さいたま ４月２８日(日)

さいたまでは、「平成」最後の稽古となりました。

５月の演武会に向けて、各道場でも稽古まっ最中ですが、構成は次の審査科目で考えられているため、少年部については演武会の参加に関わらず、演武稽古に参加させています。
残す時間が、少なくなってきていますので 、工夫して進めていきます。

少年部、一般の稽古後に審査の免状を授与して頂きました。
次回審査は、６月の合同審査になります。
少年昇段、一般昇級以上の審査を受ける予定の方は、通常の稽古で十分ですか？
心配な方は、稽古時間の確保を検討しましょう。

Nagareyama 4/20

Demonstration training at Aikido Meiryukan Nagareyama.

Todays class was held at the Kikkoman Arena.
Yes, Kikkoman Soy sauce - The compay is big in the Northern Chiba area. This sponsored arena is a new sports center, big, clean and air conditioned.

Come join us on a Saturday!

The kids class is from 2:15 to 3:15 and adults are from 3:30 to 4:30. Visitors always welcome!

Mid - April

Spring tests are finished - Next up, The 29th Urayasu City Aikido demonstration.

A few pics from the Kasukabe Wednesday morning class, Wednesday Noda class, Saturday Kasukabe abd Tuesday Noda evening class.

The kids have been working on some pretty slick moves for the upcoming demo. Videos to follow!

4 shrines - one day

On Thursday April the 4th, after 15 years in Japan, I finally made the trip out to Iwama to visit the Aiki Jinja.

The Aiki Shrine is in Ibaraki prefecture, about an hour and a half out of Tokyo. The original part honden was finished in 1943. This is the small structure housing the 42 guardian Gods of Morihei Ueshiba.

Pictured to the left is a stone carving with Abe sensei`s calligraphy.

This along with the big statue of Morihei Ueshiba and a few other monuments are all fairly new additions to the grounds.

The bigger building in front of the actual shrine was built in the early 60`s.
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Across the street from the shrine is the Ibaraki branch / Iwama dojo


This is the famous dojo where Aikido`s founder taught until his death in 1969. After that, Saito Morihiro sensei continued to teach for over 30 years.

There are still a number of high ranked teachers, including the current Doshu instructing daily classes for both Japanese as well as many foreign live-in students.






Following our morning in Iwama we decided to take a nice drive along one of the biggest lakes in Japan, Kasumigaura lake. The weather was great and so was the view.

After about an hour we reached Kashima Jingu - a famous shinto shrine dedicated to the patron martial deity Takemikazuchi-no-Ōkami, (God of thunder and of the sword) The kenjutsu style Kashima shinto ryu has been around since the early 1500`s.

After Kashima we took a short drive over to Ikisu jinja, this is a small and simple shrine with no direct relevance to martial arts, but part of the West Japan 3. It is said to bring good fortune if you pay respect at all 3.

That being said, our last stop was Katori jinja, the shrine of Futsunushi-no-kami, (God of swords and lightning) A big and beautiful shrine, the head of over 400 shrines around Japan. The kenjutsu style Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū is one of the oldest Japanese martial arts dating back to the late 1400`s.





During my uchideshi years at Yoshinkan Aikido Ryu we visited Kashima and Katori each and every year early April with Ando sensei, but this was my first time back since 2015.  It felt nice to carry on the tradition with some of the Aikido Meiryukan instructors. I hope to do it again next year.

Ryu Koga culture

It was nice to see everyone from the Yoshinkan Aikido Ryu Koga culture club last Friday.

I taught here for 3 years up till last Spring, then former member, Takada-san took over. Now I only come out to grade the kids and adult tests 3 times/year.

Mostly new students, but same energy as before.
Not the easiest mats to start on, but all the beginners are working hard and getting better at the basics.

See you again in the summer!