Kaze Uta Budo Kai Forum Archive

Thank you to everyone who joined me in Kangeiko -- I hope you found the experience as rewarding as i did.
Each year, Kangeiko serves as a pseudo zen sesshin/vision quest for me -- the intensive quality of it always stimulates my unconscious into creative directions--

In aikido this year I got to see the relationship between our practices of stretching and ukemi and the role of uke; in the next go round I got look at the collective energy of our walking kata practice and gain understanding about the real tension that is required in slowing it way down; next came the release class with multiple attack, attack from behind, and constant movement; then a class questioning the understanding of balance and how we relate to it in kuzushi; and finally a session on light touch and non grip contacts, ending with moment to moment awareness.
In judo i got to explore light touch and sensitivity practice, some expanded foot work applications and some new and interesting relationships in neiwaza.
Jyodo was invigorating and grueling as always and yielded up nice defense practice and some sweet swordwork /walking applications and new insight on sword on sword from san kata.

And this dosent even touch on all the cool stuff from zen, NVC, chi gung,vipassana, dance meditation, feldenkrais, or drum beat (shucks --I had to miss out on those last two)

I dont know how it works but something about the intersection of budo, meditation, and energy practices really gets stuff cookin - in the future i hope to include more healing and body work too
Finally and again- I really appreciate all the participation -- I could not do any of it without the interaction effect of your presence and practice-- your questions and ideas-- you hard work and your play-- you have helped meet my needs for depth, meaning, creative expression, and growth.
Happy new year to one and all -- nick