Nairobi Aikikai June 2019 Seminar (22nd-23rd June) at Japanese Embassy Nairobi

The 22^nd and 23^rd of June 2019 presented yet another opportunity for Aikido learning and sharing under the guidance and teaching of Sensei Andi Schriber from our partner dojo, Ikeda Dojo, Switzerland.

Members of Nairobi Aikikai and other Aikidokas from across the country joined for this two day seminar in Nairobi and the Aiki spirit flowed freely and harmoniously amongst all who were there.

The start of day 1 (22^nd June, 2019) began with an intense warm up session with an emphasis on breathing techniques and how martial warm ups are not only meant to prepare our bodies for physical movement but also to embed Aiki movements within our memory such that these movements become second nature. Special focus was placed on the mastery of taisabaki and maintaining good form and balance within all Aiki movements.

The rest of the day included a mix of advanced and basic techniques building on foundation movements in Aikido and the integral role Ikkyo plays in advancing to other techniques.  Some of the movements emphasized on were those seen in Genkei kokkyunage, Iriminage, and Shihonage  among others.

The afternoon session of day 1 also had candidates for various Kyu exams perform various techniques in preparation for day 2 grading exercise. 

Day 2 of the seminar began with a healthy warm up session that incorporated multidirectional ukemi warm ups from the standard 2 direction backroll and shihogiri to 4 and 8 directional movements as well as front rolls and back rolls. This session also focused on the importance of intent and keeping ki even in our warm up.

The session progressed into exploring the basic movements of Ikkyo and Ikkyo ura focusing on the importance of always keeping and maintaining contact between uke and tori.  Contact creates communication and communication creates harmony and flow; this seemed to be the focus of the day. Several exercises around this were performed emphasizing on soft and unified movement.

Mid-morning explored the similarities between sword movements and open hand movements in Aikido. The importance of learning open hand techniques to improve our understanding of sword movements and the role of always connecting to the centre; Yokomenuchi entry was of particular importance as part of this practice.  A brief and informative session on Tanto-dori techniques followed focusing on the role of Kotegaeshi and Ikkyo (uchisabaki) in knife defense.

Further 6th Kyu and 2nd Kyu techniques were explored with Sensei expressing the centrality of understanding basic movements, the curriculum of Aikido and how basic movements inform more advanced movements eg breakfalls and complex dynamic ukemi

The day came to a close with grading exercises and the promotion of several Nairobi Aikikai members to the next kyu grade. Congratulations are in order to:

Walter Njoroge – 2^nd Kyu

Kalevera E Imungu- 4^th Kyu

Raphael Mwaura- 5^th Kyu

Millicent Mbugua- 5^th Kyu

Fidelis Wanjiku- 6^th Kyu

Clarine Cherono- 6^th Kyu

Anthony Kaguimah- 6^th kyu

This is not the end, there is so much more to learn.

In closing Sensei noted with joy that the practice at Nairobi Aikikai continues to grow at a steady and encouraging pace and the sky is no limit for us.

Nairobi Aikikai is deeply grateful to Andi Sensei for his continued time and dedication to teaching us and Ikeda Dojo. Not forgetting everyone who created time to make it to the mat from all over the country and everyone who made the seminar a success.

The tatami should always remain hot and the dojo is always open to all. The Zurich seminar is fast approaching and Nairobi Aikikai representation should be strong and memorable. Get your passports ready!

Budo!

"It takes a hundred times to remember the moves, a thousand times to make them beautiful, and ten thousand times to grasp their essence." - Anonymous