Pictures & pratice

I finally uploaded on Flickr the pictures of last thursday session with Jean-Marc Dessapt here in Stavanger. He showed us an Aikido slightly different from what we are used to: I practiced only once with Tamura sensei and I admit not remembering much (except a funny situation at the evening party that showed how much living in France/Western countries changed, positively for me, sensei respect to other Japanese teachers that live in Japan). It was very interesting the way he shorten the entrance for techniques like katadori ikkyo, with a movement otherwise very difficult to see from the outside.

In addition, I also uploaded the pictures from my short session in my old dojo in Oslo, Oslo Aikido club: many thanks to Lester for taking so many shots of myself teaching.. I think it is one of the first time that I am not the one taking pictures!!

It was really good to practice again in my old dojo, its great mats (soft!!) and especially meeting old friends, making new friends and talk again with friends that I had not seen in ages!! They came for practicing with me: I was touched!! It was also good to meet a couple of friends that could not practice, but they joined us at the post-practice-traditions: a good time at the pub!!

For the practice, I had a chance to perform both basics and a bit more advanced techniques, trying to focus, as I like lately, on the contact between tori and uke. Apart from that, I went through different techniques (mostly basics) from suwariwaza, hanmi handachi and tachiwaza. What’s that? Have a look at the glossary!!

The two days in Oslo were anyway not for Aikido but for spending some time with “my” babies and I have been extra lucky. I spent good time not only with Simona and Karsten daughters, Sara and Silvia, little nieces for me, but also with Enya, Tina and Pedram little girl (about the same age as Silvia!). Friends and babies.. good practice maybe too!