A night in Pontochō

My post about the visit in Kyoto was becoming extremely long, so I decided to dedicate a special post to the only night I spent “alone” in this beautiful city.. and I had lots of fun!

For alone I mean not with Aikido people, and it is a change that I enjoy from time to time.. The risk of spending all the time with Aikido people is that the practice never ends.. and I need a break sometimes! Enjoyable and enriching as it can be, I still like to spend some time without thinking about Aikido. Weird? If you think that, it means you also need a break

..Aikido does not end with the mats..

I felt better when I saw that also in Japan, among people that practice so much Aikido that should satisfy them forever, the practice does not end with the mats..

Even during a demanding and very good seminar, during the evenings one can always find some moment to share thoughts about techniques, to try or to show to an eager girlfriend how to punish a “bad” boyfriend

From the left: Didier Boyet shihan, Gaute’s girlfriend & Gaute
From the right: Serge Beraud & Didier

Kyoto – Japan!

First time in Kyoto (9 – 12 June), and since I was there for only 4 days mainly focused on Aikido and traveling, at the end I did not see much. Kyoto is known for the several temples, but the only one I actually visited is probably not famous at all and the only reason I went there is because it was on the way to Kyoto Budo center where we practiced Aikido!!

Kyoto sky after storm

But here I want to just spend a couple of words about my trip back to Japan, after the IAF Aikido experience back in 2008.

Official pics from Kyoto

As a good friend from Norway told me, Kyoto Aikido posted the official pics from Kyoto seminar with Yasuno sensei, Tissier sensei and Boyet sensei.

The link is here!

Funny thing is I cannot open that link, for some reasons, blocked from here (Aikido Kyoto is a sensible page for Chinese-Japanese politics?? So weird!!)

But one I can open is from Tissier sensei official pages..

A picture, better than 1000 words!

Another funny visual aid, from Kyoto – taken in the toilet of Kyoto Budo center!

I actually appreciate the help, since I basically hate Asian toilets!! But I admit that for the Japanese ones, it was easier to understand the right way.

Not sure if for girls there is also a right/wrong way

Kyoto, good time besides Aikido!

I have also written about the not Aikido part, the great time I had in Kyoto, but words took time, crashed by other tasks and other thoughts, so the post is actually here, in the future!! And also in the future, one can find words, pics and movies from my last night in Kyoto, a night in Pontochō..

Pain and happyness

After 3 very active days on Japanese tatami, my feet look liked the picture below.. it was Saturday evening in Kyoto, during an amazing Aikido seminar, with still one day to go (and one demanding trip back to China!).

Painful? Yes, but totally worth!!!