Seminar with Maurizio Volpe and Bernhard Boll
From Friday October 13th to Sunday October 15th, 2023, the fourth Aikido seminar this year took place in Balerna, this time again with Maurizio Volpe and Bernhard Boll as teachers.
The participants came in large numbers, most from Piedmont and Lombardy, Corrado from Bologna, Michal from Prague, Christian and Claudia from Nuremberg and Ryan from Vienna. One participant again had his dog with him, who was able to watch the events in peace from the gym stage.
Maurizio started on Friday evening with Kenkotaiso and stretching as well as a series of Ki tests, explaining the purpose of these tests. Some tests such as the unbending arm were removed from the program by Yoshigasaki Sensei. They were often used to egoistically show one's own greatness and were therefore counter-productive. But if you do them with the correct attitude, these tests are useful also today in Aikido lessons.
He then considered some techniques such as Katatedori Kokyunage and Ushiro Katatedori Uragaeshi from the aspects of changing the form and changing the position as well as changing the attitude (change mind, cambiare mente).
After the diverting training on the mat, there was a pizza meal together on the hall's stage, which was sponsored by the Associazione Ticinese Ki Aikido Balerna.
Bernhard started on Saturday morning with Kenkotaiso, Ki Musubi and stretching.
He wanted to repeat all techniques with Shihonage.
The attacks were Katatedori (3rd Kyu), Ryotemochi (1st Dan), Ushiro Ryotedori, Ushiro Katatedori Kubishime (1st Dan and 3rd Dan), Yokomenuchi (3rd Kyu, 1st Dan, 3rd Dan) as well as Futarigake Ryotedori (3rd Dan).
This allowed all participants to work on some aspects that should be taken into account while performing Shihonage, whether irimi or tenshin.
Maurizio led the second training session in the morning. He started with some Ki tests. Then he turned to Tsuzukiwaza 25, Jo 1 with Bokken. He explained the individual situations and their logical sequence very clearly.
During the lunch break, most of the participants went to the Grotto del Mulino. Some had brought their own food and took advantage of the nice weather to have a picnic outdoors.
Bernhard continued the series of techniques with Shihonage on Saturday afternoon. The attacks were Ryotedori Handachi (1st Kyu), Yokomenuchi again, Tanto Yokomenuchi (1st Dan), Tanto Ushiro Katatedori Kubishime (2nd Dan), and Bokken Yokomenuchi (2nd Dan). In addition, the participants could practice a technique that no longer appears in our standard Aikido program: Munetori Shihonage. When Nage executes the technique correctly, it is convincing and effective.
Maurizio finished teaching Jo 1 against Bokken in the second part of the afternoon.
Many participants said goodbye and went home. The group from north of the Alps stayed at Govert's in Stabio and celebrated a party there. Others had booked rooms at the Ristorante Stazione in Balerna. The common dinner also took place there. The Roman cuisine tasted excellent and the ambience was very appealing.
Sunday morning started with a bit of confusion. On the Italian flyer, which was also stuck to the entrance door of the hall, the beginning of the lessons was set at 9:30 a.m. The German and English versions, however, spoke of 9:00 a.m. This forced some of the guests to get a little hectic for no reason. But that left Bernhard with a little more time to carry away a third of the mats. On Sunday there were fewer participants on the mat and putting the rest away at the end of the seminar was easier.
Bernhard started with Kenkotaiso and stretching. Techniques with Shihonage followed again. With Shomenuchi (2nd Dan) the question arose as to the difference to Yokomenuchi. The participants were able to name three situations in which a shihonage with Shomenuchi makes sense. After the repetition of Bokken Yokomenuchi, Jodori Yokomenuchi followed and here too the question was what the difference in the execution was. Maurizio suggested a lower entry of Nage into the Yokomenuchi with Jo in order to defuse an expected realistic reaction from Uke. The last technique practiced was Jonage Ryotemochi. It is recommended to enter directly into the technique so that it doesn't seem to be a game for small kids.
Maurizio taught Jo2 against Bokken in the second part and explained again the differences to Jo1 with Bokken in the sequence 3-4.
He then showed the versions of Bokken with Jo 1 and Bokken with Jo 2 as they appear in the 3rd Dan exam and specified the what Bokken has to do in these sequences.
Finally, he had these forms demonstrated individually by different couples.
The seminar ended punctually at 12 p.m. After putting away the mats and tidying up the hall, most people quickly headed home. Maurizio, Andrea, Corrado, Bernhard and Yvette went to the Grotto del Mulino. During dinner we had the opportunity to look back on the seminar and delve deeper into some topics.
It's always nice to meet Aikidoka at seminars you've known for a long time and share the joy of Aikido with them. Many thanks to all participants, some of whom came from far away. Many thanks also to Yvette, who, as always, put a lot of work into the elaborate organization. She couldn't train this time because she suffered a fracture on her left wrist a few weeks ago, although not in Aikido.
The autumn seminar in Prague with Bernhard will take place from November 3rd to 5th. Maurizio and Bernhard will be in Trebur from November 10th to 13th. Maurizio will be in Valencia on November 25th and 26th. On December 16th and 17th we will meet in Vercelli at the seminar with Maurizio and Mario Peloni.
Fotos: Bernhard, Ryan, Yvette, Christian