Aikido Abroad
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Toshiharu Sawada Shihan & Kimori Dojo Nagoya Japan
Toshiharu Sawada Shihan Toshiharu Sawada Shihan was introduced to the Aikido Shinryukan members by Nobuo Takase Shihan during a seminar in Auckland of June 2002.
Unknown to us at the time was his expertise with the Jo and Bokken and the direct correlation between his weapons training and taijutsu (empty handed technique).
My first visit to Sawada Shihan’s dojo in Nagoya Japan was while accompanying Nobuo Takase Shihan along with Sawada Shihan and several of Kimori Dojo’s senior members on a trip to Beijing and Teinjin for a biannual grading and seminar. On our return to Kimori Dojo in Nagoya we received an incredible amount of hospitality on behalf of Sawada Shihan, his wife and the Kimori dojo members over the period of several days.
Having trained directly with Takase Shihan since 1990 I recognized the introduction of Sawada Shihan’s application of technique as a necessary addition and compliment to my technique and understanding of Aikido.
Sawada Shihan Demonstrating
at the Kimori Weapons Seminar in February 2008Since that initial trip to Kimori Dojo in 2002, I have made the commitment to visit Sawada Shihan every year to experience his style and application of Aikido. This year just like every other year has proven to be an eye opener, with Sawada Shihan’s technique evolving and constantly improving, yet even in his own words has become even more simplified as time goes by.
The past three years I have enjoyed the company and translation skills of Aaron McConnell Sensei who has lived within Kimori Dojo and worked in Nagoya as an English teacher and now as an instructor for children’s Aikido classes. Aaron was originally a member of Aikido Shinryukan Canterbury before moving to Japan after receiving a scholarship to Kyoto University to study Japanese language.
Kuribayashi Shihan & Simon Puffett Sensei Every year we meet to join forces to help each other try to attempt to unravel the secrets of Sawada Shihan’s technique and movement, only to have the rug ripped out from under us as Sawada Shihan pulls something new out of his bag of tricks, that no one in his dojo has ever seen him demonstrate before. Ultimately Aaron and I end up consoling ourselves with several cans of Suntory’s finest....beer, while dissecting the days training.
This year like the last I was given the opportunity to attend the seminar of Kuribayashi Shihan from the Aikikai World Headquarters at the Aichi Daigakuen University held for all current and past attendees of the university. It was a privilege to train with many of the 100 + aikidoka of all ages and grades who attended the seminar.
Toshiharu Sawada & Kimiko Sawada
& Simon PuffettIn summary, I cannot speak highly enough of the level of training I receive when attending Kimori Dojo and recommend that if those Shinryukan members who wish to broaden their experience and level of Aikido, not forgetting Japanese culture and spirit. Then you must seriously consider attending the Kimori Dojo Annual Gasshuku, which is held in Yumori Nagoya on the first weekend of September. You are all welcome to attend! For an experience you will never forget!
Click here for more Kimori Dojo photos
For more information regarding the Kimori Dojo Annual Gasshuku please contact
Aaron McConnell Sensei.To read about our members that attended the
Kimori Dojo Annual Gasshuku - September 2007P.s But also make a note in your diaries, the Aikido Shinryukan Winter Seminar in June the 28th & 29th you will get the opportunity to practice with Sawada Shihan in person.
Kimori Dojo February 2008 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Experiencing Aikido in Vietnam
After finishing four years of studying Chinese medicine and years more of generally thrashing myself with training I graduated from school and decided to take advantage of the situation and do some travelling.
This was the first time other than a brief trip to Australia that I had ventured outside of New Zealand. As I knew that I may not get another chance for a while once I start practicing Acupuncture/Chinese Medicine and wanting to make a clear break between Student Practitioner and Practitioner Becky and I decided that two months would be a good amount of time for us to see/meet her family and do a bit of travel around Vietnam, Thailand and China.
Kerry applying Koshinage to uke As two months is a long time for an addict, I decided that I would take my Gi with me and do some training in Ho Chi Minh City (a.k.a. Saigon). There are a few places to train and I checked out a couple that are affiliated to Aikikai through Shihan Thong Phong Dang in the United States.
There is a history of Aikido in Vietnam that stretches back to 1958 when Shihan Dang Thong Tri brought Aikido from France to introduce it to Vietnam. In 1967, O-Sensei Morihei Ueshiba and Doshu Kissomaru Ueshiba issued credentials to Shihan Phong, officially sanctioning him to spread Aikido all over the Vietnamese territory in the Spirit of Love and Peace.
In 1986, Shihan Phong moved to the United States and established himself there. In 1997, at the ceremony celebrating the 29th anniversary of the founding of International Tenshinkai Aikido Federation on February 20, 1997, in Westminster, California, Shihan Masatake Fujita, on behalf of Doshu Kisshomaru Ueshiba, presented Shihan Dang Thong Phong with the certificate of 6th degree Aikikai Black Belt.
With this history in mind I went along to Tenshinkai Dojo that was located next to a huge Pagoda in the centre of Saigon. There was a instructor there who was a student of Shihan Thong Phong Dang who welcomed me, through my trusty interpreter Becky, and I Gi’ed up to train.
Saigon is a tropical area and so training is conducted in above 25 degree heat. The lessons are 2 hours long and so anyone who knows or has trained with me in summer will know that I sweated so much that my Gi pants and top were soaked, hmmm nice for ukeJ.
For the first few lesson they did their thing and showed me numerous ways (8) of doing Koshinage. This was fun and I got a good chance to brush up on my Koshinage skills, didn’t quite get all 8 but a few new ones are works in progress.
Just warming up. Their ukemi practice involves progressive increases in height from the ground, to a small punch bag, to people kneeling, to people bent over standing, to people standing with their necks bent to two people standing with a gap between them... I bailed out about half way through after the people kneeling. They love doing ukemi and flying through the air it was great to watch and they benefit through a slightly softer mat than at Hombu.
Due to the end of year festivities and celebrations the instructor was not around much and the yudansha take class in his absence. This gives the students a chance to play with aikido and is they have any problems they can go to the yudansha for help. I was for most of the time the highest ranked Aikidoka there and they were interested in a different approach than what they usually do so they asked me to show them how we do a few of the basic techniques, mostly they would give any student that spoke the best English to me and asked me to teach them.
I think that the basic difference that most people will identify in the approach to aikido is a more dynamic style or a more static style; I think Hombu Dojo in Auckland has more of the former where the Dojos in Saigon have more of the latter. I think that apart from your preference of dynamic versus static, which is personal, the really important thing in aikido is to have an open mind and to have a good, positive spirit to your training.
This I think is what I liked about the people I have trained with in Saigon, they have an open mind and quickly pick up new ideas and ways of moving that they can see make sense and have a use. Anyone who has trained with Chau and Kelly at Hombu will know what I mean.
Can't wait to visit Aikido Shinryukan New Zealand Anyway overall after being here for a month and a half and training around 3 times per week in Saigon I look forward to being back at Hombu, it has been a long break from Hombu for me (3 months). I have had fun training in Saigon and bought a new summer Hakama ($14.50 handmade to order and embroidered!).
I think that training here has made me appreciate the instructors, the structure, what we have as a group at Hombu Dojo and the level that we train.
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Travel & Training in New Caledonia
by Simon Puffett - 05 to 22/01/2008
Shumeikan Dojo members in Noumea after a seriously enjoyable session. Upon arrival into Noumea, I was struck by the humidity in the air and the heat of the day. Marc Cessio Sensei kindly extended an invitatition to join him and his family for 17 days, with the aim of holding seminars in Noumea and Koumac. Marc and I also planned to travel around New Caledonia on his two custom motorcycles Yamaha 1300cc and Yamaha 1600cc.
The only way to travel in New Caledonia. The first night of my stay I was welcomed with a feast organized by the members of the Shumeikan Dojo. Had I realized that I was to be tortured with copious amounts of Beaujolais and Bordeaux wine, not forgetting a ton of French cheese I may have reconsidered my visit… Yeah Right!
It was great to rekindle the friendships from two years ago while creating new friendships with the new enthusiasts of Aikido. Our original plan to train one hour per evening was soon put to the sword, with everyone wanting a minimum of two hours per session. Members from other organizations were welcomed by Marc and the Shumeikan members, to enjoy the occasion and to share in the spirit of Aikido.
The atmosphere in every class was one of eagerness to learn, combined with many tears being shed from the hilarity created by my attempts to speak French while demonstrating techniques.
Weapons training during sunset Our first day trip we travelled approximately 250 kms in a loop around the south of New Caledonia. The earth was a rich red with flowing streams that continually crossed the road that we were navigating. This provided a much needed cooling down due to the temperature sitting around 35 degrees.
We stopped to swim at a secluded beach at the end of a dirt track that only previous knowledge would have alerted you to its existence. The snorkeling was fabulous with multi-coloured tropical fish including “Nemo” (clown fish) everywhere!
This was a great warm up for our trip 2 days later to Koumac 400 kms north of Noumea. While on the road we enjoyed the spectacular mountain views on one side and the inviting blues and greens of the ocean to the other.
Upon arrival in Koumac I was introduced to Lionel, Mary and Nicolas, friends of Marc who also practice Aikido and who we were to stay with for the next 4 days. That afternoon I was introduced to the other Koumac members and Jean Paul Do Sensei, who has only just celebrated his 20th anniversary of teaching at the Koumac dojo.
Life's a Beach in New Caledonia The camaraderie within the dojo was truly heart warming and that evening I was invited to a pizza and Champagne dinner at Jean Paul Do Sensei’s home. The 3 day seminar in Koumac was very enjoyable with everyone taking to weapons training like ducks to water, and expressing how much they enjoyed the visitation from Takase Shihan and members from NZ in August’07.
The final day of the seminar involved a short drive to the Malabou Resort and training on the grass next to the sea. Later that afternoon training moved into the water where we were practicing a range of Koshinage techniques in knee-deep water.
Marc and I departed Koumac at 9am and had planned that to travel east some 250kms to stay the night at Poindimie, unfortunately the weather turned and we found ourselves riding in torrential rain for 70kms. This brought on engine problems on one of the bikes and we had to stop under a make shift shelter near a small village. We were both thoroughly soaked.
Marc Cessio Sensei at play We waited for 3 to 4 hours after finding our way to a small convenience store where we ate lunch, however we were unable to continue along the main road due to the road being cut by heavy flooding and landslips. Having decided to turn back to Koumac the rain also decided to stop…typical! So we made our way back to the bikes and the water problems on one of the bikes had resolved itself.
Riding back to Koumac we rode past a newly excavated bypass, however when we rode past originally heading east, the mountains had created a natural waterfall down onto the road. This time the hillside gave way when we were alongside and we were very nearly caught in a landslide that covered 3/4’s of the road. To say that our hearts had missed a beat would be an understatement!!
Unfortunately this was not to be the last of our hair-raising experiences. About 30kms further on a windy section of the mountains the road was extremely slippery, Marc Sensei came off his motorcycle. Thankfully he was unhurt and had only received a few scraps and bruises. It is never pleasant to watch a fellow motorcyclist take a fall in your rear vision mirror. We made it back to Koumac at 3pm and stopped for a coffee with Lionel and Mary.
Beautiful scenic views everywhere you go We decided to continue onto Noumea and set off at 4pm which saw us arrive home at 10pm that night a little tired and worse for wear, though we had big smiles on our faces as we recounted our days events to Marc’s family.
To say that we had an exciting adventure in my first week would be true in every sense. Although Marc and I knew that we had what could be called a good day in comparison to a little pig that had just been caught, when we stopped to ask for directions to a local village convenience store. The local gentlemen was very friendly and helpful by pointing us in the right direction with a machete in his hand....lets just say preparations were being made for a feast that evening and pork was on the menu.
My stay was truly wonderful thanks to Marc, Colette and their two children Amandene and Cedric who have tolerated my numerous attempts to pronounce French correctly everyday.
I would like to also thank all the Shumeikan members in Noumea and the Koumac members lead by Jean Paul Do Sensei. I wish you all the very best for 2008 and I’m looking forward to seeing you next year.
Click here for more New Caledonia Photos
Riding over the mountains and looking in the direction of Noumea after touring around the south
Marc Cessio Sensei Profile
Marc Cessio Sensei
President
Shumeikan Dojo Nouvelle Caledonie
Born 2nd of August 1957 in Algeria, Marc Cessio Sensei began practicing Aikido in New Caledonia after being posted to Noumea for two years as an aircraft electronic technician by the French Navy.
While serving in Noumea in 1988, Marc Sensei’s first instructor in Aikido was Christian Pauleau Sensei, an instructor for the French Federation of Aikido and Budo (FFAB).
Upon returning to France, Marc Sensei continued to practice Aikido under Nobuyoshi Tamura Shihan 8th dan, the Technical Director of the (FFAB) based at St Maximin in the south of France.
At the time Marc Sensei was living at Vergeze near Nimes, approximately 250 kilometres from St Maximin. Every month Marc Cession Sensei travelled the long distance to practice with Tamura Shihan for two days of intensive training.
In 1992 Marc Sensei opened his first dojo in Nimes, this was followed by the opening of his second dojo in Vergeze in 1999, with the help and support of his good friend Emile Metzinger Sensei.
Marc Sensei and family immigrated to New Caledonia in 2001 where he quickly established his third dojo in 2002 at the Military Administration compound based in the heart of Noumea.
Since immigrating to New Caledonia, Marc Sensei has kept close contact to Nobuyoshi Tamura Shihan through return trips to France and through his close friend Emile Mertzinger 5th dan who visits New Caledonia every two years.
During 2005 Marc Cessio Sensei, accompanied by a contingent of his members, attended the 35th Anniversary celebration of Aikido Shinryukan Chief Instructor and Technical Director of the New Zealand Aikikai Federation, Nobuo Takase Shihan 7th dan in Auckland.
Every year since 2005 the NZAF has enjoyed the support and friendship given by the Marc Sensei and his fellow members that annually attend the New Zealand Aikikai Federation Gasshuku.
Annually in August, New Caledonia also hosts a nation wide seminar for all Aikido enthusiasts, with guest instructor Nobuo Takase Shihan, who is accompanied by several members from New Zealand.
This opportunity has been made possible by the continued efforts and promotion of Aikido throughout New Caledonia by Marc Cessio Sensei.
Contact
Marc Cessio
Ph: 00 687 41 29 38
Mob: 00 687 85 46 61
Email: cessio.marc@cyberdidact.netTraining Times
Monday 1830 – 2000hrs
Tuesday 1730 – 1900hrs
Thursday 1730 – 1900hrs
Saturday 0700 – 0900hrs
- Aikido in New Zealand – Self defense, fitness, confidence -
Aikido
Shinryukan
Hombu Dojo
16 Aberfoyle Street
Mt Eden,
Auckland
New Zealand
Email:
A/Hrs
0064 021 779 179