Aikido World

If you enjoyed this summer’s kenshusei blog by David, check out Life of Yoshi, another look at this year’s kenshusei experience written by first-time kenshusei Yoshi, visiting for the month from Salt Lake City, Utah.

Last friday, Dale left the program of Kenshusei and Tenshinkan dojo in the morning. Thank you for the time we´ve spent with you, and hope to see you next year.

We had no class until the afternoon, so Alex, Carlos, Yoshi and I went to help Freiburg Sensei to move things in his removal.

Erickson Sensei and Donovan Sensei gave our last afternoon classes, and we went out to have dinner, after which Toyoda Sensei left the dojo because, in the early morning, he had to take a flight to Rhode Island.

Las thursday, the Kenshusei group had the last day with all the classes; we gave the last zen class, and, at two, two woman came to give a yoga class in which we did lots of postures and breathing exercises.

In the evening, Carlos got his brown belt and I got my blue belt, and we two and Alex received our certificates (Alex is just adding a stripe to his brown belt), and the Kenshusei people went out after the classes, given by Parks Casey and Erickson Senseis to eat pizza, with Parks Casey Sensei, Toyoda Sensei and Catherine.

Last wednesday, Maite Sensei, Alex, Carlos and I went to a Harley Davidson motorbikes museum, in Milwaukee; Rehrahuer Sensei took us there in his car, and it was reeeeally amazing: we saw lots of different models, we made lots of photos, and we also visited a big section about Evel Knievel. Later, we went to have lunch to the suburbs of Chicago, and, at seven o’clock, we arrived at the dojo and assisted to two aikido classes and to Aaron’s first kyu test, which he passed, congratulations!!

And also, Alex, Carlos and I were told to have passed our first, second and fourth kyu exams, respectively.

Yesterday, the last week of the Kenshusei program began; it seems to us that the month has gone by very quickly. Also, I reckon that we all want to return home, but we would like to stay a bit longer. Nevertheless, we train keep training hard every day, which is a good thing, because it is now when we our in the highest of our progress; yesterday, Toyoda Sensei gave a class about yokomenuchi, and we also spent one hour and a half with Casey Sense, seeing techniques from the crossing grab attack.

Last sunday, the group of Kenshusei enjoyed our last weekend in Chicago. We had no classes at all, which we made good use of: some people went out to have lunch, Yoshi, Paige and Laura went to Millennium Park, and Alex, Carlos and I went to visit the Aquarium and “Lincoln Park” Zoo; so we all had a day of rest to see the city, before the last week started.

Last saturday, we had a party at Tenshinkan dojo in the evening; many people came and brought food, drinks and games. We had a good time talking and having fun, and most of the people stayed until around eleven; we took the tables and the mats from the kitchen to the kendo hall and put all the food and stuff on them; Toyoda Sensei brought a baize to play cards, and, after a long time playing, he won in a game in which one had to slap quickly on the table to get all the cards.

And thanks to Jordan for the cakes, to Maite Sensei for the spanish omelets, to Catherine for the biiig pie, and to whoever else brought the pizzas, the drinks and the cookies; I assure you we Kenshusei people enjoyed and are enjoying them very much.

Yesterday, the Kenshusei group had a yoga class at seven o’clock, followed by an aikido one. Then, we cleaned the dojo and we went with Rehrahuer Sensei and Toyoda Sensei to have lunch to a chinese restaurant at twelve. We came  back to the dojo and we could have some rest until the evening classes, given by Toyoda and Ray Donovan Senseis.