Hi fellow aikidoka,

I just wanted to share an exciting experience I have had while in
Chiang Mai Thailand. With Sombat Sensei away in Chaing Rai for a
while I have been given the opportunity to lecture here at the
Chiang Mai University.

I guess what most surprised me was a glimpse of what it is like to
teach Aikido in a country where I am not a native speaker of the
language. Without the ability to explain, something that seems very
western to do, the training is quite interesting, like raw Aikido
without the embellishments ;-). I noticed that the students watch
intensely and copy exactly what you are doing. I guess it's sort of
like missing one of the 5 senses. That is, the other 4 seem to be
heightened. I this regard and with Aikido being a body art, to be
able to feel the technique or form becomes very important.

The students here are so devoted to their training with students
arriving up to 45mins before class and training classes going for as
long as they can, sometimes 3+ hours. It's winter here at the
moment, but I would say, even in the open air dojo that it is
similar to summer in Brisbane. Their thirst is insatiable, a very
wonderful thing to experience. As with all Asian dojo's that I have
had the pleasure of training in, their sense of community is
amazing. The feeling of family, for want of a better word, is very
apparent.

I encourage any student that travels to Asia to Take Your Gi! ;-)

Aikido for me is truly a way to understand the oneness of our
existence and I am extremely thankful for this new experience in my
lifelong journey.


Adrian Xavier
Seisin Dojo
www.kisociety.com.au
*Come and visit, all are welcome*