08th Feb 2008
A Southern California Celebration by Kirsten Sims
Somewhere in my years of training, I’ve found myself to have become an Aikido Seminar “Junkie”. I just can’t get enough. Living my life from one Aikido seminar to the next, I’ve found myself asking the question “What is it about Southern California Aikido that keeps me coming back for more?”
Many Aikidoka welcomed the arrival of 2008 with unforgiving winter temperatures and ice-cold mats. However, a group of warm and happy southern Californians met on Saturday, January 12th to celebrate the arrival of the New Year with a one day Aikido seminar hosted by Ken MacBeth Sensei, dojocho of Kenshinkan dojo, and taught by Nakayama Sensei, Aikido Association of America Western Regional Director and Dojo Cho of Chushinkan Dojo.
My enthusiastic addiction to these Southern California Aikido seminars gave me yet another reason to excuse myself from the snow covered Inland Northwest and freezing temperatures of Spokane, Washington and to travel to the warmth and hospitality that is always provided by the folks at Kenshinkan dojo. For those of you who are lucky enough to have trained at Kenshinkan dojo, you know that each seminar is fantastically organized, full of wonderfully hard falls and lots of laughter; this short seminar was no exception.
Despite being a shortened seminar, the level of intensity and participation of the training was characteristic of a full 3-day Aikido seminar. The focus of the instruction was primarily on weapon training. Christine Dyer Sensei provided instruction in basic weapon technique, suburi (strikes), and kata for kyu-ranked students. Nakayama Sensei provided instruction to dan-ranked students in Kumi-tachi and Kumi-jo. The weapon training was punctuated throughout the day with a series of pre-tests for upcoming dan promotion exams. The opportunity to share in the journey of fellow Aikidoka by being an enthusiastic uke has always been one of the most rewarding experiences of getting to participate in dan pre-tests. The intensity of the one-day seminar gave many Aikidoka an opportunity to act as uke as their fellow Aikidoka prepare for upcoming promotion tests, and also provided an opportunity for those preparing for upcoming exams to feel the intensity and pressure of an actual exam situation.
Overall the seminar was well organized, well attended and enjoyed by those who were fortunate enough to celebrate the arrival of a New Year with their fellow Southern Aikido Aikidoka.
