Columbus Aikikai 10th Anniversary Seminar with Ikeda sensei
March 9-11, 2001

Contributed by Chris Colón*

Just as Aikido is the connection nage makes with uke, I find that seminars are the connection between the people brought together for a purpose. The facts of the seminar often set the event, but do not relate it, any more than a stage is the entirety of a play. As human beings, we connect through stories, through anecdotes; so I will relate the stories and insights that made up my experience of the Columbus Aikikai 10th Anniversary Seminar, featuring Hiroshi Ikeda shihan.

First, let me set the stage.

The seminar took place in Columbus, OH on the weekend of March 9-11, 2001, at Columbus Aikikai, which is located at 3840 Lacon Rd. in Hilliard, OH (just outside the Columbus beltway). Students came from throughout the US. Ohio was well represented with students coming from Cincinnati, Cleveland, Mansfield, Oberlin, Toledo, and throughout the greater Columbus area. We also had guests coming from the east, from Pittsburgh & North Carolina, and as far west as Seattle, to wish Hreha Sensei and the students of Columbus Aikikai congratulations on our 10th anniversary.

Many weeks before the seminar, the students at Columbus Aikikai decided to begin a series of construction projects on the dojo to have it looking its best before the seminar began. The construction was meant to be a pleasant surprise for all, but for Hreha Sensei in particular, since he was supposed to be teaching in Oberlin in January and on vacation in February. However, Hreha Sensei paid us a surprise visit from Oberlin about the time we had four feet of debris on the men's changing room floor. He walked into the room with a meaningful smile on his face. A meaning that said "I am sure there is a very good reason for this. You'll have to tell me what it is - some other time." He kept that smile as he looked at us, at the pile of debris, back at us, then turned around and walked right back out the door.

Fortunately, our remodeling was completed in time to welcome everyone.

Ikeda Sensei opened the seminar with a number of themes and insights. Everyone takes something different away from a seminar, so I can only best relate the ideas that I took with me. To name but a few:

• nage and uke giving themselves to each other to create a "live" connection
• making uke feel awkward in his grip to make him uncomfortable, but not so awkward that he lets go
• that it is nage's duty to keep the connection with uke, because nage is ultimately responsible for that connection
• how to make and keep that connection
• uke is intelligent and is going to readjust as quickly as he can, so nage must work at moving like water to keep uke from regaining his balance.

On Saturday, Ikeda sensei continued to build on the themes he set down on Friday, and added several new reflections for us to ponder. To name a few of them: uke and nage must form ittai, or "one body" for Aikido to work, not only mechanically, but from the point of view of as nage as a compassionate being. As one body, nage has no interest in harming uke any more than himself. Uke falls as a result of the movement and power uke provides; nage doesn't fight uke, but rather guides uke to where uke's power dissipates. Fighting interferes with this process and hence with nage's freedom. Ikeda Sensei demonstrated this principle by adding well over 500 pounds of uke from Columbus Aikikai to form one big body with Doug Peelle and Andy "little sumo" Page, then separating that body again and again. He added this memorable comment to clarify the lesson: "This dojo's people are bigger than I am. I hate it! But, I must learn to deal with it - by not fighting."

That evening, we had music at the pot-luck provided by Jim Klar from Cleveland Aikikai and Karl & Deborah Colón from Columbus Aikikai. If you would like a taste of what the music was like, Karl & Deborah are professional Celtic musicians - you can find out more about them at www.madcelts.com. Huge amounts of food were brought to the pot-luck, including a 10 pound bar of chocolate sent from Florida as a gift to celebrate our 10th anniversary. Those of us who know and fear Hreha Sensei, once he has had chocolate (we ukes tend to hit the ceiling before the floor when he has chocolate), would like to offer all the thanks that are due the giver.

Sunday morning we had lovely weather for the closing day of the seminar. Ikeda sensei continued to emphasize the theme of freedom for nage, noting that if nage lets his freedom be taken away by uke, that uke is now nage because nage has the freedom in the movement. He then pointed out that the purpose of all martial arts is to escape from fear and to preserve one's freedom. This lesson is one I find myself learning over and over again. When I tire, such as at a seminar, my reactions may become more restricted and I will fight more and fear being hurt more. That thought emphasized many ideas to me, including how important conditioning is - both mental and physical - to my wellbeing and to my uke's safety as well.

The seminar came to a close with the presentation of gifts (some rather unusual, but you had to have been there!). Thanks again to Hiroshi Ikeda Shihan and all of the participants for celebrating the 10th anniversary of Columbus Aikikai!