On Being Invited to the 2005 Colorado Aikido Summer Camp
By Kenji Ushiro, Okinawa Koden Karate Shindo-ryu
Translated by Dan Nishina
Published here with the kind permission of Ushiro shihan and the editors of Aiki News "Do" Magazine in Japan ( Aikido Journal in U.S.)
Introduction
The 2005 Aikido Summer Camp in the Rockies, organized by Ikeda Hiroshi shihan and Boulder Aikikai, was held in Colorado, America, for one week from July 24 through July 31. This summer camp was the 25th year anniversary, and included participants numbering 250, coming from Canada, Mexico, Switzerland, Philippines, and of course all over the U.S.A. Practice sessions began from 6:30 in the morning through 6 in the evening, making for a full week with lots of sweat. When it comes to week-long camps in Japan, participants are, excepting professionals, usually only from university or semi-pro clubs. I felt a big difference at this Colorado aiki-camp, where a multitude of participants could be seen, including university professors, lawyers, doctors, police, FBI, teachers, students, company employees, and of course aikido instructors. The following is a report from my departure date, July 20, through my return to Japan on August 4 - a report of things as I saw and felt them.
7/20 (Kansai Airport, departing at 3:30pm, transfer at San Francisco, arriving in Denver at 3pm). Ikeda sensei and Kevin Choate, of Chicago, were there to pick me up. I had spent time with them at the Aiki Expo in Los Angeles in May, so my meeting them this time felt very familiar ("Hey, how's it going?") and a feeling that my stay here would be wonderful came bubbling up. Denver airport is one of the world's largest international airports, and covers an area of twice the size of Manhattan Island. Its outer appearance forced me to expand my image of airports thus far, its design novel, the points of its white roof seeming to evoke the Rocky Mountains. The city of Denver itself started with the discovery of gold in 1858 and is said to be a modern city that currently fulfills the function as the heart of the western U.S. From the airport, we drove approximately one hour to Ikeda sensei's home in Boulder. On the way there, I was so taken by the immense landscape that I asked them to stop the car so I could take some pictures. "This is nothing - this is only the beginning," said Ikeda sensei. I later understood this to mean our drive through Rocky Mountain National Park the next day.
Meeting the Members of Boulder Aikikai
The city of Boulder lies before a mountain background, surrounded by grand nature. It is a quiet and beautiful city, popular even within America. In the evening, we went directly to the Boulder aikido dojo and its 250 tatami. Practice was just ending around the time we arrived, so for the time being I just took in the atmosphere of the dojo. It is an impressive dojo - one so impressive would rarely be found in Japan - but I was startled to hear that the dojo's members had taken it upon themselves to construct it. With the dojo members who finished practice, we went to a nearby Mexican restaurant. Starting off right away with Corona beer, then moving on to strong margaritas, I wondered to myself how it always ends up this way wherever I go, even though it is not necessarily my rule to equate exchanges with drinking.
The altitude at Boulder is about 1,800 meters and is well known as a destination for Japanese Olympic athletes to train. Because of the altitude, alcohol takes effect rather quickly, so visitors must be careful. Nevertheless, I didn't have to worry and enjoyed myself until the end. The location of the summer camp, the campus of Colorado Mountain College, was even higher, at 2,300 meters. I wondered what would happen to me there. I feel that it is thanks to the spirit and mind of budo that I can instantly fit in with people wherever I go.
To the Rocky Mountains
The next day, we left Boulder at 10am to go to the Rocky Mountain National Park. The park features peaks such as Long's Peak (4,345m) and Mount Meeker (4,240m) - spread out directly in front of me were such mountains on the order of 4,000 meters. On the three hour drive I saw for the first time this wonderful landscape and year-round snow. We arrived at the highest point accessible by car, the Alpine Visitor Center. The reason I felt light-headed was the 3,595 meter altitude. I'm afraid I had to decline climbing up to the highest point (3,713m). When we returned to Boulder, it was just when practice was ending. I then went with the dojo members to a Chinese restaurant for a drink. We ended up staying past business hours, but Ikeda sensei's face told me it was OK and we had a great time.
The Camp Site, Colorado Mountain College
Finally we set off to the camp location, Colorado Mountain College. It is a drive of about four hours from Boulder. During the drive in Ikeda sensei's car, captivated by the 360-degree view of giant mountain scenery, we spent an enjoyable time conversing about budo, America, as well as politics. At some point we found ourselves in a valley driving along a river, the rock face not simply red but bright red. I was completely convinced upon hearing Ikeda sensei's explanation: Colorado = color + red. And so this river that we were driving along - of course it was the Colorado River. With no idea of the events that would befall me days later in the rapids below, we arrived in a Colorado town near our destination. We passed through and made our way to the Mountain College. The college is located a 20 minute drive up a small mountain with a clear, wide view - a perfect place for a weeklong camp.
Afterward, we immediately set off to a restaurant. The beer flowing from the brewing tank inside the store was especially tasty, and before I knew it I had ordered a 10-beer sampler. Things only got livelier from there and the night was rich.
Here in Colorado the altitude was high and the city lights few, so the stars and especially the moon were beautiful. It reminded me of a song I heard as a child, "Colorado Moon." After returning to Japan, I looked up the song, and it went like this:
"Colorado Moon"
Night of the Colorado moon, to the shore where I walk alone,
The current from afar, carrying memories,
Young days are gone, and where are you,
Night of the Colorado moon, I change my empty dreams,
On the edge of a Colorado mountain, the painful shadow of a star,
I can't forget even now, those lovely eyes,
To the night sky, I pray far away to your happiness,
On the edge of a Colorado mountain, I change my empty dreams.
Saotome Sensei
Before the camp, we went to Aspen airport to pick up Saotome sensei. Just as Ikeda sensei had told me ("I'm looking forward to what kind of clothing Saotome sensei will be wearing when he arrives,") when I saw him at the arrival gate, nevermind that it was my first time to see him, I could tell right away that it was Saotome sensei. I was impressed by the appearance of his majestic and beautiful outfit consisting of Japanese indigo cloth and Western denim, which he had designed himself. Right from greeting each other, his frank manner left me feeling it wasn't the first time we met. This encounter was a prelude to my drinking with sensei in his room the whole week of the camp every night from about 10pm to 1 or 2am.
The Dawn of Camp
From 3pm 7/24, reception for the 250 participants began. Practice started that night from 8 to 9:30, with instruction combined with demonstrations by Saotome sensei, Doran sensei, and myself. The camp was underway, with practice sessions beginning at 6:30am the next morning to 6pm in the evening. Although the gymnasium had about 700 tatami laid out, there was still not enough room for all the participants so a practice space was prepared outdoors under a tent, where 70 to 80 people could practice. Of course, because it was an aikido camp, the participants were aikido practitioners, but among them were people experienced in kenjutsu, iai, jujutsu, karate, judo, and other budo. Taking this into consideration, I proceeded to instruct on throwing techniques unique to Shindo-ryu karate, fundamentals common to all budo, and kokyu.
There was great applause when Saotome sensei proclaimed, "Since Ushiro sensei is teaching aikido, I am teaching karate."
The great thing about the camp was that, from the viewpoint of an instructor, we were able to teach even some deep aspects.
Because practice was held morning and afternoon everyday for a whole week, those who were learning could grasp some continuity of the instruction content and build each day upon the previous days. This is something that is difficult to do in regular practice, but started to manifest as I hoped at this camp.
Camp - Day 4, Free Day
On the third day of the camp, a free day, featuring socialization, was scheduled. We could choose from various activities, including rafting, hiking, horseback riding, fishing, and cycling. Upon Ikeda sensei's recommendation, we chose to go on a 6-hour rafting trip on the Colorado River. On the day that we arrived, the water in the river was clear, but after the rain two days ago, the river had turned completely red. In 10-passenger rubber rafts we descended this river whose size and scale were beyond comparison to any river in Japan. The captain of our raft was a small, charming woman about 25 years old. I thought to myself, "Is she really up to the job?" as our 5-boat aiki-group departed. I made my conviction when we entered the rapids and became completely drenched. After several repetitions of this, I started to get used to it and began taking in some of the immense scenery.
However, at some point some people with American(?) spirits started something unimaginable. When we came to a place where the water was calm, they threw buckets of water at us, and jumped on board our raft and tried to pull us into the water. In this hopeless situation, I bucked up and tried to enjoy it. They said it was customary.
We split up from the 3-hour ride group and had lunch. Afterward, they prepared three single-rider kayaks in addition to the rafts. At one gentle part of the river, I decided to try one of them. Almost as soon as we set off again in the gentle current, we came around a bend into some rapids. I didn't have any time to gather myself as I realized a wave of water about to envelop me, and an instant later my kayak turned sideways and I was thrown out. Swimming was practically out of the question due to the speed of the current, but I was rescued by one of the rafts in front. They told me a fisherman had died the previous day on the same part of the river, which receives the snowmelt from the Rockies and the water is a chilly 14 degrees Celsius. Anyway, I enjoyed myself.
The Second Half of the Camp
By the fifth day I'd come to remember the faces of the camp participants, so as soon as I saw a person's face I could recall their physical characteristics and technical level. As for me, it was my first time to meet everyone so I needed to gain a grasp of each person's physical movement and technical level the instant I faced them. However, I had never concerned myself with schools or styles, so I had no trouble in those respects. I gradually became able to see what I thought was a common characteristic among the camp participants, and thus conducted classes starting with an explanation of the issue, how to overcome it, and then actually practicing.
The overall issue was a disparity between the words that represent the ideal of aikido, "harmony" and "unification," and the technical aspect. This disparity was clearly evident in practice - specifically, the attacks were weak and not really attacks, and not only responded to the partner (nage) to accommodate or collude with them, but responded in such an extreme manner that they (uke) fell down or were thrown all by themselves.
The other side of this situation (the implication) is that it is proof that practitioners are not harmonizing. I felt that this was a divergence from the original thinking of the founder of aikido, Morihei Ueshiba. Consequently, there was a lack of substance when discussing technique and it appeared that people were pursuing an ideal of only words. First of all, when considering real attacks, it is best to think of the movements of evading or receiving as inadequate. One must not create any openings with respect to the opponent's attack. In order to do this, one's ki must function with respect to the opponent. Movements of the hands and feet, receiving, attacking - these are best thought of as only conclusions or afterthoughts.
I felt it was wonderful that I was able to speak frankly about this subject 4 or 5 days into the camp after building a foundation of trust. I believe the above situation can be seen in Japan also, with the difference being that Americans have a stance of open-mindedness that enables them to understand the situation, seriously accept it, and work on it - I believe this will be the greatest asset and weapon of Americans. I feel that, in order to avoid an era of reverse-importation, it will be necessary to be much more open-minded in working on such issues in the homeland, Japan.
At this camp I was able to have frank exchanges with Saotome sensei, and learned many things from him. Talks about his days as an uchideshi of Ueshiba sensei were especially informative. I could feel that Saotome sensei had inherited the severity of that period with both his body and mind. I am full of gratitude for the wonderful opportunity to have met sensei.
Party on the Final Night of Camp
At this point we were approaching the end of the seven days of camp tomorrow. Before that though, there was a dinner party planned at 7pm at the Colorado Hotel. This hotel is that venerable hotel in which Doc Holiday stayed in the movie, "Gunfight at the OK Corral." The way this party came to life definitely made me feel that this was America. It was certainly past midnight when it ended. Practice finished at 12:30 the next day. After that we took commemorative photos. With some people even shedding tears at saying good-bye, it was a wonderfully touching camp. My respect and admiration to Ikeda sensei and the members of Boulder Aikikai, for all the considerable preparation and arrangements they made.
To Boulder Again
The weeklong camp ended safely and we headed back to Ikeda sensei's home base in Boulder. I was originally going to relax the remaining two days, but it ended up being that I would instruct the members of Boulder Aikikai and their enthusiasm for two evenings. Everyone, including members who were not able to come to camp, was enthusiastic about these special classes. Also, among the participants were a judo teacher who was dispatched from Japan 20 years ago as well as the judo instructor for the Boulder police. They seemed to be impressed by the techniques of nullifying power.
I express my heartfelt gratitude to Saotome sensei, Doran sensei, Ikeda sensei, Mrs. Ikeda, the members of Boulder Aikikai, and all the participants at camp for being able to share in this wonderful camp and giving me some cherished memories.