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On the second day in Calgary I had planned to visit the Calgary Ki Society and hopefully train. While I headed to their dojo Diane and the kids went to the Zoo. I got to the dojo to watch the last half hour of the kids class with James Angevine Sensei, the head of Calgary Ki Society, instructing. While I was watching David English Sensei, 3rd dan yudansha, whom I had spoke to from Winnipeg on the phone, entered and welcomed me into the dojo. Upon discovering who I was English Sensei invited me to train. I couldn't say no despite the trouble my back was giving me.
Since it was a long weekend it was a small class. Five of us in all! Angevine Sensei is a 6th dan whom has trained under Tohei Sensei in Japan. His technique is extremely light and he emphasizes to his students to be as light as possible. This lightness of technique was practiced in the exercises at the beginning of class. Sensei went through sankyu and rather than gripping the fingers and hand into sankyu he had us lightly hold the hand with one hand and and merely control lightly the fingers into sankyu with the other. The lighter control, rather than grip, help the nage feel the uke's energy thus it seemed easier to respond to and follow the flow of the uke's energy. Despite the feeling I was a bare beginner under Angenvine sensei I felt like I had learned a lot in that class. I wish that I had time to practice what I had learned. It is apparent to me that if I ever have to move to Calgary as an RTC, I at least know I have a top of the line dojo to attend