I returned to Bacău with much affection. This is my third workshop there and so far I have had the opportunity to experience a strong Bacovian rain as well as a Bacovian winter. Both experiences were taken as if from the poems of one of my favorite poets, Giorgio Bacovia. About 3-4 hot days before leaving for Bacău, I remembered the text «There are dead people in the city, my love, / That’s exactly why I came to tell you; / On the bier, in the heat of the city, / Slowly the corpses are decomposing«. You can imagine that I would have liked to experience two more days of the Bacovian summer. It wasn’t because the weekend was mild with people, and in the evening it was even cool (I knew I should have brought a jacket). On Saturday evening we went to the same restaurant (House on the Lake of Parcul Cancicov) and I discovered with great joy that they added different types of fried potatoes to the menu, which I really appreciated. Thank you! 🙂 I had the chance to see part of the match there too Italy – Albania. I almost got potatoes stuck in my throat in the 23rd second, when Italy scored a goal. Initially I thought it was an advertisement, I didn’t understand what was happening… In the end Italy won. 🙂
I was very happy to see my colleagues from Bacău and nearby cities again. They’re all extremely passionate about what they do and when you’re in a group like that there’s a vibration conducive to learning, growth and the accumulation of experiences. I have always wanted to be in such special places, to be close to people like Sensei, like my more experienced colleagues or close to those who are just starting out. I want to dialogue with them, in different ways. Sometimes (ok, ok most of the time) I ask them the most unnatural and funny questions about what we do Raiden Dojobut I don’t do it for the simple reason that I don’t yet know everyone’s limit to bear my questions without imploding. 🙂
It was a special seminar for me. I have been working on the techniques since Shinden Fudo Ryu AND Togakure Ryu Biken Jutsu. As a rule I haven’t really told you the various names of styles and techniques. I didn’t do it for the simple reason that I don’t remember the names well, I haven’t yet mastered them enough to be able to talk about them with any ease. I’m doing it this time because I really like this school. I definitely worked out some techniques during our trainings, but only now did a click happen, somewhere inside me. The principles that I find in this school are closely linked to the connection with nature, to rooting, furthermore flexibility is necessary to perform the techniques. And… if I have a superpower, it’s flexibility. 🙂
At the beginning of the seminar, Sensei told us a little about the history of these martial arts schools. Among other things, he emphasized the need to be and act naturally, naturally (which is extremely important in these schools). I confess I was a little confused here. In the end, what it really means to be natural, normal, natural?! On this topic alone we would need an entire seminar and in any case we would not reach an easy conclusion. I find it extremely difficult to define “normal”, “natural”. We live in a closed society, suffocated by rules with which we try to define an adequate «normality» for everyone. And it just doesn’t work for us. Unfortunately, we often end up accepting the false as «normal» because that’s how we are taught. Most of the time we operate according to paradigms disconnected from the natural. Either because we are afraid, or because it seems absurd to us, or because we prefer to accept the false unnatural built behind the natural. So here’s the big challenge (at least for me) of this seminar: naturalness. Finding the natural in a chaotic world and putting it into practice.
In Shinden Fudo Ryu a lot of work is done from below, from the ground. When Sensei showed us the first bottom-up technique, I deflated a little. I was firmly convinced that nothing would come of it. BUT… I was quite surprised when I saw it come out and especially when I noticed the ease with which I stand up. How can you say that I was standing and I was a little balanced (until yesterday, the day before yesterday I went one way and almost fell on my own, seriously… I was surprised at myself too). Which leads me to believe that the daily exercises I’ve been doing for the last two weeks with bo and saber have helped my alignment and especially my legs (my muscles are no longer torn after 3 lunges, which is a big deal, believe me).
Speaking of naturalness, I can say that I have set a new record for myself: I didn’t think (that much) during training. I also found this strange. My movements were somehow more natural, I dare not say they were fluid because I would be exaggerating. Right I don’t know if I started thinking less before or after I clashed with my colleague… (because that happened too 🙂 ). What is certain is that I felt that the movements were connected differently, not necessarily thinking about every centimeter. Which I thought was fabulous!
My relationship with time has improved, at least that’s how I felt in this seminar. I said in another diary that I began to feel the opponent, to know when he puts strength in his arms, when he is tense… I can only do this when the technique is applied to me. The other way around doesn’t work…for now. I mean, if I do the technique there is no longer the same connection with the opponent, I lose him along the way. But what starts to become clearer are the split seconds where I glimpse a moment where I could do something (obviously non-decisive) that would at least upset the other person’s equilibrium and give me time to do something else. When you start doing stuff like that, a request like «Can I have a second?» takes on deeper meanings. One second can really change the course of events. So…be careful what you do with your seconds!
On the other hand, my guardian angel conscientiously does his duty and teaches me not to let go of all the less happy thoughts and ideas. 🙂 Looking from the sidelines, you don’t see all the movements, all the points through which Sensei controls the student with whom he shows us an exercise. His movements are subtle and because of this one can get the impression that what he is working with is not really fixed to the ground, that it can move. Twice I wanted to remind my colleague Cosmin, while he was on the ground, that his legs were free and he could use them. But I stopped in time and didn’t think out loud. The truth is that I have always been like this: it is much easier for me to understand something if I experience it first hand. Otherwise I only understand it on a rational level. Because even though in theory I knew there had to be a clear reason why my colleague wasn’t moving his legs, it was like… Finally, someone else asked (he also felt Cosmin was too relaxed) and when Sensei showed us again, we saw why the legs were loose and useless in that case. 🙂
Karma, Zenu’ and Feng Shuiu’….
June 16, 2024… the day my bokken passed to the Eternals. That’s all! It collided violently with another piece and broke. I’ve had it for more than two years and have worked on it a lot, so it already had some «scars»… But… karma, darling…he said his word… 🙂 Eu I asked him many times to whistle and he didn’t want to. He remained stubbornly silent. Well, now the wheel has turned. 🙂 I will keep it as it is now, it will go to the Museum. 🙂 And best of all, I will show it to the future bokken so he knows what happens if he doesn’t hiss. 🙂 I think I will show him the sword too. 🙂 Yes!
I conclude this report by thanking the hosts of Shiroi Okami Dojo in Bacăuas well as his Sensei Cristian Laiber for patiently sharing your experience with us! Below is a photo gallery.
latest posts published
Learn self-defense and improve your health at Dojo Shimahara
Discover the benefits of martial arts for children
Budokan Florianópolis opens a new Shotokan karate class for children
JKA Santa Catarina promotes trials to form the Santa Catarina team towards
book your place at the Shimahara Dojo lessons
Welcome to the new Shimahara Dojo website
from the meaning of the tracks to the transformation
a journey of strength, technique and transformation
«Iran dominates the first day of Karate 2023-Serie A Konya»
