Cool Experience

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[rachmass]

Just got back from class, where I had a really cool experience. Bronson from AikiWeb, and several of his students, came to Ypsilanti to train with me. Although the styles of aikido are quite different, we were able to practice in harmony and with a lot of joy. What fun to do something like this! AikiWeb enabled it, as I would never have met Bronson and his students were it not for this forum. :)

[akiy]

Hi Rachel,

It sounds like you had a good time! I'm really glad to hear that these Forums can serve to bring people together. I have been very fortunate to have made a lot of "real life" aikido friends with whom I became acquainted on the Internet whom I may have never met otherwise.

Relatedly, I hope people are thinking about the upcoming AikiWeb Workshop. I'm excited at the chance to meet more folks from all over whom I may only know on the Internet. More information on the event here:

http://www.aikiweb.com/workshop/

-- Jun

[Mel Barker]

Hi Rachel, Glad you were able to meet someone else from Aikiweb. So far you are the one and only that I have met from the forum. I am planning to attend the Aikiweb Workshop, and I sure hope others will put it on their agenda.

Hey, maybe I should get some students together for a Michigan road trip :)

Mel

[rachmass]

Mel! Absolutely! Grab some folks from Cincinnati on the way up too. You've guys have got a wonderful group of students at the dojo, and it would be a hoot.

I've met Anne-Marie from Florida, Amanda from outside of Boston, Karen from New York, Bronson, Mel, Bob from Chicago, others too who are escaping me right now. I think this is a terrific venue, although I do admit to blushing and wondering what on earth I've said that is inappropriate when someone meets me and says they read me from AikiWeb :hypno:

Don't know if i'll make the seminar, although it sounds like a lot of fun; depends on the schedule for the rest of summer after the end of summer camp (booked through then).

I would love to have more folks from AikiWeb stop by and train. It is a lot of fun, and I thought Bronson and his gang were particularly nice, and hope to do more of these practices again!

[Bronson]

We had a great time!! I'm sure we got some strange looks from the security guards watching us from the parking lot cameras at Meijers while we were trying to reenact what we did in class :p

Rachel was very nice to us. We had the opportunity to do some stuff that we normally don't get to and it's always fun to do something different. Everybody had a great time and would go again in the future. Oh, and the restaurant we went to was great also ;) If you're in the area see if you can stop in...and don't let what she says here about her dojo being small worry you, it was very nice. It had many aspects that I wish I could have at the place I teach.

I've been very lucky when it comes to meeting other aikidoka. I've yet to have a bad experience. I haven't had the opportunity to meet many but the ones I have met have been open, friendly and genuinely interested in sharing what they have.

If an AikiWeb meet is something that might happen in reality let me know. I MIGHT be able to get Southside Dojo in Kalamazoo MI if there is a enough notice. We've got a 30' x 60' mat area and another approx. 30' x 15' slightly padded floor that the karate class uses. Big locker rooms and a dry sauna....I was told the shower is hooked up now but it's outside and I think it only has cold water hooked to it, heeey we could do misogi with it ;)

Thanks again Rachel,

Bronson

[robbsims]

I am not sure how many other people do this but...

When ever I go on vacation, I look for an Aikido Dojo at the place I am going. It has been an excellent experience so far. I have been to Aikido classes in Winnipeg MB, Saskatoon SK, Calagary AB, Souel Korea, Guam USA, Hachinohe Japan, and Yokohama Japan. :) I am lucky because my wife is also a Yudansha, so I have her permission to do Aikido on our vacations. ;)

From now on I will be sure to use the forums when looking for my next vacation spot. :D

[PeterR]

Hi Robert;

This summer I am headed to Northern Greece with a stop-over in Crete. Already have contacts in the former from previous visits but last night I sent e-mails to Crete. One positive response so far.

I try to do this when ever I travel. Sure there are dojos that didn't impress me that much but I have always come away with something positive.

[Larry Murray]

Are any folks from AikiWeb coming to Boston this weekend to see and learn from Saotome Sensei?

Hope to see some of you there!!

Larry

[j0nharris]

http://www.aikiweb.com/workshop/
-- Jun

Does that mean you'll be there, Jun? We're the Kodokan's sister dojo, so a number our students will be there to have a good time.
-jon

[akiy]

Hi Jon,

Yes, I am very much planning on being at the upcoming AikiWeb Workshop. I hope to see you (and others) there!

-- Jun