New page added: Aikido Syllabus

Since Aikido graduation is getting closer here in Stavanger, I made a new page in order to summarize most information about the syllabus required by Bob:

Shodokan syllabus

Later on I will add more information about the syllabus and graduation requirements in *my* federation!

 

 

Updates Aikido seminars!

Have a look at Seminars page with quite a lot of news, especially regarding seminars organized by Aikikan Norway and my previous club Tekisuikan Trondheim!

Unfortunate bad habit of Aikido in Norway is organizing seminars that crash with others in the immediate vicinity, like Sweden or Finland.. or inside Norway itself.. as if there were thousands of interesting dates for Norwegian aikidokas.

But maybe, respect a few years ago, it is better like that with more dates and possibilities than.. nothing!

See you on the mats!!!!!

Cool athlete(s)!

Fast post from a video found on Youtube about this lovely Japanese beach volley player, Asao Miwa, 浅尾美和.. that won a reward in a “Cool Athlete Championship” among Japanese athletes..

Not a big surprise, thinking that besides being a good athlete and extremely cute, her smile was amazing!!

..but I maybe prefer a bit more this second video, where there is a bit more of Nishibori Take, 西堀健実, her team partner, who, I hope, will not be crashed by too much popularity of Miwa.. and, yeah, Take is also sweet

A “little” post….

Bed Time,
by *Sakura*.

…little as one of the most known famous art from Japan, origami, 折り紙, the art of paper folding. It is also known that Japanese culture is quite attentive to details, and the author of the picture I blogged here, *Sakura*, さくら, has several amazing shoots of small facts of everyday life.. This shot is taken at Hotel Okura in Tokyo.

Back to origami, this year, 2007, is, according to the chinese zodiac signs, the year of the wild boar (or pig). In Japanese, wild boar is いのしし.

Good luck then for this year of the wild boar! (yes, I prefer wild boar than pig.. )

And as mentioned by another flickr-friend, the best wish I probably ever heard/received:

HAVE A SEXY 2007!!!

 

Kakizome, 書き初め, first calligraphy of the year!

A Japanese tradition for celebrating the beginning of the new year is called kakizome, 書き初め, and it is the first calligraphy writing, performed on the 2nd of January. In the picture below there is such a calligraphy that I received from a very good friend of mine, Saori-chan, 沙織ちゃん, a few years ago.. A wonderful present for me!!!

People usually write haiku, 俳句, or other kind of poems regarding happiness or auspicious words for a good life. Elementary schools and junior high schools have kakizome competitions annually.

Saori’s calligraphy, a Japanese proverb, says, approximately:

人の一生は重荷を負うて、遠き道を行くが如し (ひとのいっしょうはおもにをおうて、とおきみちをゆくがごとし)	Human life is like walking a long road with a heavy burden on the back
	So, you do not need to hurry

Another great present from Saori-chan, and very useful since it is great for my hakama, 袴, is a furushiki, 風呂敷, a cloth traditionally used to store and carry robes: it honors the robes, and gives them a handsome way to travel….

夏の夜に風呂敷かぶる旅寝哉

[The card on the left side, is another great New Year card from a second good pen friend of mine, Toshiko-san, who will have soon a post for herself!!! ]

Silvia is born!!!!!!

Silvia is born!!!!!!,
by Andy – アンドレア.

…little more to add…

Congratulations SIMONA, KARSTEN & my little love SARA….

I’m only sorry i will not spend with Silvia the same time I spent with Sara…

It’s alive.. again!!!

it’s alive.. again!!!,
by Andy – アンドレア.

Yes!!
My laptop, after surgery (ie. change of the hard disk) is finally back to life and for celebrate the event, I took a picture of a nice picture of a contact of mine..

Follow the link for many other great picture of this Thai girl!!!