Training Across Borders (TAB) Seminar, April 14 - 17, 2005

Contributed by Dr. Don Levine, Director, Aiki Extensions
Photos and captions by Vladan Andjelkovic
with special thanks to Velibor Vesovic sensei of ARS Dojo

In spite of long-standing hatreds, intimidating consulates, airline strikes, stubborn border guards, and seven different languages, some 90 aikidoka from 18 countries convened for four days at Nicosia, Cyprus, for a historic experience of training across borders. The UN-patrolled buffer zone between North and South Cyprus offered a poignant venue for a practice that brought together aikidoka from enemy countries. Leaders of North and South Cypriot aikido communities trained together for the first time. More than two dozen Arabs from Iraq, Jordan, and Palestine, and Israelis from Jerusalem, Tel-Aviv, and Kfar Yasif (a Christian Arab dojo) faced the risk of training with others known from afar only as adversaries.

Volunteers scrubbed and painted a large neglected room by the buffer zone, laid mats, and installed a shomen with calligraphy specially painted by Hiroshi Ikeda Sensei. Senseis Hans Goto, Richard Strozzi-Heckler, Winfried Wagner, and Jamie Zimron offered continuous keiko, punctuated by workshops on conflict management and youth outreach offered by AE veterans Kurt Bartholet, Jose Bueno, Scott Evans, and Paul Linden. Many participants report having had a "life-changing experience." As one participant put it, "Amazing. Heaven on Earth for three days in Cyprus. You have managed to pull off what governments only dream about." For more details, and photos, see the TAB webpage.

The excitement stirred by the TAB seminar at Cyprus has generated a number of continuing activities.

Israeli and Palestinian participants continue to organize bi-communal training events; a Salaam-Shalom steering committee chaired by Miles Kessler is pursuing a long-term strategy to expand such activities.
TAB participants formed a network in which 10- to 13-year-old aiki children from dojos in Brazil, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Palestine, and Turkey-have been exchanging letters and drawings.
Jose Bueno plans an event dedicated to the Arab and Jewish communities of Brazil, where children from his favela outreach project will demonstrate aikido and where photos and videos from the seminar will be shown.
Kurt Bartholet has organized a summer camp in Zurich, where European and American participants will be joined by Arab and Israeli aikidoists.
Ala'a Hijazi has begun to organize a second international Training Across Borders seminar in Aqaba, Jordan, early in 2006.

This is the dojo where most of the trainings were.
Our group from Serbia and some of the TAB instructors.
Our group and our friend from Ethiopia.
Dinner on last day of the seminar

Before flying home, we took a trip to Larnaca on the seacoast. This is a very old orthodox church called St. Lazarus.
This is what made the mark on the whole seminar. Here are a Palestinian woman, two Iraqis, two Israelis, a man from the Middle East, and our Serbian group. It was a gathering of all races, religions, cultures, and each and everyone enjoyed. It is unique Aiki spirit that united us all and made it possible.
Our group enjoying Cyprus sun. I would be very happy if I have managed to send you part of our feelings and wonderful memories that we have brought from the Cyprus seminar.