Aikido Gasshuku * - Memorial Day Weekend Workshop
May 25-27, 2001

* A Gasshuku is an opportunity to intensively train together -- to meditate, eat, drink, practice Aikido, and sleep - all in the spirit of Budo.

Contributed by Edgar Johansson*

It was a terrific residential workshop from May 25, Friday night to the following Sunday afternoon at Beautiful North Lake Tahoe in California. Ten excellent instructors from the Aikido Association of Northern California who are ranked 4th to 7th dan emphasize Iwama style weapons and taijiutsu.

Train with all these Terrific Instructors:
Sensei Bill Witt - 7th dan
Sensei Dennis Tatoian - 6th dan
Sensei Hans Goto - 6th dan
Sensei Hoa Newens - 6th dan
Sensei Pat Hendricks - 6th dan
Sensei Kim Peuser - 6th dan
Sensei Bernice Tom - 6th dan
Sensei Kayla Feder - 5th dan
Sensei Vince Salvatore - 5th dan
Sensei Louis Jumonville - 4th dan

Last year I drove to Lake Tahoe and shared with you in this newsletter my 5th year experience with this great event hosted by Reno Aikido CO-OP and AANC. For this, my 6th year experience, I chose to fly (passing on the long hours of particle physics and Tibetan Buddhist audio tapes as well as the almost 2500 miles of driving) and again wasn't disappointed. As you can see from the roster above, the names and reputations speak volumes as to why, to say nothing of the combined experience of their entire senior student body and the shared experience had by all.

In order of appearance, let me make an overview of each instructor's class. Each instructor had but one hour to cover techniques and philosophy unique to their view and experience with Saito shihan, Iwama Aikido and the martial art they live and love. This year was a "first," whereas each instructor was required to come up with a theme prior to the Gasshuku.

Friday night held two classes. First up was Vince Salvatore sensei, 5th dan from Reno Aikido. Salvatore sensei's focus was body mechanics; posture (have we heard this somewhere before?), and alignment - from the top of the head to solidly grounded feet. Along with posture, a complementary focus was intention - how uke extends and engages nage. On the nage side, of course the same focus on posture and intention was stressed, along with strong attacks that provide energy for uke to react to.

Second up on Friday was Louis Jumonville sensei, 4th dan, who was making his first appearance in the instructor role at the Gasshuku. Jumonville sensei did an excellent job focusing on breath - opening the heart and stilling the mind. Jumonville sensei created in the minds of the attendees the visualization of a rose opening as we engaged with our partners in an assortment of different attacks, bringing our partners into the stillness of the mind and the center.

Saturday began with Bill Witt sensei, 7th dan, and a focus on kihon-waza (basic/ fundamental techniques). Witt sensei drew our attention to correct position at the moment of engagement and the continuation of that attention and correctness throughout the technique. Shiho-nage was one of the mainstays of the lesson. Most memorable was when Witt Sensei performed shiho-nage from a nose grab, showing how, once the basic understanding is grasped, how and where you are grabbed is unimportant to the successful execution of good technique.

Second up on Saturday morning was Hans Goto sensei, 6th dan, of Bay Marin Aikido. Goto sensei was filling in for sensei Dennis Tatoian, who was absent due to a family illness. We send best wishes to Tatoian sensei's family. Goto Sensei did a tremendous job teaching a multiple attackers class where two and three people would lift him completely off the ground and then end up flying around the mat as the result of Goto sensei's use of center and gravity. Following Goto sensei's class, rank examinations were held. One 3rd dan test and two 4th dan tests all went off with out a hitch and the candidates demonstrated impeccable aikido all around. Then we moved outside under a blue-bird sky for a picnic lunch that filled the heart as well as the belly.

After lunch we were treated to a blending class taught by Bernice Tom sensei, 6th dan, of Sunset Cliffs Aikido. Tom sensei focused on the transition from kihon to kino-nagari (basic with motion) and how to keep center and a strong foundation while in motion.

The final class of the day was taught by Hoa Newens sensei, 6th dan, and he used the theme of receiving-while-extending, to focus on kokyu/breath technique applied to the fullness of an extended mind, body and spirit.

Following class, we moved on to an evening of hot tubs, great food and animated aikido conversation, which is the annual result of all this great aikido training.

With Sunday morning came the weapons portion of the Gasshuku, starting with Kim Peuser sensei, 6th dan, with a group practice of tachi-dori. Next was Kayla Feder sensei, 5th dan, who taught an hour of jo-dori. And the conclusion to the weekend was brought to us by Pat Hendricks sensei, 6th dan, with an hour-long awase practice wrapped around Ken-Tai-Jo.

Weapons practice, ukemi, taijiutsu, dan tests and lots of great instruction - all in all, it is far too much to express in words. That just means that you will simply have to attend the next Gasshuku yourself! Thanks to all the instructors, students and support staff who make this annual event possible. It is one of my favorites, and I look forward to it all year long. See you next year in San Diego or at the Saito shihan seminar this fall in California! For information click on http://www.somatic-arts.com/saito/.

Note: For 2002, it is tentatively planned that Bernice Tom sensei will host the Memorial Day Gasshuku at her dojo, Sunset Cliffs Aikido in San Diego. Not that you need any other incentive to attend, but it's a well-known fact that the dojo is a mere two blocks away from the Pacific Ocean! Space is limited, so be sure to check the website well in advance at http://www-cse.ucsd.edu/users/paloma/Aikido/SSC/. Note: Hans Goto sensei will instruct at Boulder Aikikai's Aikido Summer Camp in the Rockies this year, July 29-August 5. For information, please go to http://www.boulderaikikai.org