces saying "Sayonara! Arigato!" as they parted, I was refreshed and happy that it all went well. To see more of the gasshuku, please visit our website.     - Soji Tachibana (Founder of Tokiwado Kyokai) "TodorokuTsutsu Oto tobikuru Dangan…. Sugino wa izuko Sugino wa izuya" I have decided to attend the gasshuku at Akiyama Kyodai Dojo. By the way, who were those Akiyama kyodai (Akiyama brothers)? Were they Judo brothers? No, they were great swordsmen? When I was troubled by my naivety, someone kindly informed me they were the heroes of a classic novel, "Saka no ue no Kumo". I have started reading it. When I got to the scene in the second book of the story, it suddenly clicked in my mind. I sang the lyric I wrote at the beginning of this article; "I have felt the weight of generations past." The day has come, the first day of gasshuku. My legs and hands not responding well to Takeda Shihan's instruction, I have felt the weight of my age. My breathing was uneven. During the enbu, I watched them wholeheartedly. In the breaks I drank juice sport drinks and rested. After hard training under the guidance of Shihans and others, there was always the Dougo hotspring followed by drinks before the evening meal. It was great training. Viewing the town of Matsuyama from the Tenshukak with everyone after the gasshuku. Sipping from the can of beer, feeling the subtle tiredness around the body while waiting for the train. It was indeed an enjoyable gasshuku. I hope one day to joined you again at the Akiyama Dojo and Dogo hotspring.     - Norimoto Nakagawa (Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Kenshu Dojo)     The above articles were generously translated by Akari Kambara AKI Canada A busy 12 months for Kootenay AKI Dear friends, I would like to greet everyone and express my thanks to all the people who have helped in the expansion of our club this past twelve months. Looking back, I see that many events took place and tens of thousands of kilometres were traveled. The person who was responsible for opening the South American connection for me was Dan Messisco from Modesto, California. We were delighted to have him lead a 3-day gasshuku in August 2006. The weather was fantastic and his warm and soft approach to Aikido principles was very well received. We look forward to having him return soon. December marked my 50th birthday, which the dojo celebrated with a weekend gasshuku and dinner celebration. We had a great turnout including a contingent from Idaho, USA, led by the teacher, Lenny Thorell Sensei. We have visited each other's dojos in the past, as he is only 3 hours south of the border. Idaho was the perfect choice for our February gasshuku as Lenny's dojo is located right on his farm of 15 acres complete with horses, deer, mountains and river views, great local dining and unbeatable hospitality. February in Nelson is marked by snow and freezing temperatures, so a gasshuku surrounded by hot springs seemed like the perfect location for a winter seminar. These last three months took me to the U.S, Australia, Japan, and South America (Uruguay, Argentina, Chile and Brasil). I was delighted to return to South America as it was my 5th trip there since December 2005 (see the South American image gallery). During my previous visit, in addition to instructing seminars to Aikidoka, I was delighted to have the opportunity to share our Art with people from other disciplines. As in my trip last summer, I taught groups of Tai chi students and for the first time, I taught a theatre group at the Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile in Santiago in preparation for an upcoming seminar for various theatre and dance troupes. In Buenos Aires, I was presented the option of exchanging Aikido lessons for tango instruction. It didn't take me long to say yes, given that this amazing city of 15 million people is the birthplace and capital of tango. The dance instructor was so enthused by the Aikido movements that she has invited to return to instruct groups of dancers. It was the wish of O'Sensei to spread the spirit of Aikido worldwide. I feel fortunate to have connected with so many people in South America who are willing to do just that. During my most recent visit, I had the wonderful opportunity to meet and train with two senior shihan from Argentina and Brasil. Both of those teachers were in their 80's and both are still going strong. They had a very active life in their respective dojos over the years with hundreds of diligent and warm-hearted students at their sides. I look forward to practicing with them again. While in Chile, I had the opportunity to study under two younger shihan; Gerard Blais of France and Donovan Waite of Philadelphia, U.S.A. Both shihans approaches and styles were quite different but nevertheless very nice. Between the four shihans, I learned a tremendous amount but more than anything I was reminded of the importance of steady practice and openness to different styles. This past June both Chile and Uruguay were presented with the AIKI scrolls officially welcoming them into Aikido Kenkyukai International. The scrolls were given at the end of each country's three-day seminar. My travels however during this trip began four weeks earlier when Neville Nason and Dan Messisco invited me to do a couple of seminars in California. The host for the San Francisco seminar was Sunny Skies. The next stop took me to various dojos in Australia including Steve Seymour in Sydney, Berin Mackenzie in Bondi Beach and Sydney City, Joan Reid on the South Coast, Stephen Nugent and Fiona Hawke in Orange and Mike McGregor, Bruce Lowes and Laurie Nash near Canberra. I am thankful for Steve Seymour for making this trip possible. It had been a long time since I was in Australia and it was a delight to meet familiar faces and greet new ones. Just like during previous visits the hospitality was incredibly warm and welcoming. I look forward to returning soon. Each dojo made a super effort to make my stay more than pleasant. Thanks to their great hospitality I experienced more of this country than I normally would have. Thank you to my Australian friends for supporting the Easter Camp and a special thanks to Mike MacGregor and his lovely wife Kerry for hosting this event. The special feast during the camp at Laurie's house is one that I will long remember. Thank you all for making this camp such a great success. The next stop was Japan where two seminars occurred on successive weekends. Philipp, Alix and Dana from our dojo made the journey to Japan to join in for the two weeks. The first seminar was held in a ski resort in the mountains of Niigata led by Takeda Sensei and Kadoya Sensei. It was a rare opportunity that I would not have missed. After training in Kamakura during the week, the Higashi-Tostuka dojo folks and Berin and us Canadians traveled to a resort town in Chiba for the next gasshuku. The hotel and the dojo were right across the street from the beach and wild ocean. Again, it was a memorable time as the training with Takeda Sensei gave us much to ponder for a long time (see more images from the trip). I'm thankful to say that our children's classes continue to be well attended. A large part of this can be attributed to the efforts of Miryam Huchet who leads these classes in our Nelson dojo. Roland Werner, our instructor at White Pines dojo about an hour away, continues to nurture the local kids in his rural area. It's not surprising then, that our first Children and Youth International Aikido Camp was well attended by many of our local children, together with groups from Japan and Chile. Our group consisted of 26 children and 10 adults. The camp started in Vancouver BC where on Sunday July 21st, the groups began to congregate at the University of British Columbia - the Japanese, led by Daiyu Takeda Sensei, the Chileans, led by Manual Diaz, and our Canadian contingent from the Kootenays. It was noticeable how quickly the camaraderie developed between all the children during the daily Aikido training at UBC and through all the outside activities including hiking, soccer games, time on the beaches, a visit to the famous Vancouver Aquarium, and other daily adventures. The second leg of the camp moved into the interior of the province, 700 kilometers away. In this picturesque mountain setting where our dojo took root 15 years ago, training, outdoor activities and camaraderie continued to grow. A demonstration was organized and all countries participated including all three teachers and members of our club. While we were able to take advantage of many of things a beautiful city like Vancouver offers, the mountainous, natural terrain of the Kootenays offers its own special gifts like when the children experienced misogi under a freezing mountain waterfall, exploring underground caves by headlamps, and learning about the geology of the area. Because of the warmth created amongst the group, it was clear that the children had difficulties saying good-bye. However, the Canadian experience continued for the Chilean group as we took them on a 9-day tour of a famous mountainous area known as the Canadian Rockies, including Banff and Lake Louise. In addition to the mountain biking, hiking, canoeing, and mountain-lake swimming, the group got to experience traditional First Nations ways when we spent 2 nights sleeping in teepees. It was a unique experience for many as we sang and played guitar inside the teepee with a fire raging in the centre of the teepee's fire pit. After our experience of this first Children & Youth International Aikido Camp and the feedback that we received, we are very much looking forward to the next camp! It turned out to be a busy aikido summer here in the Kootenays as this year also marks our 15th anniversary. We were honoured to have Seino Sensei from Japan join us to celebrate this important benchmark by leading a 3-day gasshuku beginning August 24th. The emphasis of the seminar was on kihon-waza. As always, Seino Sensei's teaching had a sharp edge, keen focus and gentle manner. His warm and gregarious personality touched the heart of everyone in attendance. Thank you Seino Sensei for sharing your deep love of Aikido during this special celebration (see more images from Seino Sensei's seminar). Now that the activities of the 15th anniversary are over, I will begin to work on the A.K.I. trip to Japan in 2008. The exact dates have not yet been decided. Although anyone is invited to join us, there will be a limited number of people we can take, so please let me know as soon as possible if you are interested. We already know that there will be a strong contingent from Canada and South America who will be making the journey. In 2006, I managed to find a home for 20 of us in the Kamakura area. As our numbers grow I may have to start looking for two homes. Although the trip will center around Takeda Sensei's Higashi-Totsuka Hombu dojo and Kamakura regions, it will also include some sightseeing and Aikido training in dojos around Japan. Warm regards to all,     - Jean-René Leduc (Kootenay AKI), July 2007 AKI Chile First Semester 2007 in Hakusan Dojo 2007 started with an open assembly summoned by Manuel Díaz Sensei. The purpose was to inform and invite to participate in fund raising activities to change our dojo's tatami. It was quite a successful meeting since it provided us with plenty of ideas for that goal. In the following months, we were able to see an enthusiastic participation from everyone in the dojo. Diverse activities were done such as Aikido seminars, concerts organized by our musicians, tui-na courses held by our massage experts and psychology workshops organized by experienced psychologists. By June 2007, the distance to our goal has narrowed considerably. Yet the best of this effort has been to realize we are a supportive and active community. Early May brought us the advent of G.A.I.A., Grupo Americano de Investigación del Aikido ( American Group for Aikido Research). At the moment this group is made up of dojos in Chile and Uruguay. In the near future we are expecting to add a dojo in Ecuador. The intention is to welcome every dojo in South America that would like to share a connection with AKI. From 19th-21st May we had a seminar led by Jean Rene Leduc Sensei. He filled our dojo with his enthusiasm and energy, always pushing the boundaries towards a deeper study of Aikido. We had the chance to share with him for three weeks. We felt his generosity and we are already missing him. KAMPAI!!! Manuel Diaz Sensei is soon to depart with a group of children to a youth seminar in Canada. Three adults and seven children in ages between 7 and 14. Everyone is eager to go and share with their fellow Aikidoka from elsewhere in the world. In summary, this has been a fully loaded semester. The enthusiasm and motivation to travel to Japan in 2008 is huge. Initial estimations suggest a 15-people Chilean delegation...and growing!!! Cheers!!! - May peace prevail on Earth -