The Bamboo Grove

Memorial Seminar April - 2010 (Aikido Center of LA)

This is the third year that I had the opportunity to attend the O’sensei memorial seminar at the Aikido Center of Los Angeles. I had met this group about three and a half years ago when they came out to Colorado to support our group and Izawa sensei’s seminar. This was right after Furuya Sensei passed away and a lot was going on for their Dojo. Right off the bat we got off to a good start. Their teacher Furuya Sensei was a very traditional Aikido teacher. A lot of their stories of how he would teach on and off the mat really reminded me of my own teacher, and how these types of lessons had a very similar taste and feel.

The Aikido Center of Los Angeles continues to teach their students with a similar flavor and traditional aspect that can be felt in how their teachers and students interact. Along with this the school’s attention to detail and passing on the tremendous legacy their teacher passed on to them is refreshing and touching. Personally I do not think that a teacher could have asked for more. This is what I think great teachers do, which is pass on their ideas, lessons, and experiences and the attentive students (and dojo) pick up these. One day these people may pass them on to their students or just use these teachings in their daily life.

I tend to think life is like this dojo. We try to build of positive experiences and lessons through out our life. These could be things we learn and the trials that we face. With these we mold our perceptions and how we interact with the world (hopefully in a positive way). If we are teachers we should try to live our lives in this positive manor as best an example as we can. This is the best teaching we can give.

This is one of the best things I always get out of coming to this Dojo each year. They are really keeping the “Dojo” going. This is the teachings of their old teacher, building strong relationships with other Aikidoist, and adding their own flavor to always be trying to build the students and the dojo into a strong living thing. I have tried to express this to other people who start a dojo/school that the dojo is more than just the mats, instructors, and students. It is all those things put together and build the legacy of great martial arts that we can teach and learn from each other.

Eventually the dojos become a living thing and pretty much perpetuate going forward. This is always backed up by the instructors that live and teach these principles and teaching day by day. I always think to myself of how am I part of this system as a whole and what can I do to help keep this momentum to move forward. The seminar had a lot of wonderful instructors including Izawa sensei from Tanshinjuku and Ito Sensei from ACLA. There were other instructors from ACLA and their member schools from Mexico and Spain.

What a great time! Aikido and the community. Looking forward to next year!

Andrew Blevins, Kiryu Aikido
©2010

ps. I want to Credit Larry Armstrong from Aikido of LA for the great photos.

Dojo Testing (March 27, 2010)

The testing time for our dojo has come and gone agin. On March 27, 2010 Kiryu Aikido along with Tanshinjuku and Doushinjuku got together for Aikido testing through Aikikai. This time around we had a good amount of people testing from all levels from 5th kyu to 2nd Dan. The testing went by smoothly and I was very happy to see the work that the people from my group and the other groups had put in from the last test.

The students testing for black belt went through their testing techniques, and I had seen these students test previously. There had been much improvement from their last test and I think they were happy with the results. The testing included open hand, weapons (tanto dori, tachi dori, and jo dori), and randori (multiple attackers). Each dojo’s instructor calls out the techniques for their students especially at the black belt and above levels.  Each dojo has their own flavor of what they require their students to employ during the test, but the fundamental techniques are the same.

I personally enjoy testing with different groups of Aikido students and instructors. This really helps keep the motivation up and also that extra push of wanting to do their best in front of the other students and instrutors. We must think of these testing sessions as the sharpening stone for our own swords. To keep it sharp shows in each of our techniques, preparedness, zanshin and martial spirit. Once we stop trying to always progress there is no need to train anymore. You can see the differing levels of that spark in each of the students eyes. I believe the more we are exposed to this wonderful art (Aikido) that spark continues to grow and this in turns fuels our practice.

I always try to think hard after each test for what I learned and what I want to really push in myself and my students after the test. A lot of times the same lessons that we need to focus on keep popping up again and again. That is probably the nature of Aikido and martial arts. The basic tenants are simple, but not always easy to follow each and every day.

This time I had a thought on basic ettiquite during our testing. I really try to press my students for how to walk up to the testing area, how to bow and what order and other things we should focus on. If we focus on this early (5th kyu and above) then in theory each test this should get better and better. Each school approaches ettiquite during normal classes differently. However, we (Kiryu Aikido) try to work on this every class. It should not be something we force like trying to fit a semester of learning the night before the final. However, this can be a gradual thing we accumulate throughout our daily practice.

The last thing I really want to focus on after the tests is our martial sprit. Aikido is a martial art and should be treated as one. Our attacks should be committed and really show our intent to strike our partner. This gives our partner the true feeling and practice of how to deal with attacks. This again helps us sharpen our skills and our mental focus on our techniques and surroundings. I think this is an important part of our training and we can always refocus after the testing on the things we need to work on even if we do well.

Congratulations  to everyone who tested from the three dojos. From Kiryu good job to (Keith, Benjamin, John, and Jason). For everyone keep up the hard training and lets redouble our effort! Also, thanks to Marquita Izawa Sensei for taking the time to help coordinate the test this time and provide the testing location (Tanshinjuku Dojo).

Kiryu Aikido © 2010

Kiryu Aikido Visits Tanshijuku (2/13)

Kiryu Aikido had the great opportunity to train and Aikikai Tanshinjuku last Saturday (2/13). We worked on gyakuhanmi katatedori techniques. Izawa sensei had us work on fist and formost by keeping our hands inside out center. Then by moving our centers and keeping our partner off balance we can throw our partners with power and strength.  Also through moving our bodies in sync with the energy given us we need to not fight the direction, but move with it. It is always a pleasure and learning experience seeing Aikido in action and learning Izawa sensei’s distinctive style.

Congratulations to Izawa Sensei

I wanted to put a quick post to congratulate Izawa Sensei from Aikikai Tanshinjuku for his promition to 6th dan. Izawa sensei has been a very great teacher and has generously given his time and Aikido to the dojos in the Colorado Area. We thank you!

Kiryu Aikido Moving (Lone Tree)

In the seven years since Kiryu Aikido was founded, the dojo has practiced in three locations. Starting in March 2010, the dojo will be at a new location: Lone Tree Recreation Center in Centennial, Colorado.

It may seem like a big deal to move a dojo to a new place. There are the tasks of weeding through many potential locations to find one that works, negotiating class times, and finalizing business agreements with the facility. Then packing up and moving hundreds of pounds of mats, hopefully on a sunny day so they don’t get wet, and bowing in and getting back to practice.

But all this is just the external stuff that needs to be done. It’s actually easy to move a dojo, because the dojo — the true place of practice — hasn’t moved at all. It is still, and always will be, kept safely in the hearts and souls of the teacher and students.

Like a strong, healthy family, a strong, healthy dojo isn’t the space in which it trains. A good family will remain cohesive and supportive whether they’re living in a tent or in a multi-million dollar home. The form and the physical place where they live doesn’t create the family or make the space “home.” It’s their commitment and honesty and dedication and support of each other that makes the family and creates the home.

A strong dojo remains strong regardless of where the physical space may be. The space — four walls, a roof, and mats — is just that: the outer shell of where practice is held. The real dojo lives inside each person who bows onto the mat and into practice day after day, week after week, with respect and integrity shown from the heart for each other. Together, they take care of the dojo’s needs as if it were a living creature. Because in many ways, it is. The care and dedication shown by its members to each other is reflected in the culture and energy of the dojo.

As author Eckhart Tolle once wisely said, “all structures are unstable.” In the end, any physical place is temporary, and it’s a bit of a risk to become too attached to any such structure or allow a space to define who we are, what we believe, what we stand for, or what we deem important in this short life.

Dojo locations come and go; trappings and accoutrements vary from place to place. No matter what, when we bow in and say Onegaishimasu, nothing else matters but the good people practicing hard, giving it their all, and enjoying a few fleeting minutes doing something they love, and love sharing.

Kiryu Aikido looks forward to the next steps on the path and welcomes you to come practice as we bow in at our new location.

Hobo kore dojo. Each step is our dojo.

Aikido Testing July 2009

Each testing there is a lot of opportunities to learn. This can be as the Aikido students taking the test, the students watching the test, and also as the people giving the test. For the people taking the test you will have your good techniques and the techniques that need more work, but in the end people are usually harder on themselves that the instructors. I personally think we should always strive to do the best Aikido we can. To do this one has to put a lot of time into training and refining the techniques. This includes taking to heart the points that the instructors give us to work on.

For the people watching the test there is a lot to learn also. You can always be critical of others taking the test. It is very easy to do this from the back of the room watching. However, it is better to see what the students did well. Pick up on their mannerisms, techniques and overall attitude. Try to put yourself in their shoes and visualize yourself taking the test and how you would do the techniques. Then take these new views with you to the mat the next week!

As an instructor and one of the people giving the test there is always so much that I get out of each test. This is a different view each time as you have different people testing at different levels and each test has their own challenges. Also, I think one of the most important things as an instructor is that you try to give your students the tools to succeed. This may be having extra classes to refine their techniques, having test prep sessions, or once in a while to just talk to each student and see what you can do to help them.

You also have to see who is testing and see how to best match the nages (throwers) and ukes (fallers). With this one must think of when each student is testing, the skill and power of the nage, and also spacing. With limited number of students (at each level) it is important to not overtire people by having them uke when they may be taking a test. Or on the other side even during the test to give people some time when you see they are having a hard time physically. There is a fine line and some students who you know are very well prepared you can push them even harder. As you are the instructor you are the “team” coach, and sometimes you need to put people on the bench and know when to play your team.

Read the rest of this entry »

Saturday Class with Mariquita Izawa Sensei (2009-07-11)

It is always nice to start off the weekend with a refreshing class of Aikido. It is easy to get caught up in our daily lives and the stresses and challenges that are put in front of us. Aikido provides us with that great balancing piece\peace. One of my teachers used to refer our practice to Misogi or cleansing our or spirit through training. I can really see that now that I have been doing it for a long time. My mind set after practice is much more clear and at peace than before.

Yesterday I\we had another great opportunity to attend a special class with Mariquita Izawa Sensei from Tanshinjuku, Lafayette. I have worked out with Mariquita Sensei many times over the past few years and have enjoyed her strength through refined movement and long practice. However, before yesterday I was not able to see her teach. I was very excited to attend the class that she was teaching at Castle Rock Aikido Dojo.

Mariquita Sensei started off sharing her ideas and experiences with Aikido. The big idea I really picked up on in the beginning was that we should not be focusing on our attacker. When we do that we immediately start to think about our preconceived ideas of how to react and can we or can’t we beat them. Instead we need to focus only on our movements in reacting to the attack. She demonstrated this with her fluid movements and as she is much smaller than her uke she still moved them with ease. I also got to feel her power and decisive movements and really felt how she was not moving me with her power/muscles, but with her center. Something that we all should aspire to which is to really focus on using less power and more center and body movements.

With this she explained and demonstrated that this center movement comes from our foot work. She then explained and showed us suriashi (sliding foot movement) and we did line exercises with irimi and tenkan. Her teaching style was also refreshing. She started with very basic movements. Breaking down from our foot work to irimi and off balancing movements with our employing the throw. I know when I start teaching I usually start out with basic “techniques”, but don’t always break it down even further to the different pieces. The beginners really started picking up the broken down movements.

After the students started to see the pieces and basic movements we started slow with some basic techniques. We then ended up with a little more advanced movements using all the lessons we worked on from the earlier classes. You could see the “light bulbs” on the students faces and that was great to see.

I really learned a lot from this one class. For me it was nice to hear her ideas and mature Aikido experience in our short classes. Also, to see a nice approach to teaching and breaking down advanced movements into more manageable pieces for the newer students. All in all it was a great day and always good to sweat and learn from a great teacher. We all hope that we have more classes with her in the future. On a lighter note, with Mariquita Sensei’s accent the way she says “tenkan” is my favorite :).

If you have time you should go train with Mariquita Izawa Sensei and Kei Izawa Sensei up in Lafayette Colorado at the Tanshinjuku facility. They are both great teachers and you can experience their experience and Aikido teaching for yourselves.

Andrew Blevins, Kiryu Aikido

Ukemi Seminar (June 6, 2008)

As I sit down with my journal after four hours of Aikido today — two hours of regular classes and two hours of an ukemi seminar — I feel so dang good it’s criminal. I’m energized, jazzed, content, happy, my body feels good, and life is good — all the result of practicing Aikido and rolling and falling in the grand art of ukemi. Here’s a little of what I took home with me.

About 10 students from Castle Rock Aikido, Kiryu Aikido, and DoushinJukubowed onto the mat for the June 6 ukemi seminar, with experience ranging from Nidan to several having started Aikido just a couple weeks ago. One of the great things about ukemi (and Aikido) is that there is always something new to learn or something to refine and improve. Ukemi truly is one of those things that the more you put into it, the more you get out of it.

Andrew Blevins Sensei began by sharing that, to him, the most important components of Aikido are: ukemi, weapons, techniques. Note that techniques is last, which is not what a lot of students might expect. After all, techniques are the exciting part of Aikido, right? Being thrown as Uke is just something to be endured until it’s your turn to be Nage again, right? …

Read the rest of this entry »

Moving dojo location (to Castle Rock)

This last week Kiryu Aikido has moved its dojo location to Castle Rock, Colorado. This includes us moving and also merging our programs with the current dojo and instructors at Castle Rock Aikido. This will enable us to train and teach more days a week than we currently are doing.

Along with this some of my students asked me to write a little about this move and what and if I thought about it. Kiryu Aikido has moved a few times in the last 5+ years, and usually it does not phase me too much. To me the dojo though important is a place to train our Aikido. If we have a nice, safe, comfortable dojo that is a bonus. However, I was taught a long time ago that every step that we take in life is our dojo, not just on the mat. At the core our Aikido training must be the main component.

Along with the idea of the physical dojo (mats, facilities, etc) the dojo also really is the students (sempai\kohai), the teachers, and the dojo culture. This we bring with us where ever we go. In this case there is already a nice group of students and teachers that we get to share and build this non-physical dojo component together. The tree with strong roots can survive a lot of things! I have seen a lot of people get pulled in by the exterior and physical aspects of a dojo without really looking at the core. Sometimes you have to judge the book by the cover. However, you must look deeper (as much as you can) to see the culture, the people and the instructors when making your choice to join (or try) a dojo.

So I am exited that we have a very nice facility that really helps get the students into the Japanese mindset and can focus on training. Along with that we can build the core non-physical dojo together and see where that takes us. It will be a nice journey. Come join us for practice some time!

Andrew Blevins
Kiryu Aikido

Japan Ni Ikimashou (Nara Japan)

Image via Wikipedia

If you are traveling near Osaka (south/central) Japan you may end up in the great city of Nara.

This is near Kyoto (the old Japan capitol) or Osaka (2nd Largest City in Japan and has the Osaka International Airport). The city of Nara has a lot of temples and one famous temple I remember clearly was Tōdai-ji. This temple housed the great Buddha. The great Buddha was created out of iron and this was one of the reasons the government at the time used as a reason (along with spreading Buddhism) why the non-samurai had to give up their swords. Which was to help create this huge statue of iron. I believe the temple building that houses this statue is the largest wooden building in the world (according to wikipedia).

Another fun aspect in Nara is the free roaming deer. The ones with antlers have them filed down and there are a lot walking all over. All throughout the city are vendors selling rice cakes and other treats people can feed the animals. They are pretty aggressive, but not mean. Food! My wife took my son last year and he is a pretty small kid, I can see how deer looming over him could be intimidating. Here is a pretty fun picture of him retreating from the hungry deer.

This city has also areas (and a museum) inside and near by that were run by the Yagyu clan. These were famous swordsman from the Yagyu shinkage ryu style. I will try to get some other pictures of other areas and pictures of these locations.