This year, eleven of us went on the annual trip to France, so we were really an unmissable group at the summer aikido school on the island of Oleron. Also because most of us were young students around 18 years old.
Our suburban camps are full of exercises, games and Japanese culture. Children first learn to be strong fighters, and then aikidists – people who help others and protect life. This year we again held two dates and had a great time with the kids.
In the shade of the lush green trees at the centuries-old Vyšehrad Castle, looking down on the metropolis, the fifteenth annual Japanese celebration of spring, symbolically called “Bodaiju matsuri” or “Festival of Lime Trees”, took place. And we were there with our martial arts demonstrations and workshop.
Gaston Nicolessi (6th dan) attracts many young aikidists with his dynamic practice and very open approach, making his seminars very lively and friendly.
After three years, our French teacher Franck Noel visited us again and it was a great success – more than 170 aikidists gathered on the tatami.
Swedish teacher Jan Nevelius (7th dan) has been visiting us regularly for many years and brings us inspiration in the form of stable and dynamic aikido.
One Saturday in the middle of winter, a warm dojo and two groups of our smallest aikidists on the tatami. And so we enjoyed practicing aikido, foam sword fencing, lots of games, sushi making and also cleaning up together.
More than 20 aikido teachers from all over the Czech Republic participated in the training of teachers of the Czech Aikido Federation, which we hosted in February in Prague’s Vinohrady. The training was conducted by Martin Švihla from our club and René Novotný from Třebíč.
7 days and 6 hours of training a day. Training with and without weapons, indoors and outdoors, during day and during night, in keiko-gi and tracksuit. And with food, games, massages, sleep, additional training and exams in between. See the video!
In the autumn of 2021 the Czech Aikido Federation held its first national seminar in Karlin, Prague, and since it was really around the corner, we attended the seminar in large numbers.
Atlantic Ocean, oysters, cheese, wine and aikido – this is a two-week summer school of aikido on the French island of Oleron. Usually we go there in a larger group, this year we traveled only Martin, Vanda and Barborka.
We really enjoyed it all – you can join us next time!
In this camp, children first become strong and courageous warriors and then they learn to be aikidists – people who help others and protect lives. This year we experienced 5 days full of training, games and Japanese culture inside in the gym and outside in nature.
For us, first aid is not just a professional skill that our teachers and assistants need for their work. First aid is also an attitude towards life and other people – interest, courage, communication, skillfulness…
So, together with excelent PrPom, we again organized an experiential first aid course for our team and our young aikidokas.
The theory was dense and the model situations were tense – but in the end we managed it and still enjoyed it. Take a look at the photos!
In June, another company team tried out aikido as well as Japanese sword traning with us, exploring aikido principles and their use in everyday life. In the morning we exercised a lot and after a good lunch we had a bit easier time – because one of the aims for the participants was to rest from their heavy workload.
We worked in the fields and in the gardens, we practiced in the fresh air, we touched the soil and plants, we bathed in the river Elbe. Just like every year, this spring we took our high school students and went to České kopisty to work and train at farm. Aikido is supporting life.