My Recollections of the Riai Friendship Camp 2001

I was really excited when I was told about the 20th Riai Friendship Camp. I had only been doing Aikido for a few months and was due for my first grading so I thought that three days with a Sensei that had trained with O'Sensei Morihei Ueshiba would be pretty awe-inspiring, and I might add I wasn't disappointed.

I met Sensei Nadeau the Wednesday night before camp as he had agreed to take our regular training session. He gave us a brief taste of what was to come at camp and the next level we could go to with our mind and body when performing Aikido techniques. Anyone can learn a technique and perform it. What I discovered was a whole new level, which I experienced first hand when Sensei tired to refine my Kote Gaeshi (or the cinnamon roll technique as he called it). His hand hardly moved before I was tapping out, he just curling his fingers round mine. It gave me a glimpse how Aikido could be if you wanted to do more than just the steps in a technique.

Over the three days at camp Sensei tried teaching us about opening and allowing a technique when being Nage/Uke. I had the privilege to be his Uke several times, so when he was demonstrating a technique I tried to open and allow it. What I didn't expect was just how well everything worked together, the first time he threw me I was too nervous to do well but the second time I just felt like I was flying!!!! I would rank it right up there with the best experiences I've ever had.

Sensei taught us so many different things, that three days just wasn't long enough. The one theme I remember the best is 'Frame and Flow' and the fact that Uke talks through you not to you as some people would believe. You are like a vessel that Uke works through. You need to open and allow a technique if you ever wish to control it and take your Aikido to another level.

Everyone came away with something different (including the bumps and bruises). I know I was exhausted but if you had asked if anyone wanted to do it all again the next weekend, I would have been the first in line. Bring on this year's camp!

Estelle Wilson, Riai Wellington