USAF Eastern Region Summer Camp 2000
By Michael Baron

I had been looking forward to summer camp ever since our first Dojo meeting. I had recently been married and was a little down on my training from spending more time planning than practicing. I had about ten small injuries that just wouldn't heal, and I knew I needed a good solid week of beatings to knock those annoying little injuries out of me. I usually face Summer Camp with a mixture of excitement and dread. I don't think I can, or want to, face that much Aikido, and I'm sure my body will fall apart. For some reason, maybe because of Doshu being there, maybe because after a year of flower arranging and plate patterns I felt the need to kill. I had a general feeling that this year camp would be very special.

On Friday night, the night before camp officially started, myself and others from New England Aikikai arrived to deliver mats, clean mats, set mats up, tape mats, clean mats again, and anything else anyone could think to do with a mat. We all had dinner together in one of the "donuts" (named for the shape), and Kanai Sensei joined us to have a beer and to talk about Aikido. Sensei's approach and insight into Aikido always amazes me, and to be able to spend some time talking with him about it started camp off on a very special note for me.

By Saturday night the dojo/gym was all set. O-Sensei peered out onto the mat, the kamiza and flowers were beautiful and simple, and the mat was clean. I mean really clean, we cleaned and cleaned. Sorry. Anyway, Yamada Sensei greeted us with his usual cheer and humility and I think we may have done backstretch for about thirty-two seconds before jumping into vigorous training.

I remember how pumped up I was that first night. It felt like so many things had fallen into place to make this day happen. When you are in the midst of it, it is hard to remember exactly why you clean the mats and painstakingly tape them together. Combining color schemes, Feng Shui, Ki channeling, and ideal use of irregularly shaped rectangles to create the most perfect, imperfect practice space we could. But as soon as we started training it all made sense. I felt good that I had in some small way contributed to the training of those around me. They didn't know my name, they didn't know where I came from, but their training was better because of our contribution and that felt really good. I stopped feeling so great about myself when this guy proceeded to kick the crap out of me in irimi nage.

The first two days we saw mostly good weather; good enough that we could still train outside. Chiba Sensei walked us through the basics of his dynamic weapons work. It was great to have a chance to concentrate on footwork and body positioning without having someone, like certain sempai, tying to cave your head in with his bokken. As the week progressed the weather deteriorated and the weapons classes had to be cancelled. Kanai Sensei managed to have one last outdoor weapons class on Thursday, which for most of us could have gone on all day.

When Doshu arrived on Tuesday I believe we were in the midst of the worst weather yet. His flight was delayed while Kanai waited the long hours into the night. Somehow Kanai Sensei managed to get back to teach class the following morning. I stopped feeling so sorry for myself at that point knowing that he was probably suffering more than I was. However, by Tuesday morning, the fourth day into camp, I was certainly suffering. Here is a list of all the things that hurt; My knees My hips My back My legs

In addition I had a mysterious rash on certain undisclosed parts of my body. I had a headache, a stomachache, and my feet hurt. I think that day even my hair hurt. Pride intact and liver only bruised I pressed on into the week.

Doshu was all and more of what I expected. I had watched a few of his tapes from previous summer camps, but no taping can compare to the exactness, the precision of his movement. Granted I am only a beginner, I'm lucky to be able to do similar things twice in a row let alone the same thing, but Doshu had perfect body positioning, posture, power, timing, speed everything we try to incorporate into our movement every time. In a way I was nervous to see Doshu. In this world too many times someone is touted as a great leader, but turn out to be far less. I am proud to know that something I believe as strongly in as I believe in Aikido is being lead by a figure like Ueshiba Doshu. After the softball game I can't say much for his pitching, but that's a different story.

NEA was, of course, victorious in the softball game. I don't know if I want to say anymore about it, except there was a three run home run, and Doshu batted in a few runs. That Kanai Sensei got me on base every time, and certain Shidoin, although great martial artists, can't really swing a bat with the same dexterity as a bokken. But that's all I will say as not to alienate anyone from the losing team, except that it was funny to see Doshu, Kanai Sensei and Fujimaki Sensei wearing T -shirts and sneakers.

Fujimaki, Doshu's Otomo turned out to be very popular. Some students dove in front of him after he had taken Ukemi for Doshu in order to practice with him. I spoke with him briefly at the party, and quickly determined that he was a gracious and friendly person who seemed to have a permanent smile on his face.

Thunder and down-pouring rain accompanied his class on Thursday night. He stuck to the basics such as Doshu had done, and executed technique with the exactness instilled in him by his instructor.

Harvey Konigsberg, Claude Berthiaume, Peter Bernath and Susan Wolk also taught evening classes each contributing to the great feeling of summer camp.

Although there is always a lot of work to do for Summer Camp it all seems worth it in the end. I can't wait for next year, and look forward to good hard training, and seeing old friends and new, except for that guy who kicked my ass in irimi nage.