On the weekend of April 7-9 2006 the Seattle Aikido community was treated to a wonderful event; the second annual seminar with Seishiro Endo, 8th Dan Aikikai, from Hombu Dojo, Tokyo. The seminar was hosted by Aikido Willapa Bay Seattle, and held in the spacious gymnasium of Seattle Central Community College. Even before the seminar began you could feel the energy of the vibrant Seattle aikido community as members of seven different local dojos joined in the task of transporting the tatami mats to the gym and setting them up. By 6:30pm on Friday evening the mats had been laid out, the flowers arranged on the kamiza, and over 100 aikidoka lined up, and bowed in. Then the magic began.

Endo Sensei doesn't begin his seminars simply by teaching technique; in fact, he invites us all to let go of the idea of any specific technique. When we are focused on the idea of a technique, he tells us, we often perform it in an automatic or robotic manner. Instead, he encourages us to examine the idea of "what might happen" when we connect with our partner in an intimate way. Often he will select a single principle and explore it deeply. That Friday evening we began by making a fist and holding it in the air. Our partner placed the palm of their hand over our fist and began initiating movement, very slowly. The object of the exercise was to demonstrate how we need to be connected and supple in order to unbalance our partner. After numerous repetitions people finally learned how to relax and move fluidly. This exercise was followed by yokomen attacks, where nage attempted to absorb the strike, blend, and then mimic the feeling that was established during the "fist" exercise. Before we even discovered our first ikkyo the evening was nearly over, but people were smiling and feeling awakened.

Next day began with more focus on musubi (connection). This time we placed our palms on each other's shoulders and pushed, like placing a glove over a ball socket. Nage would roll his shoulder, energize his hip and re-set hamni, and this would eventually lead to a nikkyo movement. However, unlike typical nikkyo, the emphasis was on the entire body, not just the wrist. Nage moves his shoulder by moving the center, so that uke absorbs all of nage's force.

By Saturday afternoon we were brushing off the shoulder "grab" and making contact by every possible angle possible; moving tenkan as well as irimi, connecting ai-hamni as well as gyaku-hamni. When both hands were integrated this led to tenchi-nage type movements, resulting in much more energetic and vigorous "throws". While no specific technique was being modeled, most participants found themselves "discovering" a wide variety of "jiyu-waza", and In spite of there being over 100 participants there was plenty of room for vigorous rolling around.

Saturday night there was a large party held at VIOS, a local Greek restaurant. There was an abundance of delicious food and drink for all who attended, and after dessert, the singing began. Endo Sensei started us off with several traditional Japanese songs, and this was followed by saxophone, flute, and singing, including an Elvis imitator and some giddy renditions of Broadway musicals. Endo Sensei always wants everyone to feel included and to build community, and he does this both on and off the mat. The parties during the seminars are very important to him.

Sunday morning we began by stretching each other's shoulders, rotating them to increase the mobility. This was followed by ushiro techniques, which Endo Sensei does in a unique manner. Often ushiro technique is taught by ensuring that uke not be allowed to grab both of nage's hands, and never while they are behind nage's back. But Endo Sensei actually wants uke to get a firm hold of both of nage's hands, and then showed us three different ways to get the hands to the front; by rocking, like the rowing exercise; by rocking and then stepping back; and by turning the body to the left or the right. Careful attention is also given to the placement of nage's hands so that fluidity is maintained throughout the throw. The result is ushiro movements that are very smooth, soft and effective.

During the ushiro session I noticed that a number of people were having difficulty with Endo Sensei's approach, because it was quite different from what they were used to. I watched as he went around the entire room throwing every single participant. (This is something that Endo Sensei almost always does during his classes; going around the entire room and "touching" every single participant). It was clear that he really wanted people to "get" what he was teaching, and that he is willing to take the time to "teach" everyone. I also watched while he allowed several white belts, who were clearly beginners, throw him. I marveled at this because I can't remember any other 8th Dans taking ukemi for beginners.

The day after the seminar Endo-Sensei taught a special private class, commemorating the opening of Aikido Willapa Bay Seattle. The building of the dojo had just been completed the week before Endo Sensei had come to Seattle, and he was generous enough to remain in town for the opening. Senseis from six Seattle dojos joined the members of Aikido on Willapa bay for an intimate aikido class. All thirteen people in attendance were continuously and repeatedly thrown by Sensei, and we all left feeling touched and in awe at the mastery we were exposed to.

Endo Sensei returned to Japan the next day but promised to return to Seattle again next year. Many people sent in feedback that they had really enjoyed the seminar and that they couldn't wait until his next visit. Several people commended the fact that Endo Sensei attracted people from many different schools and lineages of the aikido community, and that it had been a joy to train with such a wide variety of styles. All in all, and on many different levels, the visit of Endo Sensei to Seattle was a great success.

Submitted by:
Glenn Leichman
Aikido Willapa Bay, Seattle