Testimonials

Philippe Basso, Camperre, Bretagne (France)

I came to this seminar to see different things, to have a different experience than the school from which I come, and for me it has been very rich. As Ikeda sensei said, it is like opening a book and being able to read different things. I have my practice, my way to practice, and the fact of having other sensations, with other people, has made my practice and my aikido grow, as well as expanding my vision, especially in the sense of opening myself in the spirit, not necessarily in the body, but in the spirit. I have a better sense of how to learn aikido and how to observe different ways to work with the hips and the body, beyond just technique.

Jamie Zimron, San Diego, CA

I teach and train in many places and I very, very much appreciate this seminar and the idea of friendship, of training across borders - borders of our countries, borders of our styles, borders of our organizations - and really being able to share all of the different knowledge that varying senseis have, and to train with each other, and to see what’s universal, and also to really exchange! There are so many different ways to practice, and different ways to climb the same mountain, and I think it’s really time in our development as aikidoists, and as human beings, to start to come together and to move out of our own style, our own organization, and to not let those kind of differences keep us apart and keep us from growing and developing more. So, I think this is just an awesome seminar and I really hope that there will be more, and I thank you very much (Ikeda sensei) for really being a force to bring people together in aikido.

Garret Fuller, Pennsylvania, Aikido Suimei Dojo, ASU

The week has been great, it’s been nice seeing all the different instructors and everybody is so different but yet everybody is focusing on the same principle, so it’s all one and the same. It’s been great!

Phil Weiner, San Clemente, CA

The week has been absolutely wonderful. Big exchange of ideas and great instructors, each one different and yet each one very good, very clear about what they’re doing, and great people to train with!

Brian Scott, Tamalpais Aikido and Mill Valley, CA

I’ve had a fantastic time here this week and I’ve definitely been struck with how much more aikido is similar than different, and regardless of style, of person and personality, that we all are training the same art when it gets down to it. Aikido is aikido and this seminar has reinforced that for me. It’s been fantastic seeing Tissier sensei, and meeting people from another culture, and broadening our horizons.

Seena Mostafavipour, Santa Barbara Kenkyukai International with Lia Suzuki

I’ve been here for two days now and it’s wonderful to train here. Being one of the beginners it’s nice to see all the sempai here, and all the udansha training under one house, and I have so much more yet to learn, but it’s great, the whole experience has been wonderful!

James Kelly, LA, formerly at Bond Street in NYC

I would say, more than anything, what I liked about the seminar is the confusion. I feel very confused, but I’d like to be able to take that confusion home with me and try and work through it. So, for me it’s a very good thing I have a lot to work with now.

Al Kreever, “admits to be 58 years old”, from Phoenix, AZ

I enjoyed this immensely, I’ve got a tremendous amount of insight into some of the fundamental principles of aikido as expressed by different styles, different body types. I appreciated the opportunity to work with as many different movements, different forms of people as I could. Plus, the instructions were amazing. I mean, you don’t usually get a chance to work with senior instructors from different styles as often you do at this type of seminar.

Louis Escamilla, Redlands Aikikai

I’ve enjoyed the seminar very much. Seeing styles that are very different from I’m used to (laughs), but it’s very educational. I’m finding it very interesting. I like it a lot.

Jefferson F, San Diego Jiai Aikido

Although I go to several seminars a year this has been one of the highlights of the seminar series, and I am looking forward to this happening next year. I hope the same senseis will be here!

Jae-Sang Lee, Florida, “30 years old, single!!” (laughs)

It’s been a really wonderful experience training with the four shihan and several high ranking instructors. It was really great to see their way of aikido taught and their method, which was same as how I was picturing and imagining from my instructor. And the food has been wonderful, and the company has been great!

Peter Dommel, Santa Cruz, CA

I have been attending the entire week, and I think it was a really wonderful, instructive mix of different perspectives of aikido. It was inside-out a very instructive and insightful seminar. I am very grateful to have been here and witnessed all the great instruction.

Richard Klein, Aikido Academy, Tampa City CA

A wonderful time we’re having, with all the sensei and shihan here, learning just a lot of very wonderful things, and having an excellent time. I am looking forward to all the classes, and Takahashi’s class is coming up!

Linda Hendricks, Gainesville FL

We came over here for the entire week, for the Friendship seminar, and I feel that this is a wonderful opportunity for many people to meet, to get together, to discuss and to practice aikido in many different fashions.