Suwari waza katate mochi nikajo osae ni at Meiryukan Omiya.
Original Omiya members, Fukaya-san and daughter, Ayaka are slowing getting ready for 3rd kyu.
Their kihon is fine, just alot of new techniques to remember. Both with busy schedules it is tough to get extra training in. Hopefully they can make the time at home to work on some stuff together.
On Monday, July the 22nd Ando Sensei, Ryu Honbu staff, past and present uchideshi and live-in students made the drive out to Tokorozawa, Saitama to pay respects at Shioda Sensei`s grave. Note* July 17th marked 25 years since the passing of Yoshinkan founder Gozo Shioda Sensei.
Congratulations to Mizuno-san and Sato-san on their recent promotion to Shodan. Both of these guys have been training for about the same amount of time. Roughly 3 years.
Mizuno-san was originally from the Koga culture school but after about a year of Friday classes decided he needed more than once a week training and started making the occasional visit to our nearby Meiryukan Kazo club (and eventually switched clubs...)
It was here where he met Sato-san. The first Kazo member and first person to go all the way from white to black within Meiryukan. Note* Meiryukan has only been up and going for 4 years now.
Yes 3 or 4 years seems like a short time to get to blackbelt, but the amount of classes, and more importantly, the effort they put into each and every training got them to this level.
Summer tests are only a week away... Are you ready? The Meiryukan Sakado kids have been training hard. Today we went through all the basics - Everything from kamae to jiyu-waza.
Sometimes the senior students get caught up working on the newer more difficult techniques and forget to review what they have learnt in the past. Today was a good level check and reminder that basics are everything.
A big welcome to long time Sakado visitors Kotaro and Reo, originally from the Konosu culture school, who joined Meiryukan Fukiage starting this month.
Reo will be going for 2nd kyu next week and Kotaro is slowly working towards kids 3dan. They bring some fresh energy to Meiryukan.
Keep an eye out for these guys at upcoming demos!
To the right is Matsuo-san and new member, Kano-san working on seiza-ho. Matsuo-san will be going for his 6th kyu on Sunday. Good luck!
In the background is the Sakado gang along with our weekly visitors from the nearby Meiryukan Fukiage club. The kids class is from 3:10 to 4:10 and adults from 4:15 to 5:15. Visitors are always welcome!
A total of 15 members from the Meiryukan Sakado, Saitama, and Fukiage clubs participated in the 11th Yoshinkan Aikido Byakko demonstration held in Shiki, Saitama.
As most of you already know, Byakko is well known for their talented kids group who take home a large percentage of the awards at various demos around Japan. But more than just technical ability, their energy and enthusiasm impresses me the most.
At the big yearly demos, we only get to see some of the top class members, but here at their local home dojo embu even the beginner kids show their stuff. They all give 110%. Amazing!
But Byakko isn`t just kids, the adults are full of spirit and equipped with powerful techniques as well.
I always enjoy the various club and family demos. Each Byakko branch has a totally different character. Some strong and fierce, some soft and gentle, some energetic and humorous.
This year there were also special guests - My Yoshinkan Aikido Ryu uchideshi sempai, Hotta Terumasa sensei and Oyamada dojo`s Oyamada Takayuki sensei. Oyamada Sensei even taught a short, but well received seminar following the enbu.
Being from 3 different clubs, the Meiryukan team didn`t get to practice together even once, that being said, they still did a pretty good job. Kihon dosa, beginner and advance basic techniques as well as some throwing techniques.
Some of the members also took place in the tournament. Like Ueno sensei said - it is a tournament to practice loosing, life isn`t always easy, sometime you will lose, it is about how you get back up.
Check out the blog from Saitama club, Yuna.
We were lucky to take home 4 awards! Congratulations to Fukiage club, Misa for 1st place in the adults brown belt group. Check out her tanto dori jiyuwaza below.
This next video is of Saitama clubs, Serina during her 1st place win in the kids 5th kyu and below category.
Saitama`s Ishi-san took 3rd in the beginner adults, and Sakado club`s Morohashi-san took 3rd in the adults black belt tournament. Great job by all!
Thanks again to Ueno Sensei and all the members of Yoshinkan Aikido Byakko for the hospitality throughout both the demo and after party. I am already looking forward to next year!
