Yudansha Weapons Seminar with Sugano Sensei at Aikido of Red Bank, April 2008

Jim Soviero (Aikido of Red Bank)

To view the photo album from this seminar, please click here

When Sugano Sensei first approached me to express his interest in conducting his first-ever yudansha weapons seminar at Aikido of Red Bank, I was simply floored (the kind of flooring for which no ukemi could prepare you). I later came to learn that this kind of event was something he resisted for some time, despite the regular urging of several students. After meeting with Sensei, it became apparent that he chose our dojo for this seminar because he enjoyed his last visit in the space of the church hall in which we used to practice, especially with its high ceilings. When I told him that we'd be in a new location by the time of the seminar, he didn't seem time mind Ð a huge relief! But the pressure now was definitely on to get the new place seminar-ready. He'd approached me in late summer of 2007, just as we started construction of the new dojo and the date for the seminar had been set for April of 2008.

Long story short, after much hard work, many early mornings and late nights over the lead-up months (including begging the town for a temporary Certificate of Occupancy pending one last inspection), we finally got everything in order. The first day of the seminar approached and I learned how much yin and yang anxiety and excitement really are. The response of the NY/NJ area yudansha and dojo-cho was touching to understate. And right from the first moment bowing in to the kamiza, the room was simply electric. Everyone in attendance was just as thrilled to be part of this event, given how rare the opportunity to have Sugano Sensei in such an intimate setting over a 2-day intensive divulge much of what he knows regarding the history of Japanese sword work, bokken and their place in today's Aikido. He detailed everything from the ceremony of removing and replacing a sword from and back to the rack, holding and transferring the bokken from right to left hip, to every fine nuance of hand and body position in drawing. And the seemingly infinite details of standing in a defensive hanmi position with the drawn bokken were almost enough themselves for a day's concentrated study. The information he gave came fast and furious, much like his technique, and bordered on over-saturation for many of us. But masterfully, he taught as he always does in a way that made sure he lost none of us in the process. And though master he is, in typical Sugano Sensei fashion, he kept things humble and real by working in and around the mat, partnering with everyone at least once throughout the weekend. Toward the end of the second day, he had each partnership demonstrate in front of the group the kumi-ken we'd been dissecting to that point.

By second day's end, we were all on a different plane, especially those of us who may have up to this weekend felt a staleness in our practice. After the obligatory group photo, Sugano Sensei announced that he himself had such a good time that he wants to make this seminar an annual event. My turn to be humbled! The date for next year has already been set for April 25 & 26, 2009. I look forward greatly to the reunion and rediscovery. Thank you again, Sugano Sensei!