The main theme of Saturday was to shorten the move and thus be faster. Once we had established the technique construction and points we must go to in order for it to work we tried not to wait for uke in that points, but go for “finale” whether it was morote-dori tenchi-nage or ai-hanmi katate-dori nikkyo before uke reaches maximum of his movement. Very nice experience (at least for Tori ). For me it brought a different feeling in those techniques which I consider a step forward.

Second way to “save time” in technique we tried out was to go into the movement. “Accept” shomen uchi, (as an exercise of course), “go under it” with block, and finally go under and pass the attack to quickly go behind uke for irimi-nage ura. It was quite difficult and challenging for many reasons and it is certainly going to be address on trainings in dojo for more insight.

Aside those main themes of the training sensei paid attention to basic rules for aikido (and all budo!) practise. He pointed out correct distance in the attack. “Impact-relax” exercises although painful should open many eyes to where the efficiency of the attack comes from. We also trained “not to show our back to uke” no matter how far the tenkan goes – 180, 90, 45 degrees. A matter of controlling the uke.

Among all the teachings of the day my favourite was this: “We should not do things in aikido, that we wouldn’t do in other martial arts”. Do not attack in void or in absurd distance. Do not forget you have an opponent who wants to harm you all the way during technique. Do not accept whatever Tori does especially when it has flaws. Give him something to work with. And so on…

Of course there was more. Everything wrapped around in skillful methodical lessons with examples that let you instantly see and feel the idea behind the techniques. World class teacher at your door. Too bad sensei Pascal Guillemin comes to Poznań only once a year…

Just a note that the seminar as always brought to Poznań many high level practitioners not only from around Poland but also France, Czech and Germany. Being able to try your skills with and get advices from sensei Milleville and his students from Berlin or with sensei Guillemin students is absolutely priceless

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!

Czysta radość (fot. Lech Misiarek)

Photos from the seminar can be found on the Kołobrzeg Aikido Club Gallery.

… braw, ale z pewną satysfakcją pochwalę się, że moja strona dostała PageRank 3/10 od Wujka Googla. Jak na prywatny projekt to już coś. W sam raz na zachętę i motywacje do dalszego działania. Dziękuję wszystkim za linkowanie i odwiedziny, bo ten wynik jest w dużej mierze Waszą zasługą

… minęły wakacje. Na szczęście bicie zaczęło się już od września w Shin Dojo, a od pojutrze pracujemy również z bokkenem Do tego za 2 tygodnie i 2 dni szykuje się staż z Shihanem Jhonnym Bernaschewice w Zakopanem a niecały miesiąc potem z Shihanem Christianem Tissier w Poznaniu -będzie się działo!

Pozdrowienia dla rozpoczynających nowy rok akademicki!

Zinteresowani ju-jitsu, aiki-jitsu, kobudo oraz iaido nie mogą przejść obojętnie obok oferty obozu Chi-ryu Aiki Jitsu i Okinawa Kobudo Doushi Rensei Kai w Mielnie, szczegóły tutaj. Zajęcia poprowadzi sam Shihan Johnny Bernaschewice, a więc warto bez dwóch zdań!

Druga propozycja, kierowana do aikidoków to Letnia Szkoła Aikido w Złotowie (szczegóły). Głównym prowadzącym będzie Sensei Pascal Norbelly, ale sama szkoła skupia śmietankę Polskiej Federacji Aikido, a potwierdzeniem “jakości” szkoły niech będzie chociażby regularne uczestnictwo wielu osób zza granicy (głównie z Francji).

Jest w czym wybierać a terminy zgłoszeń gonią, więc proszę nie zwlekać z rezerwacją miejsc!

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” , “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

Domo arigato!