SHIN SHIN TOITSU AIKIDO - Ki Aikido

Liège November 2025

Ki Aikido Sclessin in Liège had invited Maurizio and Bernhard for the second time to teach a seminar on November 29th and 30th, 2025. After the Sclessin aikidoka had traveled to Balerna with a large group in October, Dzenan also decided to join them. As in the previous year, Vincenzo was also present. Unfortunately, Maurizio had to cancel his participation at short notice due to personal reasons.
Vincenzo from Italy arrived in Balerna around 8 a.m. on Friday, and then we set off on the 800 km journey to Liège by car. We picked up Dzenan in Lugano.
The weather in Switzerland was glorious, and it was a pleasure to admire the mountainous landscape with its snow-capped peaks against the deep blue sky. In France, the sky became overcast, a storm front moved in from the west, and it rained continuously from Luxembourg onwards.

Friday evening

The rain finally let up in Liège. Fabrizio and Michel picked up the three from the south at their hotel near Guillemins train station, and they took the new tram to the city center. The square in front of the cathedral was the heart of the Christmas market (Village de Noël). It consisted of countless stalls packed tightly together, selling nothing but drinks. Bar after bar. It was absolutely full of visitors.
However, this situation also had its advantages. The bars and restaurants in the area weren't overcrowded. So the group of five found a good spot in a Brazilian restaurant and enjoyed typical Liège specialties and the excellent local beer.

Saturday morning

The seminar began on Saturday morning with the instructors' class. Participants from 2nd Kyu on were also permitted.
On the program was Tsuzukiwaza 19 katadori menuchi from the 4th Dan examination. The attack in the first technique, which Yoshigasaki Sensei added to this form, differs from the subsequent attacks. Furthermore, there were a number of details to pay attention to, and especially for the sankyo uragaeshi, much was explained, the movement was developed slowly, and practiced intensively.
The class for all participants followed. First, Fabrizio handed overher 2nd Dan certificate to Danielle with the applause of the participants. Michel then took over the Kenkotaiso. For the numerous blue belts on the mat, Tsuzukiwaza 14 ryotedori suwari/tachiwaza was practiced. They then repeatedly demonstrated individual techniques, parts, or the entire Tsuzukiwaza. This was intended to help them gain confidence in its execution.
All participants worked intensively, and there was even time left for the first three techniques of Tsuzukiwaza 16 handachi.

Lunch

For lunch, we went to the restaurant "Le Beau Vivier" ("The Beautiful Fishpond") in a wooded area of the Seraing district, about 4 km from the dojo. The drive begins with a long uphill stretch on the motorway, where, given the general speed limit of 120 km/h on Belgian motorways, some drivers test their vehicles' acceleration.
Among the restaurant's advantages are its easy accessibility from the dojo, ample parking for customers, and, of course, the quality of the food.

Saturday afternoon

The afternoon training session began with Kenkotaiso and Aikitaiso led by Fabrizio.
Then Michel took the Joden exam. Michel has many, many years of Aikido experience, so this task posed no problem for him at all.
Congratulations !

Saturday afternoon continued

Bernhard then continued the lesson with the four remaining techniques of Tsuzukiwaza 16. These were then demonstrated again by all the blue belts present.
For the candidates for 2nd Dan, Tsuzukiwaza 22 tantodori 2 followed. There were some preparatory exercises, especially for the kaitennage technique, to make the repositioning and simple disarming more understandable. As a supplement for the brown belts, Bernhard also had the first two techniques from Tsuzukiwaza 21 tantodori 1 practiced.
At the end, several participants presented Tsuzukiwaza 22 in the form they had just practised.

Saturday dinner

For dinner, we went back to "Le Beau Vivier." The group had been told that the restaurant was flexible with the time, so we arrived early and waited for our food. It took a little longer than expected, but we made good use of the waiting time with drinks and very lively and informative conversations.
The food was delicious, and for dessert, Fabrizio had the tasty nut and fruit bread that Yvette had bought at the Gotthard Pass (CH) cut into small pieces and distributed at the tables. A planned visit to the city center had to be cancelled because we didn't leave the restaurant until quite late.

Sunday's instructors' lesson

Sunday's instructors' training began with Kenkotaiso and stretching led by Christian. He explained several forms of stretching in more detail and pointed out their significance.
This was followed by Tsuzukiwaza 29 Kumitachi. Yoshigasaki has gradually added further elements to this form to better understand the defense against the koteuchi attack. Accordingly, there are minor variations in its execution. A particularly beautiful technique is the final one, in which Nage receives Uke's movement (awase) and sends him/her back to the starting position.

Sunday conclusion

In Sunday's general training session, Fabrizio first led Kenkotaiso and Aikitaiso. Then all the hitoriwaza exercises with the bokken of the examination program were repeated.
As preparation for the 4th Dan, Tsuzukiwaza 30 Shinken was on the agenda. Bernhard first had the students practice all the elements in the form of Hitoriwaza. Then the executions in Kumiwaza followed.
Christian, Frank, and Jan helped with the explanations.
Since this particular Tsuzukiwaza is very mentally demanding — it's a sophisticated, detailed choreography — the first three techniques from Tsuzukiwaza 1 Katatedori Tenshin were practiced at the end of the session for more physical activity.

Return journey

Many thanks to the Sclessin Aikidoka for the invitation to this seminar and for their hospitality. We'll surely see each other again soon at a seminar with Maurizio.
The three Aikidoka from the south then began their journey home. They made a stop in Trier (Trèves/Triers) to visit the Porta Nigra, the Christmas market, and the Karl Marx monuments - Trier is his hometown - despite the rainy weather. After an overnight stay in Pirmasens, they arrived safely back in Ticino on Monday afternoon.
We are already looking forward to the 2026 seminar in Liège, and we're sure Maurizio will be there again.

Château de Sclessin

The Ki Aikido Sclessin dojo is located on the grounds of Sclessin Castle. The Lords of Berloz resided here from the 13th century onwards. Sclessin was a fief.
After the end of feudalism, the castle had a checkered history and was finally purchased by the municipality of Sclessin in 1913. Sclessin itself was incorporated into Liège in 1977.
For decades, the buildings have served as a municipal cultural center and house various associations, including a drama school and a theater.

Confrérie des vignerons

In the corridors of the annex, there is an interesting commemorative plaque:

"On Saturday, August 25, 1973, the Confrérie des Vignerons du Petit Bourgogne de Sclessin (Brotherhood of Winegrowers of Petit Bourgogne de Sclessin) was inaugurated in the presence of prominent figures from the Belgian, German, and Dutch carnival scenes. The ceremony took place at the Château Communal de Sclessin, the former residence of the Counts of Berloz. This new brotherhood is intended to commemorate the fact that Sclessin was once famous for its Petit Bourgogne wine."

(The current official name for the old grape variety "Petit Bourgogne" is "Melon de Bourgogne.")

Reports

Autumn seminar at Sclessin (Liège)