Travel Journal
By Mutsuko Minegishi, Guam Aikikai
Trip to Russia, Croatia, Greece and Hong Kong
October 3-November 8, 2011
The trip was for 38 days this time. It is a tour to Russia, Croatia, Greece and Hong Kong
in this order.
Day 1, M: 10/3/2011
The day for the departure. For this trip, I took the flight from Guam to Hong Kong
instead of the usual Guam to Narita route, because I had to attend the 40th anniversary of
the Hong Kong Aikido Association (HKAA) on my way back,
Takumi and Miyuki took me to the airport. The flight was at 16:40. I was upgraded to the
business class.
At the HK Airport, I was met by Steve Kennedy, the president of HKAA. We took a train,
and arrived at the hotel at 11:00pm. The restaurant at the hotel was already closed, and
we went around the hotel looking for some food that I could eat, but, nothing was available
except for fast food. So, I gave up my dinner and went to bed hungry. This time, my sugar
level was a little high, and I had to be on a very strict diet throughout my trip. I hoped I
would survive.
Day 2, T: 10/4/2011 Hong Kong-Moscow
Early in the morning, Steve kindly came to take me to the airport. We took a taxi all the
way. It was only $20 for a thirty minute ride.
I had three seats on the plane, and I could rest lying down. It was really a comfortable
flight. More than a half of the cabin was vacant, and this route seemed to be better than
the flight from Narita. I was served with vegetarian meals, but they were awful. I was
supposed to avoid carbohydrate, but the meals were all rice, potatoes and noodles.
Konstantin was waiting for me at the Moscow Airport. The traffic from Moscow to
Solnechnogorsk was as bad as usual, and we arrived at his home late. After dinner at his
home, I arrived at the hotel after 11:00pm. The hotel was huge, and I was the only guest in
such a large establishment which was used during the Soviet Union era. I could only say
hello and goodbye in Russian to the receptionist, but she gave me my room key with a smile.
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It was already cold at night. The leaves on the trees were hanging hard on the branches so
that they would not be blown off at the first cold wind and the first snow fall. The sunset
looked bright, but there was a sign that cold winter was already approaching.
Day 3, W: 10/5/2011 Solnechnogorsk, Russia
There were two adult classes in the evening. As usual, there was no day of rest after a long
journey.
In addition, in the afternoon, I visited the beginners’ class at a child center. This center
was managed by the local community, and over 3,000 children were enrolled to take the
numerous programs provided by the center. Aikido classes had just started recently, but
there were already 28 signed up. They could take classes two to three times per week free
of charge. The instructor gets paid only $50 per month. This is surely a volunteering
service for the community. Konstantin has five groups, and he has to teach two to three
hours daily during the week for only 50 dollars all together. These children do not come to
regular Aikido classes because it is too expensive for them to pay full monthly fees.
The two evening classes were supposed to be for adults. However, there were some
children, too. The class was attended by about 25 as usual.
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Day 4, Th: 10/6/2011 Solnechnogorsk
Two classes for children in the afternoon
Konstantin Starchenko is the leader of the group I visit. He belongs to a federation, but it
is not interested in children. Since I met him in 2006, he has been expressing his
dissatisfaction about the federation and he wants to become independent from it. There
are many more children than adults in his group. The children start at age 4 to 5 years old.
Although it is supposed to be for the children from five years old, there are many four year
olds. They all have fair skin, almost transparent, and they all look like dolls.
There were about 25 in the first class and 30 in the second. Their instructors and adult
members also attended together with the children, so the class was crowded. Parents were
all watching in heavy coats around the room with cameras and videos. I always try to
encourage them to join in, but they all shake their heads. As elsewhere, they say they are
too old, or they have not done any physical excises!!!
Day 5, F: 10/7/2011 Solnechnogorsk
One class in the morning for the instructors and two classes in the evening for adults
Konstantin has 11 instructors. He is the top and 3 dan, and one of his students is 2 dan,
and the rest are all shodan. But, he calls them instructors because they all have their own
classes, mainly children. With 2 dan and shodan, some are already professional Aikido
instructors. In Russia, some start clubs while they are only 2nd kyu or 1st kyu. Shodan is a
very high rank, and 3 dan is a great instructor here.
Because Konstantin was preparing for his 4th dan test, the class was focused on his
requirements namely 2 men and 3 men attacks. Although they were interested in
practicing advance techniques, I saw many, many fine points that had to be practiced. As
always, I got stuck with 1 kyo again. Their main concern was to put down the opponent by
force. They grabbed very hard and stopped the flow of movements. They bent their arms
and put extra force. The uke went down because of the pain. This had to be corrected.
Aikido is supposed to work with the minimum force for maximum effect. But here, the
maximum force was used for the minimum effect.
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I had been looking for Soy Milk all over this small town of Solnechnogorsk, but no luck.
Finally, one of the students from Moscow brought two packs and I could start eating
Granola serials and nuts for breakfast.
Day 6 Sat: 10/8/2011 Solnechnogorsk
Weekend seminar: Five classes: two in the morning and three in the evening.
It was amazing that even after the fifth class, nobody including me was tired at all. I felt
that I was in the best condition ever. Was it because of the vegetarian diet and I had lost
weight?
I had been on medication for high sugar level. I could not believe that I started taking
medicine even though it was only a half of a pill at a time. A few months before this trip
during the summer holidays, I had made a trip to Japan with the Guam Aikikai youth and
Christos from Greece. As soon as I returned, I started feeling very tired. Towards the end
of July, the blood pressure became very high, the legs were heavy, and nightly sleep was
really horrible. I finally went to a doctor, and had my blood checked. The sugar level was
extremely high especially glucose. The local doctor said that I would be ok without
medicine because I did excises and watched diet. However, I wanted to get rid of the
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uncomfortable sensations on my legs, and asked him to prescribe some medicine. He gave
me only for one month, and told me that I would not have to come to see him any longer.
He never took me as a serious patient because many, many local people have more serious
conditions.
After one month, on my birthday, I visited another doctor. My blood was taken, and he
also said that my sugar level was high. He said that I would have to be on medication for
the rest of my life!!! He said that as long as I kept my daily excises and healthy diet, it
would not get worse. What was the cause of my sickness? The doctor said that it might be
from aging and also genetic.
I felt terrible for almost two weeks, but gradually the legs felt lighter, and I could continue
classes. I took off all the meat and carbohydrate from my diet, and I ate only fish and
vegetables.
Because of the complication of my health, I was concerned with the meals during this trip.
In advance, I had informed to all leaders of the four visiting countries that I needed fish
and vegetables but no meat, rice, bread, pasta, noodles and potatoes. In Europe, it was
difficult to have decent meals without them.
The mother of Konstantin is a super good cook. She cooked various soups and vegetables
for me, and I was surviving. The sugar levels were rather high for three days probably
because of the hard schedule, but in general it was within the range of acceptable. I could
check the sugar level only in the morning, and I never neglected to check it daily. I carried
all the necessary tools in my back pack.
Day 7 Sunday: 10/9/2011: Moscow
Two classes in Moscow from 5-7 pm
Konstantin had three groups in Moscow. Practice was at the Budo Center, a large
establishment. This was a part of the complex built for exhibitions of different activities in
farming, dairy products, art and craft and so forth from different regions during the Soviet
Union eras. Many buildings lined up on a huge area, and they were now used for shops,
schools, martial arts centers and so forth.
All the three local instructors brought their students, and some others joined the classes.
The attendants were numbered to about 50. Some students from this area were as stiff as
rocks, and they tried very hard to fight against me. Maybe, they wanted to test me. I
thought that Aikido was introduced in a wrong way. However, some were sensitive enough
to try some gentle ways. For this harsh environment, economy and climate, people may
have become very stiff in mind and body. Different living conditions make people interpret
Aikido in different ways. Japan is a very peaceful country, and we do not normally think
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that Aikido is for self-defense, but in the countries like South Africa and Russia, Aikido is
practiced for their needs.
The traffic was terrible on the way to Moscow. People were going back to Moscow from
having spent weekends in the suburbs and village homes. As we approached the center of
Moscow, the five lane streets were packed from bumper to bumper. There are 20 million
people and 4 million cars in Moscow. This time, cars were still shining, and the colors of
the cars could be clearly visible, but during the last visit in October, every car was covered
with thick mud, and I could not tell the brand of the cars nor their colors. I saw many
expensive cars for the first time in Moscow!!!
Russian drivers are reckless. They race and try to be ahead even though there are many
still ahead. Some speed so much and they zigzag from the rightest lane to the left most.
When they cross right in front of our car, I get scared. As I had anticipated, there was a
huge accident involving three cars and one police car. Two cars were completely lost their
shapes and only some parts of the frames were left. They must have exploded and burnt.
A police car on the other side of the highway was crushed. On our lane, we moved slower
than our normal walking speed for almost 30 minutes, and on the other side, miles and
miles of long line of cars were completely stopped. There must have been many casualties.
For two hours of class, we spent six hours on the road. Konstantin goes to Moscow three
times per week spending so many hours on the road.
It was 9 degrees at 10 pm and it was cold.
Day 8, Monday, 10/10/11, Day 9, T, 10/11/2011, Day 10, W, 10/12/2011
Krasnogorsk
We visited Dima in Krasnogorsk. He is 2 dan, and he is a professional Aikido instructor.
He has a two year old son. He has about 40 children, probably the largest number of
children among the instructors in this group. He seems to be making enough income from
Aikido. It is really amazing to me that shodan and nidan students are already making a
living on Aikido.
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The dojo is in the Community Center of the town. The owner of the Center is interested in
the children, and Dima has been offered to use the large dojo space for a very reasonable
rent. He is really a lucky person while most of the instructors are suffering from the lack
of space.
This is a very small town with only 2000 inhabitants. In spite of the small size, the Aikido
class for children is doing very well. If the parents see that Aikido is good for children,
they send them to classes. There are not so many other activities for children in this town,
so something like Aikido which we can do indoors attract them.
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I could not help taking the photos of the children’s expressions.
In a small town of 2000 people, so many children practice Aikido.
It was still dark at 7 in the morning. It was cloudy, and gloomy. This was Russia. In some
years, there was no sun shine throughout the year. It was sunny and warm for three days
but those days were over. Cold winter was coming.
Konstantin has left the federation together with Denis, 3 dan, Igor, 4 dan, both in Moscow.
The main reason for his leaving the federation is that it did not show their interest in
children’s programs as much as Konstantin. His main interest is in children, and his
students are trained to become instructors for children. He has about 400 members among
whom 300 are children.
Another reason is that the federation charges too much money from the members from the
monthly membership, seminar fees to promotions fees, and this caused a strong
dissatisfaction among the members. This tendency is escalating, and they are looking for
alternative ways to practice Aikido without going through the federation. Konstantin is
one of those instructors who have been unhappy about the situation for so many years, and
he has come to me to rescue him. He has chosen me as his advisor, and most of his students
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and his instructors express their decisions to follow him. I do not have anything to do with
the federation, but I cannot ignore the unhappiness and dissatisfying situation for those
who wish to be directly affiliated with Aikikai. By being involved in Aikido, why should
they suffer so much? Aikido is supposed to help them increase their happiness. The
situation is not healthy at all to my eyes. I have never attended the seminar organized by
this federation, but according to what I hear, the technical advisor comes once a year for
two days only for adults. The advisor comes mainly to do the promotion testing.
Day 11, Th, 10/13/2011: Moscow-Zagreb
Class in Zagreb in the evening
The group in Zagreb lost the beautiful dojo that they had been using for almost one year.
It was an old facility used by the military during the war time. We were allowed to use it
for a while until they decided what to do with it. Unfortunately, we lost the place and went
back to the school in town. It was a small place, but we could put about 100 1mx1m tatami
mats, so the situation was not so bad.
The classes were mainly focused on the preparation for Ivica and Kristjan to take their 2
dan test in a few days. Two other students were also planning to take the 4th kyu and two
for the 3rd kyu. There were some new faces and that made me feel very happy. But, some
old members were not there.
In 2004, I came to Zagreb for the first time. There were only eight students. This club was
the only one then, but now in 2011, there are four clubs in four towns. And they have
formed a federation called “Croatia Aikikai Aikido Federation”. Because of many other
organizations affiliated with other federations, this new federation named it with “Aikikai”
in order to emphasize that they were faithfully following the Aikikai Aikido.
From the very first stage, I have been acting as their Technical Advisor. Now, they can get
the dan grade certificates from Aikikai.
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Day 12, F, 10/14/2011: Zagreb-Pozega
Ivica and I drove to Pozega. He took one week off again to accompany me. Although he
always tells me that his work is hectic, he still takes some days off for me and takes good
care of me. He is taking classes for upgrading his qualification at work, and has a daughter
to take care of, and also he is a full-time worker. He hosts me at home and accompanies me
to all the classes at four locations which are far apart from each other all over the country.
I cannot find any words to thank him for his effort.
Day 13, Sat, 10/15/2011, Day 14, S, 10/16/2011
Pozega
Pozega is left in the hands of Petra, a German lady with Shodan, after Roby, 2dan, left for
Zagreb. She is faced with all sorts of problems, but she is still holding herself strong
enough because of Aikido. She may leave Pozega for Germany any time in the future, and
we are all worried about the future of Pozega. Her daughter and Philip are 18 years old,
and they will become shodan during my next visit and they will take over the leadership
after she leaves. Philip’s father and a Karate instructor, Zdenko, is now the president of
Pozega Aikikai although he is not in Aikido, because he has good connections in town to
provide a good environment for the Aikido students who are all children. Petra is German,
and her language is not good enough to officially negotiate with locals. Without his
assistance, Pozega Aikikai will disappear. Zdenko is a great help to us. He is in every class,
even with his wife, to help the group. He provides some drinks, fruits and snacks for
children from his own pockets.
The quality of the students in Pozega is still very good. The motivation and enthusiasm
among the children are incredible. They like Aikido, and they practice extremely seriously
and hard. They learn quickly, and they help each other in ideal ways.
Result of the testing.
1 kyu: Philip and Ivana
Full Blue: Maria
Half Blue: Anna
Half Orange: Kristina
Full Yellow: Otton
After the Sunday class, we drove back to Zagreb which took 2.5 hours.
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Day 15, M, 10/17/ 2011 Zagreb-Dubrovnik
Day 16, T, 10/18/2011 and Day 17, W/ 10/19/2011
Cavtat
Cavtat is about 10 km from Dubrovnik, the world treasure, in Croatia. Although
Dubrovnik is a very popular tourism destination and is extremely crowded during the
summer season, Cavtat is a very quiet and peaceful town on the sea. The water is clear and
coupled with the clear and blue sky, the entire scenery is blue. All the big and small boats
are gone, and only a few are parked at the quay for having coffee at outdoor coffee shops.
It is the end of the summer season.
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The preparation for Kreso for his 1kyu test has been done well. He is as stiff as usual, but
his techniques are always strong and precise. Some people cannot be soft and gentle, and I
have to accept the way he has been for the last 7 years.
Because of the strong leadership and strictness, his students are all very serious and good.
This time, Ivan and Ivica went for the 3 kyu, and they did very well, too.
For the first time, there were children in Cavtat. Ivan’s son, Peter, and his friend Ivor
were 4 years old, and Ivor’s sister, three. Their mother was also in class. Peter and Ivor
did the 10th kyu test, a half yellow belt, and they amazed me for their good performance.
Kreso had been used to handling children while he was in Varazdin, but this was the first
time for him to have such small children aging 4 and 3.
1kyu: Kreso
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3kyu: Ivan and Ivica
10th Kyu: Ivor and Peter, both 4 years old
Happy 4 year old boys.
Celebration cake.
Day 18, Th, 10/20/2011 Dubrovnik-Zagreb
We flew back to Zagreb. Immediately after the arrival at home, we changed the uniforms
and went to an evening class in Zagreb.
Day19, F, 10/21/2011: Varazdin
The group in varazdin had been always my biggest concern in Croatia. Because of the lack
of leaders, I was in fear that this group might lose the momentum to survive. On the
contrary, I saw some new faces, and many adult members were ready to take the tests. The
quality of the techniques and their attitude were beyond my expectations. Ana and Boris,
both 2ndkyu, were holding the group very strong, and this dissolved my worries.
Ana is now in college in Zagreb, and she goes back to Varazdin every weekend to take care
of the classes. She is getting stronger and more serious because she learns other martial
arts and sports at her special sport college. Aikido is not included in the subjects, but her
interest in Aikido is getting stronger. I hope that someday in the near future when Ana
becomes a black belt, Aikido will be accepted as a part of the program at her college and
she will become their instructor.
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Day 20, Sat, 10/22/2011, Day 21, S, 10/23/2011: Varazdin
The 2nddan test for Ivica and Kristijan was held in Varazdin. Many drove from Zagreb to
participate in the test. Although Roby, now 2nddan, was the only one who was above their
level, the whole group of the students did extremely well in taking ukemi for them. Most of
the first part was done between the two, and Roby joined in for two men attacks. Ana and
Boris, 2ndkyu, took uke for Renzokuwaza and Kaeshiwaza. As usual, even brand new
beginners took part in the test. Every one of them demonstrated his/her steady
improvement. Testing is always a special festival for us.
Both Ivica and Kristijan were well prepared, and their performance was much better than
my expectation. I felt happy because even without instructors living in Croatia, they
improved by daily practice among themselves. They took my advice seriously, and they
sometimes studied from videos taken during my seminars and classes.
My regret was that no one else from Zagreb was ready for promotions. Ante and Drago
were expecting to go for 3kyu, and Jasna and Zvonimir for 4kyu. They did poorly in the
rehearsals, and there was no more time for further corrections. I wanted to spend some
more time for them and for other beginners, but I always ran out of time. Two times per
year for ten days each for four groups was absolutely not enough.
After the happy day for Ivica and Kristijan for having passed the 2 dan test, the energy
and the atmosphere in class were different from before. Their smile was bigger, their back
was straighter, their heads were not drooping, and their extension was larger. This is the
sign of their joy and happiness, and also confidence. We had coffee together to celebrate
the happy occasion.
In the evening, students in Zagreb organized a dinner party in Zagreb. It was at a casual
restaurant, and 13 members joined. Ivica’s wife and his daughter also joined this time for
the first time. Ivica is happy with his family, Roby is in love. Kristijan and Jasmine are
also in love, and Zagreb members are happy.
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Kyu Testing
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Promotions in Croatia:
Two new 2dan were born in Croatia. This was the second testing for the 2dan grade. Ivica
and Kristijan did a wonderful test and all the participants were deeply impressed and
satisfied. After hard training among themselves without instructors, they had learned all
the basics extremely well. I was proud of them and I admired them for their capabilities to
acquire Aikido techniques. They were not perfect by any means yet, but they were good
enough to deserve to be 2nddan. They were now officially assistant instructors. Croatia
Aikiaki Aikido Federation became richer again. Now, it had three 2dan, one shodan, one 1
kyu and two 2kyu. In one year, they will be promoted to the next levels. We will even have
3 dan next year.
It was very strange, however, that Zagreb this time did not have any testing for the white
belt levels. Although two for 3 kyu and two for 4 kyu wanted to do the testing, I denied
because the lack of perfection. There are three black belts in this club, and yet, none of the
white levels were ready for their promotions. Whereas, in Varazdin, only the two 2 kyu
students led the classes, but two for the 5 kyu, 3 for 4 kyu and 1 for 3 kyu passed the tests
in great satisfaction. I always come across the situation where there are high rank
instructors but not many good students, but there are good students where there are no
high rank instructors. I wonder if those who do not have instructors develop hungrier
spirit to learn and improve!!!
Result of testing in Varazdin:
2 dan: Ivica and Kristijan
3 kyu: Petra
4 kyu: Bojan Koss
5 kyu: DJ, Marco, Ivica
Full Orange: Kalros
Day 22, M, 10/24/2011
Zagreb-Butapest-Athens
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Classes in Athens
Here again, after a long trip from Zagreb to Athens, a class was waiting for me in the
evening. Two students were scheduled to take the 2nd dan test in two days, and I had to
check their techniques. Christos had been with me for three months after having traveled
to Japan with the youth from Guam, and during his stay on Guam, and he went through
smoothing his long accumulated bad habits. His Aikido certainly changed in these three
months. Since he went back to Greece at the beginning of September, they had only less
than two months to correct his students before my visit this time. I was anticipating that
they would be stiff and do hard and clumsy Aikido, but to my surprise, they were really
much better than before. I was pleased that they had finally taken my advice to do more
gentle and harmonious Aikido.
Day 23, T, 10/25/2011 Athens
In the news, Greece was in a big financial trouble, and the entire country was upside down.
I was expecting many demonstrations and violent riots. On the contrary, I did not run into
any of the rough situation, and everyone was living a normal life. However, although
people were quiet, I strongly felt in their conversations, they were all dissatisfied with their
living conditions, and they expressed their anxiety. Jobs were not available anywhere, and
many more were in fear of losing their jobs. The president had just announced that every
household would have at least one job. I thought that this meant a progress, but it was just
the opposite. If two persons in one household had a job each, one would lose his/hers.
There was not supposed to be no double income in any household anymore. This would
cause a lot of financial problems to every family. The social security had been paid less and
less, and salaries also had been cut. Just before my arrival, 30,000 public workers had
been fired. I heard that 150,000 more government employees would have to be fired to
meet the requirements from EU. More and more demonstrations and riots were expected
not only in Athens but all over the country. In spite of such an urgent political and
financial situation, my Aikido friends looked all calm and happy.
Athens was a busy but peaceful city. No riots or demonstrations at all.
This time, the students were much more relaxed in class, and they were moving much
smoother than before. Something was changing, I immediately felt. Christos has changed,
and he was changing his students. This was great. There was still hope here for the future.
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When I had visited Greece for the first time two years before invited by Christos, I thought
that I would never want to come back to these students because of their stiffness and the
lack of understanding how Aikido should be practiced. I felt sad and I almost regretted
that I took up the invitation from Christos. It was almost the worst group I had ever
visited.
During the last visit last year, the situation became a little different. Christos showed his
interest in learning Aikido not as a self-defense purpose but as an Art. Two of his closest
students were a little different from the rest. The way they were looking at me was more
gentle and friendly. I thought that some change might happen to this group. I began to
feel that there might be a little hope.
Then, Christos said that he wanted to come to Guam for three months to change himself. I
realized for the first time that he was really serious about my instructions. I accepted him
and trained him for the entire summer on Guam. At the beginning, I was not sure whether
he did not wish to change or he could not change, and he remained his usual way. Our
students on Guam were afraid of him especially children because his grip was hard and
strong, and his techniques hurt most of them. I told him many, many times that he was too
stiff and rough. I am sure it must have been hard for him to change because he had been
doing hard Aikido for the past 16 years from his old instructors and fellow students. As he
was practicing with the students on Guam, I started seeing small changes in him. Together
with the sweat rolling from his face, his stiffness began melting away. He began to show his
smile on his face, too. Good sign, I thought. Once he grasped that something in him had to
be changed, that was the crucial moment for him. I did not correct him with words, but I
demonstrated with my students the ways I wanted him to do. I was testing him if he had
such sensitivity to feel and accept me. He was basically a gentle man, but at the same time,
he was a too serious and too stubborn person to accept that he had to make some changes.
One morning, we had a little free time and went to a coffee shop away from the center of
Athens. We talked a lot about Aikido, and I also learned a lot about Greece.
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This is the bridge where Marathon started. This area is called Marathon. From this bridge,
a messenger started running to the Capital to report that the Greece won the war. The
messenger accomplished his mission but he colapsed and died. The distance is exactly the
distance for the marathon.
Day 24, W, 10/26/201 Athens
Practice was devoted for the preparation for the 2dan test for George and Angel.
Day 25, Th, 10/27/ 2011
2 dan test for George and Angel
I was a little nervous about their testing because I had known them only for two years. The
actual contact in class was only ten hours in total. Within ten sessions, it was impossible for
me to change them.
The 2 dan test for George and Angel took place at the Martial Arts Center. To my surprise,
their techniques became quite similar to Guam Aikikai and Croatia members. Good
posture, good extension, good speed, relaxed and gentle execution…l was pleased with their
performance. I asked them how much of corrections they had been made since Christos
returned from Guam. They said from A to Z, everything from the hand work to foot work,
from Ikkyoo to Kotegaeshi, everything!!! No wonder the style looked so similar to the
standard. They used to use so much strength with bent arms and backs. They did not use
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their Ashi-Koshi at all and used only upper half of the body. After all, the twelve days in
Japan and the three months of training for Christos on Guam was worthwhile for his
students.
There were some parts of the testing which did not satisfy me. For example, zagi
techniques, Katadori waza, tanto dori, bokken and jo are to name some. But, within such a
short period of time since the beginning of September when Christos returned from Guam,
it was amazing that they all could do this far. There were many more corrections to go, but
for now, they satisfied me and they passed the 2 dan.
It must have been their greatest relief to pass the test successfully because their major
concern for having broken away from the Federation was how they could get promotions
from Aikikai. Their Yudansha cards were stamped for the dan grades from UK and
Greece. Fortunately, Aikikai granted me to do the testing even though their resignation
from the Federation was only June of this year. Thanks to Mr. Tani, this group could
experience the greatest moment of joy and happiness. The way of testing also pleased them
because the entire group was involved in taking ukemi even brand new beginners.
After the test, we were hugging and kissing with each other to celebrate their success. They
all said that such a joy in Aikido had never happened in the 16 years of practice at the
federation. I was very happy, too.
After the test, we had a dinner at one of the students’. At the table, they all spoke Greek,
and I had only a little participation in the conversation. They all spoke good English, but
they almost ignored my presence. I wished I could have joined them better. I had bought
a Greek language program of Rosetta Stone, but I never had a chance to start it because I
had been busy with learning Russian and Croatian languages.
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Congratulations to George and Angel for your 2nd dan!!!
Day 26, F, 10/28/2011
Class for Inochikan Dojo
Inochikan Dojo now is located at a primary school. They have just moved from the
Martial Arts Center to the school which is only a few steps from the residence of Christos.
He is quite happy because of he does not have to drive
Day 27, Sat, 10/29/2011 and Day 28, S, 10/30/2011
4th dan test for Christos
The day has come for Christos to take the 4th dan test. In the morning, there were three
hours of classes. The first class was for children, and the second was for adults for three
hours. Christos did all of them, and from 2:00 pm, the testing started. Without any break,
he started the test. Most of the major requirements were done with George and Angel who
had just passed the 2 dan test a few days before. There was no one above the level of
Christos, and it was not an ideal situation but there was no other option.
With a strongly determined mind and confidence, Christos started the techniques slowly
and precisely. His rhythm was good. His extension was good. His techniques were so
much different from the ones I had seen for the first time two years back. He has surely
achieved his goal.
After one hour and 15 minutes of continuous techniques, he was not even breathing hard.
His stamina was incredible. His basic physical conditions were perfect as a martial artist.
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Everyone present on and off the mats was deeply impressed and applauded for the
successful result. I was proud of him and pleased with him. He demonstrated the result of
his hard work for the last five months. Congratulations, Christos, and Inochikan Dojo.
Not only you, but you have done a great job for your students. I am looking forward to
keep working with you.
Congratulations to Christos for 4 dan!!! We are all happy for you.
Dinner at Christos’s
Day 29, M, 10/31/2011
Shodan test for Elane, Elias and George
This day was not very comfortable for me. Elane was a Christos’s student, but Elias and
George were students of Gerasimos. Gerasimos had a motorcycle accident and injured his
shoulder. He had to give up on his 4 dan test this time. He could not practice at all since
the accident, so Christos had to take over the instructions for them for a few months.
These two were entirely different from the Christos’s students. There was no flow or
flexibility, and they used too much power with the upper half of the body, only hands and
arms. Their footwork was not big enough to maintain good balance. They were holding
breath. I felt that I wanted to spend more practice with them before the test, but under the
circumstances, it was necessary for them to be promoted. They had been practicing very
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hard under the instructions of their teachers. This was the result of their training for many
years. I had to accept for now because I had to respect what others were doing.
Their joy and happiness after the test were incredible. They had seriously practiced as
they had been taught, therefore, no matter how different their techniques might have been,
I should not blame them. I told them at the beginning that I was not in position to judge
them. I was new to them, and I must have been the one who had to adjust to them.
However, I have my own philosophy and my 40 years of training under the instructors of
Hombu Dojo. I have to keep my style and my discipline. Christos wants to follow me, so
they will have to change to the more standard way.
Their instructor, Gerasimos, was watching from the beginning to the end. I had to support
him, too, because he was a part of us. Changes will come slowly and gradually. When
George said that it would take time, I rejected this expression, and I was expecting sudden
changes. The main reason for the rejection was probably because I started feeling that my
Aikido life would not be so long any more.
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Greece
Christos was surely moving forward, slowly but steadily. He broke away from the mother
federation and formed his own group with his friend, Gerasimon. When Christos broke
away from the federation, he had only six shodans and a few white belts with him. His
mind was determined to work with me. He put his total trust in me. He came to Guam for
three months to train with Guam members. He learned how to teach children. Now, he
had a place to his own group at a nearby school five days a week within a payable rent. He
had three times for adults and two family classes twice a week. This was a very good start
for him.
During this trip, I obtained a certificate from Hombu Dojo to conduct testing for his group.
Three shodan, two 2 dan and one 4 dan were promoted. In this new group, there were
more black belts than beginners.
On my first visit, the expressions on their faces are icy cold, and there was no smile during
the classes. I surely did not enjoy instructing the classes. I kept emphasizing that they had
to relax more and to use lower half than arms and hands. They did not understand what I
meant. Gradually, some tried and learned more gentle moves, and the class started some
smooth movements. Then, more and more students started understanding that Aikido had
to use minimum strength for the maximum effect. I repeated this principle over and over
again. I also repeated that the lower half was more important than the upper part of the
body. Their footwork was very small, and they broke balance easily. They did not
understand what the centerline of the body was, and what the roles of the nage and the uke
should be. Step by step, concept by concept, technique by technique, I continued
explanation with actions.
This was my third visit. I felt much more comfortable with the students probably because
they were mostly the students of Christos. Beginners were easier to work with, but those
who had been molded into the hard style and learned how to do only techniques were
harder to change. Change!!! From the soft way to harder way was easier, but once the
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body had become like a rock, it was extremely hard to loosen it up. How come so many
students had turned their bodies into rocks? What were they trying to do with Aikido?
Christos is a good man. He is humble, hardworking and kindhearted. I have a strong
confidence in him and in his bright future. He has good followers.
Until yesterday, the garbage collecting spots had mountains of uncollected plastic bags.
Garbage collecting trucks and workers were on strike. Even without income, people still
have a lot of garbage to take out. Without jobs, cars are still running on the streets, and
shopping centers and super markets are full of people. What is economy? What is
recession?
Promotions in Greece:
Shodan: Elane, George, and Elies
2 dan: George and Angel
4 dan: Christos Koutelieris
Day 30, T, 11/1/2011
Athens-Moscow-Hong Kong
Day 31, W, 11/2/2011
Arrival in Hong Kong
The report on my trip to Hong Kong will be forthcoming separately.
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