Aikido Shobukan Dojo Summer Intensive with Shihan M. Saotome and H. Ikeda
Washington, DC
June 25 - July 1, 2001

Contributed by Josh Drachman*

The 2001 Washington, D.C. Summer Camp was a fascinating and intense seven-day retreat that led its participants further down the path toward understanding aikido weapons training. The camp was remarkable for its rich variety of themes and concepts as introduced by Saotome sensei, Ikeda sensei, and the senior ASU instructors.

Saotome sensei taught classes in bokken, jo, shinai, and two swords. Sensei emphasized that the purpose of weapons training is to sharpen our perception, extend our vision, and help us see weapons as vehicles of communication, not tools of destruction. Sensei likened his movements and ideas to grammar in a language or scales in a melody, designed as building blocks for our understanding of a greater Aikido logic. Sensei focused on themes such as the free-flow power of infinity-shaped bokken movement, the concept of jo as both weapon and peaceful walking stick, the efficiency of inverted irimi entry, and variations and extensions of a number of kumitachi concepts.

Ikeda sensei taught beautiful bokken and shinai classes demonstrating a rich variety of kumitachi ideas and highlighting concepts of marubashi-style irimi entry from shomen and yokomen strikes. Ikeda sensei also guided us through a comprehensive series of tantotori, jodori, patrol kata defenses as well as several powerful open-hand classes that focused on the connection between weapon and open-hand technique.

Aikido Shobukan Dojo senior instructors (Pete Trimmer, Louis Cuffy, Jim Sorrentino and Robert Deppe) taught well-structured and helpful early morning classes on jo kata, patrol kata, and kumitachi basics as well as fundamental bokken suburi movement. ASU senior instructors Paul Kang, Charlie Page, Pete Trimmer and Wendy Whited each taught afternoon open-hand classes that introduced unique and insightful aikido concepts and added a welcome complement to the weapons training focus.

The combination of all these aikido themes and perspectives made for a week of training that was mentally challenging yet totally absorbing. We were tired at the end, but despite the heat and long hours, we were sustained and energized by the richness of new ideas introduced and the chance to take our aikido training to a new level.

The camp's high-level instruction and intensity allowed each of us a great opportunity to grow, develop and transform our aikido. I am sure I speak for many when I say I left camp feeling like a different aikidoka. The training had indeed changed my vision and perception, as I am sure it had for many. While it was impossible to fully internalize and integrate the wealth of ideas shown, I believe we all came away with a new direction for our training and a greater comprehension of our goals for future practice. Many kudos and compliments to the Aikido Shobukan Dojo members for sponsoring, organizing and guiding us through an extremely well run camp. They made it look easy - we know it was not. Many thanks as well to Saotome sensei and Ikeda sensei for their ever-generous instruction. It was truly a wonderful week!