Seminars
Reviews of the seminars and courses I took part in...
Aikido seminar with Shihan Christian Tissier, 15-16th of November 2008, Suchy Las - Poznań
We've waited 2 years for Shihan Christian Tissier to visit Poznań again. It is very sad he won't come in another 2 or 3 years but the amount of motivation to practise tops this period twice :) In other words: another great seminar! Loads of work had been put by the organizators to make this meeting perfect, and it worked! Quality of the time spent on almost thousend square meters of tatami with one of the best budo teachers in my opinion is a rare experience.
Sensei Tissier was in very good shape and mood. As usually he lead well organised training even though the plan of it was developed as he went, adjusted to the level of participants.
The leading topic of seminar was searching points and reaching limits. Points in Tori-Uke interaction that are neccessary to do the technique. Again Sensei emphasized that the constructions/forms we practise on our trainings are nothing more than a way to learn where are these points and how to use them (of course besides keeping the attitude, balance and vision -the basics). As it comes to application we should always go directly to the point and this is the only way to make aikido work in a real scenerio. Of course sensei Tissier didn't forget to give excellent examples to his thoughts. My favourite one was jodan-tsuki - kaiten nage which also has been one of the nicest adaptation of bokken technique I've ever seen. It didn't change the fact that other bokken techniques we practised on Sunday were as usually perfect teaching material and showed in most clear way the basics of movements we use in unarmed training and applications.
On the ground of 'finding the points' Sensei Tissier also described to us limits and how his technique developed (and maybe our will). He said that the stages of learning come as follows: the stage of phisical kind of techniques, then phisical plus technical stage. Reaching maximum perfection of technical skills - "When you can't go faster or stronger" makes one search for other ways to do the technique. Sensei explained a lot about limits in each technique, and what makes him re-think moves to find shorter and more efficient approach. A nice example was katate-dori - uchi-kaiten-nage with sudden stop of uke right after the grip. For me it looks like a return to the roots of aikido - aiki-jitsu, but with perfectly studied each and every little detail of the movement. But everyone sees what he likes ;)
Another thought worth mentioning was about kiai. Sensei Tissier explained that kiai is like an identity, finding oneselves kiai is finding oneselves vibration. The kiai should always be the same just like the perfect cut with a sword. By the way Sensei's kiai had a great echo :).
On top of the great trainings I had a very pleasent time between them spent with friends, too bad I see some of you that rarely ;) Domo arigato and until we see again!
Photos from the seminar can be found on the Kołobrzeg Aikido Club Gallery
.Celebration of 15th anniversary of Chi Ryu in Poland, 18-19th of November 2008, Zakopane
Domo arigato gozaimasu! It was a terrific seminar, rich of technical content, in great athmosphere, perfectly organised, in other words the most right way to celebrate 15th Anniversary of Chi Ryu in Poland :-) In my head there is still a lot of floating impressions but I shall try to put them together for you in a chronological way.
Friday, 23:56. I'm running out from home with bag and weapons into parking, almost late as usual...
Saturday, 0:30. We're moving out from Sensei Artur's home in Zabór. There is many hours of driving ahead of us. Excitement mixes with unwilingness for over-night driving. In my mind there are memories of the journey to Oświęcim in the year 2000 for European Martial Arts Course (EMAC) when we had also driven through the night with Artur. Back then it was our second seminar with Shihan Jhonn Bernaschewice, the founder of Chi Ryu, and we were just getting to know him. This time we and our travel mates Łukasz and Michał all new exactly what to expect in our destination. Or did we...
3:43. I used hand drier in man's room at one of highway's stops and accidentaly woke up the man "keeping eye" on everything there. He told us several bizzare stories while we were having coffee and sandwiches. We fleed the scene quite fast... ;-)
4:35. Sleepingness crisis is over, partialy thanks to energy drink, and partialy thanks to cold air at the fuel station. Łukasz and Michałem are resting bravely on the back seats, ready to take our places any minute in case there is such need. The music disc is getting boring and the radio is poor.
6:23. Oświęcim. We joined Sensei Przemek's group. There are a lot of faces we know and like here, for example Krzysiek, Żaneta, Patrycja, Marek and others. We're awaiting for one sleeper... ;)
9:56. Zakopane: arrival at destination. We skipped Zakopianka highway for a side way which was supposed to be faster. Well, it has been more interesting ... :D Luckily there is a 30-minute slip in the schedule so we're right on time.
10:30. The ceremonial welcome and we start the first training. There are lots of people bonded with Chi Ryu over the years across black belts. There are also some new faces. This is similar in the kyu group. The same passion and respect for the same man unites everyone. HE is about to start our training...
Since that moment the time began to flow in a different way, or rather stopped. Shihan was demonstrating the the techniques, explained, corrected our errors; we practised. As it was said the techniques were focused around 3rd and 2nd kyu. Shihan Jhonny Bernaschewice as usual not only demonstrated us the basics of "work" with knife and hanbo but also explained the purpose of each move which builds the extraordinary coherence and logic of the Chi Ryu school. There were also a lot if details which are the essence of the forms. The training ended with inspiring and developing combinations. I did not notice when the 2,5h passed and left the mate with regret it is over.
During the break I was suprised and got an honor to take part in a lunch with Shihan and Chi Ryu instructors. Great meal of local specials was only overrated by the magnificent company and talks, including Shihan's stories. Many thanks for the invitation :)
The second Saturday training was devoted to Kobudo. Naturally we started with basics of Bo to move fluently to part of Syushi-no kun kata and the first bunkai. The instructors has also had the oportunity to practice the whole Syushi-no kun and Chu-no kun. Next we took nunchaku and tunkwa in our hands. Shihan Jhonny emphasized contol, contact and the correctness of strikes showing us different aspects of using these two weapons. The whole training was completed by bunkai bo-tunkwa and combinations with nunchaku plus, for the instructors, nunchaku kata. After the training Shihan demonstrated few relaxation techniques which everyon could try with their partner, and which proved to be very useful ;-) Tired but satisfied we left ahead our rooms. Our walk was brightened by fireworks after the Zakopower concert which took place across the street from our dojo (the organizator sensei Rafał did his best ;-) ).
However it was not the end of atractions for this evening. After 8 p.m. we gathered in reserved highlanders' restaurant to celebrate the 15th Anniversary of Chi Ryu in Poland additionaly with cake a party with beer and oscypek (local cheese), hey!(local saying) ;-) Great atmosphere accomplying this meeting and chats one more time proved that Chi Ryu binds people not only on the mate but also with a frendships that stretches far behind dojo borders.
Sunday morning, fresh and even well slept ;-) we started the Iaido training which was followed by Jo jutsu. We focused on basics, not only the technical ones but also philosophical bases of practicisng each of the aforementioned arts. Shihan explained the meaning of iai, do, and jutsu, including examples. Something for deeper consideration at home.
After the training there was the time to sum up and thank Shiahan Jhonny Bernaschewice for the years spent together and his investment in the development of the School in Poland. A very nice accent to the ceremony was the participation of masters who first brought Shihan to Poland 15 years ago and many other people who put a lot into development of Chi Ryu in Poland. They also received loads of thans and applause. The Shihan Jhonny himself expressed joy and thanks for the warm he is always welcomed with here and for our will and enthusiasm to work with him on tatami for long exhausting hours anytime 8) We felt great regret that this special seminar is over. There is nothing more than to wish Chi Ryu adepts in Poland many more such fantastic and even more round anniversaries and constant development which after all is one of founds of Chi Ryu.
The seminar was organised with a kick, class and on the high level which leaves me to one more time thank the roganizator - Domo Arigato Gozaimasu Sensei Rafał. And let this kind of seminars take place as often as possible. Impression left in me by sunny, full of fresh mountain air and sights Zakopane is still alive. Road back home was quite pleasent. I got home in 7,5h. A journey worth each and every kilometer. I'll come back here for sure :)
See some photos from the seminar in the gallery of Oświęcim Dojo.
Goshin-ryu seminar (19-20th of April 2008, Tułowice near Opole)
Photo-comicks account of the seminar, not really serious ;-)
to be continued...
Jhonny Bernaschewice Shihan (18-22nd of February 2008, Hechtel-Eksel, Belgium)
I have never attended a seminar with Shihan Jhonny Bernaschewice I didn't like, also I have never been to such a great seminar like this one before. In scale from 1 to 10 I'll give it 11! :) But lets go back to the start. For me this has been the first visit to Chi-Ryu Aiki-jitsu Hombo Dojo, as long as for Marek and Patrycja. Only Sensei Przemek of our 4 has been at Hombo Dojo many times before. This became our advantage as he knew where to take us, he also made this seminar possible for us at all for which I am really very grateful to him :)
The travel to Belgium although long was quite nice and even comfortable considering the amount of equipment and luggadge we had. We arrived late in the evening. After short but warm welcome from Shihan we set up at the dojo and having eaten supper went to sleep. The morning was cold and we got up fresh and ready for training...
We worked according to scheme of 2 trainings with Shihan a day, and one additional in the evening to memorize techniques. On Monday Shihan started with Chi-Ryu kihon kumite explaining not only the movement but also principals of kihon kumite practise. Then we moved on to jodo basics and kumi jo. On kobudo trainings we took off with bo and sai hojo undo's to go to Syushi-no Kun Kata bunkai.
On Wednesday we had our 2nd training with a group of German and Dutch collegues. It was nice and interesting experience. On that training we've learnt the whole 'drawing' of 5th bo kata - Shishi-no Kun. Morning on the other hand was devoted to Nage-no kata and ne-waza.
During those 5 days we also practiced some ken-jutsu, Shinto Kata, Chi-Ryu Aiki-jitsu (of course!) and more... There is no way to describe it all. Lots of details, explanations of the forms and correction of the errors all together made a precious gift from Shihan. But wait, there was even more! Yes, Shihan did not stop on a strict techniques trainings. While explaining key points of some of them or simply answering our questions he tried to give us a deep insight into Chi-Ryu, so he has also spent a lot of time giving us some basic lectures of acupuncture and even Japanese language which for me was both surprising and very fascinating.
Unseparable part of the seminar was also the time spent off the tatami so I have the pleasure of duty to report it as well ;-). We had the honor to be guests in Shihan's house one evening to spent it hearing his stories from travels to Okinawa and other. It was great! We also visited Mrs. Maria, Shihan's mom, who is a truly likable and very nice woman. Just to add we've even found some time to watch several movies in our private dojo-cinema (Sensei Przemek's laptop ;) ), which usually accomplished evening relax.
To sum up, it was really nice to see Shihan in such a good health and as usual in great shape. The amount of knowledge he's spilled into our heads was amazing and the great time spent together in Hechtel made this seminar unique and unforgettable for a very long time if not for life :)
Domo arigato gozaimas Sensei!
More Photos: Trainings and after trainings.
Christian Tissier Shihan (17-18th of November 2007, Cracow)
Lost in translation ;-)
Marian Wiśniewski Sensei (18-19th of May 2007, Poznań)
Another nice seminar at Shin Dojo :) Sensei Marian Wiśniewski, 5th Dan since January this year, as usual in good mood led 3 trainings for the adult group and 2 for children. During the whole seminar we worked mainly on "uncommon" technique entries (if not yoko-men-uchi from the "wrong" side, then again sweeping it in front of you...) and kokyu-ho. The techniques were not easy but worthy the effort. Especially correct kokyu-ho instead of irimi-nage. Our kokyu-ho were to be ultimate in any situation, no matter if the uke attacked with yoko-men-uchi, chudan-tsuki, or if he did not attack at all ;)
Sensei paid attention to correct irimi-tenkans, demonstrating it with two jo, after which he used one of it to threaten us in case we were to repeat the errors ;)
Lots of knowledge and sense of humour, great atmosphere, just Saturday afternoon went a bit hot. At the end of the seminar there wad kyu certificates handing in and... best wishes "wszystkiego Wiśniewskiego" :D, "Sto lat" presents for Sensei Marian Wiśniewski on the occasion of his 50th birthday (which by the way are another spent on teaching at seminar in Shin Dojo). There was also a cake, cherry cake of course :D
Domo arigato!
Seminar with Soke Keido Yamaue - Świebodzin, Krosno Odrzańskie 11-13th of May
It was the first seminar organised by PAJJ for a long time now and I must say a big thanks to the organisers: masters Mirosław Wiśniewski and Mirosław Glaz for a baggage full of inspiration and energy which I brought back with me :) Unfortunately I missed Friday's training due to misunderstanding with trains and my seminar was so forth shortened only to Saturday's training.
He's also a priest in Buddhist temples: Imperial Daishoji Temple and Saga Imperial Palace / Daikakuji Temple.
Currently he lives and trains in Denmark, he travels a lot teaching in seminars.
Soke Yamaue is a very interesting person. Above all he's very open to people, friendly and keeps smiling :) He seemed very happy to be here and it showed he wanted to teach us a lot of things. He begun the first training on Saturday with explanation of the specificity of samurai age in terms of martial arts... on the example of seiza etiquette. We were then divided into two groups: master and students. While soke Yamaue thought masters, sensei Mirosław Glaz, and in the second part also sensei Mirosław Wiśniewski took care of us -students. It made me miss Niesulice camp in 1999 ... ;)
The techniques were adequate to the group level and the conditions - we had no tatami, so they ended without any throws. Masters' group at the tatami was separated from us with a huge cottar which was a effective way to stop us from any sneaking ;) It was a great prelude to the "main course".
Soke Yamaue started with explaining the stance used by his monk adepts[see the frame] - humble, kind, but at the same time closed and alert - just right for unexpected attack. Later on we moved to freeing from grips, we took the active approach, with proceeding to neutralisation of the attacker.
During the half an hour break there was some time for taking a photo with the master and to ask him for the signature in Budo Pass, the rest of the break sensei Yamaue tirelessly talked and explained "few things" ;) to a group of listeners.
In the second part of the training our group had a little less time with sensei Yamaue, but in favour we were taken to tatami. We stayed with grips, but for a change in suwari-waza and handachi. After we tried few combinations sensei started a series of presentations of different kind of techniques, not only in seiza. He explained the value of technique done not only on mechanical pain application basis, but also with the use of Ki energy flow, especially in the form of wave... Each uke's face expression said everything for itself, I didn't see mine, but I think it was similar ;)
Ceremony, lockers and the road home. I only regret it was that short and I had no time to speak to many of my friends whom I had not seen for a while...
I didn't take any pics, but few kind people did, you may see them here..
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