My first ever camp! This time last year I hadn’t graded, so I can truthfully say it was the best camp ever.
I am sure however, that those with many years of Aikido under their belt would agree the focus and atmosphere at camp were just fantastic.
By necessity when starting out, Aikido is pretty much about techniques. And I will still be happy learning them for years to come. I have always been fit and strong, but one of the appeals of Aikido for me is challenging my weaker side of coordination, balance and relaxation. Once I have achieved a degree of mastery over the technical aspects of the discipline, what then?
Sensei Richard Moon laid down a roadmap. Suddenly I have a much clearer idea where I am going and a side of Aikido with more spin off into my everyday life. Attacked by a madman in a bar? – Not very likely! Confronted by a mad colleague at work? - You bet!
To anyone who went to camp my jottings will just seem like a series of pithy quotes. Some will be what Sensei Moon said someone said O'Sensei said. Some will be things Sensei Moon emphasised throughout the weekend, which you can all repeat verbatim. If reading them brings a thought back to mind for attendees – Good. If you are reading this and didn’t go to Riai Friendship Camp 2004, find someone who did and ask them about the whole lesson that probably went behind the quote.
One story of Sensei Moon's which I liked but didn’t write down at the time was about visiting an 88 year old friend on his death bed, who said “well it all by pretty quickly”. Hmmmm...
What follows is a direct transcription of one small page from my notebook, which was followed by several pages of techniques. In my mind however this one page was camp.
| 8th, 9th and 10th October 2004 Richard Moon Camp. “One technique practised body mind and soul is worth 10 thousand practised half heartedly” O'Sensei. Practice with one as if with a whole room… Practice with a whole room as if with one. AWARENESS, AWARENESS, AWARENESS We will become what we train. As uke, stay in the game – don’t fall down and stay down. Look for an opening. As we approach the mat start a count. If we feel like a two on the 1 to 10 scale, imagine being a three…settle…open out…centre…breath…feel our body. Move to a four. When we get to be a ten make that a one on a new scale. Do this count before and after each technique. Let this centering work in our daily life. Use Aikido every day – in its true sense. “Leave the bar before trouble starts”. But if you do have to use a technique, do it 100%. Commit. Finish. Ma-ai is one of the best defensive tools. |
It may take a few years to incorporate these base principles into Aikido, home and work but now I have a real goal for my training. AWARENESS, HARMONY AND SHARING WHO I AM.
Ross Shipman, Riai Wellington
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