Articles

2007 Aikido Bridge Experience

by Stephen Fasen, Shindai Aikikai Aikido Dojo

The Bridge Seminar seemed an optimistic, perhaps even idealistic, undertaking from first description. Get Aikidoka from all over together to appreciate, learn, discuss and train Aikido without the humidity of ego and politics that accompanies many seminars. It is difficult however, not to pay attention when the announcement is accompanied by Ikeda Sensei's exuberance and passion. Then you view the cadre of contemporary Aikido legends scheduled as instructors and realize that Ikeda Sensei's passion and purpose has also touched the core of some of the top teachers of our time. OK, I'm in.

I made the trip to San Diego like I make most of the trips to away seminars, toying with speculation on what I might be able to take away from this one. What will the training be like? Will my limited physical and intellectual abilities suffer comprehension? Will any social encounters expand the Aiki experience? Ok, so I am rooming with Todd Jones Sensei and being met by Takahashi Sensei, but questions still loom. When I arrived in unseasonable cold at the magnificent Jiai Aikido Dojo and looked at what Sodeman Sensei and his group had provided, any skepticism starts to wane. It is quickly replaced by shear enthusiasm as I start training with great Aikidoka from all over the US and Europe. The enthusiasm and intensity is remarkable.

The week provided substantive learning/training from 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Many just trained until we couldn't get up. It was a kind of a - sit when you can't stand any more and rest when you are dead - kind of training for some of us. It was great! In addition, many on the floor as participants were individuals you would travel great distances to take seminars from. Here we exchanged effort and interpretation with these Sensei under the considerate attention of master instructors sharing a common intensity and fervent commitment to Aikido, regardless of titles, affiliations, organizations or personal stylization. I kept marveling at the fact that we got to be there! It was a week of adjectives, reflected in the energy during and after classes; athletic, graceful, articulate, revealing, powerful, precise, venerable, entertaining, intense, considerate, intuitive, instructive, insightful, confounding, exhilarating; god what an invigorating time we had. In the evening the brotherhood that was forged on the floor continued through the evening and discussion reverberated with the potential of this format. OK, there was some scotch there as well.

To their eternal detriment, many Aikidoka must have been skeptical, because the attendance was blessedly average. We had more than adequate room to move to our hearts content. When word gets out however, that will not last. This was a marvelous seminar, which encompassed more than can be explained. I sincerely hope it is destined to be a treasured annual event. Ikeda Sensei and all the instructors who have responded should be given great credit for their gift to all of us.