There was a lot to watch, feel, learn and do at the three day Aiki workshop in Seattle. A more cogent essay will likely emerge for my October contribution to The Mirror in Aikiweb. Meanwhile a few thoughts.
It was manifestly clear that the area I most need to work on is posture/structure. Kaizen Taki worked with me 1:1 during an open mat session, giving some very specific feedback and recommendations from a Systema perspective that I've already started integrating into my sitting and walking. Toby Threadgill also demonstrated some exercises for identifying proper structure that I've started playing with.
Of course, on the mat, in the middle of training is still going to be the hardest place to keep new stuff "in there" and in last night's class my very poor posture was brought to my attention at a time I was totally unaware if it. The work continues....
Another thing both Kaizen and Howard Popkin talked about a lot was remaining relaxed under pressure (Howard thought we ALL were too stiff and so opened the Sunday session with paper cups of sacramental sake all around!) Kaizen had us specifically working on exercises to selectively tense and relax individual muscles and to relax out of pins or uncomfortable holds. I did pretty well with that but will keep refining it as there is plenty of room for development! I realize I hold a lot of tension right in my core and believe it is related to poor posture - yes, it's all related....
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Forgot to note that Toby's demo of how empty hand has to reflect it's sword or weapons roots to be martially correct was echoed by Carol Sensei in Wed night class with nice demo of owning the centerline. The more I learn the more I appreciate Gayle Fillman Sensei and wish she were still here....
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