Showing posts with label MacBeth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MacBeth. Show all posts
Western Region Aikido Camp: MacBeth Sensei
YoshRama
(5 of 7)

Ken MacBeth sensei


sometimes it's just too much fun!


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For one of MacBeth sensei's sessions, he taught bokken dori.
(techniques involving a wooden sword)

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kokyunage bokken dori




tsuki sokumen iriminage bokken dori
(tsuki = the attacker thrusts his/her bokken at your abdomen)






He also gave us very detailed instruction on bokken takeaways.




This particular aikido camp was graciously hosted by Ken MacBeth, at the Aikido of North County dojo. This was the first time I met MacBeth sensei, and everything you've heard about him is true! :) He is a great example for all of us to follow, he is a great instructor with a relaxed and joyful disposition, and also very humble. Not only does he dedicate his time to aikido (he was recently promoted to Godan), but he also practices bikram yoga and goes running every week. I'm sure there's a lot more about him that I do not know, but that alone is quite impressive!


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Western Region Aikido Camp: Intro & Exams
YoshRama

(1 of 7)

Can we? Maybe? Should we? Perhaps? Maybe just one? Oh, let's just do it! Is it possible? Wait... What? You're kidding me! Seriously? Ok! Let's go! ...by a stroke of last-minute good fortune, Amjith and I made it to the Oct 2010 Western Region Aikido Camp in Vista, California (affiliated with the Aikido Association of America).

Kirsten Simms and Jeremy Neff


A camp differs from a seminar in that a camp has multiple instructors. In this case, we had (right to left) Toyoda sensei, Nakayama sensei, Katz sensei, MacBeth sensei, and Dyer sensei. It was spectacular!



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There were a few exams held during the camp: Mike Hackett and Alan Sweeten for Shodan, Jeremy Neff for Nidan, and Rick Berdini for Yondan! Congratulations to everyone for a great test!


I only have pictures for Alan Sweeten's exam - here are the juicy bits!
(Alan is the guy in all white with a brown belt.)


 

yudansha waiting to be thrown...



For Alan's Shodan test, he had to demonstrate "five arts" on various techniques. For example, he had to do a minimum of five different techniques against a stomach punch, a minimum of five different techniques against a grab from behind, etc. Then, he had to defend himself against attacks from a wooden sword (trust me, it will hurt if that thing makes contact with you!), and then demonstrate his jo (wooden staff) skills through a 22 movement kata. After all this, he had to defend himself against four attackers to show the test committee that he can use his aikido to successfully defend himself.

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