My First Aikido Camp is a wonderful article by Meghan McCoy, a student from Oak Park Aikikai.
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| Senseis Darrell Bluhm and Frank Apodaca 2015 |
Article excerpt:For me, particularly since I’m still very new in Aikido, every class had something new to learn. Familiar techniques, such a katatedori suwariwaza ikkyo, had to be approached differently because I was practicing with someone I’d never met, and so I had to learn how to move in a way that worked with them. The weapons classes were immensely beneficial, especially Frank Apodaca Sensei’s weapons class. He emphasized cultivating “the eyes to see,” which I took as meaning not just watching and stealing the technique, but also seeing and feeling the energy with which someone moves. I once read that proper form is essential, but without technique and heart put into the form it’s all mechanical, and much of what I believe Aikido to be is lost.
Full article: http://birankai.org/blog/?p=1028
From the August 19th post, scroll down and enjoy the posts!
There's a link to the Birankai Smugmug site with great camp photos...
Check out the wonderful videos tracing back to the first day of camp. Here's one from George Lyons Sensei's class; katatedori, ai hanmi iriminage chudan opening. Along with Lyons Sensei's movement, watch how his ukes move:
Here's a video of Neilu Naini Sensei of Clallam Aikikai in Washington, teaching an outdoor weapons class. Observe her clean execution of tsuki makiotoshi:
There's much more to see, watch and read on Biran Online.
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-Suzane Van Amburgh, Chief Instructor, Aikido Multnomah Aikikai
