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| At Aikido Zurich dojo 12th Sep 2019 |
After months of planning, training and dreaming, Nairobi Aikikai Club made it to Zurich, Switzerland in preparation for the 50th Anniversary ACSA seminar at St. Gallen. The club was represented by the four musketeers; Josh, Samori, Wangari and Kalevera and also from Africa was a five person strong team from Zanzibar.
Andi Sensei and team made sure to organize the week of a lifetime that involved lots of learning, training and fun. First off was a trip to the mountains that saw some brave Aikidokas swim in the freezing cold lake waters and survive (not me).
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| Mountain excursion Wed 11th Sep |
The same evening allowed us to go train at our home Ikeda Dojo and meet Ikeda Sensei himself. It was a powerful start to a week of training and the next day was even more training at
Aikido Zurich a beautiful Dojo with wonderful and warm team after a bit of sight seeing of course.
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| At Ikeda Dojo 11th Sep 2019 |
And just like that, the seminar weekend was here and it was off to St. Gallen with sessions taught by the best and biggest names in Aikido. Christian Tissier Sensei, Katsuaki Asai Sensei, Mikiko Sugawara Sensei and descendant of O'Sensei Mitsuteru Ueshiba Hombu Dojo- Cho pictured here below with Josh who clearly had his modelling game on point and took pictures with all the greats.
The seminar was extreme Aikido boot camp with up to seven sessions on Saturday ranging from weapon work, basic movement sessions and hours dedicated to mastering technique.
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| Nairobi Aikikai's Josh with Mitsuteru Ueshiba Hombu Dojo-Cho and Marianne Sensei at St. Gallen. |
For the Embukai, Kenya and Zanzibar were not left behind as all Nairobi Aikikai members showcased their skill on the tatami in front of the plenary and made sure not to embarrass Andi Sensei ( I hope we didn't?) Exact program for the seminar can be found
here. Later on Saturday we had a get together party and there exists a video of Joshua dancing at that party which can be coerced from me personally.
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| Sight seeing in Zurich 12th Sep Nairobi and Zanzibar Team |
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All in all the week was undoubtedly a once in a lifetime experience where all in attendance explored different training techniques, diverse lessons from teachers who all emphasized unique aspects of the art of peace. Nairobi Aikikai is deeply grateful to Andi Sensei and all the members of Ikeda Dojo who gave their time and some even gave their homes and resources to make our time there comfortable. It was a true testament to the virtues of Bushido.
An offical film of the seminar and Embukai will be available soon but till then , we carry on and will share lessons from St. Gallen and now look forward to Zanzibar seminar in February 2020. Budo!
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| Aikido Zurich Dojo with Nairobi and Zanzibar team 12th Sep 2019 |
