My First Summer Camp

by Laurie A. Seymour

5th kyu, Framingham Aikikai

[Editor's Note: We thank Laurie Seymour for agreeing to accept the assignment of writting this article. Photos courtesy of Dan Granger, 1st Dan, New England Aikikai.]

The United States Aikido Federation Eastern Region Summer Camp was held at Connecticut College from July 26 to August 2, 2003.

I had heard the tales of last year's summer camp – how miserably hot the weather was and how exhausted everyone was as a result. Therefore, I was so pleased this year's weather was accommodating, with cool and pleasant temperatures as the week's theme. It was kind enough to rain mostly at night. There were few bugs. I slept with the windows open and without a fan most nights. If this is what summer camp can be like, I think I could happily do this for the rest of my days.

Our instructors for the camp were Yamada Sensei, Kanai Sensei, and special guest instructor Suganuma Sensei from Japan. It was a real privilege to be instructed by three of O-Sensei’s uchideshi, who are now prominent Shihan. Their classes were all so memorable, I’m not sure how to describe them, but perhaps a few highlights will communicate what they were like.

In accordance with tradition, the opening and closing classes of Summer camp were taught by Yamada Sensei and both classes were vigorous and fun – it definitely got us off to a great, high-energy beginning and a wonderful end. What I remember most from Yamada Sensei's classes throughout the week is they seemed to run strong with nikkyo and sprinkled with kotegaeshi. My wrists achieved new flexibility through frequent and opposing twists that I think I learned more about nikkyo this week than ever before. (That's a good thing!)

I also enjoyed all of Suganuma Sensei's classes, but his early morning class was truly memorable. He started the class off with a series of long, slow stretches – perfect for 6:30am when my mind still hadn't connected with the fact that my body is doing things beyond being comatose somewhere near a pillow. I will long remember one of Suganuma Sensei's warm up exercises, something called kingyo taisou, which translates as "goldfish exercise or movement". We lay on our backs, clasped our hands behind our heads, and then wriggled our bodies from our center out. Suganuma Sensei later explained that the purpose of this is to relax and align the spine. It certainly felt good first thing in the morning. These warm ups must have a very positive long term effect on the body as Suganuma Sensei’s flexibility and relaxed state were apparent throughout his summer camp demonstrations.

Kanai Sensei taught a series of classes on sutemiwaza (“sacrifice techniques”) that were very fun and intriguing for this novice to Aikido. Not only were they interesting to me; I later found out from the senior students that they had never seen these techniques taught in the many years they had practiced. There were several moments of hilarity – particularly the one where nage first threw, fell on top of, and then straddled uke, finishing with choking her out. Well, at least nage was laughing!

Kanai Sensei stressed that sutemiwaza , while very fun to practice, is not really part of Aikido, and should never, ever be used during any Aikido test. Sensei recounted that O-Sensei excluded sutemiwaza from Aikido because while the throws are powerful and effective, since nage gives up his balance they cannot be considered complete correct techniques. Also, O-Sensei did not feel sutemiwaza throws were as beautiful as other Aikido techniques. However, this lack of aesthetic form certainly didn't make them any less fun for us to learn!

Claude Berthiaume's weapons classes (for yukyusha) were for me another gem. There was something very pleasant and centering about being outside in the grass for jo practice. Damp grass between toes, the smell of the fresh air, the curious helicopter that hung around and watched – all brought new (and enjoyable) elements to practice. The kata taught by Claude Sensei were fun, and just difficult enough for me not to keep in memory for very long. I hope I'll get to see the forms again sometime (perhaps from one of the videos that were being made), so that I can jog my memory and try them again.

Evening classes were taught by senior Shidoin , including Harvey Konigsberg, Peter Bernath and Sioux Hall . While they were all great , my favorite evening class was David Halprin’s "pitching" class. (My opinion is in no way affected by the fact that he is my instructor.) By request, David Sensei chose techniques that allowed for maximum amount of hang time during ukemi. I grabbed my favorite pitching partner, and she and I proceeded to fling each other with glee about the mat, amid much joy and laughter. It was a good time to really work on the break-falls , because I had plenty of time in the air to think about where I was oriented (or rather, going to be oriented) before I "blended" with the mat.

I ended up being really grateful we had every other afternoon off, both for the extra time to rest my fatigued body and mind, as well as the opportunity to watch the black belt classes, where we saw the yudansha practice…eh…vigorously. For me it was amazing to watch the senior students of the Shihan practice with one another, as I don't often get to see them in full action. I almost felt like a little kid again while watching them: "Gee, that's what I wanna be when I grow up!" – complete with bright and sparkling eyes. I felt the same way watching the shodan tests, so many amazing things happening on that mat, and I could hardly imagine being able to do them all.

And just in case the Aikido wasn't enough to keep us occupied, the social activities for camp were not lacking. Most evenings there were serious games of poker in the campus bar – and with one unnamed person routinely taking everyone's money. The baseball game was great, with many home runs, fantastic baseball ukemi on the basepaths (you had to be there), and yukyusha defeating yudansha by one run. (The black belts did demand a recount!) The party on Friday night was resplendent with happy dancing people, some summer college student crashers, decent beverages, yummy food, and nifty presents for all the Senseis. Kanai Sensei was given a belt sander, Yamada Sensei a leather vest, and Suganuma Sensei a leather jacket. All looked most pleased with their presents, and even more so with their students.

The rhythm of camp is something I really wish could be a part of everyday life: early morning class, breakfast, two classes, lunch, nap, afternoon class, dinner, and evening class. There is something truly great about being in the dorm rooms right down the hall from your friends, practicing together, eating together, playing together, watching out for each other. It was both a glimpse back to what some of my childhood life had been, and a window into what I now feel life should be much more like.

Do I really have to wait a whole year before the next summer camp?