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<blogEntries>
<blogEntry id="2598">
	<title><![CDATA[Last practice - this trip]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[Saturday morning, asaren is not until 9:30 so at least I can sleep in, well that is until my son wakes me at 6:00.............

I eventually climb out of bed around 7:15 and muster a quick shower before getting ready to head off to the Seibukan.

Keiko starts with the usual warm up and is then followed by Obata Sensei taking some ken suburi, Obata Sensei is also a fourth or fifth dan in Jodo, his ken style is slightly differnt to the Iwama ken that I have had more experience with, but not that different ;).

We do that for about 15 mins before Nakao Sensei takes over the class, and does yet another kokyu class. I don`t know whether he`s been doing this all for me, I`ve not seen him run such closely similar classes so many times together before, but I`m not complaining. 

After keiko Nakao Sensei asks me if I want to come to his house for lunch, I accept gratefully. He sends me down first where I find his wife Akiko san preparing lunch in their restaurant. I`m treated to a nice mix of Japanese food and Kobe beef, oishiiiiiiiiiiiii! 

After lunch we chat for a while about various things Aikido, before I reluctantly have to head home to pack, we`re leaving early tomorrow morning ...............:(

I get back to find my wife loading up in the local supermarket, all the small snacks, and various ingredients that we can`t get at home, and those that we can get at exhorbitant prices :)

It`s all laid out in the other room right now, I have to go pack, but I have no idea how I`m going to fit all this into 2 suit cases :( ]]></body>
	<date>04-15-2006</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="2597">
	<title><![CDATA[Heian Jingu]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[Friday morning, again llittle sleep as I wake each hour, I make it out of bed at 5:30 and down to the Seibukan for asaren. Yet another clas of kokyu waza, Sensei is spoiling me. I`ve been gradually building up the ukemi over the past week, maybe being over careful for the "hernia" but am now at a point where I`m not shirking anything and am practicing as if I never had a problem in the first place. I can`t quite believe the transformation from the week before.

After  keiko I go down to a local coffee bar with Brad Darr (also on Aikiweb), who`s lucky enough to be training with Nakao Sensei on a weekly/ daily basis, and Ross, another Englishman recently joined the Seibukan, and working at Nova alongside Brad. We have a couple of tea`s and a good chat about stuff before I have to head home, had promised to go over to Kyoto with my wife. Actually, I had wanted to go before I came to Japan, outside of keiko it was the only thing I had planned.

From Gakuentoshi to Kyoto is quite a trip so we use JR which is a bit quicker albeit more expensive. We head straight to Katskura, one of the best tonkatsu resaurants I`ve ever been to, we have a fantastic lunch, where I had an ebi fry (prawn) that was two times longer and fatter than my index finger. After lunch we whiz around the Daimaru department store looknig for last minute souvenirs before catching a taxi to Heian Jingu.

I`d been to the outside of Heian Jingu a number of times over the years but had never been into the gardens. It was only after seeing them in the film Lost in Translation that I deceided I`d like to go and see. What a time to go, the cherry blossom was absolutely fantastic, full bloom and masses of it around a number of ponds and lakes, it was most definately worth the trip over.

We had a final ride on the Shinkansen (bullet train) back to Kobe. ]]></body>
	<date>04-15-2006</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="2596">
	<title><![CDATA[My Pace]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[Thursday is a slow day, my pace day. No Keiko, the wife has gone out shopping with her mum, my sister in law has taken the kids to the zoo, just me and my father in law left at home. I finish my second book of the hols before going out to do some last minute shopping.]]></body>
	<date>04-15-2006</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="2595">
	<title><![CDATA[Onsen again]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[OK, I`m only human, I missed keiko today. I just plain slept through not waking until 8. I woke up ruing the missed chance of practice with Sensei, but the way my body wasn`t moving, maybe it wasn`t such a bad thing, my muscles were seized I couldn`t move......:(

Hot bath,$B!!(Bhot bath......... Let`s go to the onsen my wife says, Taisanji is only 15 mins away by bus and only costs about 300 yen per session. My father inlaw had taken all the kids to the Pokemon centre, so the rest of us plummed for the onsen, woohoo, I`m fully converted :D.  

The bus leaves from the local bus stop and takes less than 10 mins to arrive at Taisanji. We leave the bus and go in, unfortunately I`m the only male, so wife, mum and sister inlaw all go off one way leaving me to fend for myself :(. I enter the changing rooms to find it heaving with Ojisan (grandads), they all look at me sideways, being the only gaijin there. Still, I`m used to this now so in I plunge..............good god..........it`s bloody hot, hotter than the onsen up at Shosha san we went to last week, seering hot in fact. It was a matter of seconds before my  skin was burning red, I looked like I`d spent the day in the sun without any protection, I only had another 20 mins or so to waste. Anyways, once youre submerged, as long as you don`t move it actually becomes quite pleasant, I could feel the aches ebbing away :). 20 Mins later I take a very cold shower before changing and going out to reception to wait for everyone else. What`s that I spy, beer in the vending machine, how considerate, I insert 400 yen and sit myself down to enjoy an ice cold drop of the amber nectar.

My wife comes out first informing me that the others are a little slow, so maybe I should try out the electric massage chair. I do..............oooooooowwwwwch!!!! I thought these things were supposed to relax you, actually they almost do, except for the 3 or 4 times when the two rather solid hard balls work their way up to your mid back, it feels like they`re trying to punch their way through my chest jeez that`s unpleasant. The rest of it is not so bad though and I survive the 15 minute routine, barely.....

]]></body>
	<date>04-15-2006</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="2594">
	<title><![CDATA[Himeji Keiko - Again]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[The local prefecture government opened the Kenritsu Budokan a few years back, it`s quite a spectacular place. There are four 300 tatami dojo`s next to each other, where the walls can slide back joining them together. The local government decided they wanted to promote Japanese Budo and sponsored a number of arts, Aikido being one of them. Nakao Sensei was asked to teach a 10:00 AM slot on Tuesday mornings for housewives.

I accompanied him down on the train from Kobe, a good one and a half hour trek. We had a god old chin wag about Aikido things and such, as we got to the dojo he said "today you will be my joshu" (joshu = helper). The class was an hour and a half long and catered for all of 3 students.........plus me and Sensei. Again he taught kokyu waza, by which I mean, he has been doing all class from ryote dori in suwari, hanmi handachi, hanmihandachi with two ukes, and tachi. All techniques start with kokyu ho before he evaporates into nothing and throws you with immense power, or you end up falling over yourself........I love it.

Class finishes and Izutsu san (who had recently visited me in England) wanted to take some photo`s. We then made our way back to the train for the hour and a half ride back to Kobe.

I hadn`t trained for almost a month because of a suspect hernia, but now I`ve just down nearly 10 hours of classes in a little over 3 days. I need a good long soak in a hot bath :).

I head back into central Kobe to go and pick up the new embroidered keiko gi I`d ordered the week before. The only problem was it was raining cats and dogs, absolutely persisting down, the news later that night said that we`d had record rainfall. I can testamount to that because most of it was in my shoes and jeans, I was bloody soaked through, all I needed now was to find the shop closed..........
]]></body>
	<date>04-15-2006</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="2593">
	<title><![CDATA[Three days and still training]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[Monday morning 5:30 AM, time to get up for asaren. I`m always in two minds here, obviously I want to train, and spend as much time under Nakao Sensei`s guidance as possible, but, I get up at 5:30 every day for work back in the UK, I`m here on my hols and need a rest! Especially since I don`t have an alarm clock with me, so I`ve been waking up every hour or so to see if it`s time to get up :(. Anyways, I`m awake and obviously not going to miss keiko so off I traipse :).

Another class around kokyu waza, couldn`t be better. When it comes to Kokyu waza Nakao Sensei just has it, it`s like trying to grab air sometimes while you just end up falling all over the place, I love it, even though my muscles are screaming.......... 
 ]]></body>
	<date>04-14-2006</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="2590">
	<title><![CDATA[O Hanami]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[Sunday morning I was back at the Seibukan for Nakao Sensei`s morning class. I was really pleased to find him doing another class on kokyu waza, similar to the last one but with a few waza changes. The class was pretty full and there wasn`t much space to take ukemi, this suited me as I was still feeling a little tender around the "hernia" and my body just ached like hell from the previous two days. 

An hour and a half later I was still standing, just :), time for the next class (always two classes on Sunday morning), this one to be taken by Fujii Sensei.  Fujii Sensei is also an Aikikai 6th Dan and runs a dojo at Nagoya and comes to the Seibukan once a month. I`ve met him a number of times over the last 10 years I`ve been coming to Japan, his Aikido is nice and "strong" ;). He always has time to come and give a few tips during class :) but the main benefit for me was that I could actually practice with both Nakao Sensei and Uchi Koshi Sensei.....a number of times :D. I had a small epiphany during this class, for years I`d been watching Nakao Sensei and Uchi Koshi Sensei do iriminage, and there was something in their movement very different to mine, that I hadn`t been able to put my toe on. Today after practicing iriminage with Nakao Sensei I felt like I grasped it. After we switched uke`s Fujii Sensei came over to me and gave me a couple more points on the same thing, result, I`m now gonna spend the next however long trying to change my foot movement from the way I`ve been doing it for the last 14 years :). It will I hope be for the best ;).

3 hours later I`m still standing, but the body is stiffer than a board. Nakao Sensei had invited us (me and family) to go to O Hanami (Cherry blossom viewing) after keiko. My wife and son were waiting outside when I crawled out of the dojo, everyone going had to bring along some food, Ako had two bags of yummies. We set off up the road to a small park in Okurayama where we managed to find a small  space under the trees. Someone had a bag of small groundsheets which we strung out and tied to stop blowing away with bags and stones, until people deposited themselves. Everyone placed their goodies into the middle and we waited. A few minutes later a couple of guys lugged a crate of large 500ml Beer bottles and a couple of large sake bottles over, drinks were poured for everyone "O Hanami" toasted Hamazaki Sensei and the party began. Fortunately the weather was quite warm, we were sitting out in T-shirts. the party lasted for a couple of hours or more before we decided to head for home, good decision as everyone else decided to head for a karaoke bar..... these are places I avoid like the plague........]]></body>
	<date>04-13-2006</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="2589">
	<title><![CDATA[Himeji Keiko]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[The rei in was led by Peter Goldsbury being the senior grade present, this was then followed by Peter Rehse taking a Shodokan warm up. At first simple to follow, general stretching not unlike we do back home, although maybe a little quicker than I`m used too. We then lined up with senior Shodokan chaps in front to lead us, and Peter proceeded to run through a kata type exercise that consisted of a specific set of moves. This was done at a very quick pace, apparently they do this at the beginning of every keiko, I just didn`t know where to step next. Each time I thought I`d sussed the pattern, they stepped into a different direction, by the time we finished I was left looking rather dazed and confused.

Peter very quickly handed over to Mike Steumpel to take the Yoshinkan portion of the class. He started with some basic foot movements to extend from the Shodokan movements, explaining how they perform these in the Yoshinkan and why. He then proceeded to assimilate the movements into a technique endng up with katate dori Shihonage. It was a good class, something that I could cope with quite easily and I enjoyed practicing with Jesse.

Next up the class was handed over to Peter Goldsbury who taught from kata dori. He started with ikkyo, moving onto nikkyo, which Ted Taylor became very familiar with as his uke :D. He moved on to an interesting variation of shihonage from kata dori shomen uchi, doing the shihonage in a reverse fashion on the arm doing the shomen uchi which resulted in uke being back to back with tori. It was a fun technique with a lot of entanglement :). Peter`s piece de resistance was a kubinage that started as if doing ikkyo/ nikkyo etc. but swiftly moved into a tight throw, I had the pleasure of doing this technique with Sakai Sensei :D.

Next up was Sakai Sensei who proceeded to demonstrate and explain the kata drill that had confused me so much at the beginning, putting it into practice with an uke. This made it a little easier for this old head to come to grips with, as the practice was quite fun. The kata was various moves to avoid a tsuki with tanto, first of we had to learn to strike, which involved tori standing still "don`t move" shouted Sakai Sensei as uke thrust forward sticking the tanto into our chests, good job they were only stiff fabric. Following this we had to do various taisabaki movements to avoid the thrust. I had great fun with this, my uke was intent in following me everywhere with the tanto, even thrusting round corners. A number of times I heard his name called followed by "Straight, tsuki straight!"...

Sakai Sensei and his "hot" hombu deshi then demonstrated a number of drills which we then had a go at doing. Their demonstration was very sharp and crisp , their movement precise and clear, it was a very nice session to watch.The deshi were very helpful in guiding me through the practice.

Being Jesse`s last class before moving on to China, at the end of class we had to line up whilst he attacked us all in turns and we all had to throw him. After he`d been tenderized a bit, he had to do a randori session with Sakai Sensei as his uke :). This was interesting to watch but was the point where I asked myself what it was about. This is where I think Peter Goldsbury wrote "it was possible to see quite clearly how Shodokan randori is, and is not, competitive". I think the idea of the randori can be done quite well without it being about points, I think the competitive nature took over in tori`s desire to do a technique, whilst the tanto appeared to be forgotten. It`s a small observation, and maybe I`m being too picky, I don`t for one instant want to denigrate anything that we experienced that morning, it was an excellent experience that I would be more than happy to try again sometime, which is why I`m writing my thoughts in my blog and not on the Himeji thread.

After practice we all adjourned to a local restaurant for a "Biking" style (read Viking for non Japanese) lunch, eat as much as you can in an hour. We sat around chatting, mainly about Aikido forums and the behaviour of people on them. It was an interesting chat where unsurprisingly we all agreed on the discussion. After lunch, the dojo members were going up to Himeji castle to do a bit of cherry blossom viewing, I`d already been up there a couple of days before so elected to return to Kobe along with Ted who was going back to Kyoto to do a dojo clean for an embu the next day.]]></body>
	<date>04-13-2006</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="2583">
	<title><![CDATA[Himeji again, but I HURT!!!]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[Saturday morning, I wake in bed to find my body unable to move. Yesterdays keiko was all kokyu waza, mainly stretching but every bone and muscle in my body ached beyond belief, and here I was trying to head down to Himeji for the big Aikiweb meet. I manage to drag myself from bed and get ready.

 I head of for Nishi Akashi, I`d been told to change here for a Shin Kaisoku (Super Rapid Express), so I get off the Kaisoku (Rapid Express) that I was on and change platforms..........only to find that there are no Shin Kaisoku at that time day, nor are there any more Kaisoku........ I have to wait for 20 minutes for the next local train which will stop at every station to Himeji, so much for getting there early..........

Fortunately at Himeji I find a taxi driver who actually knows his way to the budokan unlike my last visit 2 years before where the driver took me around various sights before stopping at a coffee shop to ask directions.......yes, with this one exception Himeji taxi drivers are no better than Tokyo taxi drivers........

I half run half limp into the budokan trying to find the dojo, I had been looking forward to this but the body was in so much pain I just wasn`t up for it. It`s five to 9, I spy Peter, "Bryan! How long you gonna be?  we`re starting, now!" he says, "2 mins" I respond. I dash over to the changing rooms and pull my keiko gi on. Not having had time to meet an greet I decided to leave my hakama in my bag and run out to the dojo...]]></body>
	<date>04-10-2006</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="2582">
	<title><![CDATA[Keiko at last]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[Friday morning 5:30 AM I`m crawling out of bed. I hadn`t had much sleep as I had no alarm clock and I needed to rise early (any one `d think I needed a holiday ;)), so I`d dozed most of the night waking at regular intervals to check the clock, and not even a result of jet lag.........

I leave the house just after 6:00 making my way to the subway. I jump on the train and start reading my book, something I haven`t managed to do for some time, but I`d bought this book the day before in Tokyo and hadn`t been able to put it down since, something to do with Da Vinci......Oh jeez, Okurayama, I was so engrossed I nearly missed my stop, I jump up and just make it through the doors.

I`m sitting on the top step at the Seibukan, I can tell by the sound that Nakao Sensei is climbing the stairs, he rounds the corner and seeing me smiles "Ohayo", he hands me the keys to the dojo and goes back down to change. The Seibukan is a three story building, a family friend lives on the ground floor, the second floor is a small "hotel" for distinguished guests and also used as a changing area for "erai sensei". The third floor is a 60 tatami dojo fully wood cladded inside.

Nakao Sensei`s wife Akiko san walks in, she spots me and smile "daijobu?" - are you Ok? she asks. I nod smiling back. Keiko begins, my first for nearly 4 weeks, I`m as happy a pig in the proverbial. Nakao sensei teaches the whole class on kokyu ryoku, some very interesting excercises that I must take back home. I survive the class, even took a few ukemi for Sensei :). ]]></body>
	<date>04-10-2006</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="2581">
	<title><![CDATA[How much?]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[Thursday I joined back up with the family near Yokohama and we went to visit some other very good friends who relocated back to Japan from the UK last year, before returning to Kobe in the evening. Not the cheapest of round trips at around 350 quid ($700), but sometimes necessary.]]></body>
	<date>04-10-2006</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="2580">
	<title><![CDATA[A "Quick" trip to Tokyo]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[We`d arranged a quick visit Tokyo to meet up with various friends, a trip which involved us splitting up at Yokohama to go in differnt directions for a day, me staying with Sugiura sensei and my wife and son staying with some other friends that had recently transferred back to Japan from the UK. I was still a little sore from the "hernia, not hernia, maybe hernia" so I reluctantly left my keiko gi behind, which in a way was a blessing not having to lug it all around as I wondered around Shinjuku for the afternoon, but was a shame as I wouldn`t be practicing with Nojima Sensei.

I`d taken the decision that I would attempt at least one practice in Japan, but if I was only going to get one half chance, it would have to be with Nakao Sensei. Still I went to Keiko at the Honcho dojo, a few surprised faces, and good to watch, if not frustrating not being able to partake. It`s always interesting to watch from the sidelines, seeing how people have changed, but I just wanted to get on join in :(.

After keiko it was back to Sugiura Sensei`s house for a slap up feast of shabu shabu. "We mustn`t leave anything" he said, as he was off on his annual business trip to Germany two days later, the very same trip that he was going to visit us in England, but unfortunately, we double booked our respective trips and today was the onl;y chance we had to meet, still, the fridge was stocked with beer and the glasses were in the freezer............ "kampai, mata rai nen".
]]></body>
	<date>04-10-2006</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="2579">
	<title><![CDATA[Ghost in the shell]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[The Hotel bus drove us back to Himeji and dropped us off at the castle. The weather was surprisingly warm having been quite chilly since we got here. I`d forgotten how cold and damp Japanese houses feel in the winter, every night climbing into bed the sheets were ice cold and felt damp, I keep thinking I`m going to wake up with bronchitus. Still, walking through the gates of Himeji castle made up for it with all the cherry blossoms starting to bloom, the views across the castle grounds were fabulous. This was my fourth visit to Himeji jo, my youngest son was really looking forward to this, he`d seen the castle on the way past and recognised it from various series of Power Rangers, Ninja Storm in particular. 

We strolled up and round the castle climbing right up to the top floor, navigating through some seriously steep and narrow flights of stairs that were made even more dangerous by the constant polishing they get from the thousands of visitors each year. Not to mention the fact that the roof/ floor as you go up and down is only about three foot above the stairs, so us tall westerners are made to struggle hard..... still, it`s an interesting place to visit and should be on anyone`s sightseeing list coming to Japan. 

As we left the castle my wife asked our son if he would like to live there, "no" he shot back, "why not, it`s the Ninja Storm castle?". "There are two ghosts in there behind the door" he said, "I don`t want to stay here".........

As we strolled back out of the gate there was a cherry tree that was jsut starting to blossom when we went in, now just over an hour later, It was almost in full bloom, quite phenominal. ]]></body>
	<date>04-10-2006</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="2570">
	<title><![CDATA[Hot water]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[My inlaws had arranged for us all to go visit an onsen for a couple of days. It`s only taken me ten years to get used to this, but I`m finally warmingto it in all senses of the word.

I was taken to an onsen on my first trip here, and even when living here had many opportunities, but..........I just struggled sitting in bloody hot water, and I mean bloody hot, scalding hot in fact. Ever since the first time, I`ve just had better things to do than sit in 112 degree water on a hot summers day.........like take a cold shower:). 

Still, it`s a national past time, and over the past couple of years, I have started to adapt, as long as wego in the spring, not summer. So it was off to Himeji for a couple of days. Going to an onsen is an interesting experience, how many times can you take a bath in a single afternoon? We arrived in Himeji at noon and had a two hour wait for the bus, which we spent wandering around looking for somewhere to take lunch. Not the best, but we settled for the open diner under the tracks where you can choose from tako yaki (Octopus balls), yaki soba (fried noodles), Jumbo gyoza and a few others. I plumbed for the tako yaki, my favourite and the wife went for the gyoza, unfortunately, the tako yaki wasn`t exactly th ebest in town and was rather soft and undercooked......... The jumbo gyoza however were surprisingly good.

Finally caught the bus and rode up past mount Shosha (where they filmed parts of The Last Samurai and where I had an interestingstroll with Peter Rehse acouple of years ago) to the onsen. First stop was the swimming pool, which benefits from the same water as the onsen, my son`s first real attempt at swimming despite being almost 6 years old, but he doesn`t like water......I know.... but what can you do....... Fortunately, he thoroughly enjoyed it and wants to go again, so I guess I am signing him up for swimming lessons when we get back.....

From the pool we went straight to the hot baths, male and female are segregated, so it was all boys together. Maybe it`s my English reserve, but all the men walking around buck naked without a care in th eworld just isn`t my idea of fun or relaxation...... Having said that, I was able to immerse myself in the bloody hot water and stay in for 10 mins or so before the old chest started to feel constricted. time to get out and move to the Rotenburo (outside bath). This was much better  because the contrasting cool mountain air made it a lot more comfortable.

Eventually we got changed and went for dinner. Everyone usually wears a yukata, but at 6` 2" I can rarely find one that comes below my knees, and today was no exception, so I made do with jeans ;) Dinner was superb, a mix of suki yaki, sashimi and ..........ice cold beer :D. After finishng mine, and eating left overs from both my father and mother inlaw (why is my belly sticking out?) everyone wanted to go back into the bath, I left them to it........ I went back to our room and crashed on the tatami floor......That bloody jet lag thing, whilst no where near as bad as my last trip, had been playing me about for a couple of days, it was well past 2:00 AM before I went to sleep.....

Wake up, it`s 7 o`clock, time for a quick bath before breakfast. My wife is sitting there smiling ready to go. I manage to drag myself out of bed and wander down to the onsen for a final dunk before brekkie. I do confess that I enjoyed it.

A quick bite to eat before getting ready to catch the only bus of the morning down to Himeji castle ............]]></body>
	<date>04-04-2006</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="2569">
	<title><![CDATA[In Japan but no training yet]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[It`s been 6 months since I was last in Japan. That time I was on a business trip with a bit of time on my hands, as you can see from previous entries. This time I`m on vacation with the family, and although my wife gave me the green light to do as much training as I wanted (she hasn`t been home for 2 years and will be catching up with family and friends), I have been here for 5 days and haven`t trained once. It doesn`t help that 2 weeks before we left, something went "twang" during training and I was diagnosed with a hernia :(. From then, the trip took on a bit of a downer. I`d arranged a whole heap of keiko, mainly with Nakao sensei, my mentor here in Kobe, but also at my old dojo in Tokyo and a potentially interesting day down at Peter Rehse`s dojo in Himeji where I`d convinced Michael "Stumpy" Steumpel to also come and play, along with the possibility of Peter Goldsbury joining us too. On top of that, Peter R`s shihan had arranged for one of his top deshi and some "hot" randori students to come play too, it is all set for an interesting day next weekend.

After arriving at the inlaws, the first port of call was aisatsu with Nakao sensei. We packed a bag of omiyagi and headed off to his restaurant where we knew he`d be preparing for the evening. "oki ni" he says (a traditional Kansai greeting at restaurants) as we open the door, "Bryan keiko dekiru?" he asks as I enter "onaka dechau yo!" he laughs - "Can you practice Bryan, you`ve got a fat belly". OK, let`s put that into perspective, I`m 6` 2", 180 lbs (85Kg) and was commonly referred to as lanky for most of my life.I`m now 41 years old and spend 12 hours of my day in the car and at a desk, I still do 5 hours a week in the dojo, but don`t exactly have a six pack.........., well I do, but not the right sort :D.
After chatting for a bit I drop the hernia bomb, he is very disappointed. I promise that I will come and practice, but slowly...... We explain tha we have a couple of days travelling and then I will come and play next Friday. "I`m waiting for you" he smiles....

]]></body>
	<date>04-04-2006</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="2159">
	<title><![CDATA[I met the man!!]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[lunch time, being taken to a BBQ to meet the man! Dixies BBQ in Bellevue is apparently a very famous eatery, although you wouldn't think at first glance. It's a run down old garage converted into a ................well.........garage, that just happens to have a counter and a few tables inside. Having said that, the queue was out of the door. We were greeted by the "crazy eyed" owner, who asked us where we were from and made us stick pins in one of the many maps hanging on the wall.  

Took about 10 mins to get to the front of the queue during which time I was informed that the owner wasn't in fact "the man", I got the strange feeling I was being set up......... I plumbed for the very large pork sandwich and once ensconced in our seats, old crazy eyes came round. 

"he needs to meet the man" my colleague says to crazy eyes. He goes out the back and returns witha bowl of orange/ black sauce. "two or three" he asks In a voice that was way to squeaky and grating for his size. "small I say" as I make space in the side of the carton for the sauce he has been spooning on my colleagues plates. "this aint goin' on no paper" he squeaks, "it goes on the meat or you don't get none!"....... He places about half a small teaspoon full onto my sandwich, I take a little taste...................................one of my colleagues starts choking and coughing up, steam pouring from his ears as his face gets redder and redder, he's a veteran and knew what he was getting into! Me, my mouth, throat, windpipe and my insides are all starting to glow red......................bloody hell, what have I done? I'm on fire........this must just be the hottest food I've ever consumed in my life, it's unbelievable...........I reach for water and drink as fast as I can........ it actually takes close to 10 minutes for the feeling to subside!

It reminded me somewhat of tobanjan, a very hot spicy chilli-miso paste from China. Despite being hot though, it still wasn't as foul tasting as that Canadian Caesar thing Stumpy tried to get me to drink in Tokyo.....

I manage to last the rest of the afternoon with a 10 minute snooze in the office, but the old tummy was suffering some serious repecussions from our lunch time adventure.

Evening time, despite feeling rather groggy and a tad tired (gross under exagerration!), I manage to drag my self down to Aikido Eastside where I'd arranged to take a class with George Ledyard.

I got there a few minutes before George, the early class was running with Kevin Lam teaching, so I sat and watched. George came, we introduced ourselves and he suggested I change up and join in, so I did. 

The class ended soon after and George took over teaching the advanced class. I've mentioned that Stumpy had forearms like hams, well George's are possible double the size of Stumpy's!! When I grabbed him for nikkyo I crossed my self............"Bryan's being too kind" he says, "grab harder".....yeah right!

It was a most excellent class, I didn't even feel the jet lag until right near the end when I just seemed to run out of sand. The only real problem (aside from the techniques ;)), was every time I started to stand after being put down, "the man" decided to come back and visit!!

Interestingly for me, George is doing very similar aikido to what I am trying to do, he's just a lot farther down the road ;). The class was very friendly with some very accomplished students, if anyone comes near Seattle for any reason, make sure you go visit George, you will not be disappointed.

Well my trips just about over, just winding up my last day in the office. A quick two day trip to Minneapolis to visit me mum before returning home Monday morning. 

Almost 3 weeks away, despite the fun, I just want to go home now..........

]]></body>
	<date>10-06-2005</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="2149">
	<title><![CDATA[Groundhog Day!]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[A bizarre moment on Friday evening found Stumpy and me both working in the same building at the same time, 1 floor apart in downtown Tokyo. How weird is that?

After a bite to eat, he dragged me kicking and screaming (honest, he did ;)) back to Geronimo's Shot Bar. Where, despite some very persuasive attempts to get me to drink more alcohol :) I managed to survive a second Friday evening with him. I think my saving grace was his attempt to get me to drink a "Canadian Caesar", it was just so repulsive that it put me off ingesting anything else for the rest of the night. Honestly, I can't think of the appropriate words to describe how bad it tasted, nor print the few inappropriate words that I can think of, sorry Michael, but urrrghhhhhh.......(shudders)

After that, it was water all night!

We had another good old chin wag about Aikido, and he told me a top secret bit of info regarding the senshusei course, but has threatened to come to England and burn me out if I reveal the details here.................................... so if you really want to know, go to www.senhuseisecret.com where some anonymous person has posted the details ...................................................................................nuh huh, you didn't really think I'd do that did you?

I eventually forced myself to leave the bar around 11:30PM. Standing on the platform at Roppongi, I had a second bizarre moment for that day. Waiting for the train to come (that Oedo line is bloody slow!) I recognized a face walking towards me "Ishii san?" I ask, "huh? eh! Buraian san?" says an astonished Ishii san. We last met over 5 years ago when we were both working for a Japanese Securities house in London! What are the odds of passing by on a Subway station in Tokyo?........

Saturday comes, a dash to pick up a few last minute souvenirs before checking out at 11:30AM and heading off to the Airport..

No real major traumas enroute, nor on the flight, other than an extremely talkative chap who just didn't stop, on the NEX, and a very nervous looking chap sitting next to me on the plane. His right leg was so jumpy it was making me stressed out just looking. He didn't stop bouncing the whole 8 hour flight, I wasn't sure if it was nerves, or an excess of sugar. I didn't count the Cokes, nor the very large pack of gummy bears, or the large pack of crisps, nor the super big jumbo pack of Juicy Fruit gum, or the large pack of Beef Jerky, all of which were devoured during the flight...........

No hassles at customs, a quick taxi to my hotel and I check in at 10:30AM Saturday morning. How freaky is that? I check in at my next hotel an hour before I left my previous hotel, on the same day. I think I may actually have seen the vortex as we crossed the international date line forcing me to relive Saturday! At the hotel, I go for Saturday lunch, or was it dinner.........................................................Again! 

The rest of the weekend was fairly uneventful, dinner in a relatively deserted hotel, with just 4 delightful ladies for company, all in town on a "Mothers of twins" convention. All very large ladies, ordering all low fat dressings on their salads, but with "blue cheese" on the side..........................!

I ended up watching TV movies for most of Sunday, my only observations limited to the TV channel that kept interrupting the movie with warnings to inform you that parental discretion was required for the disturbing scenes coming,or, breaking the movie to show you how a particular special effect was completed before resuming the film, or the continual adverts for allergies and asthma. Where they paint pretty pictures of life, tell you what their medicine their medicine can cure for you, before adding a swift disclaimer at the end......

"...........side effects are generally mild and may include headaches, nausea, nosebleeds and sore throats!" Remind me again why I would bother to take this medicine to cure my allergy, when all it does it replace it with a load of chemically driven ones..........

Eventually manage a couple of four hours of sleep before waking up about 4AM and remaining awake..........................bloody jet lag!

Made it to work but am struggling big time to stay awake. Eye lids feel like they are made from sand paper, and weigh two tons. Can't...........keep.............my...........eyes..........open!!!!

Regretfully, I have just e-mailed George Ledyard to inform him that I'm not going to make it this evening. Even if I did go, I'd be sleep walking on the mat, the jetlag has just totally shagged me, but what do you expect doing three timezones in 1 week..................................... I just hope I don't have to relive Saturday ever again!!!



]]></body>
	<date>10-03-2005</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="2138">
	<title><![CDATA[Am I stupid or what?]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[Well the blogs up to date, eventually....:). It`s my last day in the office here, flying out tomorrow, what can I do tonight? 

Ummmmmmmm, I know, how about a farewell drink with that friendly Yoshinkan chappie down in Roppongi :D. Have arranged to meet up with Stumpy again for a farewell drink after work tonight, although I have promised that I will only be having a "half"............ Am I stupid or what (again, I didn`t ask for comments from the peanut gallery thank you)?

Honestly, no, really, I`m travelling tomorrow, I can`afford to get messed up like last week!! (that`s why I`m writing it here up front before I go, so if I do get drunk, not that Mike would do that to me again, would he? ;), he`s got nowhere to hide and everyone will know who`s fault it is..............hahahahahahaaaaaaaa :D).

Before I leave, one comment on the very cool menu system at the izakaya I went to the other night (a different one). Most Japanese izakaya have a very extensive picture based menu. This one was no different, except that it was all on a touch screen. All you did was look at the pics, touch the one you want and add it to the list, once your list is complete you press send and wait. Food starts arriving shortly after. When we arrived at the izakaya, my colleague ordered a coke without ice through a real live waitress, when we ordered a second drink through the automated menu, it also turned up without ice. How cool is that, it must have recorded my voice when I placed the initial order.................................:D.

Right then, onto part two of my trip. Of to the good old US of A. Won`t have as much "free" time as I`ve had here, don`t have as many aiki (read drinking) buddies to socialize with there, the office folks are pretty sedated, but am planning to visit George Ledyards dojo (if he`ll still have me after this debacle :D).

ooh goody, more jet lag!

itekimasu!]]></body>
	<date>09-29-2005</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="2137">
	<title><![CDATA[We Need 4 Large ones!!]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[My last training session in Japan this trip, Going to Nakano dojo tonight, the hombu of our association (within the Aikikai). Sugiura Sensei, Nojima Sensei and Kaicho will all be there. Sad that it`s the last one, but kind of glad, it`s costing me a fortune in laundry bills at the hotel to get my keiko gi washed, 2000 yen each time (10 quid or $20) same price as one of their $B!H(Byummy$B!I(B breakfasts which am now avoiding as the local Starbucks is 75% cheaper and far more appetizing.

Work drags, well, I`ve got to write up these blog updates haven`t I? I`m late, gotta dash back to the hotel, pick up my freshly cleaned, and pressed keiko gi, yep, they do at least press my gi when they launder it (suppose that makes it worth 2000 yen then), and then get over to Nakano................

I get there just in time, Matsumoto Sensei doesn`t remember me, but then why should he? $B!H(BOh,......... BRYAN!!$B!I(B, he remembers, or at least makes it look like he does :D. Class begins and .............................. everything just turns to the proverbial brown stuff. I thought after 14 years of practice I`d at least be able to offer a passable attempt at doing this stuff, but no, not tonight............

Before long, $B!H(BBryan!$B!I(B, Matsumoto Sensei calls me up, $B!H(BIt`s been a while$B!I(B he tells the class, $B!H(BBryan`s from England$B!I(B. $B!H(BTsuki$B!D!D(B.migi!$B!I(B he says, I step and punch and hit the floor like a ton of bricks.......thank you god, Nikkyo! Matsumoto Sensei then puts me on my knees with another Nikkyo and holds me there whilst he explains to the class how the idea is not to cause pain in the initial stages, but at this point, uke will try to stand, or punch, or step forwards (yes, I had to do all of these multiple times), which is what causes the pain, bloody hell, does it!!!

I last the class with no adverse effects, other than a sore wrist of course. I motion to Sugiura Sensei $B!H(Bdrink?$B!I(B, he shakes his head, not today, I have to return home. I bid my farewell to Nojima Sensei and thank him for everything before going to change. Sugiura Sensei`s waiting for me outside by his push bike, and accompanies me on the way to the station........

$B!H(BThere`s no one at my home tonight$B!I(B he says, $B!H(Bbut there`s 6 beers in the fridge!$B!I(B. $B!H(BBryan, you will come to my house!$B!I(B. What can I do.......?

I start walking at a brisk pace, trying to keep up with his bike. 3KM later, yep, a 2 mile walk back to his house!! And we`re stopping at a vending machine to buy more beer, $B!H(Bjust in case$B!I(B he says $B!H(Bwe need 4 large ones!$B!I(B. $B!H(BVery famous chef in Nakano now, very interesting recipes!!$B!I(B he smiles :).

We arrive at his house and he pulls two frozen glasses from the freezer (something tells me he was expecting me to be here ;)). We crack a bottle of beautiful ice cold Sapporo Black Label beer, the first of more, pour it and ..........the glass sticks to my lip...................................(nah, not really, but it might of done :D). He leaves me at the table to drink whilst busying himself in the kitchen. A stew arrives, Konyaku (kind of jelly stuff made from potato flour), pork, chinese leaf cabbage, mushrooms and Tobanjan, or togarashi or shichirin or some other bloody hot, spicy, chillied ingredient. $B!H(Buh uh uh uh uh uh......$B!I(B I gasp and wheeze as the first piping hot spiced up morsel lands on my tongue. $B!H(BIs it OK?$B!I(B he asks, $B!H(Bfine$B!I(B I mumble, $B!H(Bjust hot!$B!I(B. $B!H(BSpicy hot?$B!I(B, $B!H(Bno$B!I(B I lie $B!H(Bjust hot hot!$B!I(B, which it also is. More beer goes down................

I love coming to Japan, I fell in love with it when I first came here in 1995, and have been back at least once a year ever since. 15 trips in 10 years, including some extended holidays of 2 or 3 months, and a 2 year transfer with my company (that`s a whole story in itself but it definitely ain`t going down in writing ;)). The thing that surprised me is that despite supposedly having a gene missing that helps them absorb alcohol, they can drink for England, I mean, we`re the supposed lager louts (or so we`re led to believe by the press ;)). Coming to Japan can have serious repercussions on the old liver...................

Quarter to midnight, I finally have to leave Sugiura Sensei, he wants to walk me to the station. We get half way when a sandal breaks. $B!H(BBryan, I have to go home, my shoe is broken!$B!I(B. $B!H(BNext April I will go to Germany on business$B!I(B he says, $B!H(BIf BA, I will of course visit you in England, if SwissAir......$B!I(B. $B!H(BSwissAir!$B!I(B I exclaim.......$B!I(BI will try hard.......,no! OK then, I promise that I will come to visit you in England next April!$B!I(B. We shake hands and part, I look back after 10 paces, he is still standing there waving and bowing............
]]></body>
	<date>09-29-2005</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="2136">
	<title><![CDATA[It`s a business trip....no, really, it is!!]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[Missing training at Honcho dojo tonight, here on a business trip so must make a vague attempt at doing some work............

Have to give two presentations to the local office today, on two of our new products. One presentation I did for the techies yesterday, have to give it to Sales today, but they`re not interested are they, it`s a bloody technical presentation!!

I begin, two slides in the President does his best to conceal his continued yawning and at least tries to make it look like he`s interested, the sales guy is not so tactful, he`s already asleep with his head tilted back snoring. If I didn`t know any better, I`d think that I was a lousy presenter.................(no comments from the peanut gallery please). 

No, it`s a known fact here in Japan, people only go to presentations and meetings in order to catch up on sleep. I`ve been to too many where more than half the attendees are asleep within seconds of sitting down..............So why DO they work these stupid hours?

I start skipping slides, ignoring the technical content and focusing on basic feature content, blimey, 100 slides finished in 20 mins, took me five times longer than this dicussing with the techies yesterday!!!

After lunch I have to run the second presentation, this one I`m running cold. I didn`t write it, and hadn`t had a chance to preview it before giving it (don`t ya just love it), so it came as no surprise that the whole thing was just..................well,(insert expletive here)!! What a complete............ oh I can`t be bothered, anyways, I`ve now got a whole hatful of questions to ask back in the UK..........

And I`m missing keiko at Honcho dojo for this!
]]></body>
	<date>09-29-2005</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="2135">
	<title><![CDATA[That was soooooooo gooooooood!!!!]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP

WOOHOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

I slept for 7 hours!!!!!!]]></body>
	<date>09-29-2005</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="2134">
	<title><![CDATA[I wish I was a taxi driver!]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[Tuesday evening, I am so bloody knackered it`s not true. Works finished and all I want to do is crash, but I now have the obligatory nokai with the local office folks and the President of the Japanese office. A nice bunch of people but I`m just not in the right frame of mind, still, one does what one has to, giri and all...........

My colleague says he`s not a fussy eater, just doesn`t like fish (especially raw) or vegetables, and he only likes to eat very small. We settle on an expensive traditional Japanese izakaya, hey, the boss is paying on expenses, we`re not going for burgers tonight.......:D

We are then led a merry dance by the marketing manager as he tries to find the restaurant, $B!H(Bexit B6$B!I(B he says, and then promptly turns round and walks off towards A4!! Errrrrr $B!H(Bdidn`t you say B6?$B!I(B a number of us question. $B!H(BNO, NO, A4$B!I(B he utters. We turn a corner $B!H(BHora......$B!I(B He points........

A very nice restaurant, with very YUMMY (TM) smells emanating from every crevice. We sit, we order, well, drinks are ordered ;) Would you like some food with your beer? I don`t know if it`s just me, but here in Japan there always seems to be way more alcohol consumed at these gatherings than food.........

The Japanese are known as workaholics, working stupid hours that.........they just shouldn`t. I`ve experienced it, observed it, and can`t really fathom out why, but each to his own. They also have a very structured organization in the office, everyone knows their place and a fairly strict order is maintained, but when you go out for beer.......basically, anything goes, a chance to let your hair down and chill, you can say anything to anyone, including the boss, and it stays at the table (allegedly), hey I`m writing a blog, not mentioning names, and they have no idea this website exists....... (I hope ;) :D).

So once the evening is in full swing......................It comes as no surprise  (well, actually it does) when one particular person, under extreme alcoholic influence, decides to start telling the President that he (the President) should consider having all male relations (I`m obviously toning this down as it`s a public board, political correctness and I`m an English gentleman.....:D). The same character then starts confessing some of his own marital problems and how he is also considering all male relations...........At this point, my colleague and I are starting to feel a little uncomfortable, my colleague more so than I, especially since said person has been giving him the eye all night.............:D.The same person who said he`s a Liverpool fan, not because he likes them (he thinks Arsenal are a much better team), but because he likes Steven Gerrard..............

After much food and even more alcohol (not as much as with Stumpy though, learnt my lesson there ;)) we decide to head for the hills, my colleague can`t get out quick enough :D.

TAXI!!!

$B!H(BCentury Southern Tower Hotel, Shinjuku$B!I(B,....... $B!H(BDon`t know it Sir$B!I(B,........$B!I(BYodobashi Camera, Shinjuku$B!I(B,.........$B!I(BDon`t know it Sir$B!I(B,........You`re `avin` a larf aren`t you? How do these people get a job driving taxis? Finally settle on Shinjuku station again and off we go.

Fall into my hotel room around midnight, crash out on the bed and ...............SLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!!!!
]]></body>
	<date>09-29-2005</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="2133">
	<title><![CDATA[Angry White Pyjamas]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[It`s 9:30PM and am ready to crash, been up since 2:00AM and am suffering. Lights out and zonk.............

Suddenly wide awake, look at the clock, 10:30PM, I$B!G(Bve been asleep for a whopping one whole hour!! I lay there, eyes closed trying to return to my slumber, but the brain is now active and I can`t. Grrrrrr..........

I suppose it`s a good job I`m awake, the phone rings $B!H(Bit`s the Danish connection$B!I(B says the voice on the line, $B!H(BHi Jorgen$B!I(B. It`s Jorgen from Aikiweb, also here on vacation, I`d been trying to get him to come along to Tuesday morning Keiko at Stumpy`s. $B!H(Bpractice is 7:00 tomorrow$B!I(B he asks, $B!H(B5:45$B!I(B I reply, $B!H(Bthat`s bloody early!!$B!I(B. We arrange to meet at Roppongi station before I try to return to sleep.

Sleeeeeeeeeeeeep!!!!! Such a simple thing yet so bloody difficult to achieve at the moment. I look at the clock 11:00 PM, I can still get 6 hours, I turn over and close my eyes.

I look at the clock again, OK, I can still get 5 hours........

Trying to sleep is now becoming torture, I`ve never been affected by jet lag this badly before, still, I can get 4 hours.........

PLEASE GOD LET ME SLEEP!!!!!!!!!!!! It`s 2:AM and I`ve only had about 8 hours in the last 5 days, what are you doing to me?

$B!H(BBEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP$B!I(B,.......what the f...? I realize that the alarm has disturbed my beautiful peaceful slumber. It`s 5:00AM, bloody hell, how am I supposed to recover, my body is rebelling in all directions, but I had promised Stumpy that I would come out to play. I jump out of bed, sling on yesterdays clothes, grab my keiko gi (packed it last night ;)) and run out the door.

I`m in the subway 10 minutes after the alarm goes, feeling a tad on the groggy side, there`s no train for another 15 mins, am only just gonna make it to class. The train pulls in to Roppongi, as I stand, I notice Jorgen in the next compartment, I stroll through and we introduce ourselves. He`s read Angry White Pyjamas and confessed he was nervous about this class ;) (Sorry Jorgen, it is a blog, and I do have creative licence :D). We enter the dojo where Stumpy is already waiting.

Both Jorgen and I leave our hakama`s in our bags. We line up and class starts, there`s 6 of us plus Stumpy. He runs through a quick warm up and moves onto Yoshinkan Kihon Dosa, this is where me and Jorgen are continuously glancing over our shoulders trying to keep up whilst figuring out what he`s actually doing (at least I am, couldn`t care a less about Jorgen at this point, having enough difficulty trying to figure my own moves out without looking like a total spaz :D). The rest of the class all seem perfectly in tune.

We move onto shomen uchi Yonkyo, katate dori nikkyo, and shomen uchi iriminage. The difficulty for me (don`t know about Jorgen) was figuring out the way that they moved to start each technique, it was quite formal (not a criticism), just different to what I`m used to. I became a mess of feet and thumbs, getting it wrong practically every time..........reminded me something about beginners mind :D. Each technique, Stumpy would come along and join in with us both giving and receiving (oooerrrrr madam, that sounds a bit rude &#8211; but this is Yoshinkan ;) :D).........

The man is a bear and has forearms like hams, how the hell are you supposed to do yonkyo to him when you can`t even get a grip with two of your own hands?........As for nikkyo, his hands just engulfed mine, felt like he could snap my wrist if he sneezed!!

Stumpy then asked me to take two of the techniques and show them from my perspective. He`d mentioned this the previous Friday, so I`d already planned something, shame I then proceeded to do something completely different. Nothing I`d thought about came out, I know it was just to give his guys a taster of something different but am not convinced that I did myself justice :(, although my nikkyo pin did seem to go down with some appreciation with his students. I`ve been wondering about that, because from what I experienced in the class, I don`t think it was that different at all.........

After we`d finished, Stumpy, Jorgen and I retired to a corner for 15 mins to chat over differences in techniques, why we did what we did in the ways that we did etc. I think we all came to the conclusion that whilst the methodology may differ, at the heart we are all on the same road doing the same thing. Maybe not as big as Aiki Expo, but it was a good class for me.

Drew walks in the door for the 7:00AM class, I bow out. I`m feeling bloody knackered at this point and make some feeble excuses about getting back to the hotel for breakfast, need to get my keiko gi in the laundry, no change of clothes, there was an earthquake, a tidal wave, it wasn`t my fault.........(ode to the Blues Brothers there :D).

We get Drew to take a couple of quick snaps of the three of us on the cameras that both Jorgen and I took along (will post when I get back to the UK). Don`t know why we got Drew to do it, he should have been in them too since he`s on Aikiweb!! Drew mentions something about me blowing in Stumpy`s ear the othre day, a picture somewhere, but has fortunately forgotten to provide me with a link......PHEW!!).

Jorgen decides to stay for the next class, I bid my farewells and leave. Straight down to a vending machine on the corner where I guzzle down a litre of Aquarius to replace the lost fluids from training.

I get back to the hotel, shower up and meet my colleague for breakfast, return to my room for a 10 minute sit down before going off to work, where I am violently ill..........bloody glad I didn`t stay for Stumpy`s second class.......... and so is he :D.

Bloody Jetlag  
]]></body>
	<date>09-29-2005</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="2128">
	<title><![CDATA[What?........ I`m in the demo?]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[Lucky I couldn`t sleep huh! Awake from 2:00AM, so no chance of missing the meeting with Sugiura Sensei at 09:30. 

Small breakfast at the hotel before leaving, thin slices of overcooked cold streaky bacon, lukewarm mini wiener sausages, congealed scrambled eggs and cold potatoes, all for a paltry 2000 Yen (that`s 10 Quid or 20 dollars to you and me), what`s that all about then? Oh, I see, $B!H(BViking buffet$B!I(B I can go back and have as much of this (umm, lost for words) as I want, as many times as I want (yummeeeeee), oh to be in Japan!

Sunday, day of the 5th annual Egota Embutaikai, one of the dojo`s in my old association. Meeting Sugiura Sensei at a local station to go watch, along with my colleague who has decided to come with us. Packed up my keiko gi (as will be going on to old dojo after to practice), along with small gifts for Sugiura Sensei, Nojima Sensei (my Sensei) and a very expensive bottle of Scottish Malt for Koyama Sensei (Kaicho, head of my old association). 

$B!H(BEehhhhhhhh! BRYAN!!!!!!!$B!I(B echo surprised shouts as my old dojo mates pile onto the platform at Nakano Sakaue. It`s been over two years since I`d been in Tokyo, hand shakes and hugs all round, before we all pile onto the train and head for Egota.

The wind was howling as we left the station, the tail end of Typhoon 17 gusting through Tokyo. Fortunately, it veered off back into the Pacific before any really serious weather hit us. The only damage done to my colleagues hair.......

$B!H(BOh Bryan, you bought Keiko gi, good, you`re doing the Embu!$B!I(B whispers Sugiura Sensei nonchalantly as we stroll along the street. $B!H(BEh, what?$B!I(B I stammer. $B!H(BYanagisawa kun has to work, you will take his place$B!I(B, he says.........$B!I(BOkaaaaaaaaaay$B!I(B.

We reach the dojo. $B!H(BKaicho!$B!I(B announces Sugiura Sensei and marches me straight off for aisatsu (formal greetings) with Koyama Sensei. He still remembers me, Koyama Sensei is approaching 80 years old, but is still going strong, still practices 2 or 3 times a week, takes ukemi for anyone, but is also busy as Director of both the Tokyo Aikido Renmei and the All Japan Aikido Renmei.

I ask Sugiura Sensei what we are doing in the embu, $B!H(Btsuki and tanto$B!I(B he says, $B!H(Bwe`ll work it out!$B!I(B.

Nojima Sensei walks in $B!H(BBryan, genki? Embu yaru? Tanto desu$B!I(B. I nod meekly. $B!H(BYou will be uke for Sugiura Sensei!$B!I(B, I pale.........

I like Sugiura Sensei a lot, good character and very strong powerful technique, but me attack him with tanto? You gotta be kidding, I`m here on business.....and carrying an 8 month leg injury that hampers my ability to ukemi........not to mention the fact that I`ve only had about 7 hours sleep in the last 4 days.........HELP!! We pair up at the back to go through the plan, LUCKY ME!! I have to attack him with tsuki (no tanto), slowly three times. He will do three predetermined moves. Then I have to attack him continuously for 2 minutes while he tosses me around, errr, I mean does jiyu waza. BUT........... we immediately follow this with him attacking me with tsuki (WITH TANTO) two times, I have to do two predetermined moves. Then he has to attack me for 2 minutes continuously with the tanto whilst I do jiyu waza.  Hahahahahahaaaaaa............

We finished with Nojima Sensei who demonstrated his Yoshinkan roots on two ukes ;). It all went down well with my colleague who thought the Honcho dojo embu was the best of the lot :D.

Most of the guys from the embu went off to a drinking party, but given the previous day, I thought better of it, besides, I had 2 hours of keiko to do followed by dinner with Sugiura Sensei.

Keiko was good, more people surprised at my unannounced arrival, lots of old friends wanting to throw me around. The leg held up surprisingly well......Just needed a bit of damage limitation at dinner, lilmited myself to 3 Dai Joki :D.

The final hurdle for the day was sleep, boy did I need some, back to the hotel, lights out around midnight and out like a light...............................................until 2 AM.

Bloody jet lag.............................................]]></body>
	<date>09-29-2005</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="2123">
	<title><![CDATA[oooh my head! - delayed post]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA["Oh my god, don`t ever let me drink beer again...!". A phrase I never ever thought I would utter.

08:30 AM, 2 hours sleep in the last 36 or so, beer, jet lag, I dunno which, but I can`t move! Saturday morning, I`d promised to take my colleague sightseeing, but even allowing I could stand, I`d just lose everything inside........  uuuuuurrrrrghhhhhh!!!!!!!!

"knock knock", I stumbled to the door, it was my colleague "ready for breakfast?". "Not now mate, give me another half an hour or so". Off he went as I crashed back onto the bed.

It wouldn`t have been so bad if I could sleep, but I was bloody  wide awake, just couldn`t move! I lay curled up in a ball on the bed :(.

It was 3PM when I finally managed to drag myself into the shower. Feeling marginally refreshed, if one can at this point, there was another knock at the door where a Starbucks coffee magically appeared, I accepted it gratefully. Although my stomach was still rebelling, I figured that if I hadn`t thrown up by now, I wasn`t likely to.

Finally ready to go out around 4PM, made a fleeting visit to Meiji Jingu, before venturing out for something to eat. Normally I`d have a large Dai Joki of ice cold golden beer with my tonkatsu (deep fried pork cutlet), but I just couldn`t bring myself to.....

Feeling rather knackered at this point I head back for bed. Crash straight out.......... for 3 hours!!

2AM, wide awake again..........

Bloody jet lag..........
]]></body>
	<date>09-28-2005</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="2122">
	<title><![CDATA[Bloody Jet Lag - delayed post]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[Checked in to the hotel around 6PM, conscious of the late time made a quick call to the cell phone of Michael "Stumpy" Steumpel. Never met him, only conversed through Aikiweb, but he`d kindly offered to "get me onto local time"....

He was at the hotel in 20 mins whisking me off to some charlatan area called Roppongi. We were to meet up with Drew Hamilton at a bar before moving on to a restaurant for some food.

Enter Geronimo`s Shot Bar, before I`d closed the door, drinks are provided curteousy of "Victoria", an English regular, freshly returned from the UK that PM. 

A number of charming ladies lined up around the small bar, who all seem to be very fond of Stumpy. Alarmingly, there`s a small brass plaque with Stumpy`s fading name screwed to the counter (reward for good custom, I`m informed). It`s one of those bars you hear about, the drinks are reloaded with alarming speed. 3, or was it 4 "quick" beers later we relocate 50 yards down the street to an izakaya. 

The beer here is 75% cheaper than the bar!! A selection of dishes follow including some delicious tako wasabi (raw octopus with wasabi), which only Stumpy and I seem to eat...... A Dai joki or two(?) later and we`re heading back to Geronimo`s, eek!!

Those of you familiar with the book "Angry White Pyjamas" may recall the author had a "situation" in a bar....yep, it was here, although the bar is vastly smaller  than the image held in my head whilst reading the book (a phrase involving swinging cats comes to mind).

I have no idea how many more beers were sunk?? Some complete stranger attempted the Geronimo challenge failing miserably as he puked all over the counter (on your plaque too Michael, all though I`m not telling tales). A successfull Geronimo`s challenge invloves downing 15 shots, and is rewarded with a brass plaque on the wall of fame/shame and a free Geronimo`s T-shirt), . Eventually managed to crawl away from Stumpy`s fantastic hospitality and some stimulating Aikido conversation sometime after midnight, with a promise to visit Stumpy`s dojo on Tuesday morning at 5:45AM!!

TAXI!!

"Century Southern Tower Hotel, Shinjuku,........don`t know it sir" (only one of the bigger hotels in Shinjuku, right by the station). "Yodobashi Camera,.........don`t know it sir" (only the most famous electrical superstore in Shinjuku). Was this guy havin` a laugh? "Shinjuku station,...... I think so". Convinced he was taking us for a ride in more than one sense of the word, I tried to remain as alert as that many beers would let me.....

Eventually we did arrive at Shinjuku station without further issue, where we stumbled from the cab and "walked" to the hotel. "Of course I can, look I`m walking straight" I answered when my colleague asked whether I thought I could still defend myself if someone attacked me now!

Tumbled into bed around 1AM falling asleep instantly, only to wake up about 2 hours later. Eyes wide awake, totally unable to get back to sleep, so much for switching onto Tokyo time...

Bloody jet lag...........
 ]]></body>
	<date>09-28-2005</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="2121">
	<title><![CDATA[Bloody Trains - delayed post]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[Ahhh, back in Japan again, somehow managed to convince the company to send me over on a business trip. 15th visit here in the last 10 years, you`d think by now that I could figure out the bloody Narita Express$B!D!D(B

Reserved seats only on the NEX so a bit surprised when someone else had a ticket to sit in my seat! Close examination of the tickets highlighted the problem, we were on the 16:46 not the 16:16! I suppose it`s pretty easy to confuse 16 and 46 in Japanese, at least that`s my excuse. Already done 16 hours of travel, now we have to stand the whole bloody way into Tokyo, and in the section between cars without air conditioning too. 

$B!H(BEh!! this train doesn`t go to Shinjuku?$B!I(B I asked the ticket inspector, $B!H(Bthis train is for Ofuna$B!I(B he said ...

Had to jump off at Tokyo station, and do a quick 100m dash down the platform pushing my suitcase as fast I could go to change carriages....

Bloody trains.]]></body>
	<date>09-28-2005</date>
</blogEntry>


</blogEntries>