by Robert Wolfe
Thanks
to everyone who helped with the dojo spring-cleaning the morning of Saturday,
April 30th. I think it was one of the most efficient and most
thorough cleanings we’ve accomplished, and I really appreciate everyone’s
efforts.
We also had a very nice time at the Mikado Japanese Restaurant at the Hampden
Centre in Mechanicsburg following the cleaning chores. Special thanks are due
John Butz and Budd Yuhasz for arranging the libations.
Aikidokai News and Notes
Congratulations
to Jevin Orcutt and Budd Yuhasz for their successful completion of the yonkyu
promotion exam (and I’m not even going to say anything like it’s about
time).
Welcome
to new members Doug Greblunas, Steven Bates, and Evan Bates.
Best wishes and prayers for a safe journey to Danielle Books as she heads home to Albuquerque for the summer break from college — she’ll be back here in September, but in the meantime can doubtless expect several months of Mr. Jim Cornfield at Sandia Budokan (and old training buddy of mine and Danielle’s aikido instructor at her home dojo) asking, “Who taught you that?”
The focus for aikido classes this month will be the nikyu test set. Members are reminded to be sure to bring bokuto and jo for classes on the 10th and 12th, during aiki buki (weapons) week.
Two, Much Appreciated Visitors
Last month, I reported on the trip Alan Starner and
I made to Gaithersburg, Maryland, to see and train at the nearly completed (and
utterly magnificent) dojo Josh Freeman has constructed on his farm. A few weeks
after that visit, I received an e-mail from Brian S., a Marine Corps
captain and an aikijutsu yudansha. He’s originally from Jim Rodriguez’s dojo
in Dayton, but he’s been stationed in Virginia for several years and has been
training with Mr. Rajguru and the Great Falls crew. Brian said he would be in
Carlisle at the Army War College for a few weeks for a war-gaming exercise and
wanted to know if he could train with us in aikido while he’s here.
I
said “sure thing,” thinking Brian meant this would be sometime in the
future, but it turned out he was here already and walked in that evening (I
hadn’t checked e-mail again before heading to the dojo and missed his response
that he’d be there that night).
With
a prospective member watching, without Brian the practice would have consisted
of just four relatively mismatched juniors — probably a fairly dull evening to
observe. But, as it was, it turned out to be a pretty dynamic practice and the
prospect enrolled on the spot. Brian acted as uke for all of the instruction and
in that role did as well as my best assistants, caught on very quickly to our kokyunage
and kaitennage (and seemed to like what we’re doing), and then just
went slam-bang with me all evening. (Actually, after I got home and sat in front
of the TV to have a snack, I found it a little challenging to stand up and
realized I might just be getting to the point it’s not a great idea to
go toe-to-toe with 15-years-younger Marines).
In
any case, Brian was around, initially, for two weeks. During the second week of
his visit, Brian talked Major Mike J., another Marine Corps officer
participating in the war-gaming exercise, into watching one aikido practice and
then joining in for another. Both visitors had the chance to go home for a week,
but weree back for practices the first week of May. Brian and Mike added a lot
to the class in the short while they were with us, and I certainly wouldn’t
mind having them around all the time.
On the left, Major Mike J., a Marine aviator, and on the right, Captain Brian S., combat engineer.
Shinto Muso-ryu Jodokai News and Notes
Diane Skoss has announced that May 22nd, the day we were already planning to travel to Shutokukan Dojo in New Jersey for practice this month, will be a special kihon review. There will be a morning session at the regular time, lunch in Madison, and then an afternoon session from 2:00 to 5:00 pm. There will be a nominal, additional fee for the afternoon practice. We’ll be stopping for supper on the way home, so some extra money for meals will also be necessary. We’ll be departing our dojo at 6:15 a.m., as usual. Given that there is a lot of construction underway on I-78 and I-81, it’s probably a good idea to anticipate a late return home, likely around 9:00 p.m. at the earliest.
Persons planning to attend the SMR Jo National Gasshuku in August are reminded that registrations are due now, with payment of registration fees due by the end of June. Details are available at www.shinto-muso-ryu.org/members/.
“Things that Make You Grit
Your Teeth” Department
An article I read a few weeks
ago posits that because the “real” target customer for all martial
arts instructors is the mothers of nine-year-old boys, the single most important
thing instructors can do to “sell” their program is to have a very fancy and
spotless women’s restroom in the “lounge area” of the school. Aside from
the fact no one advising martial arts instructors seems to think it’s possible
to have a dojo devoted to training adults, the theory is that seeing a
sumptuous restroom will make mothers assume the training itself must be
of very high quality as well. (Sigh…)