YO SHIN 

YO SHIN Newsletter of Aikido Yoshinkai Canada 399 Yonge Street, 2nd Floor Toronto ON M5B 1S9 Tel: (416) 585 9602 Email: info@aikido.ca Website: www.aikido.ca Chief Instructor: Kimeda Sensei, 9th Dan Newsletter Editor: Jeremy Brett Assistant Editor: Michael Kimeda October 2014 EDITION Welcome to Yo Shin #12 The Yo Shin is proud to publish another edition. This fall copy has articles from Michael
Kimeda and Rayburn Ho. The Ottawa Yoshinkan Dojo celebrates its 20th Anniversary,
and we have a photo documentary of the 2014 Japan Trip with Kimeda Sensei.
The Muguruza-Mustard Clinic is coming up soon, so please sign up!!!
Toronto AYC Recent Grading Results: 1st Kyu - Michael Bachinello, 3rd Kyu Thibault Etiembre, 4th Kyu - Neil Sandler, Kerry Brown, 5th Kyu - Erik Sikkerbol,
Christine Cleary, Brian Culicias, 6th Kyu - William Turcott, Quang Lung, Mikihalia
Cameron, Pauline Ho, Mehmet Aksek, Andrei Bandarenca, Andres Morales, 7th Kyu -,
Julie Kennett, Marien Vaga, Lucase Jose, Geffrey Robertson, Kino Kawah, Peter
Apostic
Ottawa AYC Recent Grading Results: 3rd kyu - Yanick Rail, Naoko Tanaka,
Eleanor Nagai, 6th kyu - Michel Charbonneau, Yolène Louiseize and Olivia Tétreault,
7th kyu - Justine Gamache-Howard
Hamilton AYC Recent Grading Results: 6th Kyu - Nash Velinovic, Maria
Campanella, Salvatore Campanella, Nate Upham, 7th Kyu - Sebastian Crosta
Iaido Recent Grading Results: 5th Dan - Jeremy Brett, AYC, Canadian Kendo
Federation; Michael Hodge, AYC/JCCC, British Kendo Association;
1st Kyu - Francis Penir, AYC, Canadian Kendo Federation
If You Knew You Would
Have Done It Correctly
by Michael Kimeda, 5th Dan Aikido
Learning requires you to have an open mind, to recognize your mistakes, and be open
to correction. We are all on the mats to learn and on the mats these aspects of learning
manifest in different ways.
“Have an open mind” and “keep you mind open” are expressions we hear all the time,
they can mean many things and they can be cliché and they become cliché when we
say we are open, but really are not. Having an open mind means paying attention to the
details that Sensei is discussing even though you have heard him explain the same
thing many, many times before; this time you might actually understand. Keeping an
open mind with respect to listening to Sensei is just the first easy step. It also means
being open to how uke reacts to your technique (verbally, visually and physically) and
adjusting your technique correspondingly. It means feeling the technique that is being
applied to you and working with your partner- not reacting the “proper” way or moving in
the direction that you think you should go, but moving where you are being thrown.
Having an open mind means trying to vary the technique to see what works best and
not robotically doing the same movements over and over.
Sometimes you think you have an open mind when you really do not. An instructor I
trained under in Japan absolutely hated to hear “I know” after correcting a mistake. If
you knew, you would have done it correctly. Saying “I know” is defensive and face
saving. It indicates that you have closed your mind to the correction and the new
learning.
Recognizing your own mistakes is another aspect to learning. Often uke does not react
the way you want and it becomes an easy excuse to blame uke - uke was too stiff, too
junior, or not trying hard enough. It might have been the case, but nothing is gained by
that way of thinking. An old partner of my in Japan used to say “Uke is King”. He was
Japanese, so I have always hoped that that made more sense in Japanese than it does
in English, but what he meant was that uke is never, can never be, wrong. Uke attacks
how she attacks, and reacts how she reacts. Shite’s job is to work with that. So if you
think uke should be following you around as you pivot but she is not it is your job to
figure out why.
Another way to recognize your mistakes is to go back to the basics and go back to
aikido principles. We have important points pounded into our heads in the dojo: keep
your shoulders down, make big pivots, slide your feet, don’t use arm muscle. When you
don’t feel you have done a technique correctly you don’t need to immediately put up
your hand and ask – run through the basics and the principles and think about what you
did wrong. Having Sensei point out your mistake is not learning; figuring out on your
own is.
Mistakes do not only appear in techniques that didn’t work; a technique that felt smooth
and strong can be full of errors. So while doing a technique be aware of the points that
Sensei was discussing and aware of other bad habits you have. Think about them
before you begin, and then again after the end of the technique. The kinds of errors that
I am thinking about that would fall into this category are bad zanshin, using too much
shoulder and arm muscle, not pivoting enough or bending your body. You might do a
technique with some or all of these errors, and it might feel fine to you, but uke probably
didn’t think so and if uke had resisted more it would not likely have worked.
Being open to correction of your mistakes is another glaringly obvious, yet difficult to
master aspect to learning. Almost everyone believes that they are open to correction,
but ego gets in the way and often times we are closed to correction. Most especially we
are not open to correction from our juniors.
When visitors come to the dojo, especially experienced ones, Kimeda Sensei is often
ready to point out their many mistakes and do so in a loud and boisterous voice. This
isn’t to embarrass the visitor, or to put them down in any way. The idea is to have that
person quickly open himself to learning what we are doing in our dojo. He wants to
break down the barriers to learning that experience has put up. By pointing out the
errors, by pointing out the ways that the visitor is not copying the technique that we
have been shown, that person can more quickly be open, recognize his mistakes and
be open to correction. And the next time you are lucky enough to be in that sort of class,
I hope that you to will internalize those corrections and be open to what you are
supposed to be learning.
************************************************************************* BUDO QUOTES!
"Failure is the key to success; Each mistake teaches us something." - Oeshiba
Sensei, Founder of Aikido
"I want to be buried wearing my white belt." - Jigoro Kano, founder of Judo
"The more you practice, the more time you will create within the technique. You
will become able to think during the technique. This is evident to me in both
Aikido and Iaido." - Enore Gardonio, 7th Dan Aikido, 5th Dan Iaido, AYC
STRESSED OUT??? STUDY IAIDO!
LEARN FOCUS, PATIENCE, AND SKILL.
LEARN IAIDO, THE WAY OF THE SAMURAI!
STUDY A 450 YEAR OLD MARTIAL ART
TUESDAYS AND FRIDAYS, 8:00PM
AIKIDO YOSHINKAI CANADA
GERRARD ST., JUST EAST OF YONGE, 2ND FLOOR
COMMENTS
Enore Gardonio, AYC's Senior Aikidoka and Iaido Sensei, has asked that AYC
members start spelling IAIDO correctly on dojo advertisements. Please remember to
include the second "i"...! It's "Iaido", not "Iado". How the heck do you pronounce "Iado"
anyway??? Also, "Iaid" is not correct... need the "o"..!.
************************************************************************* UPCOMING EVENTS 2014 Muguruza-Mustard Clinics
October 17-19, 2014
AYC is pleased to announce that we will be hosting Jacques Muguruza Sensei (8th
Dan) and Robert Mustard Sensei(7th Dan) for a series of Aikido clinics that will be held
in the AYC Headquarters Dojo from October 17-19, 2014.
EVENT
DATE
TIME
Clinic 1
Friday Oct-17-2014
7:00pm-9:00pm
Pizza Party
Friday Oct-17-2014
9:00pm
Clinic 2
Saturday Oct-18-2014 10:00am12:00pm
Clinic 3
Saturday Oct-18-2014 2:00pm-5:00pm
Dinner
Saturday Oct-18-2014 TBA
Clinic 4
Sunday Oct-19-2014
10:00am-1:00pm
For more information please feel free to call the dojo directly and leave a message with
Kimeda Sensei (416-585-9602) to make arrangements.
Alternatively, you may also send an email to rsvp@aikido.ca.
************************************************************************* WANTED! Writers and cartoonists for the Yo Shin. Apply now. Space is limited!
AYC JAPAN TRIP 2014
Francis Penir, 1st Kyu Aikido / 1st Kyu Iaido at AYC, has provided us with a pictorial
account of the 2014 AYC Dojo trip to Japan, with by Kimeda Sensei. A good
representation the training intensity, fun, and cultural experience!
With Masahiko Noriki sensei at the Aikido Yoshinkan HQ in Shinjuku, Tokyo.
After class festivities which is somewhat
a tradition among aikido practitioners.
Back to basics: Hiri no
osai Ni - Tina and Katrina
Sitting technique demoed by Vaso on
Hai with a little help from Watanabe sensei
Kimeda Sensei enjoying a
large freshly prepared oyster
Cold sake overflows and spills into the saucer symbolizing prosperity.
At Watanabe sensei's dojo in Asakusa, Tokyo
Sit-ups in Asakusa, of course!
Red snapper sashimi. and a hearty soup
Jacques Payet sensei et al at Mugen Juku dojo in Kyoto.
Hai performing sankajo #2 on Ann,
Asakusa, Tokyo, Watanabe sensei's dojo
Francis attempts kokyu nage Vaso,
Payet sensei's dojo, Kyoto
(Reproduced from "Total Aikido, The Master Course" by Gozo Shioda Sensei) AIKIDO PIC OF THE MONTH
Kimeda Sensei patiently watches Aikido students at the Ottawa Dojo,
during their 20th anniversary this summer.(Photo by Alain Castonguay, Montreal)
(Got some good Budo action pictures??? Submit them to the Yo Shin!!!)
AIKIDO YOSHINKAI OTTAWA
20th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
by Dennis Chartrand
Aikido Yoshinkai Ottawa celebrated its 20th anniversary in June when Kimeda sensei
was kind enough to give us a weekend seminar. We were quite pleased that many of
our friends from Toronto and Montreal joined us to celebrate. The weekend started with
a Friday evening class lead by Kimeda sensei which was followed by supper at a
Chinese restaurant. Sensei also lead the Saturday morning class - which was a
weapons class where he emphasized the importance of sword work in learning aikido and the Sunday morning class. He was kind enough to present Kyu test certificates to
those in attendance who had earlier in June passed their tests.
The Saturday afternoon session was however quite different. It started with a Sandan
grading when our friend Dave Steuerman was successful; congratulations Dave! This
was followed by a short class lead by Kimeda sensei. Then everyone, of all levels, did a
demonstration: boken kata, empty hand jiyuwaza, basic movements and applications,
tanto vs empty hand jiyuwaza, boken vs jo kata, applied techniques, and Kimeda sensei
demonstrating jiyuwaza. It was great that everyone participated, and fantastic to see
Kimeda sensei demonstrate his skill and ability. Many photos were taken as well and
some of the demonstrations and instruction by sensei can be seen on the Aikido
Yoshinkai Ottawa facebook page.
KImeda Sensei demonstrated Yonkajo on Alan Wu, 4th Dan, in Ottawa.
After the demonstration, our instructor, Hans DeGroot, gave a short history of our dojo,
stressing the generous time and effort that Kimeda sensei has given us over the last 20
years, the close relationship we have with the AYC Toronto dojo whose senior students
often come to give us seminars, as well as the recent relationship which has
evolved with the Montreal dojos. Kimeda sensei then congratulated us on our 20th
anniversary and presented Hans with golden sake and with a poster of Shioda sensei,
autographed by both Shioda sensei and Kimeda sensei. It is simply priceless!
As a small token of our appreciation for all the seniors who have helped us over the
years (past instructors or those who have given seminars) we then invited them to Le
Nordik spa - a rotemburo type spa with a variety of saunas and a number of hot and
cold outside pools in the beautiful setting of the Gatineau Hills, just 20 minutes from
Ottawa - and we followed that with a dinner at an Indian restaurant where we started by
kampai with the golden sake.
Aikido Yoshinkai Ottawa would like to thank all of those who participated in our
celebration and specially Kimeda sensei for his generous offer of time, knowledge and
support over the last 20 years.
Kimeda Sensei with successful Aikido test graduates.
Kimeda Sensei teaching weapons class in Ottawa.
Kimeda Sensei demonstrating Irimi Nage on Chris Johnston, 5th Dan.
Kimeda Sensei present a framed poster of kancho Sensei to Hans deGroot.
All participants at the 20 Anniversary practice from Ottawa and Montreal.
BUDO MEDIC!
REVIEW OF SPORTS MEDICINE AND NUTRITION
by Rayburn Ho
During my many years of training, there is one thing I've noticed that is common with
many hard core martial artists - it's their love for alcohol. Ending a stressful day with a
cold one is quite normal within my circle of martial arts friends. Occasionally there are
times when one won’t do, just like when we push ourselves on the mat, we must push
our limits and consume as much alcohol as we can. It's like a mini black belt test to see
how much booze can one take without passing out. Ie: Weddings, Birthdays, and gettogethers with friends. I believe this type of binge drinking does some harm, especially
to our liver, our detoxifying body organ.
Our liver is responsible for food digestion and ridding the body of toxins. I usually
describe the liver as the body’s sewage system to clients. Keep the liver functional and
happy and you will have a toxin free body. Alcohol is considered a toxin and too much
can assault the liver and make it unhappy. There are also everyday things that we do
that require our liver to work, such as taking medications, being obese or having high
levels of triglycerides in our blood. If the liver is over worked and unhappy, toxins can
build up. If the liver is constantly assaulted, it could lead to liver damage and disease.
Most of us have the minor ache and pain after practice, or have headaches from our
stressful jobs. Once in a while we use Acetaminophen (Commonly known as Tylenol or
Paracetamol) In therapeutic doses, it is considered safe and will not harm the liver, but
if taken with alcohol, can lead to liver toxicity.
Traditionally Milk Thistle, a herb originally found in Europe and Asia, has been used to
prevent liver damage and to keep the liver functioning at optimal levels. It is proposed
that the antioxidant effect of the active ingredient Silymarin found in milk thistle
supplements provide the protection to the liver. Although not proven by science, it is
thought that the Silymarin prevents liver damage by somehow improving liver cell
regeneration.
As a pharmacist I am bombarded with facts and studies of various products. Milk thistle
is a herb I take but admittedly, it is based on belief rather than science.
Although found in pharmacies, it is a natural herbal supplement. With most natural
products, the efficacy and standardization is not guaranteed. There is a wide variability
between products and manufacturers. Information pertaining to side effects and drug
interactions are not clinically investigated therefore use with caution.
Furthermore, there is no evidence of safety in pregnancy and lactation. Always consult
your health care professional before starting such supplements.
References:
1) http://www.uptodate.com/contents/overview-of-herbal-medicine-and-dietarysupplements?source=machineLearning&search=milk+thistle&selectedTitle
=2~13&sectionRank=1&anchor=H37#H23
2) Rx Vigilance : http://isp:7005/hw_vigilance_monograph/en/__vigilwin.htm
3) Mayo Clinic : http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/liverproblems/basics/definition/con-20025300
(Disclaimer: This article is written as a review of publicly available information of
sports medicine and nutrition, only, and is not medical advice. Neither the author
nor the Yoshin Newsletter are offering medical advice, or endorsing any specific
medical products. If you feel ill, please see a doctor or a sports medicine clinic.
This article is devoted to keeping budoka training hard!)
************************************************************************* Got some good art, haiku, or reflections on eastern philosophy???
Submit them to the Yo Shin!!! We'll print almost anything.
*************************************************************************
ANNOUNCEMENTS
A big Congratulations to Yoel Carmenates, of the Ottawa Yoshinkai Dojo, his wife and
daughter, who welcomed their son Samuel as a new addition to their family on July 1!
*************************************************************************
Consider writing an article on your budo training experiences! If you have some
thoughts, a stream of consciousness or some neat budo pictures, please share
them with us in the next issue!