Going back to Bacău always feels unique. This was my third seminar in the city, and every visit has given me unforgettable experiences. The first introduced me to the famous Bacovian rain, the second to the tough Bacovian winter, and this time I secretly wished to see the equally beautiful Bacovian summer.
As a big fan of the Romanian poet George Bacovia, I couldn’t help but think of one of his well-known lines before I left. After surviving several hot summer days at home, I pictured arriving in a city wrapped in the heavy, sad mood of his poetry. Instead, the weekend welcomed us with mild weather and cool nights—pleasant enough to make me regret not bringing a jacket.
Yet, as always, the weather became just a small part of an amazing weekend filled with martial arts, friendship, and personal growth.
Returning to Bacău: More Than Just Another Seminar
Every seminar offers technical knowledge, but going back to familiar spots also means seeing people who share the same love.
Seeing my friends from Bacău and nearby cities again reminded me why these events are so important. They create a place where everyone, no matter their experience level, helps build a culture of learning.
I have always thought that growth happens quicker when you’re around those who truly enjoy what they do. Whether chatting with skilled practitioners or beginners taking their first steps, every talk becomes a chance to learn something new.
- Of course, I also kept my tradition of asking odd questions.
- Maybe a bit too many odd questions.
- Luckily, my friends have shown amazing patience.
- An Unexpected Stop: Football and Fried Potatoes
Saturday evening brought one of those little moments that unexpectedly turn into memories.
We went back to the same restaurant with views of Cancicov Park Lake, where I happily found they had added many types of fried potatoes to the menu—a culinary upgrade that truly deserved some praise.
While eating dinner, we also watched part of the Italy vs. Albania match in the European Championship.
I barely had time to grasp what was happening before Italy scored after only twenty-three seconds.
For a short moment, I honestly thought it was some kind of TV ad.
- It wasn’t.
- Italy eventually won the game, but the quick opening goal became one of the funniest parts of the night.
- Discovering Shinden Fudō Ryū and Togakure Ryū A Different Feeling During Training
- This seminar mostly focused on skills from Shinden Fudō Ryū and Togakure Ryū Biken Jutsu.
- Usually, I avoid talking about the Japanese names of schools and skills because I still don’t feel comfortable using them easily.
- This time was different.
- Something just clicked.
- For the first time, I felt that I wasn’t only mimicking movements but starting to grasp the basic ideas behind them.
- The Importance of Nature
- One thought came up many times during the seminar:
- Natural movement.
- At first, this seemed strangely simple.
- What does it really mean to move naturally?
The more I thought about it, the harder the question seemed to get. - We exist in a world filled with rules, expectations, and social standards that keep changing what we view as «normal.» With time, we frequently confuse learned habits for natural actions.
- Martial arts question that viewpoint.
- Rather than imposing movements, they help practitioners to find out what the body already understands.
- That, maybe, turned out to be the most important lesson of the weekend.
Learning to Trust the Ground
One characteristic of Shinden Fudō Ryū is its extensive use of techniques performed from low positions.
When Sensei demonstrated the first technique beginning from the ground, I honestly doubted I would be able to execute it effectively.
To my surprise, everything worked far better than expected.
Standing up felt remarkably easy.
Even more surprising was my improved balance.
Considering that only days earlier I had nearly managed to fall over while simply walking, this felt like genuine progress.
Small Daily Habits Create Big Improvements
Over the previous two weeks I had been practicing regularly with the bō and the bokken.
At first I wondered whether these daily exercises were making any noticeable difference.
This seminar answered that question.
My legs felt stronger.
My posture felt more stable.
Even the lunges that previously exhausted my muscles became much easier.
Sometimes improvement happens so gradually that we only recognize it when confronted with a completely new challenge.
Thinking Less, Moving Better
- One of the most unexpected discoveries during the seminar was that I spent less time thinking.
- Normally I analyze every movement.
- Every angle.
- Every centimeter.
- This time something changed.
- The techniques flowed more naturally.
- Not perfectly.
- Certainly not elegantly.
- But naturally.
- Even after accidentally colliding with one of my training partners, I noticed that my body continued responding without overanalyzing every action.
- Perhaps this is one of the first signs that repetition is beginning to replace conscious calculation.
Understanding the Value of One Second
- Another lesson emerged from observing timing.
- Previously I had written about beginning to «feel» an opponent—their tension, balance, and intentions.
- That sensation continues to develop.
- I still experience it more clearly when techniques are applied to me than when I perform them myself.
- However, I have started recognizing tiny moments where a small action could disrupt an opponent’s balance.
- Not enough to finish the encounter.
- Just enough to create another opportunity.
- In martial arts, a single second can completely transform the outcome of a situation.
- Perhaps that is why timing is often more important than speed.
Watching Isn’t the Same as Experiencing
- An interesting moment occurred while observing another student.
- From where I stood, it seemed obvious that he could still use his legs.
- I nearly said something.
- Fortunately, I remained silent.
- When Sensei repeated the demonstration, it became immediately clear why moving his legs was impossible under that particular control.
- It reminded me of something important:
- Understanding intellectually is very different from experiencing something physically.
- Martial arts continually reinforce this lesson.
Farewell to a Faithful Bokken
- Not every memory from the seminar involved personal breakthroughs.
- Some involved loss.
- On June 16, 2024, my faithful bokken reached the end of its journey.
- After more than two years of constant practice, countless training sessions, and plenty of visible scars, it finally broke during partner practice.
- Oddly enough, I wasn’t sad.
- It had served its purpose.
- Instead of throwing it away, I decided to keep it.
- It has officially earned a place in my personal «museum.»
- Perhaps it will also serve another purpose:
- Warning future bokken what happens when they refuse to whistle during practice.
Final Reflections
Every seminar teaches techniques.
The best seminars teach something much deeper.
This weekend in Bacău reminded me that progress isn’t measured only by technical precision but by subtle internal changes that often go unnoticed until the right moment arrives.
I learned to trust natural movement a little more.
I discovered that consistency produces results even when they are invisible day by day.
I appreciated once again the value of training alongside passionate people who inspire continuous growth.
Most importantly, I left understanding that martial arts are not about forcing perfection.
They are about gradually removing everything that prevents natural movement, clear thinking, and genuine presence.
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