winter / spring 2012 awase newsletter / aikido institute davis … · 2013-01-11 · winter /...

Fall/Winter 2013 AWASE January

1

Awase is the newsletter of

the Aikido Institute Davis, a dojo where you can learn the arts of Aikido and Tai Chi. The Awase newsletter is published twice yearly, and hardcopies of past issues may be viewed in the dojo library.

Dragon, Pearl and Power

Hoa Newens Sensei On the occasion of the Tenth Anniversary of the Aikido Institute Davis we designed an inspirational theme for a t-shirt that includes the image of a rising dragon clutching a ball with the number 10 inscribed thereon – artwork by Kori. Next to the dragon is displayed the phrase “Power Arises from Sustained Discipline”. 2012 is the Year of the Dragon according to the oriental zodiacs, hence the image of the dragon. The dragon is a symbol of power and wisdom in eastern mythology, hence the reference to power. Dragons generally vie for the pearl of immortality and are often depicted with such a pearl in their claws. Our dragon is clutching a pearl with a number ten, representing the ten years of operations of the Dojo. This dragon seems to be excited because

Awase Winter / Spring 2012

Newsletter / Aikido Institute Davis

Aikido Institute Davis 638 Cantrill Drive, Suite B, Davis, CA 95616

530-297-1215 www.Aikidodavis.com

Awase is the newsletter of the

Aikido Institute of Davis, a dojo where you can learn the arts of Aikido and Tai Chi. The Awase newsletter is published twice yearly in spring and fall. Please visit our website at AikidoDavis.com for information on membership & class times.

Relationships in the Dojo

By Hoa Newens, Sensei The third rule of our dojo etiquette states: “Upon entering the dojo, focus your mind on training”. It means that one comes to the dojo to train, not for any other purposes. One should leave other activities and mental states outside the dojo. It also means that as we enter the dojo, we are only students and teachers and sempai and kohai. There are no husband and wife, father and son, boyfriend and girlfriend, attorneys, doctors, gardeners, professionals, unemployed, etc.

Inside the dojo, we are all training partners at various levels. We relate with each other as travelers along the path, each person leading the one behind and following the one ahead. The only goal is to move forward while helping others. Any other goal or incompatible activity would dilute the training focus and possibly cause injury - physical, mental or emotional.

When humans relate with each other they extend their energies to contact and mingle. This exchange of energy is predominantly physical if it involves mostly physical contact, intellectual if involves mostly exchange of thoughts, emotional if it involves exchange of feelings, and spiritual if it involves exchange of more subtle energy.

Each of these four categories of relationship invokes a certain type of energy that has specific characteristics and manifests according to specific rules. The rules for intellectual energy are different from the rules for the emotional energy. One cannot use logic (a rule of the

Power

Arises

From

Sustained

Discipline


2

it apparently found the pearl that crystallizes ten years of sustained discipline into power. Why is the dragon excited with the pearl? Each human being is imbued with power, being the child of the Divine. The power to create. The child remembers her origin and naturally longs for the omnipotence of the divine Mother. In the divine Creation, infinite Power and infinite Wisdom balance each other, Power providing the fuel, Wisdom the direction of Creation. Omnipotence and omniscience are two aspects of the divine Mother. True Power is always driven by Wisdom. Down in the human world, wisdom does not always match power, Hence, the misery of the human condition. Human consciousness is a mere drop of the ocean of divine consciousness, Yet, over time this drop, by sheer intent, can attract deposits of pure energy And build itself into a pearl of human power. For the pearl to be a gemstone rather than a plain stone, the energy layers must be pure. The purer the energy the more the potential. To keep only the pure energy and discard the rest is the constant work of the human Intent. Over time, a long time, as long as Intent is at work, The pure energy that gels around the human consciousness takes on power, The power to create. This is how power arises from sustained discipline. The Chinese call this kung fu, or sustained effort. A pearl can also be manufactured out of impure materials. Such pearls can only adorn and impress but have no power. How to attract only pure energy and build true power? Discriminate with wisdom.

How to find this discriminating wisdom? Return to the source. The dragon sought the source and found Power. But how strange. It does not feel like power. It feels like Power is gone, that Wisdom is nowhere. Only Benevolence is. The dragon is excited because it stumbled on Benevolent Creation. Hoa Newens December 2, 2012 Setting Goals / Celebrating Community Bruce Donehower In Aikido, as with other activities we pursue in life, it is very important that we set goals. Having a goal adds definition and form to our practice; it can give us encouragement as we devote ourselves to repetitive day-‐to-‐day exercises. But setting goals is not just something we should do for ourselves. Goals are important for the dojo community, or for any community in which we play a part. It is important to recognize that when we strive for a goal in the dojo we also play a role encouraging others to stick to the discipline of the art. If goals were merely a personal affair, we could practice aikido in a cave. But of course Aikido is a very social art. Thus, when we achieve a goal, such as a kyu rank, we encourage others to continue their efforts. One of the ways we build community at the dojo is through community celebration when goals are achieved. For example, we have a rank board. Although it is true that a person’s individual effort determines his or her progress through ranks, by celebrating the


3

achievement of rank in a public way we also acknowledge that without the community of the dojo we could not have practiced to achieve rank or have made any progress at all. We need the community of the dojo just as the nage needs the skillful uke. That’s why it is important that we take note of rank achievement after tests. When we gather together at the rank board to celebrate someone’s accomplishment, we also celebrate the dojo as a community. We affirm our shared enterprise. We affirm our shared goal.

Bruce moves his rank tag up to Yondan!

Over the decades of my Aikido training I have been a member of four dojos. Three of those four dojos disintegrated and collapsed while I was a member. Not a very good success ratio! Only the dojo in Davis has continued. This is an important accomplishment. When I think back over the ten years I have been practicing at Aikido Institute of Davis since it opened, I am surprised by how many people I have known during that time. So many students have come and gone! I sometimes think it would have been nice to have ledger in which each student signed his or her name and perhaps left some personal remark, as in a guest book. At least we have the

newsletters; we can look back and remember who was here, and when. And when I think back on those who have been here over the years, I understand how important it is for the community to gather together to celebrate one another’s efforts and presence. Setting goals and celebrating achievement is one way we do this. When we gather at the rank board to take note of someone’s progress, we don’t just acknowledge the individual. We acknowledge one another and acknowledge how we all share a common purpose and goal. This gives everyone encouragement to continue. It gives the community strength. I used to think that rank and goals should be private affairs. Now I have come to appreciate how acknowledging rank and goals in a public way builds up the dojo as a community. Without a viable dojo community, we cannot practice Aikido. We need each other in order to progress. That’s why the moment at the rank board is so important and why we need to take a moment to acknowledge when goals are set and achieved. Sensei has talked about this in class several times, and I find his remarks to be very true. So let’s set goals and strive hard to meet them as individuals, but let’s also not forget that we can’t achieve our Aikido goals alone. The next time we stand at the rank board to celebrate someone’s progress, let’s remember that we are celebrating community. Building and sustaining a community is hard work and very difficult. The social art is the most difficult art. Small rituals, such as advancing our wooden blocks on a rank board after tests, remind us how important it is to work together to achieve our individual goals. If we didn’t acknowledge these moments in a public way, then we might as well say that we don’t need a dojo community to practice Aikido. We could just go do suburi in a cave, throw


4

around some stuffed dummies, and twist a few tree limbs. And of course, that is not true. It is silly. Aikido is a social art. That’s how Osensei saw it. We can’t get there on our own.

Marion, Kori, Bruce and Martin celebrate community

following Bruce and Martin’s dan exams. Center of Gravity Justin Azevedo Ever since my son Colin was born in 2010, I’ve had more than one conversation and done a lot of thinking about blending. That is the common joke among Aikido practitioners, and we’ve even had a semi-‐famous Awase article about it: how to blend with baby. A new parent must relearn everything about themselves— when they eat, how long they sleep, and most importantly, how to physically handle this tiny, frail, messy new human that is so completely dependent. The new parent needs to hone their awareness, so that assessing the situation with the baby at any given time is as unconscious and reflexive as breathing. Just as with Aikido, everyone will approach their growth as a parent differently, under their own terms. As for me, I actually didn’t see this process as blending at all. It was more like ukemi. Colin was an extraordinarily

even-‐tempered baby, but like any baby, he was an implacable, immovable force. There was no redirecting him. There was no taking control of the situation from him. There was no avoiding, no retreating, no realigning. He needed what he needed, and my job was to give it to him. Resistance was not an option, and though I conceivably could accept his demands in such a way that I stayed on my previous trajectory (in other words, preserving the way I was accustomed to living my life and the person I was before he came into the world), that would only put me right back where I started. The handful of occasions when I attempted this, or resisted and let my aggravation show, would do nothing productive at best and actually frighten him at worst. He had no way of distinguishing “Daddy is sleep-‐deprived” from “Daddy hates me and is preparing to devour me.”

Aiki Dad: Justin with his son Colin.

Instead, I learned to take the fall. What’s the worst thing that could happen to me? I lose a few hours of sleep, and have to focus more on my wife and child than on myself? That doesn’t seem like such a bad thing. I’m fully capable of doing that and coming out the other side unscathed, if I let go and roll with


5

it. In fact, just as I usually rise from the mat after a particularly fast or spectacular fall with a smile on my face, I’m finding I rather enjoy this transformative process. The blending comes later, I’ve found, at least with the nuts-‐and-‐bolts process of raising a child. Colin is two years old now, and has opinions. Many opinions. About a staggering array of things. So, now I get the chance to blend, redirect, distract, and retake the center. I have that useful ukemi experience, too, so the occasional kaeshi waza (temper tantrum becomes acceptance of a new option!) or henka waza (naptime has definitely and unexpectedly arrived; change of plan!) will even appear out of all this blending. Through this process, I’m finding that blending with baby is a more subtle thing than merely adapting to the needs of a child. It’s adapting to the person I have become while accommodating those needs. As I mentioned, Colin is old enough to understand what is going on around him, accurately express his desires, and ask plenty of questions. One of those questions is often this: “Daddy home?” All of that work towards building a harmonious relationship with my shiny new nage has had a very nice payoff: the little guy likes me a great deal, almost as much as I like him. So when I’m not home playing and spending time with him, he notices. He wants to know when I’m going to show up. This is where the blending truly happens: negotiating the one-‐way trip into being part of a family. I did this once before, when I married and became part of a whole. But as I’ve mentioned, parenting requires much more figurative ukemi, and therefore much more compromise. This is another theme that often shows up in the Aikido community:

how does a dedicated student of the art balance budo with work, family, and other life obligations? My priorities have always been set with family at the top of the list, but having a child reinforces those priorities with resounding finality. A parent who is anything close to a decent, functioning person cannot help but make their son(s) or daughter(s) the most important thing in their life. And so, where does that leave everything else? Work is necessary, since it allows you to provide for yourself and your family. In an economic climate where being a public servant like me means understaffing, increasing workloads, decreasing pay, and demanding schedules, there isn’t much room for negotiation. Becoming a parent also doesn’t erase one’s role as a husband, wife, or significant other. So, what is left for the self? With the scant remaining time and energy the parent of a small child has, how do they choose to improve themselves, or do something they enjoy, or simply find a quiet space in which to recharge? When new Aikido students are finding their footing on the mat, we teach them to blend, because blending is one of the fundamental concepts of Aikido. The most important aspect of blending, in my opinion, is keeping within one’s own center of gravity. We stress this concept often, as well: balance. Don’t lean too far forward. Don’t retreat too far back. Don’t draw up too far off the ground. Otherwise, it won’t take much to have your feet swept out from under you. Being aware of and in tune with your center of gravity is what gives you a chance to blend with an attacker in the first place. I have had to rediscover my center of gravity over the past year. For a while, I found myself tense and resistant.


6

I had a training schedule that I had grown accustomed to! I don’t want to fall behind, and let down Sensei, or my sempai, or my kohai, or myself! Aikido is important to me, so I will continue to train as always have, as if nothing has changed! I was in danger of pushing my weight too far forward, too intent on my own line and not aware of what was beside me or behind me. One little push, one unexpected change, and something would give— my family, my work, my peace of mind. Besides, that mindset is dangerously close to a competitive one. It’s healthy to set a standard for oneself and strive to live up to expectations, but I found myself worrying about very specific things: training day totals, and speed of rank advancement. I don’t do Aikido to compete with others. I can turn on my Xbox if I want to do that. So the natural reaction to that realization is to heave back in the other direction. Maybe I need a break. Maybe it’s time to quit until Colin gets older. Maybe I’m too spent, too tired, too frazzled, and need to spend what free time I have doing something less demanding. Retreat, lean back, retreat, lean back. This is not to say that, sometimes, such a reaction may be warranted. People do need a rest, sometimes. I routinely take one when I’m sick or slightly injured. Sometimes life does intervene to the point where one must take an extended break, or even quit Aikido entirely, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. But that isn’t where I was, not yet. I was panicking, and rationalizing the act of giving up all of the work I had done as if it were the only alternative. The atemi caught me by surprise, and I was losing my balance.

So I have been working on my stance. And as we all know, sometimes that isn’t as simple as just shifting or taking a single step and then, like magic, you’re perfectly aligned. Often, you have to take more than one step, and make a series of minute adjustments, before you find yourself back in a stable, secure hanmi. I train when I can. I endeavor to be on the mat no less than once a week, when time allows. While on the mat, I keep complete focus, and train as intensely and wholeheartedly as I can, since that time is newly precious. I train off the mat when I can, as well, occasionally physically, usually mentally. I have let go of my anxiety about meeting quotas, fulfilling requirements, and keeping my place in line. If adjustments need to be made, one way or another, then I make them and then examine how tenable the new situation is. No second-‐guessing, and no over-‐thinking. I know what my priorities are, and I know how to find my center of gravity. Perseverance is part of our dojo’s motto, and is represented within our logo. I have found in my time training in Aikido that I progress best when, every year or so, I find something specific to focus on and refine. This coming year, it is this: perseverance. I will persevere in my training, and trust that I will know what that means just as reflexively and unconsciously as I breathe, or as I find my center of gravity again when I feel it slipping away. And by doing this— by blending with baby, and with everything else— I am starting to learn an important lesson that I will one day be able to pass on to Colin, once he is ready to learn it.


7

tai no henko wedge inflate beach ball settling refrigerator -‐-‐Kent Standley, A Haiku Sitting On the Bench Remy Cordier One day, after injuring my knee I came to the dojo to inform Sensei. I decided to sit on the bench and watch the class. After the warm up, Sensei demonstrated Morote Dori Kokyu Ho. We practice this technique at every class, and every time I struggle with it. But this time on the bench, I was better able to see what I was struggling with as I watched the other participants having their own struggle. Some were turning too far from their Uke, some were unbalanced after turning and before lifting their arm, others were not dropping their hips, shoulder or elbow. It was so obvious to me to see some of their flaws; it was as if my own practice was in front of me in a mirror. Then Sensei stopped the class and reinforced one fine point that summarized the overall struggle at that time.

That was by itself another wonder, the ability to synthesize most of the errors into one fine point where the group could improve. Then as the classed continued, I realized that I was better able to better grasp the finer details of the technique on the bench than when I am on the mat. It was as if I was detached or in a higher state of consciousness. In contrast to my observation on the mat, I think sometimes I am blind, or my mind is totally wandering on a minor aspect. I guess ultimately, it would be nice to have that clear picture of the technique matching our actual practice and be one with the technique and Uke. So once in a while come and sit on the bench, but then go and practice, practice and get more practice…

Remy and Kathleen practice hanmi handachi during the December 2012 advanced class. Come support Remy as he prepares for his Shodan exam, which will be held February 23rd, 2013.


8

Ikkyo: Marion and Kori, circa 2009. The Fun and Challenge of the Uke/Nage Relationship Marion Donehower The fun part of Aikido is also the most challenging part. It is the uke/nage relationship. In other meditative or martial arts, we can develop ourselves by observing and paying attention to our inner life. But in Aikido we have the added difficulty that we always have to work with a partner. Although I believe that this is tremendous fun, I think it is an added difficulty. Your partners in the dojo are always there; they are like your family. To develop relationships on the mat is not so different from developing other relationships outside the dojo. As a psychotherapist, I know that in order to be successful the first person you need to understand and wrestle with is yourself. That is an ongoing lifelong process that never ends. You have to wrestle with limits, your abilities, your shortcomings, and you have to try working on yourself in an honest way. I believe that this honest work will show in your body and in your uke/nage relationship.

As we know, a wonderful goal in Aikido is misogi, the cleaning of impurities in order to bring more light and clarity to our body and mind. With Aikido, we are not just doing a sport to be fit, but we are also constantly working internally. I think that just as we learn in our other relationships we learn on the mat. As we become more mature, we realize that in Aikido or in life it is not the partner who is to blame for our difficulties, but that these difficulties point to us. Partners on the mat just bring challenges so that we can learn and grow. In life it might be a boss or friend or enemy, in Aikido it might be the black and blue spots on our arms. In life we can run away, be in denial, or become untruthful—or we might use superficial words. But in Aikido our partners are always in our face. There is really no place to hide. We have to face the facts on the mat. Over the years, I responded to challenges on the mat in different ways. For example, my first answer was to respond with hardness to hardness and with stiffness to stiffness. That was not very successful. It gave me a broken collarbone, a concussion, broken toes, a dislocated or “frozen” shoulder, hyper-‐extended elbow, and other injuries. When I think back to my first accident, the collarbone break, I remember how much fun we had flying through the air. My friends and I were in our twenties, and we all felt invincible. Not until later when five people were injured with collarbone breaks did we think about our behavior more closely. But even then we never thought about the uke/nage relationship. Without much self-‐reflection, we used each other as tools, as objects to make us look cool on the mat and or to have self-‐centered fun. We had started Aikido to transform ourselves and the world, but actually we missed the whole point! Ego-‐centric as we were as youngsters, we didn’t pay attention and didn’t care for the person next to us. We never thought that the door to


9

change and transformation was right there in the moment! It was our partner and ourselves and how we related to each other! Now that I am older I have become hopefully a little bit wiser through necessity, and I try to answer yang with yin by becoming softer and more relaxed. Of course that doesn’t always work all the time because all human beings are different and the Aikido situation is different at any moment. I think Aikido helps you negotiate your relationship and other situations in an individual way and to always have a beginner’s mind. There is certainly no “one size fits all” approach to relating to an uke. All you have is your technique, but we have no clue how the uke will respond to the technique at any given moment. They might get too stiff; they might get too soft; they might get mad; they might not know what to do at all and get hurt. In my work as psychologist I work with patients on their boundaries. Your boundary determines how you will relate to the world. Some people have tight, thick, closed walls around their bodies like armor, and no one has access to them. Other people are the opposite; they are wide open and unprotected, and anyone can hurt them. Even when they get hurt, they can’t say stop. The uke/nage relationship helps you to negotiate and balance out these yin and yang parts. We are able to be more grounded, focused and relaxed in the moment. My own journey in Aikido has been changed through losing my physical balance due to a brain tumor operation. After my first recovery, after I was able to get up out of the wheel chair and walk without a walker or a cane, I relearned my basic techniques but I still found that going up and down on the mat was very difficult for me. However, my partners helped me up, waiting patiently to finish the move. Even now after twelve years

I sometimes need the slightest touch of a partner to give me stability when I fall or move too fast. A partner helps me to rebalance because I can hold on to the arm or fingers a split second longer, a reassuring touch usually not even visible to others. I was touched by the words of Anno Sensei, who is in his eighties and is the head instructor of the Shingu dojo in Japan. He said that we have to bring joy to our uke. It surprised me when he said this because I felt that Aikido was more than moving together harmoniously and working on techniques. Maybe he meant that you have reached a level where you work for the sake of the other—you step away from your own improvement in order to help the partner or beginners—you’re more concerned for their experience than “looking good”; you don’t worry about your own success. This might not be visible to the outside world, but for me it is the mastering of the art. I certainly have a long way to go to reach that level. I am certainly not selfless, patient, or loving yet. Maybe sometimes, but usually I struggle. Of course, if we were perfect our Aikido would be perfect, too. To bring joy to our uke, all we have to do is to open our hearts to our partners and the world. I believe that this is visible: for example, watching Sensei Hoa doing Aikido with his sons and watching the doshu with his son last year in Honolulu made it clear to me. The aura of love and caring was visible, and this creates depth in the movement. I feel that we come to the essence of a clear ki expression through such practice. Of course there are many different ways to express this essential quality. But if the essence is expressed, I think Aikido on every level will look beautiful, and in the moment we will create truth, goodness, and beauty as the foundation for Aikido and life.


10

2012 DAN PROMOTION: MARTIN DUBCOVSKY, NIDAN

Eight Tai Chi Lessons Lisa Adda I have studied Tai Chi at the Aikido Institute Davis for more than one year. As I reflect upon the notes in my journal I have identified eight lessons that I have learned and applied to my every day life.

1. Breathing: Whether I am cooking, cleaning, studying, and/or working, I’ve noticed that my breathing is shallow in my chest. Now I take time every day to “feel the breath in the belly, the sides, and the back.” I breathe as though the air is not only filling my belly but the spaces between the bones of my body. Try this: When standing in line at the grocery store waiting, perhaps a little impatiently, for the person in front of you to finish counting their change or negotiate a coupon take a moment to breath. Keep the breath in the belly and the line at the register will move faster.

2. Maintaining Balance: It is very easy for the body to lose balance. Perhaps, I am carrying something heavy or the shoes I am wearing do not evenly support my weight. The body tries to compensate for the shift in balance or an increase is weight that is unevenly distributed on the right or left side and this results in body aches, pains, or worse injuries. Try this: Find a comfortable and safe place to stand on one leg (away from any furniture). Notice how the slightest movement of the shoulder or hip makes it difficult to keep your balance. Now try standing on one leg with your purse, coat, or something you carry with you often. Notice how the weight needs to be evenly distributed so you can maintain your balance.


11

3. Reducing stress: Within the past year I have lost two relatives to cancer and I lost my job. Stress levels reached all time highs but with Tai Chi I can reduce the stress by focusing on my inner chi energy. I focus on the positive chi energy that keeps me healthy for job interviews and ready to face any challenge that life brings. Try this: Upon entering the dojo leave all your worries outside the front door. Depending on the weather outside your worries and fears can either freeze to death, get washed away by the rain, carried away by the wind, or melt away from the warmth of the sun so you don’t have to carry them with you when you leave the dojo.

4. Eliminating negative energy: If you have ever had someone push, hit, or grab you maliciously then you would know what it feels like to have negative energy transmitted into you. The negative energy surges through the body and seems to stay there, stuck, as though refusing to leave. The dissolving practice in Tai Chi is powerful and can eliminate that negative energy by enabling you to channel it into the ground (Earth) and replacing it from the energy around us (heaven). Try this: If you are standing in a long line at the post office, for example, place your feet firmly on the ground, stand straight, hips slightly tucked in, knees slightly bent, crown of the head reaching up to the sky and breath. As you feel the breath in your belly focus your attention on each energy gate within the body releasing any tension.

5. Recovery from surgery: After having wrist surgery in September my physical therapist was glad to know I am practicing Tai Chi because I needed to move my wrist as much as possible to regain full mobility. While recovery took longer than I

expected, I was able to minimize pain and increase mobility by incorporating Tai Chi moves with my physical therapy home exercise program. Try this: If you are recovering from an injury or a surgery, try to identify a Tai Chi move that may help reduce pain or increase mobility. In most cases it is important to keep moving, keep the chi energy flowing, and the energy gates open to ensure a more comfortable recovery.

6. Building Strength: I studied the Yang form of Tai Chi back in high school (1996) because my doctor said I was below average in muscle strength. By studying and practicing Tai Chi I was able to increase muscle strength enough so that I could participate in physical education classes with my peers. Today I incorporate Tai Chi principles into my weight lifting exercise routine to build strength without causing injury. Try this: If you enjoy weight lifting select a “light” weight. For example, place a five-‐pound weight in each hand. Begin with both hands by your sides and then raise only one hand at a time for a bicep curl. Slow. Very slow. Right bicep curl. As the right hand comes down raise the left. Slow. Very slow as you breathe, in and out. Feel the chi energy flowing in the arms and stop before you become fatigued.

7. Achieving Focus: The mind has a tendency to wander especially if you are accustomed to multi-‐tasking. I have to remind myself in class to focus. Focus on the chi energy or the central axis. Focus on the movement that Sensei is teaching or explaining. I know I am losing focus if I forget the next move in the Tai Chi form and that is why this is one of the most important lessons there is to learn.


12

Try this: Instead of multi-‐tasking, just focus on one task or goal for fifty-‐minutes. Challenge yourself to see how much you can accomplish with that level of focus.

8. Mastering Discipline: When I enrolled in the Tai Chi class I entered with a strong, unwavering commitment. My intention was to fully immerse myself in the study of Tai Chi. I bought books, DVDs, and set aside time and money for lessons. But it takes discipline to arrive at class on time, practice during the week, and make daily notes in my journal. Soon scheduling conflicts impacted my attendance and time management habits affected my daily practice. This is a very important lesson to learn so I can experience the full benefits of Tai Chi. Try this: Write a personal note of commitment to self as a reminder to practice, read, study, and journal daily on a particular goal. As the new year approaches my resolution will be to break bad habits and not allow excuses to impact my Tai Chi practice.

Sensei and Lisa at the 10th anniversary celebration

Empty the Cup! Donny Shiu I find this often-‐sited concept easier said than done. To begin, let me share Bruce Lee's retelling of the story you may have heard of, from his Blackbelt magazine article, “Liberate Yourself from Classical Karate”: A learned man once went to a Zen teacher to inquire about Zen. As the Zen teacher explained, the learned man would frequently interrupt him with remarks like, "Oh, yes, we have that too...." and so on. Finally the Zen teacher stopped talking and began to serve tea to the learned man. He poured the cup full, and then kept pouring until the cup overflowed. "Enough!" the learned man once more interrupted. "No more can go into the cup!" "Indeed, I see," answered the Zen teacher. "If you do not first empty the cup, how can you taste my cup of tea?” The lesson here appears to be easy to grasp, yet I struggle in the application of “emptying the cup”. My humble baggage (mental and physical) from other experiences is helpful, but can often be a hindrance in my Aikido training. Like Pavlov’s dog, old conditioned response is hard to undo quickly -‐ action and reaction. On a conscious level, I do catch myself clinging to what is familiar and comfortable. This is problematic because it leads my mind into a closed state to the new. I suppose it takes time and patience to un-‐learn or detach non-‐aikido thoughts. I have read that emptying the cup is a process, not an overnight flip of a switch. It is an act of faith. Thanks to Sensei’s guidance and everyone’s support at the dojo, I know I can fill the cup with new lessons. I do find perseverance in training helps keep the cup in check, but I


13

must be vigilant. So be patient with me as I try not to “salivate to the bell ring”. I have to constantly exercise self-‐control to fight competing thoughts, because I know emptying my mind is the path to learn with abandonment. The void is where we are most vulnerable yet it is the same place where we are most receptive to the new. Although I struggle, I have faith through training. Peace, Donny Shiu p.s. How about a bigger cup?...stay tuned for the next article.

Donny practicing kumitachi, spring 2012. Come support Donny as he prepares for his Shodan exam, which will be held February 23rd, 2013. My Thoughts on Aikido Hunter Sumner 11 years old, Jrs Aikido Program Most kids my age don’t understand that Aikido isn’t just a martial art. Aikido prepares you for every day life. It gets you ready to conquer the day, and if you are ever stressed out, you can use your breathing techniques to get back on track.

There are a few people I know that do Aikido, but they don’t take it seriously. They just goof off, but if that’s how they want to be, they’ll have to learn things the hard way. Because when they’re older and all stressed out at work, I’ll be having a nice, calm day, because of what Aikido has offered. I take this stuff seriously because I’m going to use the self defense and mental help it has to offer. When I grow up I want to be a Navy Seal, which is the hardest military group to train to get accepted to. It almost takes more mental strength than physical to pass. Why? Because every second of training they’re trying to make you quit and go home because they want the toughest people they can get. But in my head I’ll be saying, “Not today or tomorrow or any other day.” No matter how hard it gets, I’m not quitting, because I can say, “I didn’t do Aikido for nothing.” Aikido will also help me in hand to hand combat. I’m also a rock climber, and I would consider myself pretty good. I climb upside down on the ceiling. And even though rock climbing and Aikido are totally different things, they actually have a lot in common. Because when I’m climbing upside down on the ceiling, I can’t just spaz out. I have to stay concentrated and keep breathing and then make my next move from one rock to another. And in Aikido, the same rules apply. One step to another, keep breathing, and stay focused. Be one with yourself. I have to know my surroundings. I hope I can make it to the Navy Seals. I give special thanks to Kori, Martin, and Kathleen for being great teachers to me and helping me make it one step closer, every day, to making it to the Navy Seals.


14

The Two-Second Pause Kathleen Holder One of my biggest challenges in learning Aikido, more than any particular technique, has been a method of practice—or really a moment in practice: the two-‐second pause. To be sure, there are many techniques that I have found challenging—daunting even, particularly when first learning them. When I enrolled in a beginners class, rolls seemed as much a means for injuring as protecting myself. Indeed, I gave myself a set of matching bruises by planting my knees on the inside of my elbows—first on one side and then, even after vowing never to do that again, promptly repeating it on the other. Koshi nage, when I first saw that technique demonstrated, downright scared me. Trying to place my body in the right position challenged my memory as much as my coordination—head under or hip under? What blend for which grab or strike? Which way to step? How to twist my torso, and where to stretch my arm? And then, of course, there was the accompanying challenge as uke: how to land safely on the mat after being taken for a loop-‐de-‐loop over someone’s back. I could name many other techniques that have flustered me, and still do. With practice, each gets better, easier—though the more I practice, the more I realize how much more I have to refine. Which brings me back to the two-‐second pause. This momentary interlude between steps in by-‐the-‐step training is one of the very things that help me refine technique. It’s a reality check, a balance check—am I leaning forward or backward, standing too high, doing the technique right at all? In the pause, I can readjust, and in doing so, begin to retrain my body to assume the correct

position before moving to the next step. So why, I wonder, am I so inclined to speed past the moment where I can learn so much? It’s such a short period of time, all things considered: one-‐thousand-‐one, one-‐thousand-‐two. I have seen other students struggle with this as well, so perhaps some of it is human nature. Many younger students, when they begin training, practice aiki walks like they’re in a race to cross to the other side of the mat—with no pause between steps. For myself, learning to pause is a matter of patience with myself—and, in more ways than one, acceptance of where I am. Some of my discomfort with holding my position has been rooted in a fear of making mistakes, of looking bad or foolish—all attitudes that interfere with learning, since there is no real learning without mistakes. As I progress in Aikido, and that sort of fear lessens, I am discovering other psychological aspects of standing still, of literally holding my ground. In those two seconds, in addition to checking my balance, I am claiming the space that I am occupying. This is where I am. The pause is also teaching me other aspects of energy, about experiencing it in stillness. Motion may stop for these two seconds, but the energy doesn’t have too—and indeed, it shouldn’t. It’s more like a sustained note in music than it is a rest—the piano key held down, the violin string pressed or a voice humming. More like a car engine idling at an intersection, than the ignition turned off. With the motor still on, it doesn’t take much effort to move again when the light turns green. Many of us, in conversation, are uncomfortable with long periods of silence. Unless we’re trained otherwise, we often rush to fill in the gap. If we wait instead, and just listen, sometimes the most poignant revelations follow. Aikido, as a martial art, is so much like a conversation. Practicing by the


15

step, with a two-‐second pause, requires trust that our partners will wait for us. And in not rushing to fill the gap, we may find, not emptiness, but a deeper understanding of both the techniques and ourselves.

Kathleen and Clelia practice Gyakutedori Kokyunage. Aikido for Health Mitch Peters I’ve heard the self-‐defense that Aikido provides is more than just how to defend against an attacker. There are many “threats” to one’s life, and most of them don’t involve being attacked by an assailant. Increasing your awareness of your surroundings to avoid a situation that requires the use of your skills results in the better outcome of not having to test the powers of the techniques you have learned. Conditioning your body and learning how to fall properly is a much more likely to be needed skill for most people than the training to take on a skilled fighter. I have already realized one aspect of the “self-‐defense” Aikido provides. I was not unfit when I started training in Aikido 18 months ago. I ran two to three times a week, lifted weights, etc. But, my fitness was lacking. I have taken an annual physical exam every

year for the past twenty-‐five years. For about the last ten years, my doctor would tell me my blood pressure was borderline high. But, last year after four months of Aikido, my blood pressure was the lowest it had been in several years. Last month, after 17 months of Aikido training, my blood-‐pressure was the lowest its been in over a decade. With cardio-‐vascular disease being one of the leading killers in our society, this dramatic reduction of blood-‐pressure may be the most practical aspect of my self-‐defense training. My motivation for training is still to learn martial techniques. When I sit at home each day stretching to increase my flexibility to make up for years of neglect, I am not thinking about my health. I want to be in better condition for training. When I look at the affects of my training, the biggest life-‐saving skill I am learning may be the process of training and the improved overall health. To all my training partners, thank you for a healthier life. DOMO ARIGATO GOZAIMASHITA.

Mitch and Martin relax after Mitch’s Kyu exam.


16

2012 DAN PROMOTION: BRUCE DONEHOWER, YONDAN Photos by Morgan Curtis

Running, Fear, and Monsters By Clelia Clark After a long day, many of us take to different forms of relaxation to help unwind. If you’re reading this article, I would venture a guess that you and I share the sentiment that the preferred way to unwind is to throw your gi on, take your shoes off, and sweat out the stress on the mat. Sometimes, however, my mat time gets interrupted, and in these cases I fall into my second favorite way to de-‐stress: running. Over the past few years, my night runs have become a way to empty my mind and let the tension from the day melt into the pavement. Much like Aikido, there is a sacred rhythm to running…left, right, left, right…inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale. My mother, unfortunately, is not one with the rhythm of my night runs. “You’re going out on a run? At this hour? Don’t you know it’s dark outside??” Generally, these conversations happen as I have the phone crammed between my ear and my shoulder as I’m lacing up my running shoes to head out the door. “Mom! It’s Davis!” I reassure her. What could possibly happen in Davis? Not much, I tell myself as I jog down the street and head towards the nearest running path. However, in the last few months, Davis seems to be proving me wrong. A girl went on a night run and was assaulted downtown by two men who were never found. A few weeks later, I was getting ready to run when I got a text message from my roommate telling me to stay home and lock the door because there were reports of two men mugging people at gun point in our neighborhood. I later found out that at least two people, one on a bike and another walking their dog, had been mugged in the exact area I go through on a run. I was bothered enough by these


17

reports that I started waking up early enough that I could fit in a run if I wanted to. I recently recounted these thoughts to a good friend of mine as we chatted over coffee. He seemed surprised that I was concerned enough to change my habits. “I would think it wasn’t an issue for you,” he said, alluding to my martial arts training. “Why are you afraid?” As I digested his comment, I thought about my decision to change my schedule and why I had done it. Was I afraid I was going to be assaulted by a stranger and would be unable to defend myself? Surprisingly, my mind came up with a strong, resounding, “No”. When I searched a little deeper, I realized that “afraid” was not the right term for how I felt. Cautious, maybe. Mostly, I felt aware…aware that dangerous things had the potential to happen, and with that knowledge came the opportunity for me to act accordingly. Over the past few years, I have had the opportunity (or misfortune, depending on how you look at it) of seeing fear in its most raw form. Fear strips away logic and can steer even the most level headed person into an adrenaline fueled panic. While the evolutionary purpose for fear has served mankind well in the long run, too much fear can render us useless and in itself can be dangerous. As a part of my own personal growth, I have done a great deal of thinking about fear and its meaning. I know that I don’t want to live in fear. I also know that I don’t want to be “fearless” in an arrogant sense, as that can be equally hazardous. What I now strive for is a sense of balance and awareness of this world and my place in it. I have acknowledged that the evolutionary purpose for fear, in essence keeping us out of dangerous situations, is an

extremely important one. However, the same goal can be achieved by awareness and understanding of our surroundings. When I jog past a dark alley, should I let fear grip me as I ponder what disagreeable individuals might be lurking in the shadows? No. But I certainly won’t go meandering down said dark alley as a short cut to my destination either. I would like to strive for a happy medium of alertness, confidence, and precaution in my life. “Yes, Clelia, there might be a three headed monster hiding in the dumpster. Yes, you might even be able to fight it off. But you should realize that the monster might be there. And with that knowledge, the smart thing to do would be to not go down the alley.” Avoiding this hypothetical alley might seem to be the obvious choice, but what I seek within myself is awareness and confidence, and a reason other than fear to base my decisions on. Should I be afraid? No. Should I be aware? Always.

Clelia, Kori, Rob, and Kent at the AID 10th Anniversary seminar.


18

Getting Off the Line Elise Bauer "You're standing on a train track, and there is a train coming right at you. Do you stay on the track? No. You step off the track and let the train go by. This is what we mean by 'getting off the line'. You want to get off the line of attack." I still remember these words, spoken to me by every instructor, every senior student, when I was first starting aikido so many decades ago. When I practice Aikido, I still see the train coming. Even in entering techniques, when it looks like we are going straight in, the energy movement is more like a spiral, not a direct block. We are moving around the vector as we enter, to skillfully redirect it. Getting off the line is one of the most useful pieces of instruction for a beginner in Aikido, and not just martially. So much daily stress comes from resisting what is. An event occurs, we don't like it, we get annoyed, we resist, we push back. Someone says something to us we interpret as mean or inconsiderate and we get upset. This is like standing on the train track, allowing the train of external circumstances to run us over, all the while complaining about it. Our attention is so focused on the problem before us, it's almost impossible to see the bigger picture. For about eight years, I was pretty sick, physically weak, unable to work full time. During this time I grew acutely aware of how resisting anything sapped my energy. I had no energy to be angry, no energy to fight, no energy to push back. Well, I could get angry, but if I allowed that to happen, it was so depleting, I ended up in bed for days. So, anytime I saw something coming at me, I had a choice. I could either resist it, or let it go. Resisting meant I would end up exhausted. Letting it go meant that I had a few more reserves to get me through the day.

This is the spirit I think we are cultivating in Aikido—choosing how we direct our energy. Sometimes resistance is necessary. But we get to choose how, and for the good of what, we resist. We can choose to allow petty aggravations to get to us, or we can let them go, like a train passing by.

Elise throws Martin during the December 16th advanced class. Scarsdale Aikido: Seminar with Newens Sensei Martin Dubcovsky Oct 12-‐13th 2012 Sensei was invited to teach a seminar at Scarsdale Aikido in New York. This was the second time that they hosted Sensei in 2012. Their dojo recently decided to transition to Iwama style aikido, and joined the Takemusu Aikido Association. As part of that transition Steve Kanney Sensei (dojo-‐cho) has been attending the annual TAA gasshuku in Tahoe and working with Newens Sensei to bring the spirit and form of Iwama Ryu into their training.


19

Sensei led class on Friday night and focused on nikyo and kokyunage. Saturday morning we worked primarily with ikkyo and sankyo. In the final session on Saturday afternoon we worked on tachidori and ken awase. While each of these sessions touched upon different techniques, the running thread throughout the weekend was using the hands and arms to connect to the partner, and then using the whole body to move. I should also mention that after the morning session on Saturday, Sensei officiated a shodan test for Masato. The test went well and it was a clear marker of all the great work that the Scarsdale dojo has done in changing to a completely different style. It is a very unique situation to have an entire group of people make the decision to make a switch in their training all together. Seeing the great enthusiasm and dedication of everyone at Scarsdale Aikido really inspired me and made me want to redouble my efforts in my own practice!

Seminar at Scarsdale Aikido, October 2012. A special thank you to Steve Kanney Sensei and all of Scarsdale Aikido for making special accommodations for Kori and I to accompany Sensei to New York and train in the seminar.

Sensei, Martin, and Kori in New York City, October 2012.

Tough Mudder Challenge Shannon Newbold When Kori first asked me to write an article for Awase about my experience at the Tough Mudder, my first reaction was, “What does this have to do with Aikido?” As I thought more about this, I realized, that the Tough Mudder doesn’t necessarily directly relate to Aikido, but some of the principal values involved relate to Aikido and life itself. Every tough mudder takes the following pledge before starting: As a Tough Mudder I pledge that…

• I understand that Tough Mudder is not a race but a challenge.

• I put teamwork and camaraderie before my course time.

• I do not whine – kids whine. • I help my fellow Mudders complete

the course. • I overcome all fears.

Let me first say that the Tough Mudder was not easy. In fact many people thought I was “nuts” for doing this. I thought I had an idea of what to expect because I’ve done 5k, 10k, 12k runs. I’ve also completed the 10k Mud Run obstacle course at Camp Pendleton


20

several times. I think those events only partically prepared me for this event. The Tough Mudder in Lake Tahoe was a 10+ mile obstical course designed by British Special Forces. It is billed as “probably the toughest event on the planet.” You scale walls and ropes, slog around in pungent mud, and jump into ice-‐filled ponds — 25 obstacles in all. Along the way, you get water, bananas, and electrical shocks. To top it off, the course started at an elevation of 6800 ft and peaked at 8600 ft elevation. If the obsticals didn’t get you, the thin air did.

Our team was made up of mostly friends of friends, who came together to try and complete a common goal. We wanted to have a great time as a team and make sure everyone finished. The goal was not time or speed. Every obstacle appealed to different strengths and weakness, and everyone relied on the support and encouragement of teammates to complete the course Before the race began, I made a personal resolution. I knew that I would be wet, tired, cold, and if my mind got in the way, miserable. So, no matter how wet, tired, and cold I got, I was still “playing” outside, with friends. A positive mental attitude is infectious goes a long way. It makes each challenge more fun to get tough. The Tough Mudder is a great reminder of doing one thing at a time, the difficult task that is right in front of you. We all knew the

dangling wires would be there at the end ready to shock us, but we had to approach each obstacle as the next thing to overcome, we could only focus on the obstacle in front of us. Words fall short of conveying the Tough Mudder experience. The only way to know is to just go out and just do it. In the end we came, we saw, we conquered, and the money we spent in registration fees went to the Wounded Warrior Project. In the end, I’m happy we did this and I would do it again and I will always keep my orange headband that is only given to people who complete the challenge. I think the most memorabl obstacles were: The Mountain Even though it wasn’t necessarily listed as an official obstical, as we approached the peak it seamed like all of the participants slowed down to a slow walk. If you have ever been skiing and looked down a double black diamond slope and thought, “I’ll go the other way”. Well, we climbed up it. The air was thin and it was way too easy to stop and catch your breath. As a team, we kept pushing ourselves to keep going. When we finally got to the summit, there was a lodge where spectators (who took the chairlift to the top) were watching, cheering, and of course barbecuing. We had a choice, turn right, stop at the lodge and have a warm burger and a cold beer, or turn to the


21

left and be punished more. We went left. No pain, no gain here. Arctic Enema As we approached this obstical, we could hear the screaming of the other mudders ahead of us. This obstical was a 10 ft wide, 20ft long, and 6 ft deep pool of ice filled water with a wall in the middle. In order to get through, you needed to swim under the wall and though the ice. I don’t think I’ve ever been so cold. Berlin Walls These are a series of 12 foot walls that you have to scale up and over. Teamwork is a must to help people get over the top. Leap of Faith This challenge involved scaling up a ladder wall to a platform that is about 15 feet in the air. Once at the top, you have to jump off into yet another pool of frigid water. My biggest memory of this was, entering the water and being surrounded by nothing but darkness on all sides and below. My only thought was to swim for the light. Electric Eel This was a belly crawl under some barbed wire through some muddy water. This wouldn’t have been much of a challenge if it wasn’t for the electric wires hanging down ready to shock you if you didn’t remain perfectly flat. Needless to say I got shocked a few times.

Seminar with Jan Nevelius Sensei at Aikido of Berkeley Martin Dubcovsky On Oct. 27, 2012 Aikido of Berkeley (Kayla Feder Sensei, dojo-‐cho) hosted a seminar led by Jan Nevelius Sensei. Nevelius Sensei is a very well respected instructor from Sweden. His main influences are Yamaguchi Sensei and Endo Sensei. And much like those teachers, he emphasizes soft ukemi and connection. While I had watched videos of Nevelius Sensei, this was my first time meeting him in person and taking class from him. The seminar at Aikido of Berkeley was a full day affair, but I was only able to attend for half the day. Even so I came away from the seminar with plenty to work on and great inspiration. Nevelius Sensei structured the class around a short choreography of movements which are not typical of basic aikido practice, including kicking and cross strikes. His purpose of using more unusual attacks was to test if we could stay true to aikido principles whilst dealing with a ‘non-‐aikido’ situation. He also used this kata to explore the connection between attacking and receiving partners. Particularly, Nevelius Sensei instructed us to pay attention to where and when the meeting between the partners took place. Taking notice of this generates a sense of where to be in order to fully establish the connection. This is akin to a long jumper measuring out her strides over and over until she knows exactly how many steps she will take as she makes her running approach to the jump.


22

To Serve is to Learn: The apprentice’s lesson. Kori Farrell Let go Give yourself up Do good for others. Take care Feel everything Persevere. Follow the advice of those you trust And listen closely to those you don’t. Let your leaves fall and your soul rest. When the time is right, wake with the spring And bloom with the summer. Live to serve, and you will find That when you give up everything, you have lost nothing… To serve is to learn To learn is to let go Keep letting go, and soon you will you find the universal love that lives inside you.

2012 DAN PROMOTION: MARION DONEHOWER, YONDAN “I thought that I might not be great at technique, but I could always be honest and gentle… It is best to be unaffected and uncontrived and to be natural. The form that emerges naturally from the heart and is one with nature, and is not constructed is best.” -‐-‐Motomochi Anno Sensei


23

“Contemplate the workings of this world, listen to the words of the wise, and take all that is good as your own. With this as your base, open your own door to truth. Do not overlook the truth that is right before you. Study how water flows in a valley stream, smoothly and freely between the rocks. Also learn from holy books and wise people. Everything – even mountains, rivers, plants and trees – should be your teacher.” O’Sensei The Art of Peace (Translated by John Stevens) The Path to the Mountain Top Donny Shiu Once upon a time there was this poor farmer’s daughter living in a village far far away. This young lady had the ambition of improving her family’s difficult financial state. She was eager and willing to work hard to better the family situation but realized that she needed guidance and

direction. She hears through rumors around town about a wealthy village elder who knows about a secret path to a hidden treasure on the nearby mountain top. She tells herself, “what better way is there than to learn the secret from someone who is successful and has been to the mountain top.” She set forth to seek the advice of this wise old man. Because of the young lady’s sincerity and perseverance, the old man succumbed to her pleads over time and acknowledged the existence of a big treasure to be found. The secret path leading to the treasure was eventually given to this innocent young lady. Being well prepared and physically fit, she embarked upon this journey to the mountain top, following the directions given to seek the treasure. The path to the mountain top was not easy, but she was determined and marched on. Along the path, she would occasionally stumble upon small pieces of gemstones among the rocks here and there. They were small so she decided that they were of little value. She left them and continued on. Finally, she made it to the mountain top being on this long twisted path. To her surprise, there was no treasure to be found. Full of disappointment, she returned to the village. To seek an explanation, she returned to visit the wise old man and shared her experiences about the journey to mountain top and her disappointment at the end. The old man calmly listened and then responded softly, but clearly, “those small gems together along the path to the mountain top are the treasure.” -‐The End-‐ To me, every practice is a gem.


24

2012 DAN PROMOTION: KENT STANDLEY, YONDAN (Photographs by Elias Marvinney)

Nidan Exams at Aikido Institute Oakland Martin Dubcovsky On Oct 27th Aikido Institute Oakland held nidan tests for Jacob Clapsadle, Terry Slaman, and Diana Aehegma, with a morning class taught by Kim Peuser Sensei. I had the opportunity to attend this great event and the real short of it is I had a blast training with everyone, watching three excellent tests, and enjoying the post-‐test party! In the morning class Peuser Sensei focused primarily on iriminage. We started with various techniques from munetsuki and worked our way to iriminage. Peuser Sensei presented a progression of iriminage starting from the basic form with large turns, to direct entries. He continued the progression into a number of kokyunage with initial blends similar to those we had explored in each variation of iriminage. It was a very well organized class and a great pleasure to train with everyone at the Aikido Institute. After class it was time for the tests. Stephen Kilmer Sensei conducted the three exams. Jacob, Terry and Diana were all wonderful to watch. In Oakland, as in Davis, nidan exams are comprehensive in their coverage of basic taijutsu, kaeshiwaza, henkawaza, and parterned weapon work. However, it was clear that they had each worked very hard to prepare for their tests. Congratulations to Jacob, Terry and Diana on their successful nidan tests!


25

AIKIDO INSTITUTE DAVIS 10TH ANNIVERSARY On November 17th, 2012, Aikido Institute Davis celebrated its 10th year anniversary. Students and teachers from all over California joined us for seminars taught by Dang Thong Phong Sensei and Bill Witt Shihan, followed by demonstrations by all visiting dojo cho, and culminating in a bountiful potluck party. Thank you to all who attended! And a special thank you to Hoa Sensei from your students: Sensei, we are so grateful for what you have created and continue to create in this life. Thank you for dedicating your life to the Art of Peace, and thank you for being our teacher.

Photos by Guy Michelier


26

2012 DAN PROMOTION: HOA NEWENS SENSEI, NANADAN

Gratitude Hoa Newens Sensei With a bow I express gratitude. I bow to everyone in the dojo; it is the prescribed etiquette. I was taught that bowing with thanks was a good practice. Why good? No one explained. When someone does me a favor, I thank him; it’s natural and it feels fair. But why bow with gratitude to someone who apparently has not given me anything? To thank is to recognize that I have received something of value. In thanking I express that I am satisfied and content with my experience. Thanking means accepting the present experience; it is a worthy moment of my life. I learned something, acquired something of value, in that moment. I learned and my life has been enriched by this experience. My consciousness has grown. I added to my Self. That is why I give thanks, with or without a concrete gift. On the other hand, I could choose not to bow with gratitude to my training partner. Why, he hurts me, talks too much and his gi smells. Thank him? I’d rather whine and complain. I’d rather write the experience off.


27

I’d want to subtract this experience from my Self; However, if I did, I’d lose an opportunity to learn a lesson and grow. Accept, or reject the moment. Everyone has this choice in every moment of life. I choose to accept, thank and grow. I appreciate each moment that the Divine bestows on me, Hardship or happiness, it all depends on me, Each moment is part of my life experience. I am grateful to O Sensei for giving birth to Aikido, I am beholden to my teachers for their selfless guidance, I thank my training partners for being my sounding board, I bow to all my companions on the path of life, I feel that they are all part of me. My gratitude seems to stem from an invisible bond, The kind of bond that makes a lost ship yearn for its home port. I feel grateful for each moment, because in each moment I find a code that helps me chart the course to home port. I am on my way home, Thanks to you. Hoa Newens December 2, 2012


28

AIKI ART GALLERY

Origami by Kale Johnson, 13 years old, Aikido Advanced Teen program.

Martin & Kori: Uchi Deshi Training By Erica Frederickson, 10 years old, Aikido Juniors/Advanced Teens program

Origami By Webb Johnson, 11 years old, Aikido Juniors/Advanced Teen program

Tiger Drawing by Andrew Peters, 13 years old, Aikido Juniors Program

Aiki Snoopy demonstrates Hanmi Stance By Hunter Sumner, 11 years old, Aikido Juniors Program


29

Hoa Sensei, Kim Peuser Sensei, and Bernice Tom Sensei at the 2012 TAA Tahoe Gasshuku. Photo by Elias Marvinney.

Other News from 2012: COPENHAGEN, DENMARK In August of 2012, Sensei and Kori flew to Denmark, where Sensei was invited to teach at the second annual Takemusu Aikido Seminar. The three-‐day seminar was packed with classes, good food, and wonderful training spirits. Aikido Institute Davis now has many wonderful new and renewed connections in Denmark, Sweden, and Holland, among other countries. Sensei is currently scheduled to teach at two seminars in Europe in the fall of 2013—one in Denmark, and another in Holland (buy your tickets now! ).

Sensei teaches bukiwaza in Copenhagen, Denmark.

UCHI DESHI: From August to September 2012, Chris Ireland from England served as uchi deshi at AID. Thank you for your dedication and sincere training, Chris! JUNIORS OVERNIGHT: On December 7th, the dojo hosted a Juniors Overnight, and students from the Juniors and Advanced Teen Aikido programs attended special classes led by Sensei, Martin, Kathleen, and Kori. They spent the night a the dojo, watched a martial arts movie, and participated in the morning Tai Chi class led by Sensei.

December 2012 Juniors Overnight participants having too much fun!


30

Justin shows Yoav how to tie a hakama after the Juniors Overnight all-ages weapons class on Friday night.

NEWS FROM THE FRONT DESK: Gumby succumbs to Fall… a reminder to all of us to slow down this Winter and respect the rhythm of the seasons! PROMOTIONS SINCE JUNE 2012: Bruce Donehower 4th Dan Kent Standley 4th Dan Marion Donehower 4th Dan Martin Dubcovsky 2nd Dan Guy Michelier 1st Kyu Kori Farrell 1st Kyu Mitch Peters 4th Kyu Byung-‐Kwang Yoo 5th kyu Juan Hipolito 5th Kyu Erica Frederickson 6th Kyu

REMINDERS: Dues are due on or before the first of month! Beginning February 2012, a late fee will be applied to any dues paid after the first of the month. If you currently pay using automatic payments from your bank, please arrange to have your check sent before the first. Dues must be paid regardless of attendance in order to maintain current membership status. If you plan to be away for an extended period of time and cannot pay your dues, please contact the dojo manager. Also, please let Sensei know if and when you will miss classes for an extended period of time. NEW IN 2013: The first week of each month, prospective students may try the basics classes for free! Tues/Thurs 6-‐6:50pm. COMING UP: DAN EXAMS Februray 23rd, 2013, Sensei will lead a bukidori seminar followed by Shodan exams! Please support the candidates in their training these next several weeks, and come to cheer them on for their big day! Please also support upcoming Nidan candidates, scheduled to test in the spring. UCHI-DESHI BOW-OUT: Kori will be bowing out at the end of February after 13 months of serving as uchi deshi. There will be a demonstration and goodbye potluck as she prepares to return to her family in Santa Cruz. Please come so she can give you her thanks and say farewell (for now)! Please note, any AWASE editing errors are unintended and the sole responsibility of the editor—My apologies! -Kori.

winter / spring 2012 awase newsletter / aikido institute davis … · 2013-01-11 · winter /...

Documents