Reports

Training and leisure

The weather was extremely kind to us. The temperatures were very bearable on the plateau, and it cooled down considerably at night. Only once we had a very heavy downpour with gusts of wind before general training in the morning, which made the way to and into the dojo - a side tarpaulin had to be opened - a wet affair. Anyway, the dojo in the open tent in the fresh air and in the middle of nature was a real treat for mind and body.
In the morning training, breathing, misogi, ki musubi and teateho were practised. In general and in teachers' class, Maurizio taught Tsuzukiwaza 4 (ryotedori) and Bokken 2 from the 2nd Dan program, Jo with Jo from the 3rd Kyu program and other Bokken exercises from the 4th Dan program. Davide presented the non-contact techniques of Tsuzukiwaza 19 (tsuki) from the 3rd Dan program. He showed a series of exercises on how these techniques can be developed from forms with body contact, so that less advanced Aikidoka can also gain access to them. Another of his topics were techniques with katadori, for which we don't have anymore a tsuzukiwaza in the standard program. In the evening training, Joachim showed how Nage can be very relaxed and guide Uke with special hand and finger forms, as well as important aspects of posture when breathing. He also looked at katatedori on a person with the bokken in hand, resulting in good aids to movement. Furthermore he showed the situation "one bokken against two bokken". Bernhard taught Tsuzukiwaza 15 (ushiro ryokatadori) for 2nd Dan. Then, he had all the forms "open arms" and "close arms" from the Aikitaiso studied and brought up a series of techniques with the idea of performing them from the point of view of changing the form.
On Tuesday, at the end of the teachers' lesson, Claudia passed her 2nd Dan exam. She had got the finishing touches in the free practice sessions in the afternoon. With two female and two male uke she managed a very harmonious performance.
In their free time, many participants drove to the heat of Karlobag for lunch and then went to the sea for a bath. On Monday there was a hiking excursion for those interested. In the evening, a large group of around 30 people and more would always sit at a long table in the inner courtyard of the Restoran Baške Oštarije to enjoy food and drink and a friendly get-together.
On the last day, the order of general and teacher training was reversed so that the seminar could end with all participants together. Marijan thanked the participants for coming and participating and the teachers for the lessons. They in turn thanked him and Angela for their intensive commitment, which makes such a beautiful semimar possible.
Most of the participants will probably see each other again in the 2024 seminar.