Biran Online - Holiday Seminar

Late last year, San Diego Aikikai had the pleasure of hosting Robert Savoca Sensei, Chief Instructor of Brooklyn Aikikai for a holiday seminar on December 18th and 19th. The seminar began Friday night with Ichimando, a two hour intensive misogi practice that combines periods of harai (chanting purification practice) and zazen. As Brooklyn Aikikai and San Diego Aikikai both conduct harai, it was a wonderful way to introduce the East Coast and West Coast students to each other. Approximately 20 students attended Ichimando, including Ea Murphy and Philip Vargas who both traveled to the seminar specifically to participate in the misogi practice.

On Saturday students from San Diego, North County and Tijuana Aikikai were treated to three hours of intense Aikido and weapons practice. Savoca stressed training with sincerity and committed attacks in both body art and weapons. His weapons class emphasized training the body to respond to random unscripted attacks while maintaining the fundamental jo work designed and developed by Chiba Sensei.

Kyu and Dan testing were conducted immediately after the conclusion of the last class on Saturday. Students from both Tijuana and San Diego Aikikai demonstrated the strong foundation of Aikido principles, techniques, and spirit that Chiba Sensei spent his life fostering in our Birankai organization.

Following the tests, students were grateful for a dinner party that featured quite a bit of liquid refreshment - especially after a session of Savoca Sensei's notorious bunny hops!