ISSUE 17 NOVEMBER 2018

Shihan TK Chiba Choosing Partners of varying abilities to consolidate techniques

t is always enjoyable to work your mind open with a partner who you know to the individual and who understands you. characteristics IHe/she can be cooperative or which vary from even helpful to your particular person to problems at any given stage of person. Train training. It is, therefore, natural your eyes to the Chiba Sensei to seek partners at your own diverse expres- level. However, an ideal practice sions of the art and the reasons should include many different behind them (gender, age, height, elements if progress is to be made weight, mentality, personality, in the development of a solid nationality, history of training, physical base and dynamic-flexi- physical condition etc). In other ble character. words, cultivate your power of In this regard, some of the basic observation. concepts commonly understood Practise and apply your tech- in the need nique with maximum effort so to be carefully considered. First, that you come to know your practise with members who are limitations and can learn to at a more advanced level. Keep continued on page 2 Photo: Ana Shorter Ana Photo: Chiba Sensei, London , 2001

Contents 1 Choosing partners Shihan TK Chiba 3 Keep an open mind Wellington Tsang 4 Gen Ei Kan celebrates Alexander V Gheorghiu 5 Friendship awards Muhammet Sensei 6 German summer school M Jung/S Habath/C Goldemann 7 Camaraderie Andy Colclough 9 Japan Trip Alexander V Gheorghiu 13 Notice-Board BIRANKAI EUROPE NEWSLETTER EUROPE BIRANKAI MUSUBI Closing date for submission for May 2019 issue: 31 March 2019 BIRANKAI EUROPE Choosing partners... continued from page 1

Founder Shihan TK Chiba 8th Dan extend them (if you don’t know As in the three basic training what your limitations are, you guidelines above, flexibility of cannot work with them). Learn attitude should also be applied to ukemi that is applicable to differ- working with the various kinds of European Birankai Shihankai ent styles of execution. physiques. This means, practise Gabriel Valibouze 7th Dan, Birankai Second, practise with members with members who are bigger who are about the same level than you in size (height, weight, Tony Cassells 7th Dan, British Birankai as you. Apply what you have etc), practise with those who Chris Mooney 7th Dan, British Birankai learned and reconfirm the learn- are about the same size as you, MIke Flynn 7th Dan, Scottish and Borders Birankai ing process. Try to see your own and practise with those who are Norberto Chiesa 6th Dan, Birankai problems and weaknesses at any smaller than you. France stage in other students. Observe For the reasons mentioned Dee Chen 6th Dan, British Birankai closely when others of about your above, I generally conduct classes Daniel Brunner 6th Dan, Birankai stage overcome a particular prob- so that members keep changing lem. Discover how it has been partners (at least twice in the Patrick Barthélémy 6th Dan, Birankai overcome. This not only refers same technique). I consider that France to technique but especially to it is desirable to practise as much Joe Curran 6th Dan, British Birankai breakthroughs to a higher dimen- as possible with every person sion of physical awareness. To present on the mat, and in any Member Countries paraphrase, study and be aware of one class. Birankai Austria your own problems and limita- I have heard of a dojo where Birankai France tions, common at any particular one’s partner for the practice Birankai stage, by observing others. period is fixed beforehand. This Hellenic Birankai Birankai Third, practise with members is a reflection of the ignorance of Birankai Poland who are at a lower level than you. the teacher. Birankai Portugal Confirm the basic techniques These training guidelines refer Birankai Switzerland and apply them with minimum to the following two forms of British Birankai effort. Learn to control yourself training: The first is to receive Scottish and Borders Birankai and yet make the technique instruction, and the second, is to effective. Practise, especially, with work with it during free practice. beginners (those who have no Within free practice there are two BE Musubi is published twice preconception about the move- elements: to work with someone, annually in May and November. ment). This is important to study and to practise alone, without a English edition available on the workability and precision of partner. www.britishbirankai.com and movements. Above all, this is a Generally speaking, free the French edition on good opportunity to bring you practice is given towards the end www.birankai.eu/shiun_fr.html back to ‘beginner’s mind’. continued on page 3

Individual article reflects the author’s own views. All submissions may be edited due to space constraints and should be sent to the Editors.

Editor (English): Dee Chen [email protected] Editor (French): Jean-luc Busmey [email protected] Sub-editor: Wellington Tsang [email protected] Design Consultant: Franco Chen

© Copyright 2018 All rights reserved. Reproduction is prohibited without express written permission 081218 Photo: Kremakova/Masri/Evans Photo: Shihan Joe Curran, Warwick Anniversary Course, March 2008

2 BE MUSUBI NOVEMBER 2018 Wellington Tsang continued from page 2 Keep an Open Mind to Refresh our of a class, about ten minutes or Practice so. Its purpose is to reconfirm what was taught in the class. This is immediate reconfirma- tion. However, free practice, in was thinking a true sense, is not limited to as we approach the relatively short time given three years to it in class, but should include Isince the passing of that part of training conducted Chiba Sensei as to outside the class schedule. what was his most Without doubt, an outstanding meaningful com- Aikidoist is one who has used ment for me: free practice as much as possi- “Treat Every ble as a way to train (both with Technique as if it is others and alone). This initia- fresh” he thundered tive is one that I find lacking at us during a lesson in American students. I recall in the later stages of the time when I was uchideshi USA WR Summer at Hombu Dojo and there were Camp 1999. always a few students who stayed My interpreta- behind after the last class of the tion: Think of your day for free practice. This caused daily commute. considerable problems for the You’ve done it uchideshi who had been working hundreds of times, all day and were exhausted but yet you don’t walk could not rest until all members exactly the same Photo: Suren Patidar Suren Photo: had finished training. During number of steps, Wellington Tsang, BB Autumn Course, Manchester the day, uchideshi had to be well close your eyes Oct 2017 skilled to snatch a nap for 10 and ears to all of or 15 minutes, still wearing gi, the obstacles like road cross- honing our principles, sometimes taking the opportunity whenever ings, other vehicles, new diver- not reaching the peak, but always possible in order to survive. sions thinking that nothing will returning home. These experi- It is not my intention to assert change this day, because to do so ences and lessons we can pass to the importance of vigorous train- could be the untimely end of the the next generation, climbing ing, however, while the mentality commute, sometimes with fatal different mountains. We must of the general student body is consequences. You walk or drive, not stagnate or become compla- limited to training by instruc- you negotiate crossroads and cent on the well trodden path tion only. I hope that the above you adapt your commute every that is a martial art otherwise it information will give some light day, so that you can reach home will eventually die. to your future training. [ safely. On a technique, each principle Thank you Chiba Sensei for is a crossroads to be negotiated keeping Aikido alive and fresh. [ with timing and positioning to neutralise and prevent injury. You cannot be blind to a potentially dangerous situation. For Aikido, we should consider this journey up the mountain with the same attitude. Do or Tao is a spiritual and philosophi- cal path. We cannot expect the mountain path, the weather conditions, ourselves or our Shihan TK Chiba 8th Dan companions to be unchanged Wellington Tsang 3rd Dan Birankai Founder after 100 years. We climb many South Manchester Aikido, personal mountains, with differ- North West Aikikai From Sansho, January 1987 ing adverse conditions, using and British Birankai

NOVEMBER 2018 BE MUSUBI 3 Alexander V Gheorghiu Gen Ei Kan Celebrates 20 Years of Aikido before Dignitaries

he camp I chose the name Birankai. with blending sword work and was over Biran is a Buddhist term meaning body art, a demonstration of the before a cosmic storm that occurs in the nature of aikido. Twe had time moment before cosmic order shifts. to look at the It is a force of recovery, spontane- “The penetrating brilliance of clock. One class ously manifesting itself to restore swords simply flowed Alex Gheorghiu order. The storm can be power- Wielded by followers of the Way into the next; ful and violent. Yet, at the same Strikes at the evil enemy one day into the following. This time it is one that heals through Lurking deep within is perhaps due to the high stand- cleansing and purification. Their own souls and bodies.” ard of teaching we had and the -T K Chiba, ‘The Bowl of Biran, - (O-Sensei), elegant timetabling which kept Heavenly Gift’. The Art of Peace us warm and ready, but not burnt out or depleted. The invited This is our Aikikai, the summer Flower Sensei’s classes were teachers were Daniel Brunner schools have a unique way of a constant reminder of the five Shihan (Ryu Seki Kai, Switzer- bringing us back together as one pillars of Chiba Sensei’s school land), Chris Mooney Shihan (Ei school, one community. In this - centeredness, connectedness, Mei Kan, ), spirit, the camp will be partly wholeness, liveliness, openness. Piotr Masztalerz Sensei (Wro- remembered for the inspira- Her lessons, whilst dynamic, claw Aikikai, Poland), and Jenny tional visit of the Turkmen. showed how clean tai-sabaki, Flower Sensei (Athens Aikido, Many within the organisation do clear cuts, and a heavy centre ). The range on the mat now know of our central Asian makes for some truly inspira- went from Robin (6th Kyu, Sho connections to and tional aikido. Gi Kan, Switzerland), who has Turkmenistan and, consequently, Masztalerz Sensei taught been training six months, to were bemused at the visit by four several jo classes, which memo- Brunner Sensei, who has been highly trained aikidoka from the rably pushed beyond kihon by training for fifty-six years. latter country. asking to perform suburi eg, All summer camps are sweaty, Mooney Sensei began the nagashi uchi, or kata eg, sansho but this one left you drenched camp by opening and centering one part one, not quickly, but after a few minutes in seiza due the body through stretches and definingly and continuously. to extraordinary heat south breathing, and then proceeded He also showed a catalogue of Germany boasts in the summer. with fundamentals - classic wonderful conditioning exer- Nonetheless with a series of Aikido, or, perhaps, Aikido with cises for ukemi. steady warm ups in the morn- class. This set the tone for the The camp also served to ings and well-placed weapons summer school. celebrate twenty years of Gen classes, we made it through Brunner Sensei taught sword EI Kan, whose dojo-cho is relatively unencumbered; and work every day, working through Alexander Broll Sensei. A every so often there would be a the kumi-tachi exercises, showing twenty-minute demonstration fresh breeze which would cleanse how different possibilities erupt, class was delivered by Mooney the air of the dojo, our namesake depending on the actions of the Sensei in front of several digni- - Biran. uke-tachi. His classes culminated taries, including members of Photo: Achim Goldemann Achim Photo:

4 BE MUSUBI NOVEMBER 2018 parliament, the mayor, the chief of police and representatives of organisations supporting disa- bled people. The class hit right at what Aikido is all about, with breathing exercises to begin, and then the classics such as suwari-waza shomen-uchi ikkyu, tachi-waza shomen-uchi irmi- nage, yokomen-uchi shihonage, katate dori aihanmi kokyu nage etc. Many of those participating in the class were as blown away by it as the people watching. Professional is the only word Goldemann Achim Photo: which comes to mind. Massive thank you to Broll Sensei for all the people on the mat; the wonderful classes, and all the his many years of teaching in message of the poem above, other teachers and seniors for Landau, and a sincere wish for masakatsu agatsu - true victory is their continued support on the many more. self-victory. mat.[ The seminar closed with Congratulations to Birankai Mooney Sensei wrapping the Deutschland and the Landau Alexander V Gheorghiu 3rd week up with a message about dojo for running such an impres- kyu what we are doing here, which sive camp, and thank you to Ei Mei Kan, Central Aikikai, touched all ranks, all ages, and all the invited teachers for such British Birankai

Muhammet Sensei Japan gives Friendship Awards

n 24 July 2018 the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan gave a series of awards to ‘individuals and groups with outstanding achievement in international fields, in order to acknowledge Otheir contributions to the promotion of friendship between Japan and other countries and areas.’ This year included people such as the President and CEO of Ambrose, President of the Olympic Committee of Slovenia, and the Former Chair of the Centre of Japanese Studies at UC Berkley, along- side our own Shamuhammet Annamuradovich Baylyyev the director Photo: Achim Goldemann Achim Photo: of Lachin-Ai aikido dojo Ashgabat in Turkmenistan. [ Photo: Achim Goldemann Achim Photo:

NOVEMBER 2018 BE MUSUBI 5 Max Jung, Sophia Habath and Cedric Goldemann Landau, Germany Summer School closes with Resounding Success - The Mayor, a Bundestag Representative, a Brass Band, Kegs of Beer and a BBQ

rom 21-25 July 2018, 72 posture. The teachers’ work did Aikidoka from all over not end there: during the breaks, Europe and even from as all the teachers present at the Ffar afield as Cuba and Turkmeni- Summer Camp met in a Teaching stan came together to practise Committee to exchange ideas. together their passion - the mar- The highlight of Monday after- tial art of Aikido - in the small noon was a Nidan examination Max Jung city of Landau in the German - successfully completed! state of Rheinland-Pfalz. On Tuesday afternoon began For us, it was a great feeling the celebrations for the Twentieth to train together with all these Anniversary of the Landau Dojo. people, and also to talk with The invited special guests were them and learn more about them, treated to a short, intensive, and their lives, and their homelands. clearly structured Aikido class. This great feeling was a stark Alexander Broll Sensei gave an contrast to the events of just a address reflecting on his life few weeks earlier: after extreme course and the life of the Dojo. Sophia Habath storms, the city of Landau was This was an especially touching flooded, and the Gen Ei Kan moment for us. Chris Mooney Landau Dojo with it! With our Shihan also gave a moving speech planned venue closed for months about his first encounter with of repair works, the entire event Alexander Broll Sensei and the had to be re-planned at short inspiration he draws from their notice for an alternative venue. encounters with one another. Of course, achieving this meant a The other speakers - such as the huge additional effort, but it was Mayor of Landau Dr Ingenthron, well worth it. Bundestag Representative Mr Cedric Goldemann The classes of the various Hitschler, State Parliament Senseis were full of variety, Representative Mrs Schneider, and each teacher shone a light and the Managing Director on Aikido according to their of the State’s Disability and own style and manner. Daniel Rehabilitation Sport Union Mr for Aikido and who are so open Brunner Shihan showed above all Röttig - all expressed their respect to encounters and learning new the process of a direct encounter for Alexander Broll Sensei and things. with the Bokken. Chris Mooney the important contribution to We look forward to the next Shihan’s classes were filled with the community that the Dojo encounter, in whatever country it his typical dynamism mixed with makes. may take place. thought-provoking ideas for us to In the evening, the last of the ponder over later. Jenny Flower Summer Camp, the celebrations With deep thanks. [ Sensei put special emphasis on drew to a close with the help of a the encounter between Uke and brass band, a barbecue grill, and Nage, as well as Nage’s control kegs of beer. over the attacker during the We had many great experiences execution of the technique. Here and would like to thank all the there was a lot for both begin- teachers who have given us so ning and advanced students to much new and important things Max Jung 2nd kyu work on. Piotr Masztalerz Sensei on our way. Many thanks also to Sophia Habath 2nd kyu trained our ki to a special degree all participants who made such Cedric Goldemann 3rd kyu in his lessons, by emphasizing an effort to come to Germany Birankai Aikido Gen Ei Kan energy, efficiency and a straight and Landau to share their passion Birankai Germany

6 BE MUSUBI NOVEMBER 2018 Andrew Colclough Finding Solace and Camaraderie in Europe within the Aikido Community

can’t believe how time has gradually built up other friend- students, which can only be of flown by since I first started ships as well, which is not always benefit to all concerned. Aikido in January 1994. an easy thing for me as I am a Off the mat there has been ILooking back I can honestly say quiet person inside really. A few some great meals, a couple I have had some absolutely great people might find that hard to that spring to mind are the times, with the odd few bad believe but it is true. The friend- ones organised by Sensei Anne times thrown in. But that is part ships extend not only from Ducouret’s Dojo and Shihan and parcel of life in general and Dornbirn, but also Switzerland Patrick Barthelemy’s Dojo of course Aikido. On the whole I and Paris. More recently I am where there are long tables, and have a lot to thank aikido for, es- meeting great people from the whole dojo join in and help pecially when attending courses. Bagnols. In these 15 years of trav- cook the food. There is a great In the last 24 years I certainly elling I have been very privileged sense of togetherness, and you have attended a few, both here to have had a lot of instruction literally eat, sleep and train in in the UK and abroad. I have from some very experienced and the dojo. For me this is a great also realised how much travel- talented Teachers. But I must also way to do things and courses ling I have done as well. It really thank the students who have all I would highly recommend to all started back in 2003 when I made me feel very welcome. Their anyone to experience. I have first went to Dornbirn in Austria energy both on and off the mat looked at my diary for the next in support of my teacher Sensei is both uplifting and inspiring. 12 months and have a few Mark Pickering and his teacher I have really enjoyed the train- courses lined up already. I will Tony Cassells Shihan. Over the ing, and I have learnt a lot. The list them below just to make years I have developed a great amount of tuition that I have people aware and if possi- relationship with them both, not received through these courses I ble they can come and join only in terms of the Student/ believe is because they are smaller Tony Cassells Shihan, Mark Teacher relationship but also a groups, when compared to the Pickering Shidoin, and other personal friendship. bigger events. I feel this allows Senior Teachers and members Moving on from this I have the teachers to give more to the of the Birankai Family. [

1/11/18 - 4/11/18 Dai Jyo Kan, Bagnols Sur Ceze - Patrick Barthelemy 22/03/19 - 24/03/19 Ann Jou Kan, Paris - Anne Ducouret 17/05/19 - 19/05/19 and 27/09/19 - 29/09/19 Mei Sei Kai - Peter Duwe and Monika Dorig 18/10/19 - 20/10/19 O Sen Kan, Dornbirn - Jurgen Schwendinger

Andrew Colclough 3rd Dan, Cocksmoors Woods Central Aikikai, British Birankai 15 October 2018

NOVEMBER 2018 BE MUSUBI 7 Photos submitted by Andrew Colclough

Austria

Paris

Switzerland

8 BE MUSUBI NOVEMBER 2018 Alexander V Gheorghiu Ei Mei Kan Travels to Japan to Visit Chiba Sensei’s Grave and Witness Shihan Mooney’s 7th Dan Certification

t happens that I belong to a genera- Ition who do not call Chiba Sen- sei ‘Sensei’, as our seniors do, Alex Gheorghiu a remark which was once made precise to me by Sullivan Sensei. The reason being clear: we never met him, we never trained under him, we never even saw him. The legends abound though, and in our own dojos, from our own teachers and seniors (those who we really do simply call him ‘Sen����- sei’), we follow his work. That is the gift he gave, the transmission of the art. My teacher is Chris Mooney Shihan, a man devoted to Aikido

for over forty years, whose Sebastian Barudi Photo: relationship with Chiba Sensei Ueshia House: Doshu presenting Shihan Chris Mooney with 7th dan certificate is, by legend, deep, dark, and blindingly illuminating. His commitment, and the decades of teaching with which he expresses it, including to some of the most senior members of our organisa- tion, is the reason for which he was promoted to the rank of seventh dan in this year’s kagami biraki. This dedication, and the purity of heart with which Sensei practises it, I believe is the reason almost the whole of the dojo, Ei Mei Kan, decided to go with him for the certification. At first it did not occur to me that I could go with Sensei to Japan for the occasion, it was too serious an event, and I was Sebastian Barudi Photo: too junior. In some respect this Ueshiba Home: (l-r) Izram Ali, Mircin Ch, Callum Thornton, Alexander V Gheorghiu, is true, and at moments I was Doshu, Laura Anderson, Shihan Chris Mooney, Fero Slamenik, Asia Thompson and Marian Lupovich, 31 October 2018 naïve in my approach, but one must not forget that regardless of what else Hombu dojo may be, to think about such matters 2006; it is the perfect place to it is an Aikido dojo – just go and whilst there. recover from a cross-continent practise. This is their humility, When we arrived on the island, journey. Note that being tradi- and it is beautiful. Consequently, we immediately left Tokyo for tional it is entirely made of wood; it did not really hit me that I was the village of Hakone, south- has floors which really are tatami going to Japan from 26 October west of the megacity. This quaint mats; and hosts no chairs. In to 4 November 2018 for this place has a 150 year old ryokan, response to this last point, Mircin auspicious event until the return one which Chiba Sensei took his Ch observed that the architecture flight! Not that I had much time newly founded Shihankai to in was such that the detail of the

NOVEMBER 2018 BE MUSUBI 9 interior could only be appreciated from the lower setting of sitting on the mat, perhaps with some sake. During the day the students took the opportunity to visit the local area, and were posi- tively stalked by Mt Fuji, a BFG (Big Friendly Giant) if ever there was one. With respect to Fuji-san, I must say that it is the only wonder which I have seen, natural or otherwise, that exactly resembles its postcard. He subsequently accompanied us on our pilgrimage to Chiba Sensei’s Photo: Asia Thompson Asia Photo: grave, but more on that later. At Chiba Sensei’s grave: Izram Ali (head), Fero Slamenik, Mircin Ch, Callum Hakone is situated in a valley, Thornton, Alexander V Gheorghiu and Shihan Chris Mooney as much of Japan finds itself, where the nature qua nature and the people fuse in a wonder- hello. Bizarrely it fully organic way which is true made him real, it of rural peoples everywhere; made all of it real. Marian Lupovicz remarked that That’s all I will say Hakone was twinned with Sinaia, on this. a small town in the bosom of Our return to the Carpathian Mountains of Tokyo was swift, it Romania. If you would like to was by Shinkansen see some of the extraordinary - Bullet train. These journey, you should find Marian, creatures are as he was kind enough to document formidable as their it completely. name suggests, Once we had rested, it was however the ugly time for the first part of our busi- plosive used to ness in Japan: visiting the ances- describe them is tors. Chiba Sensei does not rest a misnomer, they in Hakone, but even further out, are simply beauty so our journey began with a series of engineering of local trains which allowed a distilled. The same panoramic of the Pacific Ocean. sentiment I wish It was then a thirty-minute walk to extend to public along inclines and declines to transport in Japan

reach Chogenji temple, where in general, yes it Thompson Asia Photo: on arrival Osho-san was playing really is always on At Chiba Sensei’s grave: Shihan Chris Mooney and football with some local children: time, always clean, George V Gheorghiu tranquillity. His mother kindly and always there. took us to Chiba Sensei’s grave, Despite not speaking any more Incidentally, one can often see and the temple lent us some Japanese than the garbled tatami- Doshu reading a paper behind buckets and sponges so that we dialect which fills occidental reception as one enters Hombu may follow the tradition of clean- dojos, I had no problem navigat- dojo, a surprisingly casual image. ing it and making offerings. We ing Tokyo without even requiring It happened that this day there poured ourselves on the grave - google translate. Lastly, even the was a film crew on the mat, use your centre! After the clean- smallest commentary on engi- making a program about Aikido ing, we chanted the Heart sutra neering in Japan is incomplete for Japanese television, needless- and offered incense. without mentioning the toilets: to-say they interviewed Sensei I have read much about Chiba they’re electronic. However, what and Asia Thompson. Doshu also Sensei, watched and re-watched most impressed us was that the gave a short demonstration, what many videos, eagerly listened to washing tap drains into the water good fortune we had! His ukes numerous stories of this aston- tank directly, what ingenuity! impressed upon me the most, at ishing figure, but I never really In the morning we attended Hombu the mat is hard, but they expected to visit his grave, to say Doshu’s class, it was phenomenal. were always up before they were

10 BE MUSUBI NOVEMBER 2018 ever really down, without even flinching. In fact the hard mat is pleasurable to work on as you can bounce straight up on it, and suri-ashi comfortably - I miss it. There were ninety people on the tatami, from all ages, work- ing fiercely, and silently. At the university dojo, from which I come, we often must introduce newcomers to the notion of ‘practising in silence,’ but this really is simply a mimicry of the reality which is the economy Photo: Becca Simpson Becca Photo: of the phrase to just one word: Meiji Temple: Marian Lupovich, Laura Anderson, Fero Slamenik, Mircin Ch, Shihan practise. That’s all, just practise, Chris Mooney, Izram Ali, Callum Thornton, Asia Thompson and William Simpson don’t ask about ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ or ‘rank’ etc be polite, and just practise. After the class we went back to our apartment, which was only fifteen minutes away by foot, and got dressed up for the certifica- tion. Then, ladies and gentlemen, we entered the Ueshiba family home, which is modest and pleasant. Doshu and Mooney

Sensei sat opposite each other V Gheorghiu Alex Photo: on a tatami mat, and as Mooney Ryokan: Laura Anderson, Shihan Chris Mooney and Asia Thompson Sensei approached, he made a quick right turn to face the shrine in the room where he made an offering - so this is what we prac- tise shiko for? Once he turned back, Doshu read the certificate and handed it over with care and deliberation. All of us were invited on the mat, and we were told to sit informally ie, cross-legged, which none of us did at first after our years of training to sit in seiza. I think Doshu found this some- what amusing, and urged us to spare our legs. He and Mooney Sensei then had a pleasant Ryokan: Mircin Ch and Callum Thornton conversation, where what struck me the most was his surprise that few summer schools I have never we had every intention of train- met him before, and I will not Thompson Asia Photos: ing at Hombu for the rest of the repeat the warnings I was given week. We then left and celebrated before class! At Hombu, however, in our apartment in the Japanese his classes are very well formed, Meal at Ryokan style ie, with plenty of good qual- built up from simple blocks to ity sake. more complex waza express- During our stay in Tokyo we ing the same principles. Again, also met Davinder Bath Sensei, people just practise. who has recently moved there. After his class(es), Miyamoto Together with him, we attended Sensei and his students took us to Miyamoto Sensei’s classes. Being a pub(s) where the food was plen-

a not-so-fresh fresh face in tiful, regular, varied, and excel- V Gheorghiu Alex Photo: Aikido, despite having been to a lent - including sashimi, soup, Ramen

NOVEMBER 2018 BE MUSUBI 11 fried goods, noodles, tofu etc and the beer flowed just as smoothly as the sake. There are no chairs in these places, and they are no bigger than our party, which made these after-training-sessions intimate. At the end of the even- ing the yudansha would vanish with the teachers for a few hours, and the rest of us explored other smaller pubs, which often fit no more than ten people, or went home to drink. The former does V Gheorghiu Alex Photo: not preclude the latter, making Bar: Asia Thompson, Marian Lupovich, Laura Anderson, Miyamoto Sensei, Callum my time in Tokyo a sleepless one, Thornton, Mircin Ch and Fero Slamenik and hence more than just a bit dream-like. There is not much else to say that either doesn’t double the length of this article, or would be so tantalisingly demure as to be unethical to mention. Ask any of the people who went on the trip and their story will show how much of a skeleton the above is, all the juicy parts x-rayed straight through. I have better advice than this though, which is simply to go to Japan and explore it, you will not be disappointed, I assure you. Thompson Asia Photo: Finally, I would like to thank Marian Lupovich, Hostess, Callum Thornton, Mircin Ch and Alexander V Gheorghiu Mooney Sensei for his many years of training generation after generation of Aikidoka, preserv- ing Chiba Sensei’s work and the lineage to O-Sensei. His patience for teaching fundamentals continually amazes me, and his tireless effort toward his students is inspirational. I would also like to thank him for this once-in-a- lifetime opportunity of travelling with him inside Aikido’s home. [

Alexander V Gheorghiu 3rd kyu Gen Sen Jyuku, Central Photo: Fero Slamenik Fero Photo: Aikikai Apartment: Fero Slamenik, Mircin Ch, Laura Anderson, Callum Thornton, Asia British Birankai Thompson and Alexander V Gheorghiu

12 BE MUSUBI NOVEMBER 2018 NOTICE-BOARD

Shihan T Miyamoto 8th Dan to head BB Summer School 2019

his year 2018 we held our confirm accommodation the BB website www.britishbirankai. summer school at Worces- accommodation fee has to be com in due course. ter University with Etsuji paid and is not refundable due There was a great atmosphere THorii Sensei 7th Dan. It was to Worcester University rule at summer school this year and great to see Horii Sensei again changes. There will be flyers at I hope you can all join us once with mixed classes of weapons the Spring Course and details more next year to make it a and excellent body art. will be available to view online as success. [ Next year we are holding BB of January 2019. Summer School 3-7 August 2019 Our Spring Course will be held again at Worcester University at the Bilberry Centre on 23-24 Stuart Lovering and with guest Shihan Tsuruzo February 2019 with Shihan Course Organiser Miyamoto 8th Dan Aikikai. Tony Cassells 7th Dan and Tudor Grange Dojo, Central Booking will be open in January Shidoin Mark Pickering 6th Dan Aikikai for this Summer school and to instructing. Details will be on the British Birankai

NOVEMBER 2018 BE MUSUBI 13 Saturday 3rd - 7th Wednesday August 2019 COST Training weekly £125 (£75 consession) Daily £30 (£20 consession) Accommodation £32 per night (non refundable but payment required to confirm booked)

Contact Stuart Lovering ([email protected]) for information or booking (www.britishbirankai.com)

14 BE MUSUBI NOVEMBER 2018