Aikido of Tucson, Seminar with John Stevens sensei

Aikido as the Path of Friendship - Anno sensei's visit to Seattle

AANC Memorial Day Aikido Gashuku, Lake Tahoe, CA

Shinrikan Dojo Aikido Seminar with Keisuke Mizuno sensei

Chicago Aikikai Seminar with Kevin Choate sensei

Aikido Shobukan Dojo, Summer Intensive 2000 with M. Saotome and H. Ikeda

Aikido Yoshinkan at Sacramento, Seminar with Amos Lee Parker sensei

Amos Lee Parker Sensei at Aikido Yoshinkan Sacramento
July 6-8, 2000
By Steven Miranda, Chief Instructor - Aikido Yoshinkan Sacramento

In celebration of our one-year anniversary, the Seikeikan Dojo hosted for three days, Amos Parker Sensei. Also joining us for the three-day event, was Leslie Mills sensei. Both Parker Sensei and Mills Sensei home stayed with me and my family, as well as Skai Dancey Sensei and one of my students. For those in the Yoshinkan community, who do not know Skai, he is an IYAF registered Nidan and was the chief instructor of the Fudokan dojo in Kansas for a few years. He is a student of Sam Combes Sensei, Rokudan and chief instructor of Aikido Yoshinkai of California.

The event got under way on Thursday night, which is our regularly scheduled class. Joining us on this day was John Fox Sensei and his student Toni san. Fox Sensei made the 5 hour drive down from Ashland, Oregon and made it to my house in time for dinner. After pigging out, we all went down to the dojo. Thursday nights class ran from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM. Well, that's what the schedule said anyway. We went till about 9:30 PM. As expected, Parker Sensei really focused on our kihon dosa and kihon waza, which included Ikkajo, Nikajo and Shiho-Nage, from various attacks, as well as our kamae. Unfortunately, Fox Sensei was unable to stay the evening and made the trek back up the highway to Ashland. Kevin Blok Sensei was due at his door step the following afternoon.

Friday morning was a last minute decision to train. After breakfast, Parker Sensei, Mills Sensei, Ron san (my student) and myself went to the dojo. We trained from 9:00 AM to around 12:30 PM. Once again, Parker Sensei picked us apart. I for one haven't been critiqued in a while, so it was a good session for me. We really focused on kihon dosa, kamae and how we should be teaching it. Skai Dancey Sensei arrived at my house later in the afternoon, having driven up from San Francisco. Dancey Sensei was on his way to Taiwan for business, but made the detour to be with us. Friday night we all assembled, about 10 in all like Thursday night, and did about an hour of Aikido. We then spent the next couple of hours grappling. During this session, I introduced our visitors to the basic drills and covered all the various things that can happen to someone who does not know how to defend themselves on the ground. I showed how our basics and the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu basics I learned from my sensei, are very similar. (These were taught to my sensei by the Gracie and Machado families) Ever try doing Shomen uchi; Ikkajo osae, from your back. :-)

Saturday was the big day. We all assembled again and started our training at 8:00 AM and did not stop until 12:00 noon. (We did manage a two minute break every hour or so) Nothing like a mini boot camp. Once again we worked on Kihon dosa and waza and worked on variations of the basic motions. Mills Sensei also taught for about 45 minutes.

This was her opportunity to have her teaching skills critiqued by Parker Sensei. She did a good job, if I do say so myself. We got underway again at 1:30 PM and trained until 5:00 PM. Yet another marathon session. Along with more of the basics, which was good for my gang being as most are new, we also worked some advanced techniques and pins, using the basics as our guide. Once again Mills Sensei had about 45 minutes to teach. She introduced Tai-chi to the class and led that into Kokyu waza. Very cool indeed.

We ended the day with what appeared to be a spectacular jiyu waza by Parker Sensei. I say it that way because unfortunately, we did not get the video camera reloaded quick enough, and I was the uke, as well as Dancey Sensei. We both agreed that we should get frequent flyer mileage for all the time we spent flying across the dojo. It was a great feeling being hammered by a haichi dan. They're great. Can't live without them.... Can't throw or strike them...

After our marathon session on Saturday, we all reassembled at my house for a dinner party. Out came the sake and beer for "After class exercise 3". Everyone ate and had a grand time visiting with Parker Sensei off the mat. He truly is a great teacher and gentlemen. The event officially ended Saturday night at around midnight. Sunday morning, Dancey Sensei left for San Francisco to catch his plane to Taiwan. I then took Parker Sensei and Mills Sensei to the airport where we said goodbye.

In closing, I'd like to thank Parker Sensei for his time and efforts as well as Mills Sensei, Fox Sensei and Dancey Sensei. I'd also like to say thank you to the all my students for their trust and faith in me and for helping to make this celebration a success. And finally, to my wife Marie, who prepared the food and made sure everyone was comfortable and to my 3 daughters, who graciously gave up their rooms for our visitors. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.

Respectfully yours,