Alexiel’s Heaven

Phew. Time to bring some order to my thoughts and hope my fingers stop trembling and allow me to type. =) Two other students from our dojo and I had finally decided to attend the seminar of Erlangen’s Ki-Aikido dojo with Helmut Schweinzer. Although we knew we had four hours of training to look forward to, someone commenting on Tuesday that “the seminar is suitable for absolute beginners as well” had led me to expect something different… ^^

In the end, it was absolutely worth it, albeit exhausting, everybody was really nice, and I learned 10 (!) new techniques – or rather, I had a chance to practice 10 new techniques. Six different techniques for the ryote mochi attack and then three each for kosa tori and katate kosa tori, including two techniques with front roll throws. And I survived, yay! =)

Oh well… maybe in sequence? =) As far as I noticed, we three were the only “guests”, everybody else seemed to be from Erlangen; all in all, there were maybe 20 or 25 participants.

We started with a long ki breathing exercise, a little bit different from “ours” by the way the slow and fast breaths were spread. (Oh – please don’t take these comparisons that seriously, up to now I only knew our dojo’s version, after all… I guess after I’ve attended more seminars I will get used to it. ^^)
Then came ki gymnastics, almost like our version, only that here we counted in Japanese. Afterwards, the hitoriwazas. *gulp* I am SO grateful we had run through them the past two trainings, otherwise I would have been hopelessly lost. But this way I was able to get through them fairly well.

Then Ukemi… wow. This was when I first grew suspicious (or was it maybe when I noticed the 4 dan students??) that the training was not meant for beginners: we started straight away with 3 rolls in a row, the first one from standing and the second and third from the momentum of the first one. After that, we were supposed to jump over one student, then two and three. I just held back a tiny wee bit and did my rolls beside them – don’t trust my front rolls that far yet.

And then the first technique marathon followed. In two hours, we did six different techniques for the ryote mochi attack (where the attacker grabs one arm with both hands), each slowly at first and then in the flow of the movement. The very first was the technique we had been doing in training for the past few weeks – so happy about that! =) Then the same with the tenkan version, then a different one with tenkan, then the koteoroshi and nikkyo joint locks and the last one with a front roll throw. I don’t remember that many details, but what I do remember is how each and every of my partners went out of their way to help me. I had not expected kindness to that extend. Really nice… =)

This first series of techniques went fairly well, and I even managed the sequence on my own when we did the techniques as Suzukiwaza at the end! Really a great feeling.

After a much-needed break we did another six techniques. Apparently, my brain was a little ‘overloaded’; these techniques did not go as well, and already when we did the Suzukiwaza I was not able to recall the sequence let alone the techniques themselves. Nevertheless it was great to see and try so many new things.

This is also the predominant feeling right now – the joy of having learned so many new things. I probably won’t remember that much, but just being able to try it was great. I’m already looking forward to doing all these techniques at a pace more suited for beginners and step by step. =)

It was also interesting to see that an advanced Aikido training can become considerably faster and more exhausting than our beginners’ training. =) Ususally I already have some problems doing several fast rolls in a row due to a light asthma as sooner or later I can’t breathe. This training consisted of almost three and a half hours of techniques with fast rolls!! Several times I felt ready to bow out, but I was too stubborn… and in the end I had no problems. I even noticed my front rolls getting better through the course of the training…! =)

I’m so glad I went, feeling absolutely wasted, happy and a little proud right now. =)