February/March 2015

1.0 Yamashima Sensei in the Italian Region of the Dolomites
An inspiring seminar took place in the last week of February, in the city of Bolzano, Italy, with Yamashima Sensei, 7th dan Aikikai, hosted by Bolzano's Aikikai head instructor, Alessandro Costa.

Yamashima Sensei was on form as he gave morning and afternoon energetic lessons. As well as the local Aikido people joining, many different friends who follow the practices of Yamashima sensei around Europe joined the seminar. 

It was, as usual with seminars of Yamashima Sensei, a pleasant meeting and an enthusiastic practice. The surrounding Dolomite mountains made the location a fantastic place to practice Aikido.

The Dolomites!

Seminars coming up in March with Yamashima Sensei:
Hamburg (11th - 15th of March). Contact Hamburg Aikido group for more information: docdirkmueller@googlemail.com.
Seoul (21st & 22nd of March) . Contact Korean Aikido group for more information: Korea Aikido Federation aikidokorea@gmail.com

2.0 Using Aikido Principles in the Samurai Game®

The next public Samurai Game® in The Netherlands, takes place on Saturday the 21st of March, at The Hagukumi dojo, Mient.277, The Hague. This event is a one day personal development workshop in which people get to play a game, through which realisations can be made. Aikido principles are used as a tool in the learning process, to help understand, grounding, connection, and staying calm in moments of crisis. This event is open to all members of the public. Although Aikido experience is not necessary, people with Aikido experience may enjoy the connection the game makes with Aikido. It is not to late to sign up.
The Samurai Game® was invented, written, and first performed in 1977 by George Leonard, author, award-winning editor, musician, Aikido instructor and pioneer in the Human Potential movement. The Samurai Game® was copyrighted by George Leonard and is solely owned by The Leonard Family Trust.More info about our next event can be found here: www.shinyuembody.org.

3.0 Remembering Western Teachers Who Passed Away
In the month of February, two well-known and popular Aikido teachers were remembered. 
K.F. Leisinger Sensei, 7th dan, passed away on the 19th of February 2014, and, A.H. Bacas Sensei, 6th dan, passed away on the 27th of Febrauary 2006. Both teachers were great friends and worked together to make Aikido more popular in Europe from as early as the 1970s.
It is quite fitting, therefore, that both teachers are also remembered in the same month.

People continue to be interested to the methods of bokken, jo and tanto taught by Dr. Leisinger (passed down from the teachings of K. Asai shihan of Aikikai Germany).

Bacas sensei will always be remembered for his charming personality and caring teaching all over central and Eastern Europe.