Koganei Aikido Renmei 30th anniversary demonstration

On Sunday, September the 22nd  Meiryukan participated in the Koganei City 30th Aikido demonstration. This event was hosted by Oyamada Shihan from Oyamada Dojo.

Yamanashi Yoshinkan, Takeno Shihan, Yoshinkan Aikido Ryu, Ando Shihan,
Aikido Nishikan, Aiko Inoue Shihan
Takita Shihan, Amano Shihan, Watanabe Shihan, Nakagawa Shihan, Ueno Shihan, Mizuno Shihan... the guest list goes on and on with all the big names.


A well run event with a bit of something for everyone. Meiryukan not only did the usual 5 minute dojo enbu, but members also participated in a shitei waza enbu - pairing up with someone for the first time and running through a set of techniques and/or jiyu-waza. Sounds easy, but it isn`t. We all get used to the same training partners or at least the same style of aikido done in our dojo or affiliation. Big or small, young or old, this dojo or that dojo, add to that the pressure of having all eyes on you as you try to flow and fit with a person you just met.

The Meiryukan team was made up of 8 members ranging from white belt to 3dan instructor and from 4 different clubs - Omiya, Nagareyama, Kazo, and Noda.

Training on different days and in different prefectures made it impossible to get together for a rehearsal. That being said, surprisingly things went well.

For the white belts this was their first time doing a demo. They were awesome under the pressure.
Next up, All Japan early October!

Thanks again to Oyamada sensei for inviting us, and to his son Yoshihiro sensei (was his 30th bday on that exact day - Happy Birthday!) and to all the Oyamada dojo staff and students, Koganei renmei and to everyone who helped out on the day. Congratulations on 30 years!