with Bernhard Boll and Michal Hájek
The traditional autumn seminar took place in Prague from November 1st to 3rd, 2024.
The training on Friday evening and the Misogi on Saturday morning were led by Michal.
Bernhard began the lesson on Saturday morning by presenting the Okuden certificate to Ryan. He then observed a minute's silence in memory of our Aikido friend Mikulaŝ, who died suddenly on October 17th.
In the morning Bernhard first taught Tsuzukiwaza 3 Ryotemochi. Yoshigasaki Sensei has given the attack a contemporary interpretation. The techniques contain effective meguri movements that are sometimes given too little attention.
During a short break the obligatory group photo was taken with the participants from Prague, Nuremberg, Vienna and Balerna (see below). Yvette was the one taking the photo.
In the second part of the morning there was Tusuzukiwaza 16 Handachi. Here too Yoshigasaki Sensei thought about real situations and devised solutions for them.
For lunch we went again to the Di Carlo restaurant in Šeberov. Some aikidoka showed their pleasure-oriented side here.
Some used the time until the afternoon lesson to take a nap on the mat. Then we continued without rushing with some Ki exercises and the Tsuzukiwaza 14 Ryotedori/Suwariwaza. The training ended with the SHODEN exam for Max from Vienna, which he passed without any problems.
As in the previous year, dinner was held in the Podolí district at the Podolka restaurant on the Vltava. Over good food and in a cheerful atmosphere, the participants exchanged among other things views on profound philosophical questions.
On Sunday morning, Michal surprised with a parade of calligraphy that was appropriate for the season. 吾心似秋月。 "My heart/mind/spirit is like the autumn moon." The participants were each allowed to choose a copy to take home. Thank you very much !
The training began with some Ki exercises and was followed by Claudia's JODEN exam, which she passed convincingly. After that, the participants devoted themselves to the movements of Jo 2.
Historically, there was initially only the Kata Jo 2 in the form Hitoriwaza. It was also part of the Ki no Kenkyukai exams' program. In order to internalize these movements, there is a second form without steps on the spot. The interactions with the Bokken, which are intended to explain the movements of the Jo, developed into a third form. As a fourth form, Yoshigasaki created the so-called long form, in which different variations with the bokken are played through in order to verify the meaningfulness of the Jo movements.
The current status is:
1. Jo 2 Hitoriwaza (recommended for the 1st Kyu exam)
2. Jo 2 on the spot without steps (exercise)
3. Jo 2 in interaction with the Bokken (in the 3rd Dan exam, candidate handles the Bokken)
4. Jo 2 in interaction with the Bokken, long form (in the 2nd Dan exam, candidate handles Jo)
Bernhard mainly had the Hitoriwaza and the 3rd form practiced, which is the basis of the interactions between Jo 2 and Bokken.
Lunch on the mat was once again a culinary experience. Many thanks to Michal, his wife, Jana, Eva and Karel for the delicious food. Afterwards, Bernhard and Yvette headed west and Michal led the afternoon training.
Many thanks to the aikidoka of Prague for their hospitality, especially for taking in some overnight guests, and to all the foreigners for visiting the Prague seminar. We will meet again at the next seminar, probably in January in Vienna!
