Robert Nadeau Sensei in New Zealand
Contributed by Vance Karena*

The 19th Riai National Friendship Camp was held over the weekend of 16/17 September 2000, at the Tauhara Centre, a spiritual retreat based above the western shore of Lake Taupo, New Zealand's premier tourist, fishing and adventure playground.

The guest instructor for the weekend was Robert Nadeau Sensei, 6th Dan City Aikido, San Francisco, California USA.

Sensei Nadeau arrived in Auckland, New Zealand and taught at the Riai Aikido Ponsonby Dojo and it was an awesome experience for the Aucklanders. In Wellington a three-night training seminar was organised, with invitations going out to the local Aikido community.

Around 35 attended these seminars each night, which concentrated on feeling and settling down into different levels of energy. Some of the spectators commented after one session of seeing the energy flowing from people on the mat.

The first days training in Taupo on Friday 15 September, was a Riai Aikido only day, where Nadeau Sensei went through the basics with Riai. He demonstrated what he would be looking for in grading situations.

On Saturday and Sunday, Sensei went through basic techniques but with the idea of letting energy flow through, so that the energy could do what was required. One exercise in particular, where Uke and Nage where standing side by side facing different directions and Nage pushing back on Uke's chest while Uke is walking, was an awesome way to feel the energy flow through. For me it felt like dropping down about an inch internally and then relaxing, it then felt that I was on an escalator being pulled along, instead of pushing.

On Saturday, in particular the afternoon, I noticed that the 70 plus people training were on such a high. The intensity of their movements coupled with their smiles was quite electric and they seemed to move as one. One could not watch without smiling also.

A highlight of the weekend was when Sensei Nadeau spoke of his time in Japan and of O'Sensei. He reminded us that Aikido is an energy art and that a lot of very experienced martial artists in the 50's and 60's came to Aikido because they knew it had something unique to offer.

I think all participants to the weekend went away with full cups of knowledge and at least a few questions on how to incorporate their new learning into their training. I for one, will count this camp as one of the most memorable I have attended and hope that Nadeau Sensei will come again soon.

*Vance Karena trains at Riai Aikido Wellington.