Advent

Christmas is coming! The sense of expectancy in the air is there and I now wait like a child for christmas. I've been helping with the household preperations and of course one of my favourites is putting up the advent wreath and the tree. This year sadly because of the renovations ongoing in my house, we have no room for the rather delicate crib (might get broken if out) and will not be able to hold our usual large hearty christmas party.

Nevertheless, I'm in a very holiday mood and have been getting my christmas shopping done. I will also need to do my christmas confession, never the pleasantest of exercises, but nevertheless which leaves my soul feeling squeaky clean. And then there are my christmas cards to write, late as usual, but well, christmas does last 12 days, so many people forget this...so you see, I'm really not late...

Anyway, to all readers, may you have a very blessed advent season!

Little Old Japanese Sensei

Tamura Sensei came along to our dojo to conduct a seminar. Tamura sensei is a slightly built, 5'5" 70+ year old aikido shihan (very senior teacher) who's 8th dan (8th grade black belt). He has enormous power despite his size and it's one of the big reasons why I picked aikido as a martial art, that there were all these little old Japanese guys able to floor guys less than half their age and twice their size. Tamura Sensei is one of those little old Japanese senseis who can do that. He was sent out to France many years ago to start aikido in France and much to his credit, aikido is now flourishing in France.

I spent much of my time during the seminar trying to figure out his techniques which were slightly different variations from the ones usually taught. Naturally the easier he made a technique look, the harder it was in practice. He came with a small contingent from France and visitors appeared from Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia and Thailand, such is his fame and pull in the aikido world.

I am still waiting for the photographs of the seminar to turn out and will post at least one on this spot. However for those of you who might be curious as to what aikido might look like, do visit www.ueshibaaikido.org which is the website of the dojo I normally practice at.