Altai
is a vast mountainous area, located in the center of Eurasia at the juncture of China, Kazakhstan, Mongolia and Russia. Russian part of Altai includes the Altai Region (Barnaul is the central city) and the Republic of Altai (Gorno-Altaisk is the capital). The most attractive sites for ecotourism are concentrated in the Republic of Altai which is also called Gorny Altai. Unique natural and cultural features of Gorny Altai grant wonderful opportunities for all kinds of ecotourism activities.
The climate of Altai is continental with a stable cover of snow in winter and with summer temperatures up to +300C.
(image and text obtained from the Internet, credits to
http://www.theleadershipdojo.com).
Richard Strozzi Heckler, PhD is the founder and President of Strozzi Institute. A nationally known speaker and consultant on leadership and mastery, he has spent more than three decades researching, developing, and teaching the practical application of Somatics (the unity of language, action, and meaning) to business leaders and executiv
Richard is the author of seven books, including In Search of the Warrior Spirit, The Anatomy of Change, Holding the Center, The Mind/Body Interface, and Aikido and the New Warrior. His articles have appeared inEsquire, East West Journal, The Whole Earth Review, and numerous other publications. In October 2000, a Wall Street Journal cover story featured the groundbreaking leadership program developed by Richard for the United States Marine Corps. Richard has a Ph.D. in Psychology and is a sixth degree black belt in the martial art of Aikido. He also holds ranks in Judo, Jujitsu, and Capoeira. Richard has taught at the University of Chicago, Harvard University, Sonoma State University, Esalen Institute, Lone Mountain College, Naropa Institute, and the University of Munich.
Having worked with tens of thousands of people over the last 30 years including corporate executives, Olympic and professional athletes, managers, political leaders, and inner-city gangs, Strozzi-Heckler’s client list includes U.S. Marines, U.S. Army Green Berets, U.S. Navy SEALS, AT&T, DMV, Microsoft, Sportsmind, Capital One, Barnes & Noble, and Hewlett-Packard.
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I met Heckler sensei for the third time in Petaluma, north of California, USA at his dojo, the Two Rocks dojo in the coutryside next to Petaluma. The dojo is surrounded by beautiful scenery and beautifully kept on the inside too. Heckler sensei's group follows the lineage of Mitsuge Saotome shihan (Aikido Schools of Ueshiba) and the lessons are rich in aikido learning as heckler sensei places emphasis on grounding, centering and positive state of mind. Goodness and healing is radiating from this dojo, and it was a great pleasure for me to enjoy aikido with the Petaluma community and Heckler sensei. Therefore, I present my thanks for again allowing me to participate in the classes during the week of my visit there.
For more information about Heckler sensei's work, click the following links: http://www.strozziinstitute.com/ and
http://www.tworockaikido.com/.
3. Safety in Aikido (Preventing Injuries and Training Sensibly).
Maintaining safety in the dojo must always remain one of the key concerns of any instructor. No one likes to be injured or to injure anyone. Injuries prevent practice, can lose you friends and certainly reduce income to the club.
On the other hand injury can be the mother of technique. Unable to put stress on an injured limb, you might just discover new ways to apply the principles, forced by injury to discover the maximum effect attainable from the minimal effort.
Nonetheless all clubs need to have a first aid kit. In addition to the normal medically approved contents, you will benefit from having available a greasy antiseptic for minor cuts, plasters for the same and electricians tape to bind on plasters in a sweaty environment and/ or to strap together injured toes and fingers.
It is a good idea to have two or more of the regular members trained in First Aid. Even a two hour session will give a little knowledge. Further training is often available locally either free or very cheaply.
More important even than first aid training is to have immediate access to a telephone (someone in the club may have a mobile phone) and transport for the more serious injuries that require expert attention in a hospital.
Far more likely are the bumps and strains that simply require time to put themselves right. RICE is a well-known acronym in sports injury circles - Rest Ice Compression Elevation.
Manage the session sensibly to minimise risk of injury. Pay attention to warming up and cooling down. Maintain a sense of discipline throughout to limit any bullying or over intense competition. Ensure that equipment is well maintained. Train sensibly. In throwing arts, when the dojo is crowded, then make sure people are thrown to the edge of the mat and not into the middle. They are far more likely to collide with others in the middle rather than the edges of the mat. Throw in groups or in lines. Train lightly when carrying an injury. Mark the site of your injury with a piece of red electrical tape to remind yourself and others to go easy on particular joints. Do not get over tired - practise more calmly for a while.
Remember when you do become injured that suffering is good for the soul - pain is that by which we become perfect!
Paul Mitton, Bath Aikido Society, 1 August 1997
