Date: Tue, 10 Oct 2000 20:22:53 -0500
From: Monica Norman
<monica@THE-DOJO.COM>
Subject: List Seminar Review (long)
My first seminar review. I've tried to edit, hope it's not too long! :-)
I'm running on about 3.4 hours sleep today, don't think it's really hit
me that I'm back home to the same-old same-old yet.
Rob, Paula and I arrived about 10:30am and found the dojo without much
trouble. Paula and I stayed at the dojo for the weekend, which was a
great help to my bank account! Many thanks to Boulder Aikikai for
allowing us to do so. It's a lovely place - spacious, wood interior,
lots of light, wonderful mat.
The weather didn't do us any favors on the way there, and wasn't much
better in Boulder until Sunday morning. Cold, grey, wet, snowy-rain.
It didn't look like a good idea to drive further up the hill to the
gathering in Estes Park, so Paula and I stayed in town. I hear from
Rob that the drive up and back was thrilling, but at least they made
it ok. I'll leave the story of that evening to the participants
:-).
Meanwhile, there was class to go to! I took the first evening class
on Friday, taught by Trace, one of BAK's senior students. I do pretty
well at altitude, so I didn't notice it much until Sean F. and I got
into a long session of repeated throws (can't remember the throw.
Sean?). After a while I suddenly felt very out of breath, so we took
a short rest. As we sat there, Ikeda Sensei came over to ask how we
were. I said I was resting, but Sean was fine. So he kept Sean busy
for a few minutes :-). The rest of the class is a blur, but I enjoyed
it a lot. Everyone was very helpful and patient w/ my relative lack
of experience. I had a great time working on those "flip" breakfalls
from kotegaeshi w/ Paula & ?? (sorry, lack of sleep does this to me).
And Scott, we *did* train together this weekend - in this class,
remember? :-)
I wanted to take the second class, taught by Ikeda Sensei, but my body
told me it was time to stop. After training, a bunch of us went for
dinner at TGI Fridays. I remember Philip, Scott, Jun, Mike B, Sean
Fogarty, Peter?, and me. I *know* there were others, but I was
running on about 4 hours sleep from our 18 hour drive. Tried one of
the local beers, Fat Tire, w/ dinner. Lighter than I usually prefer,
but still good.
Saturday morning: Ikeda Sensei's class was a challenge for me. I'm
not used to such brief demonstrations of technique (Ok, so I'm slow
:-). Fortunately everyone I trained with was very patient and willing
to show me more about what we were doing. I think I actually managed
to do what we were being asked once or twice too! :-)
I found Philip's class much more accessible this year. I think it was
partly because he broke down the pivot turn for us, and then branched
off into different techniques using that move as a building block.
Seemed to make a lot more sense to me this time.
Julian's class was a challenge in a different way. Not only do I suck
big time at suwari waza (sigh!), but I'm not quite comfortable enough
w/ the ukemi needed for some of the throws he taught. So I must admit
that I bowed out partway through the class. It was great fun to watch
however.
Dinner on Saturday night was not quite the bacchanal feast of last
year's seminar that Philip Akin and I still marvel over (that Chinese
buffet in Merrifield was incredible!!!), but the food was really good
(especially the vegetarian sesame chicken, eh John?). By the time the
party started I was so tired I almost didn't go, but what a shame it
would have been to miss Hacker's collection of "bad budo" video tape.
I haven't laughed so hard in a long time. And the single malt
collection was truly memorable, thanks to the thoughtful contributions
of the Kirk members, especially "Saint" James Baldwin, who was also
kind enough to bring a bottle of my fav, Lagavulan. Paula and I
walked back to the dojo at 1am, but I hear the festivities continued
til at least 3. Once again, I'll leave that story to someone who was
there....;-)
Sunday morning....and some of us appeared slightly the worse for wear
:-). I had forgotten about the altitude by this point and really
enjoyed Alan's class. I think it must be our similar Aikido roots,
because his style seems very familiar to me - although that doesn't
neccesarily mean I do things correctly! :-) Had great fun practicing
iriminage w/ one of the students from Boulder.
I guess Rob and I were both a bit nervous about Chuck's class, because
we both figured we'd be called up as uke, something neither of us have
ever done at a seminar - especially Rob. As it turned out, Rob wasn't
called up (he figures Chuck mistook someone else for him, since his
glasses were broken :-). I, on the other hand, got to display my
"rubber chicken arm" for CG's nikkajo, and then attack him w/ a bokuto
for the hanbo techniques. I got over-enthusiastic in one attack and
managed to bonk myself on the head w/ the bokuto. I heard a few
snickers but that was ok, as I was pretty close to losing it myself
:-). Thank goodness I didn't - not a good time to be distracted. The
short stick techniques were as painful as expected, although I must
say the round dowels made a big difference! (thanks Jun) We usually
get the octagonal stick inflicted on us in class. ;-)
For whatever reason, I didn't do the Taigi or the newaza mini-classes
(I'm told there are some interesting photos of the groundwork!), but
Paula and I did Emily's massage mini, and really enjoyed it. My neck
was much less sore than usual in the morning.
Some people had to leave right away after the seminar, but we lucky
ones who hung around got together for dinner at the Oasis - a local
brewpub. Jun, Alan, Anita, Paula, James, Rob, Julian, Mike, Kristin,
Craig, Sean, and a few others (sorry, tiredness again) were there.
Mike wanted "normal" food, and I wanted spicy. This place turned out
to be a great compromise. Mike got his hamburger, I got my chipotle
shrimp enchiladas. Mmmm! The beer was good too, I can recommend the
Scarab Red. Just wish I could have afforded to try more than one.
James stayed at the dojo that night, and we invited Jun to drop by for
some Lagavulan and a "jo" exchange. I tried to show some of the stuff
Chuck has been teaching us, which turns out to be somewhat similar to
a 22-step jo kata that James knew. When Jun arrived he taught the 3
of us a 6-step paired kata that they do in Boulder. I *think* I can
still remember it. :-) We finally called it a night about 12:30.
Crystalline moments from the weekend:
- Lunch on Sunday w/ Scott and
Philip...sitting outside Wholefoods Market in the sun, gazing up at
the mountains, talking budo and other things.
- My first time as uke at a seminar (for my Sensei no less!) and I
hit myself w/ the bokuto...*sigh!* :-)
- Waking up early enough Sunday morning to see the pink dawn
glowing on the mountains... I need a backpacking fix! Indiana is too
flat!
- Breakfast at the Chatauqua Inn, up near the edge of town, with
Paula and James. Really yummy cinnamon-walnut French toast, some
gorgeous blue jays, and a wasp that loved orange juice.
I did NOT want to do that drive home again....ugh!
Special thanks to Philip, Scott and Mike, for being there. Thank you,
all, for a lovely weekend. Not only did it warm my heart to see old
friends again, but I made some new ones as well. Come visit us in
Indy. We're very nice to visitors, I promise ;-)!
Monica
(DOEP)
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