Aikido 2000 - 1st International Brazil/Germany Gashuku

Hiroshi Ikeda in St. Louis, MO, West End Aikikai

Aikido 2000 - 1^st International Brazil/Germany Gashuku

By Renato Alcantara

On February 24~27, in Salvador (Bahia), Brazil, the ShinToKai DoJo of AiKiDo promoted its event "AIKIDO 2000 - IST INTERNATIONAL BRAZIL/GERMANY GASHUKU", with Welf Quade Sensei (AAI) and other 4 aikidoka from Germany.

Quade Sensei studied with Noro Sensei, Asai Sensei and Seigo Yamaguchi Sensei and has a very strong and refined technique, besides an excellent teaching method. Aikidoka from many styles, affiliations and states of Brazil, joined practitioners of other martial arts (karate, judo, hapkido, taekwondo, kung Fu and others) in a 4-day Musha Shugyo (Austere Training), mixing hard training with common interest, joy and friendship.

The first two days the training was at the ASBAC Club Dojo and Quade Sensei emphasized KOKORO (heart, soul, spirit, sincerity), the true spirit of Aikido and how important it was to be sincere in its practice. Also he stressed that a seminar wasn't a place for common training but a meeting place to exchange techniques and to learn new proposals. The two last days were spent at the Budokan Dojo, a larger space in a Japanese style building and there Quade Sensei remembered that we should avoid the use of physical strength when applying techniques. "Be soft, be flexible, you'll have time to be hard when you are dead!" He said that the important thing was not to win or to throw your adversary, but to take his center and to control his movements. "The fall will be a consequence!"

On Saturday, everybody went to dinner at the Oriental House and the training changed to "Biru Waza", "Sake Waza", "Sushi/Sashimi Waza" and other lesser-known techniques...

In spite of the very, very, hot summer, everybody kept training with enthusiasm, astonished by Quade Sensei's abilities. The feeling was one of total harmony, joyfulness and concentration. At the last day, Quade Sensei thanked all participants and shed a few tears of sorrow for their parting.

All in all it was an excellent Gashuku with a remarkable teacher.

Renato Alcantara
ShinToKai DoJo of AiKiDo
URL: www.aikidoharmonia.com.br/shintokai
e-mail: alcantara@svn.com.br