Boulder Aikikai Halloween Seminar with Mitsugi Saotome Sensei
Friday October 27 through Sunday October 29, 2000

Contributed by C. Gray

Friday began with kokyu tanden training. Saotome Sensei asked, "What is the purpose of kokyu tanden ho training?" His answer is "Unification. Learning to connect and join with our partner. Musubi."

As students proceeded with seated kokyu tanden practice, Sensei brought class to a halt. He demanded that we abandon our memorized application of this practice. Our training must incorporate shugyo. At the initial stages of our training, it is important to learn techniques through muscle memorization. As our training progresses however we must move beyond what we have memorized and search for the underlying principles of aikido. We must continue to make our practice fresh by not being trapped by what we have already learned.

Saotome Sensei continued by saying that aikido philosophy may function as a guide to our training. However, it is simply a roadmap. Looking at the map will not get us to the destination. Similarly, speaking about philosophy will not significantly improve our technique. We must seek to embody the philosophy through our training.

Sensei warned that we would not be able to unify with our partner without increasing our sensitivity through relaxation. He informed us that this relaxation is very important biologically and from a martial perspective. Excessive amounts of tension causes our senses to contract, thus limiting the input we receive to create the proper movement. Relaxation allows our senses to function optimally, allowing more information concerning our partner to be received. This information includes speed, strength, direction, balance and intention.

Saturday morning class continued with the concepts of connection, unification and relaxation. Taking the next step, Saotome Sensei showed various techniques from katate dori, kata dori, shomenuchi, and yokomenuchi. Once connection with our partner has been made, we must conduct this unified energy in a manner that brings the encounter to resolution. As students struggled against one another, Saotome Sensei reminded us that we should use spiral movement to avoid using strength against strength.

Afternoon class had attacker and responder both with shinai. The attacker initiated an attack, then immediately countered the responder's movement. Instead of there being a clash of weapons, the attacker circumnavigated the response using assorted combinations of distance and timing. The intense rendering of the use of the sword by Saotome Sensei stretched the capacity of the seminar participants. In addition to being a study of ma-ai and de-ai, the sword work provided a chance to enhance mental and physical flexibility by studying how to transform one movement into another without loss or fluctuation in commitment and intention.

The final class Sunday morning was a return to the empty hand and weapons techniques taught on Saturday. This allowed the participants to review the principles that Saotome Sensei provided as the theme of the seminar. Again Sensei reiterated that kokyu training allows us to study unification with our partners, not struggle against our partners. Once we have unified we should make use of spiral movement to conduct the combined energy of both partners toward resolution.

The Boulder Aikikai provided an excellent environment for such exceptional teaching and training.