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The weekend of October 26th
to 28th several members of Ryurei Aikido Ottawa accompanied
Bussell Sensei to Kitchener, Ontario where Ryurei Aikido, Cambridge
and Kitchener-Waterloo Ki Aikido
jointly hosted a seminar. The
Instructors were Peter Bussell Sensei and Cheryl Matrasko Sensei of
the Northwestern University Aikido Dojo.
There were many highlights
over the three days so I will try to recount some of the events in
random order.
Peter
Bussell above instructing Shinkido
© 2002, Ryurei Aikido. All rights reserved
First off, it was great
meeting Matrasko Sensei. Her method of teaching is as wonderful as her
aikido. Cheryl Sensei is serious yet smiling, deadly yet relaxed, she
makes you feel safe yet you get to “push your envelope.” Everyone
had a great time and felt they had improved their aikido. The sure
sign of a successful seminar.
Bussell Sensei introduced
many to the study of Shinkido and gave instruction on some of the
finer points of commonly practiced techniques.
We got to play with some
old friends from Kitchener, Cambridge, Kingston, Chatham and Toronto.
It was good to see Fran
Turner Sensei in top form. The last time we met, her knee was fresh
from surgery.
This was a mixed seminar
aikido style wise. Peter Bussell Sensei has had great success in
organizing several such mixed affiliation seminars before, he says we
all have the same “grandfather.”
Cheryl Matrasko instructing ryote mochi.
© 2002, Ryurei Aikido. All rights reserved
Cheryl Sensei commented on
how difficult it is to get the different organizations to work
together.
The easy rapport between
Senseis Bussell and Matrasko of two totally different organizations
makes me wonder why some dojos are so reluctant to mix.
This seminar was different
with both instructors teaching classes simultaneously on the two
separate but adjacent tatamis.
We had the pleasure of
practicing Aikido with people from Aikikai, Yoshinkai, Tomiki and Ki
Society dojos as well as our own independent Ryurei Aikido. The long
distance award goes to Matthew a former student of Matrasko Sensei who
flew in from Houston to join us.
On a more serious
note. On the Saturday evening we all attended the customary dinner.
However some time was set aside to announce the Annual “George and
Norma Simcox Pink Hakama Awards.”
These are awards made to a
member of each of the Ryurei Aikido, Kingston Ki Society and Virginia
Ki Society dojos in honour and memory of George and Norma Simcox.
George was the Chief Instructor of the Virginia Ki Society and a great
friend of both the other dojos.
Ryurei Aikido set up the
awards to be presented to a member of each dojo who has made great
strides in their personal journey of Ki and Aikido over the previous
year. Hopefully it will help to keep George and Norma’s memories and
spirits with us..
The recipients for this
year were Peter Zorzella of Ryurei Aikido and Margaret Barraclough of
Kingston Ki Society. The recipient for Virginia will be announced at
their seminar dinner the first week of December.
This seminar must have
been a great success because I have just learned that Peter and Cheryl
Senseis are going to put on another joint seminar in Ottawa next May
17th - 19th.
© 2002, Ryurei Aikido. All rights reserved
I hope many more aikidoka
from many other dojos will join us. May is a beautiful time of the
year in Ottawa and the Tulip Festival will be on at that time.
Thanks to Cheryl and Peter
Senseis for the great Kitchener Seminar, I’m looking forward to May
and I hope we have a good turnout for you with the flags of many dojos
being waved enthusiastically.
Dan Leclair
Ryurei Aikido, Ottawa.
Our
thank you to our friends Ryurei
Aikido, Colin Li of Kitchener-Waterloo Ki Aikido
dojos,
and
the Ray Murphy of Cambridge Aikido for being
such wonderful hosts and bringing together the spirit of Aikido!
Thank
you Dan for the great article!
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