Friday evening
After laying out the tatami, Maurizio began with breathing, Kenkotaiso and light stretching. He used the entire time to explain the finer points of Kenkotaiso. To do this, he had the participants practice various Ki tests. He placed particular emphasis on really good relaxation, which leads to natural movements.
In earlier times, the difference between the levels from Shoden to Okuden was said that the Ki of the examinees became stronger and stronger. This is a very simple explanation. It seems more likely that as practice progresses, the examinees simply become calmer, more relaxed, better coordinated and more confident in their actions.
After training, everyone went to the nearby "Eigenheim" restaurant, where they ate and drank in a cheerful atmosphere.
Saturday morning
On Saturday morning, another 4 aikidoka from Aikido Sclessin at Liège joined us. One of them had forgotten his belt at home. Hans-Jürgen cycled home and brought him one of his old karate belts. This one was a step higher in color, but that was only a brief preview of the future, because the 1st Kyu exam will take place soon for the aikidoka from Liège.
Maurizio taught Tsuzukiwaza 10 Taninzugake and Irimi variations for multi-person attacks.
Bernhard first had two attacks practiced with Tanto tsuki and then took on Tsuzukiwaza 9 Tsuki and Keri.
The language of instruction on the mat constantly changed between English, Italian, French and German.
At the end, Claudia, Adi, Hans-Jürgen and Volker each performed the Tsuzukiwaza 9 from the third Dan program.
Lunch break
For the lunch break, the Trebur aikidoka and their wifes had prepared plenty of drinks and snacks. In the warm March sun, the participants from Trebur, Liège, Prague, Nuremberg, Novara and Balerna were able to get fit for the afternoon training.
Of course, a group photo was also taken, this time in front of the portal of the old primary school building from 1908.
Saturday afternoon
After the break, Bernhard continued the lesson with Tsuzukiwaza 19. In response to a question from Michal, they even managed to discover a certain system in the techniques. In addition to the punches, there were also techniques from Tantodori and Bokkendori such as tanto tsuki menuchi, bokken tsuki nikyo and bokken yokomenuchi shihonage. Here the question arose whether the throw in Shihonage happens with the bokken in front of Uke's face or with hands and bokken behind his head. The first variant is younger but much more plausible.
In the following part, Maurizio first taught the Tsuzukiwaza 15 Ushiro ryokatadori, which is not one of his favorite Tsuzukiwaza, and then the long form of Jo1 with bokken. He placed particular emphasis on correct and precise attacks.
The four aikidoka from Liège who had arrived in the morning had only planned a one-day trip and therefore immediately after lesson started their journey home. Fabrizio joined them.
Saturday evening
Volker had reserved dinner at the club restaurant of TV Trebur 1886 e.V. There is a large selection of schnitzel dishes and various Turkish and other specialties. Only the aikidoka from Italy ordered a Wiener schnitzel - it should actually have been a Milanese schnitzel -, the other five had tasty Köfte, a man from Trebur had linguine with mussels, someone from Nuremberg ordered a vegetable platter and another member of the group stuck to his principle of not eating anything for dinner. At the end there was a round of raki.
Sunday
Maurizio again started training on Sunday. He had the Bokken forms practiced with Bokken and Jo2 for the third Dan. Nage wields the Bokken here and should show clear Ki presence.
Bernhard continued the lesson with Tsuzukiwaza 30 Shinken. First he had the individual movements practiced and then the form of the old Taigi (hitoriwaza). Then the individual parts of the Kumiwaza followed and at the end the role of Nage as Hitoriwaza was demonstrated in groups of two.
After a short lunch break with snacks, Gorgonzola brought from Italy and the remaining stocks of the good Belgian chocolate that the Liège aikidoka had brought with them, Maurizio took over again and completed the Bokken exercises with Jo2.
Bernhard then had the Bokken role as Hitoriwaza practiced. Maurizio concluded the lesson with detailed explanations of Tsuzukiwaza 29 Kumitachi.
The remaining aikidoka helped put away the mats and Hans-Jürgen and Volker packed the red mats and all the utensils for the food into the cars and took them away.
Sunday evening
In the best sunny weather, Trebur's main street was very busy at 6 p.m. and there were long lines in front of the two ice cream parlors. Claudia, Christian, Maurizio and Bernhard had arranged to meet for an espresso in the Eisbude. Despite the long line at the entrance, they were able to get a good seat inside the restaurant. To their surprise, they already knew the lady who served them from the club restaurant.
The Nurembergers then set off on the return journey and the two organizers with their wives and the two teachers met for dinner in the club restaurant.
Maurizio and Bernhard spent another night in the hotel "Zum Erker" and drove back south on Monday.
Conclusion
This weekend at Trebur was intensive practice. The participants from Prague, Nuremberg and Liège enriched the seminar. And the organizers provided good and inexpensive food for their guests during the lunch breaks.
On June 27-29, 2025, a seminar will take place at Christian's in Nuremberg, and on the last weekend in November the aikidoka from Liège will invite you to a seminar. Both times Maurizio and Bernhard will act as teachers. For the exact times, it is advisable to look at Helmut's clear seminar list on ki-aikido.de.
