Reports

The seminar

On Friday evening Maurizio first handed over the certificates for 2nd Dan respectively Chuden to Hans-Jürgen, Volker and Dieter. They had taken the exams at Haigerloch in March 2022. Then he started with Kenkotaiso, Aikitaiso and Jo Kenkotaiso. This was followed by a series of Jo versus Jo exercises. Some of them were known from the 3rd Kyu program, others were new and varied the interactions, for example against an attack with tsuki. Maurizio then took on Bokken 1 in Hitoriwaza and explained many details and had extensive practice.
The evening ended in a convivial manner in the clubhouse of TSV 1886 Trebur e.V.

On Saturday Bernhard taught Tsuzukiwaza 18 Yokomenuchi and Tsuzukiwaza 10 Taninzugake from the third Dan program. Among other things, it was about working precisely. The intended forms should really be shown and not just something similar that just occasionally happened.
Maurizio had the details of Kenkotaiso worked on and examined the meaning and implementation of some Ki tests. It became clear that Ki tests are not attacks. They are exercises to study and further develop perception, imagination and the state of mind and body. Afterwards, Jo 1 and Jo 2 were practiced in the Hitoriwaza form and later Maurizio began the intensive study of Bokken versus Jo 1, also from the third Dan program.
The dinner together took place in the restaurant Eigenheim.

Sunday began with Aikitaiso and many clarifications from Maurizio. He then continued practicing on the Tsuzukiwaza Bokken versus Jo 1. Maurizio also described how he sees the topics of "thoughts", "words", "perception", "imagination" etc., which were widely discussed by Yoshigasaki. The first step is to not generate thoughts at will. Don't brain! So, you avoid limiting your perception by expressing it with words. The perception then works freely and uninfluenced. This is how new ideas (imagination) arise all by themselves. These can then become thoughts and words that serve to understand the content and communicate it to others. This all happens in relaxation and with silence in the brain. In this way, mind and body are fundamentally strengthened and life becomes more meaningful for oneself and also in relationships with other people. Aikido, as taught by Yoshigasaki, is a very good way to practice these things. This approach can be very helpful if you are in danger of desperately wanting to develop new things in Aikido in order to differentiate yourself from others or to focus on your own greatness.
In the afternoon, Bernhard reached into the history box and discussed the concepts of Renzokuwaza and Kaeshiwaza. To do this, he set a series of tasks, each based on an initial technique that turns out to be unsuitable and induces Nage for changing to another given one. The participants were creative and discovered different forms. Maurizio then finished studying Bokken versus Jo 1, had Jo 2 Hitoriwaza practiced and finished the seminar with selected Ki tests.
In the evening, the organizers of the seminar and the guests from south of the Alpine main ridge met in the TSV clubhouse for a schnitzel parade. Coincidentally, the founder of the Dojo Trebur, Sven Millei, was also there. He has been living in Belgium for some time and is setting up a dojo there. We exchanged ideas about old times and newer developments.