Date: Tue, 9 Nov 1999 13:04:38 -0500
From: Scott Crawford
Subject: Aikido-L Seminar Review
(Long - duh!)
There are only two words that can truly describe the Second Annual
Aikido-L Seminar: "Exquisite Pain". More on that in a moment.
Since I joined the list just after last year's seminar, I missed the
chance to meet everyone IRL before now. So, let me get this over with
first: "Gee, you didn't look like I expected".
In case you're wondering who I?m referring to, the answer is "pretty
much everyone". ;^)
The only exceptions were the people I have met throughout the year in
my travels (Chuck Gordon, George Simcox & the crew from his place,
Susie M. and Sean R.) and the people who's pictures I saw from last
year's seminar (Kjartan, Jun - didn't he used to have hair?, the Budo
Babes, etc). And of course, famed star of television and movies,
Philip Akin. ;^)
After last year's seminar, everyone raved about how, despite the
differences, "it's all aikido" (TM). I don't think this year will be
any different. There were a lot of variations in presentation and style,
but the substance was much more alike than not.
George's Ki Society viewpoint emphasized softness of body; I'm sure that
surprised no one, since the (stereo)typical view of Ki Society is
"soft". But when Philip spent the Yoshinkan section emphasizing how we
all needed to "relax" and "loosen up", I saw a lot of confusion on
people's faces. Isn't Yoshinkan supposed to be "hard"? ;^)
Even Chuck, Mr. "watch me crumple him up into a tiny little ball",
repeatedly told us about his interest in exploring the softer techniques
of his art. (Although I would personally beg to differ on the "softness"
of SOME of those things he did to _me_, but that's a different story...)
For a few of us, the festivities started with a cozy little get-together
Friday night: a little budo, some sharp pointy things, and two fifths
of single-malt scotch. You might think that would be a bad combination,
but we were all very well behaved.
Even when Philip threw me in the hotel room, I managed not to spill a
drop of my scotch! ;^)
A late Friday night lead to some "pain" Saturday morning, but not to
"Exquisite Pain" (TM). That came later.
As the host, George Simcox was up first on Saturday morning. Like
Neil said earlier, George's technique was just different enough that
I felt totally lost. Complete brain failure. I might try to describe
his technique as "empty". You grab him, and it seems there's nothing
there. Then, you're staring up at the ceiling, with no idea how you
got there. What an exquisite experience.
Jun's mini-class on ukemi qualifies him for the "Wildest Looking
Breakfall" award, I think. But it was _very_ nice. Quiet, soft, HIGH
(!), and nothing like how I fall (which is more of a "splat!").
Maybe someday. Well done, Jun.
After lunch came Philip Akin's class. I don't actually *remember*
too much about Philip's class, but I hear it was very nice
.
Let me take this opportunity to *PERSONALLY* thank every one of you
that gleefully called out all the nasty techniques you could think of,
just to watch Philip do them to me. Phhbbbttttt!
Leading up to the seminar, Philip would write to the list about
"loving harmony, blah blah blah, blending gentleness, blah blah
...smiling". And the "...smiling" part would be there on every post.
Now I know why. He was *smiling* the whole time he was killing me,
right? (I couldn't tell from where I was!)
Alan Drysdale's class was a wonderful blending of the flowing nature
of aikikai styles while still emphasizing precision a la Yoshinkan.
I loved the palm-to-palm shihonage exercise. I will definitely take
that one home for more practice!
Kudos to the VKS folks for rescuing the dinner from the jaws of
ineptitude when the restaurant lost our reservation for 50. Some
last minute scrambling, but it came off quite well. The Budo Babes
were beautiful, the food was good, the Budo Babes were beautiful,
the awards were funny, the Budo Babes were beautiful... I can't
wait to re-read the awards script.
And did I mention the Budo Babes were beautiful? ;^>
For the Sunday morning Hangover Class, I'm still not convinced we
had the REAL Jim Baker teaching. He sounded more like Donald Duck.
Perhaps if he carried the little guy around and started calling him
"Mini-Me", I'd believe it.
Great technique, wonderful sound effects. I'm definitely going
to have to find a way to pass through Memphis for a second helping
of barbecue and Wolf-aikido.
Chuck Gordon's stuff was very subtle. Even the exquisitely painful
pins were very subtle -- move an inch one way, and nothing. Move an
inch the other way, and uke passes out from the pain. The nikajo
(nikyo) he did was absolutely effortless; I still don't know how it
worked with only a feather-light touch like that.
Since I got this question several times, let me go ahead and answer
it here. The question is, "How did I get on both Philip's AND Chuck's
list of "People I Most Want to Trounce??"
The short answer: "Just lucky, I guess".
The slightly longer answer: I had not met Philip before the seminar
(other than on the list, of course). Our connection is that we're both
Yoshinkan (just on VERY different levels ;^). I considered this a
great opportunity to get beat up by a senior practitioner of my style.
How I ended up on Chuck's list is simply a matter of proximity. Chuck
and I live about 10 miles apart from each other, so I've popped in and
trained at his place a few times. Just enough to make me ripe pickings.
;^)
Like I said, "Just lucky, I guess."
However, at the risk of receiving "The Wrath of Philip and Chuck"
*again*, I have a confession to make. Both of them brought me to
Exquisite Pain (TM), but the *most* Exquisite Pain (TM) I received
the entire weekend was inflicted on me not by them, but by our very
own Sultana of Slash, Dr. Wendy Gunther, M.D., O.U.C.H.
Here's a tip: Never tell her your neck is sore.
Here's another tip: If she asks you if you've had ibuprofen yet
(and "yes" is the answer she wants), worry. If she asks you how
much scotch you've had (and she hopes the answer is "several shots"),
*definitely* worry.
I've never tried to tap out of a massage before. Three times.
Talk about Exquisite Pain (TM)!
Jim of the Wolves, you are a very lucky man -- if you can live to enjoy
it. ;^) Wendy, you can do that to me any time you want. I'll bring
the scotch.
Of course, big heaps of "thank you's" go out to George, Carol, Mike,
Steve, and all the VKS folks for the wonderful job they did in making
this seminar a reality.
Here's to the List Seminar. May we have many others like it!
Scott
p.s. Considering all the errr... vigorous ukemi I took this weekend,
I have an ironic injury report. While walking around the outer edge
of the mat _taking_pictures_ (I wasn't even training), I caught my
pinky toe in one of those damn metal D-rings. Yep, it's broken.
Can't even put my shoes on today. :^(
p.p.s. *I* am Jim Baker. Philip Akin isn't, but he plays him on TV.
;^)
p.p.p.s. Personal note to mle: "Eeep!"
|