Boulder Aikikai Spring 2001 Seminar with Sensei Rick Stickles and Hiroshi Ikeda
April 26-29, 2001

Contributed by Rich Fox*

Stickles sensei has a class structure he calls "Sit, Cut, Throw". We started his classes with a 5 or 10 minute meditation period, then 10 or 15 minutes of bokken drills. The idea is to first calm the mind and bring awareness to the center, then use the bokken to articulate form and structure, and then finally let that go with energetic, powerful freestyle open hand.

The seminar was another of Ikeda sensei's ongoing efforts to promote cooperation and exchange between aikido styles and organizations. The goodwill and respect between these two men was obvious, and thus the entire seminar was infused with positive energy and good hard training.

As an extra bonus, we were treated to a surprise class taught by Kei Izawa sensei of Louisville, Colorado, where he operates a USAF dojo. His technique was very powerful with the massive projections - and thus spectacular ukemi - that seems to be a characteristic of Kanai sensei's students' style. This was a great class and he invited everyone to come train at his dojo anytime. I, for one, will be taking him up on this offer!

Beginning on Thursday evening and continuing through noon the following Sunday, the seminar came to a close with a large circle of appreciative and invigorated students. Thanks were expressed to Stickles sensei and two of his senior students who accompanied him, and he in turn thanked us all for participating, and he acknowledged a number of the seminar organizers. A gift was presented to Stickles sensei in honor of the grand opening of his new dojo in Roselle Park, NJ.

To learn more about Rick Stickles sensei and Aikido Schools of New Jersey, please click on http://www.aikidoschoolsnj.com. Included on the site is also information about AikiVision, Stickles sensei's customized corporate training programs.

For information about Hiroshi Ikeda sensei and Boulder Aikikai, please click on www.boulder.asu.org