Grab My Wrist

Going to Summer Camp!

This summer, June 12-18, 2011, I’m going for the first time to the Aiki Summer Retreat at Menlo College, in Atherton, California (in the Bay Area). The sensei are Robert Nadeau, Frank Doran, Hiroshi Ikeda Shihan, and Mary Heiny Sensei, plus other instructors in the evenings.

It’s the kind of thing where you stay in the dorms, eat in the dining hall, swim in the pool, and eat, breathe, and sleep Aikido for a whole week. I’ll be driving there and back (about 10 hours each way). Part seminar, part summer camp, part road trip. Woohoo! 

I know a bunch of folks who have gone before, both fellow students from Aikido of San Diego, and people I’ve met at seminars (and am looking forward to seeing again!). Dave Goldberg Sensei has gone many times, and says he’s never had a bad day there (besides, it’s a cheap vacation). Cathé, a dojo mate, went last year and has given me a whole array of great tips for having a great time.

Being the planning, list-making sort, I’ve been planning and making lists. If you’re going, too, you might find them helpful. Check back from time to time, as I will be adding to these, I’m sure. Here’s what I’ve got so far:

TO-DO LISTS:

Car

• Get car registered and smogged. [Done. Sticker arrived in time! Now I don’t need to worry about getting pulled over to out-of-date tags.] 
• New tires, or have tires rotated [Checked. No work needed.]
• Alignment [Checked. No work needed.]
• Oil change & check fluids [Done.]
• Replace broken hubcap (car looks kinda ghetto at the moment)  [Done. New ones look great!]
• Wash / vacuum [Washed, at least.]
• New battery and wiper blades, too. [Done.]

Other Chores

• Shop for food & supplies
• Do laundry. Write name in all my gi / belt.
• Arrange donkey care [Done. Thanks, Michael!]. Others may not need to do this. ;-)
• Arrange to visit with friends on the way up and back. 
• Print a list of critical phone numbers, in case of phone failure.
• Set up iPad and iPhone with tunes, playlists, photos, and videos.

PACKING LISTS:

Everyday Stuff

• Wallet
• Checkbook
• Purse
• Notebook
• Pens

Road Trip Stuff

• Maps
• Roadside emergency kit (triangles, tools…)
• Basic tool kit
• Duct tape (just in case)
• Multi-purpose tool (just because)

Food

Note that I don’t eat meat (except for fish), or gluten (wheat, barley, rye). I don’t like onions or garlic, and am mildly allergic to cinnamon and walnuts. So I’m hard to get along with. When I go to events where food is included, I bring my own, too. If there’s something there I can eat (salad, fruit, cheese), great. If not, I won’t starve. I have been told there is a microwave in the dining hall, and a Trader Joe’s across the street from the college, so picking simple things up and cooking them there should be easy, too. 

• Nuts (almonds & Brazil nuts)
• Bananas (buy ahead so they’ll be ripe!)
• Promax gluten-free protein bars
• Pre-cooked Pad Thai (w/rice noodles - gluten free)
• Shelf-stable tofu
• Instant coffee (little individual paper tubes are handy)
• Tea bags (to put in water bottle)
• Liberty Bottle Works water bottle
• Big insulated mug
• Thermos
• Spoon, fork, and knife (big enough for cutting up fruit)

Cooler

• Little, rolling cooler said to hold ice for 2 days at 90 degrees (not a wimpy picnic / 6-pack cooler)
• Ice packs (for icing joints, etc.)

Toiletries

• Toiletries kit - remember that this is a dorm, with bathrooms down the hall.
• Shampoo & conditioner
• Blow dryer & straightening iron
• Brush & comb
• Fingernail / Toenail clippers
• Callous remover
• Soap (little bottles of shower gel - no wet bars to deal with)
• Toothbrush, toothpaste, floss
• Lotion, sunscreen, hand repair cream (Burt’s Bees - highly recommended)
• Sunscreen
• Road trip emergency medicines: Tylenol, Tums, Immodium
• Vision stuff: Contacts, glasses (regular and reading) eye drops, soaking solution, contact case, spare set of lenses, sunglasses
• Breathing stuff: Saline nose spray, Sudafed
• Ladies, if you need lady stuff, add that to your list, too!

Training Things

If you are a dan-ranked sort of person, remember your yudansha book and hakama, too. I don’t have to worry about that yet!

• Gi (several)
• Underpants
• Sports bras
• Sweat-wiping cloths
• Flip-flops
• Water bottle
• Hair bands (and headbands?)

Weapons Bag

• Weapons bag
• Jo
• Bokken
• Tanto
• Weapons Repair Kit (oil, sandpaper, rag)

Play Clothes

I am told it can be pretty warm there, but the weather stats I’ve seen don’t look all that bad. I’m figuring on summer weather, with maybe a cool evening or two thrown in. 

• Yoga pants
• Jeans
• Shorts
• Skirts
• Belts
• T-shirts
• Tank tops / undershirts
• Light jacket
• Swimsuit
• Underpants
• Bras
• Socks
• Hat
• Shoes (bring orthotics or die!)
• Flip-flops

Dress Clothes

Guys, you might want to skip the dress. Heck, I might even skip the dress. I just want to plan one outfit that would be appropriate if there’s a trip to an off-site sit-down restaurant or something.

• Dress
• Shoes that go with dress
• Necklace
• Purse

Things for Aiki Follies?

This is a mystery to me so far. Props? Guitar? Clown shoes? We shall see…

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Dorm Living

I am told the dorms are austere, with concrete floors. (One online review says “small, dirty, cramped,… poorly maintained”). I think basic bed linens are provided, but I may bring my own anyway. Some people bring area rugs. (Some even bring flowers in vases!) I’m figuring a run and/or mat for stretching. A small fan can be really nice. Been there, done that: U of W dorms for the Oshkosh EAA Airshow. Damn… We thought we were going to melt. People who’d been there before packed big box fans on the plane! Others tried to buy locally, but all the stores ran out.

• Area rug
• Little brush and dust pan, for the dorm room floor
• Yoga mat
• Fan
• Drying rack (or plastic hangers, or travel clothesline)
• Reading lamp
• Pillows (two buckwheat hull-filled ones I can’t live without!)
• Zafu
• Towel / Washcloths / Rags
• Beach towel (for the pool)
• Blanket
• Sheets
• Sleeping bag (for sleeping on friends’ floors, maybe)
• Folding mattress (ditto, and in case bed is too mushy or hard, and for visiting friends on the way)
• Magnifying mirror for putting in contacts
• Bug repellent (skeeters?)
• Plenty of change for doing laundry
• Laundry detergent (unscented)

Photography (or maybe just use iPhone?)

• Camera
• 3 Batteries
• 2 Chargers
• Several SD Cards
• Case

iThings

Reportedly, the dorms have WiFi. It’s slow, but it should do the trick. I’m on AT&T… No idea what coverage is like there.

• iPhone
• iPad
• Old iPhone as backup, and for recording ideas, blog posts, and other random ideas on the trip up and back.
• Phone earbuds (with mic)
• 2 chargers
• Charging/speaker dock

Physical Therapy / First Aid

• Yoga mat
• Foam roller
• Stick (or Tiger Tail)
• BioFreeze
• Arnica
• White sports tape
• Vet Rap
• Band-Aids
• Lamb’s wool
• Moleskin
• ACE bandages
• Ice / hot water bag
• Back brace (for holding ice/heat packs on lower back)
• Knee brace (for holding ice/heat pack on knee or elbow)

That’s is so far. Expect this to change (grow) between now and then. I’ll probably post some amendments afterward, too - things I didn’t need after all, or wish I’d brought. If you have any suggestions, especially if you’ve gone before, I’d love to hear them. See you there? I hope!

The Stillness After the Seminar

So about that seminar, finally… I had a great time at the Aikido Bridge Friendship Seminar a couple of weeks ago. Doran, Ikeda, and Tissier Sensei taught again, and this time each also did a tanto (knife) class. I got to train and hang out with some really nice folks I met there last year, several of my Aikido rock star heroes, and some new friends I hope to see again soon. I even got to have a house guest for the duration. On the basic “having a good time” scale, it was way up there. Lots of fun.

I love training at the level of intensity available at seminars - really focusing on nothing else for several days, without distraction. I definitely plan to be back next year, and am looking forward to 4 days with Patrick Cassidy Sensei in February, the Aiki Summer Retreat at Menlo Park in June, Robert Nadeau Shihan some time this summer, and our dojo retreat in the mountains in the fall. And some day, on my wish list, George Ledyard Sensei’s Weapons & Randori Intensive. There’s something about that removal from everyday life to just train that allows for breakthroughs. 

It was interesting to notice that this year I got more frustrated and impatient with myself. Last year I was only a 6th kyu with about 6 months of training behind me. My most fervent wish at that point was to not make a complete fool of myself - to clap at the right time when bowing in, address the instructors appropriately, and to not be an embarrassment to my dojo or teacher. This time around, as a 4th kyu training for 18 months, I thought I should know something. Not in the “yeah, yeah, I already know how to do ikkyo” sense (I’m not that thick headed), but when I missed the point of an exercise at first, or failed to execute a technique as smoothly as I’d just seen demonstrated (or flat out screwed it up), I found I was kicking myself, thinking I should be able to do better. Many, many (many) times I had to remind myself that the instructors and almost everyone else on the mat have been doing this for much, much longer than I have. There’s a little voice in my head, reminding me: “Patience, Grasshopper.” 

People now have been asking me what I learned. It’s hard to say. Yes, there were some cool new (to me) techniques, new (to me) ways of doing familiar techniques. There were reminders, about atemi, dealing with different energies, what-ifs, and so on. And there was a lot of really interesting work with the tanto.

It was a great opportunity to see and feel a lot of different kinds of ukemi. There had been a very good discussion going on AikiWeb about ukemi at seminars, and in particular one where Ikeda Sensei was teaching. So I had that on my mind, and was more aware of various styles and philosophies of ukemi than I would have been otherwise. Right from the start there was plenty to pay attention to. There was one person who repeatedly walked right through me, zombie-like, instead of doing the connection exercise we were shown. A couple of others basically launched themselves into breakfalls when I showed some intention of doing a technique. But the vast majority tried to give honest feedback - not fighting, but not letting me continue in ignorant bliss if I didn’t have them. And many, bless their patient and generous hearts, coached me in being a better uke - in particular providing better attacks. Ukemi and connection was a major focus in Tissier Sensei’s classes, with one really valuable exercise taking most of a 75 minute class. I like to think my ukemi got a little better from all this. A little… I hope.

Mostly, the seminar somehow seems to have left me more open, more receptive - left some cracks that let a little more light through. There’s a kind of clarity and stillness, like when you can hear sounds you never noticed before after living in a quiet environment for a while. Or maybe it’s more like the peaceful pre-dawn silence after a loud concert. It’s hard to describe. The past couple of weeks at my own dojo have been particularly intense. My mind has been quieter, and I find I am hearing things in a new way. Exercises I’ve done before, words Sensei has said before, hold new levels of meaning, as if I were going back and re-reading a book I read as a child, and am finding that there was much more to it than I realized then. (“Oh… That’s what that whole scene was about…”) Another layer of the infinitely-layered onion has been revealed. 

Aikido Bridge 2011 - Sunday

Wow… What a fun day. Started to get a few things. I really enjoyed Tissier Sensei’s class, which was all about connection and honest ukemi. I got to train with several people who were very good, and also gave me a few very helpful pointers. We got to stick with the same kinds of exercises for quite a long time, which allowed for some experimentation, and a few light-bulb moments. I got to work with Tissier himself briefly, which was an honor. Kinda screwed up the connection point of the exercise when I tried to come back up from a fall, but he still had me. D’oh!  

I also really enjoyed Doran Sensei’s class, although in my exhaustion-addled state I can’t recall what we worked on. Some of it was nikkyo, and I have to say I really enjoyed training with Adam, who is a model of relaxed, force-free, effective Aikido. His technique is very quiet, unhurried, and gentle, and will drop you to your knees as well (or better) than someone cranking on your wrist. Really a pleasure to train with and learn from.

Bless Ikeda Sensei’s heart, he has gotten video of the whole seminar, and will be offering the DVDs to participants. I’m bringing my check tomorrow! That will be tremendously helpful for recall later.

Ikeda Sensei’s tanto class was fun. Lots of very solid techniques with interesting ukemi. I trained with people at a variety of levels, and we did the baby version of the technique (the slo-mo, non-high-fall kind). Everyone I trained with, thankfully (even when we both ended up on the mat) went slowly, and was very careful. Did some potential arm-breaking things, if people got rushy or forceful. 

Day Three - Whew!

An intense day today. Not physically, hardly broke a sweat, in spite of the heat. But a lot to assimilate. On the mat I compared a few of techniques to sounds that aren’t present in your native tongue - it’s hard to even perceive them, never mind pronounce them correctly. But I did get a lot of it - at least managed to grasp or improve some aspect of what was demonstrated each time we would work on it. Received a couple of very kind complements. Saw and attempted lots of new stuff, some familiar stuff, and some things I remember seeing from last year, and am seeing in a new light this year. Got to just sit and chat with some very nice people. Found several new ways to humiliate and embarrass myself. Received a lovely, and very thoughtful gift. Got to train with people from all over California, Salt Lake City, Phoenix, Houston, New York, The Netherlands, Seattle, and I’m sure a dozen other places. Last year I didn’t expect much of myself, I just wanted to go with my eyes open, get exposure to a variety of things, and not do anything too obviously stupid. This year, with a little more training behind me, I’ve had to keep reminding myself every time I got frustrated (every few minutes!) that I’ve not even been at this for two years. Patience…

Saturday, 6:30 a.m.

This is the point at which it feels like we’ve been doing this for a long time, but it’s only been one evening and one full day. There are two full days and one morning ahead, plus a big group dinner tonight, and a mixer at the dojo tomorrow.

Now it’s the weekend, so there will be many more people, and lots of new faces today.

Time to get moving!

At the Aikido Bridge Friendship Seminar 2011 

I’m very fortunate that the Aikido Bridge Friendship Seminar is held in San Diego at Jiai Aikido, where “travel” for me involves only a 40-minute commute. It starts this evening, and goes through Monday morning.

I’m sure I’ll be writing up some blog posts here afterward, but during the seminar I’ll be posting little bits and pieces from my phone each day, but only here (not on the AikiWeb version of this blog). Please forgive any weirdness… I haven’t done much blogging from my phone!

I am looking forward to seeing the wonderful people I met last year, and making new friends, too! If you are there and want to get in touch, you can email me at:

lindaeskiniphone at gmail.com « use the @ symbol, of course.

Or text or call me at 619 368-4333

See you there, or back here, or something. :-)

My Aikido Timeline

I keep forgetting and remembering important events on my Aikido path, and our organization doesn’t use kyu books. So before I misplace any entirely I thought I should get them all written down in one place. What a chore! So here they are - or the ones I could think of this evening, at least, plus a few I’m planning on in the near future.

I will update this post regularly, and keep a permanent link to it in the sidebar, eventually. This has a sister post now, too: My Aikido Teachers.

—- Someday —-

Aikido Randori and Weapons 4-Day Intensive w/ George Ledyard Sensei
Aikido Eastside, Bellevue, WA 
[I am tentatively planning a 2-week train trip around this.] 

—- 2012 —-

Fall, 2012 
Aikido of San Diego Fall Retreat
Instructors Denise Barry Sensei (KumaKai Aikido) & Dave Goldberg Sensei
Local mountains of San Diego County (?)  

September 14-16, 2012
Weekend Intensive with George Ledyard Sensei
Facebook Event page for the Weekend Intensive with George Ledyard
Two Rivers Budo, Sacramento, CA

August 4-5, 2012
Daitoryu Aikijujitsu Ginjukai Seminar with Howard Popkin
Facebook Event page for the seminar with Howard Popkin
Jiai Aikido, San Diego, CA

June, 2012 Unfortunately, the Retreat is not happening in 2012.
CAA Aiki Summer Retreat 
Aiki Retreat Fan Page
Bay Area, CA  

May 18-20, 2012
CAA Division 3 Retreat, Robert Nadeau Shihan & Others
Sabastopol, CA

March 30-April 1, 2012
Evolutionary Aikido Seminar, Patrick Cassidy Sensei & Dave Goldberg Sensei
Register for Evolutionary Aikido Seminar
Aikido of San Diego 

March 2-4, 2012
Dan Messisco Sensei
Facebook Event page for the seminar
Two Rivers Budo, Sacramento, CA (Geoff Yudien’s and Adam Fong’s new dojo!)

January 21, 2012
My 2nd Kyu Exam
Video of my 2nd kyu exam, on YouTube
Aikido of San Diego, Dave Goldberg Sensei   

January 12-16, 2012
Aikido Bridge Friendship Seminar
Instructors: Hiroshi Ikeda, Frank Doran and Christian Tissier Shihan
Register for Aikido Bridge Seminar 
Jiai Aikido, in San Diego  

—- 2011 —-

October 7-9, 2011
Mary Heiny Sensei
Aikido of San Diego  

September, 2011
Mitsugu Saotome Shihan
Redlands Aikikai 

September 11, 2011
Aikido In Focus: Aikido, Fear, and Freedom, Dave Goldberg Sensei
Aikido of San Diego  

Summer, 2011
Jo (Staff) Seminar, Chetan Prakash Sensei
Redlands Aikikai  

July 15-17, 2011
Robert Nadeau Shihan
Aikido of San Diego  

July 9, 2011
My 3rd Kyu Exam
Video of my 3rd kyu exam, on YouTube
Aikido of San Diego, Dave Goldberg Sensei  

June 12-18, 2011
CAA Aiki Summer Retreat (Nadeau, Doran, Ikeda, Heiny, & others)
Aiki Retreat Fan SiteMenlo College, Atherton, CA  

 Feb 18-21, 2011
Gasshuku, Patrick Cassidy Sensei
Aikido of San Diego 

January 13-17, 2011
Aikido Bridge Friendship Seminar
Instructors: Hiroshi Ikeda, Frank Doran and Christian Tissier Shihan
Jiai Aikido, in San Diego  

January 3, 2011
Special New Year Training with Dave Goldberg Sensei,
and instructors Mike Coit, Megan Palm, and Lloyd McClellan 
Aikido of San Diego 

January 2011
Dojo Projects
Aikido of San Diego
Post: Service and Community 

—- 2010 —-

November 13, 2010
My 4th Kyu Exam
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuGsMi4MhOQ 
Post: To 4th Kyu & Beyond

October 24, 2010
Aikido In Focus workshop, Dave Goldberg Sensei 
Subject: “How am I limiting myself / getting in my own way?”
[My focus: Over extending.]
Aikido of San Diego
Post: How am I Limiting Myself?  

September 24-26, 2010
Seminar with Mary Heiny Sensei
Aikido of San Diego
[Helped with seminar logistics. “Tetsudai.”]

July 12, 2010
First day of training at new location (6356 Riverdale St. 92120)

Month of July, 2010
Several Work parties at the new and old locations.

May 22, 2010
Spring picnic at Santee Lakes

May 3, 2010
154 total training days. Just interesting trivia. 

April 9-11, 2010
Seminar with Robert Nadeau Shihan
Aikido of San Diego 
A Flickr slideshow of my seminar photos  

March 21, 2010
Aikido In Focus workshop with Dave Goldberg Sensei 
Subject: “Putting the Free in Freestyle”
Aikido of San Diego
Post: Body, Border Collies, & Beer 

February 6, 2010
My 5th Kyu Exam
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bhlXh91Ksg 
Post: 5th Kyu Test Tomorrow
Post: Thoughts on My 5th Kyu Test
Post: More thoughts - What I Meant 

January 31, 2010
Aikido In Focus workshop with Dave Goldberg Sensei 
Subject: “Ukemi”
Aikido of San Diego

January 23, 2010
Community service project with Aikido of San Diego
Fire clearance work day at the Unity Center Ranch (where our retreats are held)

January, 2010
Aikido Bridge Friendship Seminar
Instructors: Hiroshi Ikeda, Frank Doran and Christian Tissier Shihan 
Plus guest instructors: Wilko Vriesman, Francis Takahashi, Morihiko Murashige Shihan
Jiai Aikido, in San Diego
Post: How To Go To Your First Big Seminar
Post: Great Trip, Happy to be Home  
On AikidoBridge.com: Article, with photos, by Frank Richardson

—- 2009 —-

December 15, 2009
My first column for The Mirror, on AikiWeb.com
“Learning By Feel” 

September 11-13
Annual Fall Retreat, with Kayla Feder & Dave Goldberg Sensei
Unity Center Ranch, Descanso, CA
[Mostly weapons and meditation.] 

September 19, 2009
My 6th Kyu Test
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZR4eKhpRXE
Post: Studying for 6th Kyu Exam
Post: Reflections at the 1st Milestone
Post: Comments After My Exam 

August 30 (?), 2009
Aikido In Focus workshop with Dave Goldberg Sensei 
Subject: “Relax, It’s Aikido”
Aikido of San Diego
Post: Don’t Push So Hard Against the World 

July 24-26, 2009
Seminar with Robert Nadeau Shihan
Aikido of San Diego
Post: Getting to the Nadeau Seminar

July 8, 2009
10th training day 

Mid-May through June, 2009
Of the mat with a shoulder injury (separated AC joint)
Watched classes 1-2x/week 

May 5, 2009
My first day of training
Aikido of San Diego
Post: Introduction