Weekend seminar with Howard Popkin at Aikido Eastside - thanks and comments

I wanted to take a minute to thank Howard Popkin for his excellent seminar this weekend at George Ledyard's Aikido Eastside. Howard presented his very solid material with clarity and humor. He was very patient with our many questions and the material selected seemed very well chosen for the target audience. It was distinct and different enough to force folks (myself certainly included) out of the comfort zone of "stuff I know" and yet one could easily see how many of the principles involved could be applied to ones Aikido. His ability to make distinctions between aiki-waza and (aiki influenced) jujutsu waza was very helpful and informative. Personally I found a lot of similarities (in terms of technical details, martial strategy and mental intent) with what I've experienced from Don Angier and his students in Yanagi Ryu and Shindo Yoshin Ryu (by way of Toby Threadgill). If you get the opportunity, I very much recommend taking advantage of an opportunity to train with Popkin Sensei (or if you're able, his teacher Okamoto Sensei. FL anybody? )

So, Sensei, thank you very much for your time and generosity this weekend. George, thank you for bringing Howard out and hosting this weekend, it was very much appreciated.

Chris,

Thanks for the kind words. It was really great meeting you.

I thought it was a great group. Everyone had lots of experience. It made my job really easy. You're correct by the way, the material was chosen for that reason. Wasn't so foreign that people said " ????", but different enough to stir the pot, so to speak.

Love to have you guys down there in Florida. Going to be a blast.

Thanks again to George for setting it all up. George is a top-notch Aikidoka, a wonderful host, and a great friend.

Talk soon,

Howard

I can definitely agree with Chris. We hosted Howard and had a great time, learned a lot, and we're hoping to have him back again this summer!

Mark

Yeah. What Chris said.

Howard Popkin wrote: Love to have you guys down there in Florida. Going to be a blast.

March 29, Saturday next in Boca. Looking forward to it greatly, as always.

Glad to here you guys in Seattle are enjoying Howard's visits as much as we are down in Florida. When Okamoto-sensei visits here it's gonna be great- immensely skilled and a wicked sense of humor to boot... (Sensei AND Howard both!)

Chris,
Are you coming down to Florida as well? I was up last November for the Aunkai shindig that you hosted, good times. I'm still working on digesting everything from that weekend!

Don,
Thanks for the training (and the residual whiplash, heh...)at the Sunday study group meeting....

Rob

Rob MacPherson wrote: Chris, Are you coming down to Florida as well? I was up last November for the Aunkai shindig that you hosted, good times. I'm still working on digesting everything from that weekend!

Hey Rob, no I won't be able to make it out this year. I'll be keeping an eye out however in the future. He definitely seems like someone who is worth making the effort to see first hand.

Rob,

" I'm funny how, I mean funny like I'm a clown, I amuse you? I make you laugh, I'm here to amuse you? What do you mean funny, funny how? How am I funny?"



Howie

Ditto everything.
Had great time, good group and excellent instruction. Loved the jujutsu.

Thanks all,
JEremy

Christian Moses wrote: Hey Rob, no I won't be able to make it out this year. I'll be keeping an eye out however in the future. He definitely seems like someone who is worth making the effort to see first hand.

Too bad...I'll catch ya next time in Seattle when Akuzawa is in town and I'm feeling masochistic for more "tenchijin"

Howard Popkin wrote: Rob, " I'm funny how, I mean funny like I'm a clown, I amuse you? I make you laugh, I'm here to amuse you? What do you mean funny, funny how? How am I funny?" Howie

So, when do I learn the real Roppokai okuden; like "Aiki-StuffaGuyintheTrunk".....or do we have a whole scroll of Head-in-a-Vice-Waza??

Rob

Roppokai Hiden Waza,

Death by Sake

Howard:

is that death by sake or eternal preservation through sake pickling?


Marc Abrams

onaji desu