1.0 The "Japanese Curry" Sensei!
Yamashima sensei, 7th dan Aikikai Aikido teacher of Nerima, Tokyo, came to the practice with us in The Netherlands on the weekend of the 16th-18th of May, giving classes in Delft, The Hague, Rijswijk, Amsterdam and Leiden.
This was just a part of his wider-spreading combined tour of The Netherlands, Belgium and Germany (Düsseldorf). The focus of Yamashima sensei's lessons is around that of simplicity and doing the movement naturally without unnecessary force and, at the same time, for uke and tori to have a good feeling of quality of connection between eachother.
This same simplicity is applied to the wonderful curries that sensei makes. He makes them with a good heart-to-heart connection and always adds fresh but simple ingredients. So, now we know the ingredients also to a rewarding Aikido practice. Keep it fresh and simple!
The Aikido practices given by Yamashima sensei are often sweaty and tiring, though deceivingly slow and effortless in the beginning and build-up of the lessons. This deception is soon revealed, as the movement becomes more intense during the course of the lesson. This is a perfect way to build up the practice without causing injury or over straining the body. A lot of happy people joined the practice from connected dojos around the west of The Netherlands and some guests came from further away (for example, Luc from Switzerland!). The spirit of Yamashima sensei's lessons is that of international integration between people of the network who invite him to their countries. Already this week, some people from The Netherlands have headed over to Belgium to practice there. This coming weekend, I'll be heading for Düsseldorf for their practice with the sensei.
Yamashima sensei travels yearly to multiple destinations around the world (including: New Zealand, Hawaii, Singapore, South Korea, and various countries in Europe). If you get the chance, it is always nice to combine a visit with a practice with Yamashima Sensei! Seize the opportunity while it is there!
Hereby two clips from the seminar:
(Uke Rachid Gouffi) ..
(Uke Lawrence Warry)..
http://youtu.be/kJPEF6NLcJs
2.0 Israel Events end of May and Beginning of June
My next trip to Israel starts with meeting the wonderful group of Masatake dojo and their amazing guest shihan, Shimamoto. 8th dan Aikikai. I'm excited to practice Aikido with my Israeli friends again. The full details in English for this event can be found here: http://masatake-dojo-events.blogspot.co.il/2014/03/shimamoto-shihan-8th-dan-aikikai-israel.html
On the following weekend (6th and 7th of June), I will be running a Samurai Game® workshop.
If you're curious and not sure what such an workshop involves, then there is a lot of information on the facebook event created here: https://www.facebook.com/events/306859769469395/?fref=ts
To summarize here, what can I say about it?? It's a two days workshop taking place at Integral dojo, Tel Aviv, on the Fri 6th and Sat 7th of June 2014.
This workshop comes with the theme of love and light! How can we allow love and light to enter, and manifest them as an integral part of, our paths of development to achieve inner and outer peace? Let's play a game and find out! Do see the FB event for more info.
3.0 Wearing Your Hakama Properly!!! - By Ze'ev Erlich of Masatake Dojo, Israel
As soon as you receive your black belt in Aikido, you and your teacher are about to begin a new chapter in your relationship. The teacher and the senior students have now new obligations regarding your Aikido learning process. Along with the black-belt exam preparation, the student has to purchase a hakama (traditional dark colored and wide pants). The teacher has to make sure the student is choosing a good hakama and in correct size. It is also important to teach the correct way to wear it and the correct way to tie it. The length of the hakama is also important. Some students buy a hakama with short sleeves. The sleeves should almost touch your foot. The white pants we wear under the hakama, should be hidden underneath. If the white pants are visible, they should be trimmed. Especially when we wear a hakama and black-belt, we represent our teacher and our school, wherever we go. So It is important of course to practice well, but also be aware of etiquette and correct manners and dress code.
Yamashima sensei, 7th dan Aikikai Aikido teacher of Nerima, Tokyo, came to the practice with us in The Netherlands on the weekend of the 16th-18th of May, giving classes in Delft, The Hague, Rijswijk, Amsterdam and Leiden.
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| At The Hagukumi Dojo, The Hague, The Netherlands |
This same simplicity is applied to the wonderful curries that sensei makes. He makes them with a good heart-to-heart connection and always adds fresh but simple ingredients. So, now we know the ingredients also to a rewarding Aikido practice. Keep it fresh and simple!
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| Sensei Cooks at Our Japanese Curry Party! |
Yamashima sensei travels yearly to multiple destinations around the world (including: New Zealand, Hawaii, Singapore, South Korea, and various countries in Europe). If you get the chance, it is always nice to combine a visit with a practice with Yamashima Sensei! Seize the opportunity while it is there!
Hereby two clips from the seminar:
(Uke Rachid Gouffi) ..
(Uke Lawrence Warry)..
http://youtu.be/kJPEF6NLcJs
2.0 Israel Events end of May and Beginning of June
My next trip to Israel starts with meeting the wonderful group of Masatake dojo and their amazing guest shihan, Shimamoto. 8th dan Aikikai. I'm excited to practice Aikido with my Israeli friends again. The full details in English for this event can be found here: http://masatake-dojo-events.blogspot.co.il/2014/03/shimamoto-shihan-8th-dan-aikikai-israel.html
On the following weekend (6th and 7th of June), I will be running a Samurai Game® workshop.
If you're curious and not sure what such an workshop involves, then there is a lot of information on the facebook event created here: https://www.facebook.com/events/306859769469395/?fref=ts
To summarize here, what can I say about it?? It's a two days workshop taking place at Integral dojo, Tel Aviv, on the Fri 6th and Sat 7th of June 2014.
This workshop comes with the theme of love and light! How can we allow love and light to enter, and manifest them as an integral part of, our paths of development to achieve inner and outer peace? Let's play a game and find out! Do see the FB event for more info.
Also, here is the flyer for the event:
As soon as you receive your black belt in Aikido, you and your teacher are about to begin a new chapter in your relationship. The teacher and the senior students have now new obligations regarding your Aikido learning process. Along with the black-belt exam preparation, the student has to purchase a hakama (traditional dark colored and wide pants). The teacher has to make sure the student is choosing a good hakama and in correct size. It is also important to teach the correct way to wear it and the correct way to tie it. The length of the hakama is also important. Some students buy a hakama with short sleeves. The sleeves should almost touch your foot. The white pants we wear under the hakama, should be hidden underneath. If the white pants are visible, they should be trimmed. Especially when we wear a hakama and black-belt, we represent our teacher and our school, wherever we go. So It is important of course to practice well, but also be aware of etiquette and correct manners and dress code.
