SHIN SHIN TOITSU AIKIDO - Ki Aikido

Velebit 2025

This year again, Aikido Društvo Zagreb organized its traditional international summer seminar at Baške Oštarije on the Velebit plateau.
For the fourth time since 2022, Maurizio Volpe was the main instructor. Additional lessons were led by Bernhard Boll, Davide Rizzi, Joachim von Roth, Roberto dalla Valle, Michal Hajek, and Ryan Jepson.
A total of more than 50 persons participated. Usually most of the aikidoka in Baške Oštarije come from Croatia and Slovenia. From north of the Alps, participants came from Nuremberg, Prague, and Vienna. From Italy, guests came from Turin, Vercelli, Thiene, and Monfalcone, and from Switzerland from Sessa and Balerna. There was even a participant from New York.

Friday

Maurizio Volpe opened the seminar on Friday evening. After Kenkōtaisō and Aikitaisō, he gave extensive instruction on Katadori Ikkyō and Nikyō. An important detail is the direction in which Nage's arm swings away to properly absorb the grip on the shoulder and return it to Uke.

The photo shows the tatami area in the large tent in the open air, giving you an idea of how pleasant practise in the fresh air can be. You might also notice that the mat surface slopes slightly toward Kamiza, which made a difference in some exercises, such as Kōhō Tentō Undō. But if necessary, one could also work on isohypses (lines of equal height), which some teachers also suggested in further trainings.

Saturday

Saturday's practise began early in the morning at 7 a.m. with misogi, like all the following days. Since the chronicler was unable to attend, he unfortunately cannot provide any details.
In the lesson for all at 9:30 a.m., Maurizio first presented diplomas to several participants. Marjan Kudrna received 6th dan and there were awarded three Chūden and one Shodan, too. Congratulations! Maurizio then continued the lesson with katadori sankyō and yonkyō.
In the following instructors' training, Bernhard had the traditional 1st kata in Tachiwaza practiced with all Katamewaza techniques against Shomenuchi. This kata does not exist in Ki-Aikido. Instead, Tōhei Sensei developed his 30 Taigi, while Yoshigasaki Sensei later compiled the 30 Tsuzukiwaza. All three forms are based on different concepts.
In the evening training, Achim first presented exercises for perceiving Ki in the body, the environment, and the entire space. This was followed by techniques for katatedori and ryōtemochi, which unfolded their effectiveness by simple, natural movements.

Sunday

On Sunday morning, Davide led the lesson for everyone. He explained the concepts of Kenkōtaisō (健康体操), Seitaihō (整体法), Shikkō (膝行), and Aikitaisō (合氣体操). He specifically practiced the transition between Seiza and Agura. He then took a few exercises from Aikitaisō and asked some participants to demonstrate a technique using the chosen form. This wasn't always easy.
During instructors' training, Maurizio had practice the first five movements of Tsuzukiwaza 29 Kumitachi with utmost precision. Yoshigasaki added four techniques to Tōhei Sensei's original Taigi 29 Kumitachi of five techniques, which make the kote uchi technique with control through Nage (formerly the first, now the fifth) plausible. Thus, Tsuzukiwaza 29 comprises a total of nine techniques.
Since bad weather was forecast for Monday, which indeed arrived with full force, the free afternoon for the hike or staying at the sea was brought forward to Sunday afternoon.

Monday

In the morning training for all, Davide taught the techniques of Tsuzukiwaza 4 Ryōtedori, again with reference to specific elements of Aikitaisō.
In the instructors' training, Achim demonstrated examples of maai, presence, and perception, both "unarmed" and with a bokken. He then had the students practice the situation of one bokken against two attackers with bokken.
Bernhard's topic in the evening training was Aiki (合氣), which he considers the most important aspect of Aikido. He also mentioned Tōhei Sensei's atomistic definition of Ki and the recent attempts to explain this Japanese concept using quantum theory. He had the students practice katatedori and ryōtemochi techniques with and without physical contact.

Thursday

In the lesson for all, Maurizio taught Tsuzukiwaza 8 Yokomenuchi from the first dan program. At the end of this lesson, he conducted a Chūden examination, where the examinee demonstrated a very good level.
Davide then showed first the remaining techniques of Tsuzukiwaza 4 Ryōtedori. Afterwards he taught the sequence 11-12-13-14-15 from Jo2 with bokken intensively using all the space available.
In the evening training, Achim explained several breathing exercises while lying down and some methods for controlling Uke with katamewaza on the floor. From bokken 1 with a partner, he showed the techniques 3 and 4. He concluded his lesson with zenpōnage and kirikaeshi from Tsuzukiwaza 20 Jonage.

Wednesday

In instructors' training Bernhard addressed the concepts of kata (形), taigi (体技), and tsuzukiwaza (続き技). He suspected a conceptual connection between the latter and renzokuwaza (連続技). He then had practice Tsuzukiwaza 30 Shinken. There is controversy over whether shinken should be written as 真剣 or 心剣. The first is the "true sword," the second means "sword of the mind." Given that shinken was a kata (hitoriwaza) under Tōhei Sensei, the second meaning is more plausible. This is also confirmed by the experience of another teacher, who recalled that the unique thing about the hitoriwaza form was the complete perception of ki and full mind. Yoshigasaki Sensei changed the exercise into a kumitachi. However, obviously the renzoku element is missing, so Tsuzukiwaza 30 is still more of a kata.
The seminar concluded with a lesson by Maurizio, who first showed Ryōtemochi Zenpōnage and Kirikaeshi and then taught Tsuzukiwaza 21 Tantōdori 1.
At the end, Marjan thanked all the teachers and participants for their dedication. Next year, to mark its 20th anniversary, the seminar will last one day longer and will be supplemented by another well-known top-class teacher.

Further details about the 2025 Summer Seminar in Velebit can be found on .

Group photo of the female participants

Reports

Velebit Aikido Summer Seminar