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 33rd Children's Aikido Training Meet   18/Jul. 12:00〜15:00 at Nippon Budokan  *admission:free

=== Greeting from Doshu ===
  Hello everyone. I am pleased to see that such a great number of students have come together at the Nippon Budokan for the All Children's Aikido Meet in this hot weather. The big erathquake disaster occured on 11th March in the Higashi Nihon area and we still have a very serious situation. There are many friends who had planned to take part in this event but couldn't because of the disaster. I am very pleased to hear that in spite of the difficult situation, 4 groups from the east side of Japan are able to participate in this event.
  I hope today's participants put your feeling into rensei (practice) for your friends who were not able to attend today. During the basic Rensei (training), plesae carefully observe waza (the technique) and movement of the instructors and pracitice diligently. For Rensei Embu, please show the result fo your daily keiko and make this event wonderful.
 Please take today's experience back to your dojo with you and keep training.
  Let's practice vigorously all day. Ganbarimano!!

  

 SHOCHU-KEIKO in 2011 (Mid-Summer training)    25/Jul.~03/Aug. at Hombu Dojo 
- Every year, Hombu dojo holds a mid-summerr training during the most hottest season in Japan for 10 days, from last the Monday of July to the first Wednesday of August. Practitioners need to take at least one class everyday during Shochu- Keiko period. When they are able to practice for 10 whole days, they are given a diploma and a TENUGUI (a special traditional Japanese towel) autographed by Doshu as a prize for perfect attendance. Over 120 practitioners accomplished it and were informed on the second floor bulletin board in Hombu Dojo.
- Some foriegners from overseas accomplished Shochu-Keiko in spite of incredible strong JPYen and Fukushima problem. Their appearance is a great support. Gambarre Nippon!

■ 10th Japan High School Aikido Embu  05/Aug 12:00~15:30 at Tokyo Budokan  *addmission :free
<<--Embu
Students
Waka sensei
Doshu

Seminar-->>
by Fujimaki sensei

-- Impression of the 10th All Japan High School Aikido Demonstraion --  
  All participants were high school students like me, but they have many differences from me. Their physical attributes, personalities, and communities were all different but we all practiced Aikido together, and when I thought on that I was very impressed with the scale of Aikido and became nervous.
  There was an opportunity to practice with other schools and I tried to do it positively. It is one of the features of Aikido that we can practice with anybody regardless physical size or gender.
  When I had a chance to practice with a very big student, I had a hard time to do the techniques on him and thought about how I could apply my technique properly to him. (It is important to think seriously about it not only for practicing with a bigger partner but also of the same size or smaller.) I thought that practicing with a big partner gave me a good motivation to think about how to apply waza.
  Participating in 2011 All Japan High School Embu was a very good experience for me, as I could practice with students from other schools whom I’ve never interacted with and it helped to deepen my thought about how to apply waza properly and how to take uke adequately.
                               MUSASHI Senior & Junior High School  Gr1. Takashi Oyama

  It was my first visit to Japan and also first opportunity to see Japan High School Aikido Demonstration.      First of all, I was impressed by teenager‘s speech, it was very interesting to hear it, though I didn’t understand the words. Secondly, I liked organization of this event a lot, it was really great. Everything looked tuned like a wonderful symphony. Students, who showed their great knowledge of Aikido technique, left a very good impression, because it is really amazing at their age. In my opinion, this is a great merit of their teachers.
  For me, the most beautiful performance was, when Aikido technique was demonstrated simultaneously by High School students, which is not very easy and looks very nice. I think this is a very good idea.
  As always, Doshu and Waka-sensei were at height of. First time I had opportunity to see their demonstration “live”. I was very impressed about how fluently Doshu is performing difficult Aikido technique and how perfectly Waka-sensei is performing suwari waza and hanmi handachi with smooth knee movements.
  Fujimaki Sensei conducted very interesting seminar, which, I think, motivated students for further Aikido practice.I think students have got good experience during this event, because everybody seemed very interested. I’m very happy I could visit this presentation. It was really very interesting and wonderful to be there.
                             Sukurys Dojo (Lithuania) / Vadim Keda (16 years old)

  For me, the most memorable moment of Aikido performance was synchronously performed technique, which seemed to me very impressive. The performance was very „neat“ and „clean“, it was felt a good rhythm. I liked performances of all groups. Surprising was the number of participants, and also an ease, accuracy, Uke and Tori relationship, which have been demonstrated in performance.
  I liked Fujimaki Sensei, Waka-Sensei and the present Doshu performances most of all. I was very happy to see "live" performances of these teachers, because previously, I could only view it on the Internet. However, the biggest impression on me left the performance of present Doshu. Masterly demonstrated Aikido appeared very lively and perfectly. It was anunforgettableview.
  I’m very glad I had the opportunity to see the performance and Aikido seminar, which was held in Tokyo Budokan. It is very rare and memorable event for European Aikido practitioner, so I enjoyed every moment watching the performances of the great Aikido masters.
                                      Sukurys Dojo (Lithuania) / Urtas Polonskis (17 years old)



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