Aikido life in Japan
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Three Years On A Stone

5/3/2017

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Picture From the river boat view at the Rainbow bridge and the Tokyo lights in the background.
Must be that the time has escaped me since the last post was now over a year ago. Not that there wasn't anything to write about, on the contrary, but once you get into the I'll-do-it-tomorrow thinking mode, there's no end to it, and before you know it, a year has gone by. 

Even now was hard to get it on here, and I must say, Ian's mom was in the back of my mind pushing me, so here's one for you, Mrs. R., I hope it's not a disappointment ;)


So how was the past year?
Overall, very similar to the first year. Daily going to the dojo, training in the morning, working in the afternoon, tomorrow rinse, repeat.
Of course, as anywhere where you spend more time living, the circle of people you know and the experiences you go through widens through training, different jobs, traveling, getting more familiar with the surroundings and the culture.

Even after two years spent in Japan it is hard for me to define in one sentence how are things in Japan, what people often ask me.  Mostly it depends, wherever you are, on you alone. The way you choose to perceive the surroundings and to what measure you want to become a part of the place you live in, or if you choose to look at it through the eyes of your own country's culture, your own ways rooted in your upbringing. 
In many ways Japanese are similar to the way older generations were, at least in my country, where human traits and values meant more or at least the same as material goods. That's my perception of it, anyways. Things like promises, loyalty, honesty. Feeling of togetherness and putting the needs, comfort, and wants of others before your own. Then there is respect of the elderly and those who came before you regardless of age, starting with your parents all the way to your school or club colleagues and coworkers. Then there is that thing where hard work, dedication, and striving to the better result through continuous improvement is one of the prime virtues, or not even that, but something which is expected normal behavior, and laziness or living at other's expense form of disgrace, embarrassment, like a sickness that needs to be treated. All that doesn't make them saints, but generally this is something that is much stronger implemented in their DNA than in the western cultures nowdays. It's a basis from which they view the world and from which any activity is started - work, hobbies, sports, or arts. Parallel to it there is a tendency for positive thinking, good mood, and enjoyment of the time given, which is always of uncertain duration. Those two, for me sometimes unmatchable streams (who is happy to spend whole day at work and with five days of yearly vacation?) they seem to see as inseparable. After whole day at work they go to have drinks together, travel together, or find happiness, pride and self-respect in the quality work they do and continues improvement. Contrary to my previous image, they don't run themselves down working superfast all the time, but patiently and persistently they keep pushing forward without giving up. All those we see as cool and advanced in Japanese products or services originate from these settings. Japanese cars, electronics, handcrafts, trains that come on time, to the small "unimportant" everyday things such as easy to open wrappings and all the little things that you encounter every day. Often times they don't increase the material value of the product, but its usability, as a direct consequence of someone's thinking that this product will be used by the next person who wants that his life is just a little bit easier. Surely, this goes to the levels (and prices) which are not for the regular people, but starts with easy to open $1 rice ball package which makes sure that the sheet of nori algae doesn't get soft while it sits on the shelf and comes down to rice automatically as you remove the wrapping. And when you pay for it, the guy at the register adds wet tissue for hands, all in the appropriate sized bag, rolling the handles so they are easier to hold until you got it in your hands. 
Like I said, it all depends from which angle you look at it, there will be more or less things that could be (too) easily called stupid or unnecessary, but one thing is certain, they are surely different. 
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Shinjuku, Tokyo.
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Shinjuku,Tokyo.
Same area, different point of view.
Feel free to skip the next paragraph if Aikido or training doesn't concern you. Although, it is all more or less applicable to any sphere of Japanese life and culture. What Japanese masters makes different from the rest are not the secret methods and techniques they are taught over here, but the very cultural background which gives them deeply rooted solidity which is equally recognizable by layman and those who've been in it for years. It is that "something" which makes them different. 
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With Chida Sensei at the final demo at the Aikido Renshinkai All Japan Instructors' enbu in October 2016.
In Aikido sense (and anyone will agree, what makes sense is very relative) after the first year and the end of the Senshusei course I had the opportunity to stay in the honbu (main) dojo as an assistant instructor which I took, of course. The chance to train and teach Aikido in Japan is an opportunity given to few people, foreign or Japanese and to teach in the Chida Sensei's dojo is a challenge in it's own right. 

As much the Senshusei course was something I always wanted to do, for the most part (in different amounts) was stressful period. Most of that stress I produced on my own, with my own self-imposed expectations towards my own progress. I think that realistically no one around me had any special expectations outside of what is normal for any student. Later I understood why. But coming to Japan with twenty years of doing Aikido already behind me, soon I had to make peace with the fact that all that I thought I mastered wasn't realistic. Not because it was all wrong or not, but because it was simply on the recreational level where it would be even if you were teaching in your dojo 3 to 5 days a week. That is hard to understand until you come to Japan and study first hand from the teacher of Chida Sensei's level. Why is it only possible here? Because in the background of everything they do (regardless of Aikido) is the cultural base which is absent from any foreign dojo, and is integral part of Japanese from their birth through home and social upbringing. More often than not, it is void of any great talent or genetic predisposition, but has that trait I talked about earlier that makes them to repeat exactly, without questioning whatever is given to them to do, and to try in the next attempt to do with even greater focus and intention to make it better from the previous one. It is their goal to own what they do and to spend 12 hours a day doing it. I'm not saying this to insinuate that this approach is rarely found elsewhere, but probably that's exactly what I'm saying. The difference between thinking that you are already doing it like that and what is really being done is in those little introspective thoughts going through one's mind while practicing. "Oh, just a small mistake", "oh, doesn't matter, 48 or 50 repetitions", "oh, enough for today, tomorrow I'll do the rest", "It's passable", and so on. And that's the best case scenario, since it means that there is at least room for improvement. Other extreme would be where individual is certain that he's already doing it right and continues business as usual. That plus 12+ hours a day, 6 to 7 days a week. 

Rest assured, that easy approach is found with most foreigners and Japanese alike even here. And that's because they see Aikido as healthy recreation or hobby, and there's nothing wrong with that, if that is your consciously chosen level within which you slowly progress. That's why there are only couple of Senshusei a year who are ready to receive numerous daily corrections, advice, and expectations (this time real ones) that whatever's been corrected once is from then on to be applied correctly. Nothing is overlooked and you are not let go easy way. If necessary it will be repeated 100 times in a row until you start doing it the right way. (Although in reality after the third time someone will stop you and ask you why are you still doing it the wrong way when you were already told twice :) Actually nothing special is required but to do each movement correctly, and you know what is correct, since it's been drilled into your brain during the course. That requires maximum concentration, focus and complete dedication all of the time. And is completely free. In return, you get sharpness, precision and understanding which is impossible to get any other way. And that makes a difference between the honbu dojo instructor and the regular member/instructor. 
PictureSometimes you just have to remember to change the perspective.
Last year I was teaching kokusai (international) classes on Wednesdays and Thursdays and jumping in here and there as necessary helping with general and Senshusei classes. Although they are called international, mostly they are attended by Japanese members of different levels. Since there is always some of the senior instructors present in the dojo office, I always feel like I have to be careful of all the segments of the teaching, including the methodology, content, presentation and dynamics, depending on the technique being taught. Especially since most often there is Chida Sensei sitting in the office! Rest of the time in the dojo is for my own training with this years Senshusei student and other instructors.

Through all this I've learned a lot. As much as I've learned about aikido technique I've learned about professional approach. Although I have a chance to practice with Chida Sensei every day, I can say that I have learned something from every single person who comes to the dojo. Even from those students and instructors with whom I didn't feel like practicing and from those members who come to the mat for the reasons only they know. I've come to realize that if I leave enough space for every person to be who they are there will always be enough room for me to learn something new that will enable me to view things and people around me with more tolerance. 

What's next?
In Japan there is a saying, 石の上にも三年, (fon. ishi no ue ni mo san nen) or “Three years on top of a rock”, which would mean persistance brings success. That was all my first teacher, Nagano Sensei told me when I said that I feel that inspite all the training I'm not going anywhere. Shut up and train, in other words. Typical of Japanese. Anyway, I'm staying for the next year as well, as an instructor teaching and training with this year's Senshusei.

Life outside Aikido unstoppably goes on following it's course. Sometimes I look at it and I wonder where it goes. Most certainly, feels like it has some strange plan which I'm not supposed to know anything about.
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Look-a-likes attract.
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Short episode of working in a Japanese restaurant last year. Japanese are demanding, strict, but fair employers. Valuable experience in Japanese culture and people's relations. And not too much sleep in that period. I remember one day, it was a busy morning and I had to do overtime. Owner of the restaurant came to me, and since it was a family business, his wife, mother and father worked there. He waited until they all lined up in front of me, and while I was trying to figure out what was happening, they all bowed and finally he asked if I could stay another half an hour to an hour after 6 hour shift. My hands were in the dirty dishes up to my elbows and I was wondering, should I bow as well, or what do I do now? Often the shifts were 10, 12 or more hours, and although paid for, along with my aikido training that tempo wasn't sustainable in the long run.
As usual, if you have any questions or want to know something in more detail, feel free to ask here, send a message or reach out on Facebook.

Cheers!
PS: At the end one nice photo...
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Couple of hours south from Tokyo there is Hayama beach with the view of the Fuji san on the photo covered with clouds (left).
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SENSHUSEI COURSE GRADUATION 2016

2/28/2016

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Receiving the Dan certificates for the 4th Senshusei course from the Chairman Katsuhiro Kinoshita Sensei.
Yesterday after early morning classes there was a graduation ceremony and certificates and instructor licenses were awarded to the graduates of the 4th Senshusei course. Two of us who have finished the 11 month course and three Senshusei who have finished the short five month course received the certificates from the Chairman Katsuhiro Kinoshita Sensei and the chief instructor Tsutomu Chida Saiko Shihan in the presence of few of the hombu dojo instructors. 
I would like to thank all who were in any way involved and supported me to realize this opportunity to come to Tokyo and were inspiration to finish this "craziness", as they sometimes call the course. What's next? Next generation of Senshusei starts in one month and I'm staying as an assistant in the hombu dojo for another round. Stay tuned! 
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Osu!
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Senshusei course 2016/2017

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SENSHUSEI COURSE 2016-2017

2/26/2016

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THIS ARTICLE WAS ORIGINALLY WRITEN AFTER THE 2015/2016 SENSHUSEI COURSE, BUT THE INFORMATION PROVIDED HERE IS VALID FOR THIS YEAR'S COURSE JUST THE SAME. HRVATSKA VERZIJA OVDJE.
PictureSenshusei and honbu dojo instructors took part in the Kagami biraki demonstration. On the photo Chida Sensei demonstrates recognizable technique which his teacher Gozo Shioda showed many times with him and other Yoshinkan uchi deshi.
After the new year's short break, which was too short for healing of the few aching tendons, but enough to gain a few extra pounds, first shock was Kangeiko, a winter three day intensive followed by a week of intensive preparation for this year’s Kagami biraki demo. Every day all day we practice for the 3-5 minutes during which we will have to show some of the Aikido segments on Sunday celebration at the hombu (main) dojo. Word harmony gets new meaning as every movement is being synchronized to the part of a second precision between partners and between the pairs who will be demonstrating at the same time the same technique, but one pair doing it standing (tachi waza) and the other kneeling (suwari waza).

Same week dojo started accepting applications for this year’s, 5th Senshusei course. It seems unbelieveable that mine is getting close to an end. This is not a conclusion, since the course is not over yet, but I will try to bring it closer to you and show you what the course and the day in the dojo is really like.

When I was planning on coming here,  it was really hard to find first hand information about the course and the life during that one year such as you will be able to find here.  Maybe some of you decide to give it the try this or next year and find this useful. 

People flew over all the way from Los Angeles, USA and London, UK to practice for 3 days with Chida Sensei and the rest of the Renshinkai instructors and aikidokas from different Renshinkai and Yoshinkan dojos all over Japan. And while I talked with my Japanese Senshusei colleagues that it seems crazy now that people come all over from London to practice for a few hours, she said: “We think you are crazy that you came to stay one YEAR only to practice Aikido.”
So there, everything is relative, don’t let that discourage you ;-)
THE SENSHUSEI COURSE, WHO IS IT FOR?
​Senshusei course is designed for complete beginners in Aikido. Equally open to and often attended by the experienced aikidoka, everyone goes through the same program. If you are already experienced, on one hand it will be easier for you, since the principles and movements are already familiar to you, regardless of the Aikido style you used to practice, and on the other hand, it will be harder, because through the year(s) of exercise body has accumulated a lot (unfortunatelly as it usually is the case) bad habits which now have to be overridden with new practice. Absolute beginners will have the advantage here, because they will be writing directly on an empty board the instructions of Chida Sensei and other instructors who faithfully transfer his words and movements, which significantly speeds up the process of advancement. However, sometimes it will be harder for them because the body needs time to adjust, coordinate and get used to specific positions and movements. 
Firstly designed for the Tokyo Metropolitan and Riot police cadets, today the course is accessible to the civilians who wish to dedicate 11 months to the intensive training to study with some of the best instructors of today.
WHO IS THE MAIN INSTRUCTOR?
The main instructor of the Renshinkai is noone else but Tsutomu Chida Sensei, longest time uchi deshi (33 years) of famous Gozo Shioda Sensei, one of the best students of Morihei Ueshiba Sensei, the founder of Aikido. He taught Aikido for 30 years to Tokyo Metropolitan and Riot police. After Shioda Sensei’s passing in 1994, he was appointed as dojo-cho and chief technical instructor of Yoshinkan dojo, the role he fulfilled for 13 years. In 2008 he opens Renshinkai dojo whose goal is to transfer faithfully to the new generations the teachings he received from Gozo Shioda Sensei.
Here’s what one of the former Yoshinkan students, now dojo-cho of a Renshinkai dojo in the Tokyo suburbs has to say about his first encounter with Chida Sensei:

“During one of those lessons, I had a singular experience while working with a partner on Hijishime (an arm-lock technique),” he recalls. “Chida-sensei approached us and, while explaining the proper way to apply the technique, he suddenly, but not abruptly moved forward and did the Hijishime (elbow locking technique) to me. I was relaxed and couldn’t stop myself from moving backward, or going down. My body was aligned in a way that locked my whole structure in a completely safe and natural way. In fact, I didn’t even have time to do ukemi (the art of falling properly and safely). Chida-sensei made my body do a sort-of ‘natural ukemi’ that I had never experienced before. It was so sudden, subtle, and performed without the usual vice-like grip and weight on my frame that I was accustomed to, that it was the most astonishing Aikido experience I had ever had. Then he just wandered away to teach others in the class. 
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It was what I had always read about in books, what my image of Aikido had always been. Chida-sensei’s Aikido was effortless, smooth, safe, harmonizing and irresistible.”
(You can read the short biography of Chida Sensei here.)
"It was what I had always read about in books, what my image of Aikido had always been. Chida-sensei’s Aikido was effortless, smooth, safe, harmonizing and irresistible."
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Every technique always performed with the same harmony, same precision, same calmness, fluid and strong as a crushing wave or soft as a feather.
As I’ve already written in my comment to this year’s Senshusei course for the Renshinkai page (for whole text and comments from other Senshusei please click here) going to Japan for the first time my main motivation was to learn aikido not from those who are one of the best teachers, but from - the best. I wanted to taste on my own skin what the technique of someone who has spent every day for over 30 years as uke and first uchi deshi of Gozo Shioda Sensei feels like. (Uchi deshi is a student who lives and practices in a dojo, completely devoted to the study of the art for every moment of the day being around the teacher, helping him in all aspects of life and work as well as practice.) In the “golden generation” of Yoshinkan many quality teachers came out, today legends of world rank. But there’s only one first uchi deshi who had to work harder and more than all the rest so he’s always one step ahead and that every day from his every movement they can learn. That one was Chida Tsutomu Sensei. How many instructors are there alive today who spent so much time practicing with that kind of intensity with the master of the Gozo Shioda Sensei’s calibre?
"I’VE BEEN PRACTICING     XY     AIKIDO FOR A LONG TIME, I COULDN’T NOW START (OVER) IN ANOTHER STYLE"
I came to Japan as Yoshinkan Shodan, after more than 15 years of Aikido which mostly followed Aikikai curriculum and 5 years of Yoshinkan Aikido with Hiromichi Nagano Sensei, 8th Dan. Until then I’ve attended the seminars with few of the famous Aikikai and Yoshinkan Sensei’s amongst which were Hiroshi Tada, Katsuaki Asai, late Yoji Fujimoto, Christian Tissier and others, and from the Yoshinkan Inoue Kyoichi, Joe Thambu, Jacques Muguruza, and my first Yoshinkan aikido Sensei Hiromichi Nagano and other fine instructors.
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And today I can clearly remember the feeling when I would be uke to some of them, it’s always been worthwhile and memorable experience and I’ve learned from each of them something. And I can count those experiences throughout 20 years with my 10 fingers. Same number of times as today when Chida Sensei showed a technique on us and later took ukemi for us. Yesterday also. Day before, too. And tomorrow. And so on for 11 months. 
PictureSenshusei training. Repetition, repetition, repetition under the all-seeing eye of Chida Sensei.
Today people travel thousands of miles to get an opportunity that from hundreds of people attending the seminar they will be the ones that the Sensei will use to show one of the techniques and in that way they take a peek through the window at the “real thing”, something to keep them motivated in training to strive to that level. Senshusei have an opportunity to practice 6 days a week with Chida Sensei, 1,5-4 hours a day, depending on a day, in the class where there’s maybe 10 people. 

Every movement you make, every thought will be intercepted by no one other than Chida Sensei. Stop reading for a moment and think again what that means. You will feel what you can only see on the video clips on the internet and read in the books: you try to do the technique and it doesn’t work; Chida Sensei puts his hand on yours and you try again and it works!

This opportunity is given only to Senshusei.

You are in the dojo every day minimum from  7:45am to 1:15pm (some days you come earlier and leave later, some days are special intensives and such) and all of your time is constantly devoted to practice. One year of such tempo is equal to 8-10 years of regular training 2-3 times a week in your local dojo. ​
"THAT’S ALL TRUE, BUT IT’S SO MUCH DIFFERENT FROM WHAT I CURRENTLY DO..."
What is the difference between Aikikai aikido, Yoshinkan aikido, Ki no Kenkyukai aikido or any other school when we talk about stable movement with your entire body, attention to the central line, unbalancing the partner, focused throws using your whole body, sync with the partner and feeling for timing; uke who attacks in balanced and firm way, and when receives the technique uses the power of the person doing the technique instead of jumping around by himself? There shouldn’t be any. 

Which aikidoka regardless of style or affiliation wouldn’t profit to feel this and get unambiguous instructions on how to learn to do this and gets a chance to be corrected and guided by someone of Tsutomu Chida Sensei’s caliber with the tips tailored just for you?
“After WWII in the time of forming of Yoshinkan aikido, there was no difference in doing the technique between aikido schools, nor in the training style. That lasted as long as the first generations of Ueshiba Sensei’s uchi deshi were active. Aikikai instructors like Tadashi Abe or Kenshiro Abbe Senseis clearly show that. Without getting into the political and other reasons, but simply because of the circumstances and character differences some took what they learned from Ueshiba Sensei and formed a structured curriculum (Shioda - Yoshinkan), while others merged under the bigger umbrella or split apart from the new wave of more dominant parties (Aikikai).”
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WHAT DOES A SENSHUSEI DAY IN A DOJO LOOK LIKE?
Senshusei come first to the dojo. They change into the training uniform (dogi) and start daily cleaning of the dojo. Vacuuming and wiping of the tatami, dusting everything in the dojo, washing the sinks and cleaning the changing rooms. Dojo is not big and this takes about 15 minutes. Wiping cloths used are being washed and hung to dry.
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After that before training there is mandatory warm up and preparation for the training. If on that day there is a early morning class, it is also open for the general members, so Senshusei practice with them from 07:00-08:00am. That class is led by Chida Sensei. If no early morning training, the first class is international class for general members, which starts at 8:30am and this class is in English usually led by Laurance Sensei, 5th Dan. Laurance Mar Sensei used to be Yoshinkan Senshusei who then decided to follow Chida Sensei and has spent last 13 years with him. In that class Senshusei are separated from general members and practice in more strict and harder regime then regular members. Class ends at 9:30 and as after every class, all present clean the tatami by swiping first and then vacuuming. It takes about 5 minutes. After that Senshusei Toban (main Senshusei for the day) at 9:45 calls Chida Sensei and in front of the rest of the Senshusei asks for permission for today’s training. This is one of the harder things in the day since it’s done in Japanese and you are being starred in the eye directly by Chida Saiko Shihan. Even Japanese Senshusei often stutter or mix up the words they are supposed to say. Senshusei Toban then asks for a daily training log book and writes down who conducted which class, lists what was being done in each class and then describes in his own words the most important technical points and notes. From 10:00-11:30am is Senshusei Kenshu training, special training closed for public in which only Senshusei and Hombu dojo instructors are present. In this class Chida Sensei gives very detailed instructions, step by step, how to correctly do the practiced technique, every detail being explained in words and practice. 

In the first two thirds of the course, except for when there is preparation for the test of a demo, new techniques are constantly being practiced. Generally one technique is being practiced each day, whole day, for example Katate Mochi Ikkajo Osae. In the first class we practice rough form where the hands and the feet go, with some instruction on how to perform the technique correctly and what to pay attention to. Sometimes separate elements are practiced, maybe some special part of the movement or step. 
​Next is Senshusei Kenshu and Chida Sensei explains in utmost detail why is each step done in a certain way. Class always starts by questions, and Chida Sensei answers anything you’d like to know related to that technique, whether it’s the movement, origin of the technique, reason why is something being done in this or that way and alike. When there are no more questions, we continue with the practice. Periodically Chida Sensei stops the training to guide the practice towards understanding of the details and creating the correct image in the head of what we are trying to achieve. During that time you can call him to show you something although he is constantly going around and shows stuff on each person individually, as uke and as shite (the one who does the technique). 

Sometimes we do technique with partner resisting and doesn’t let you to do the next step, and then the next and so on. Chida Sensei shows how only when the technique is 100% correct can be called the technique and you can continue moving through any resistance. 

This class is special because of the amount of new information you receive and try to incorporate into technique. Soon it becomes clear that even one year of such training is not enough to get the technique right and at the level of no thinking. 

Next class is from 12:00-13:00h. It’s usually  conducted either by Laurance Sensei or Takeda Sensei, uchi deshi 3rd Dan, who spends whole day in the dojo and is first generation Senshusei, rubber jumping ball uke, always ready. 
This class is known as ironing; for one hour without the break you repeat the technique of the day for tens or hundreds of times. When necessary, attention is brought to the most important technical detail and repetition continues. 

Depending on a day, the training is either done for the day, or from 14:00-15:00h you can stay for another Kenshu training for regular members. Here Senshusei are also practicing together with regular members. Often Chida Sensei asks which technique you want to do, so you can choose the same thing you’ve been doing all day, or something else you are interested in. As in Senshusei Kenshu, you go into the very details of the technique, but without so many questions.

After this there are evening classes for regular members at 19 and or 20hrs, and some are resilient enough to attend those as well. 

Main difference in the regular member’s training and Senshusei training is that the demands of the course attendants are much higher for the focus and discipline, techniques are done more and faster than in the regular members’ class. No talking, jokes, going to the toilet or drinking water in the middle of the class. 

Chida Sensei says that each time technique should be done at 120% of ability, and that that’s the way to advance. Endless lifeless mechanical repetition is of no use. 

Tolerance of the instructors for mistakes is lot less and with time becomes equal to zero so to speak. That means that Senshusei have to have the complete knowledge of each technique. And although they may not be able to do it perfectly, they have to show through doing it that they are trying and that they are aware of every part of it. Being able to do it is the next level in training. 
INJURIES AND FATIGUE
With this kind of tempo there is always danger of injury caused by drop of focus and injuries caused by fatigue of the tissue (muscles, tendons and ligaments). 

Some Senshusei have to go to work after training to support themselves. Fatigue builds up. It’s important to be aware of it and listen to the body and take into account in what shape are the knees, elbows, shoulders, back and the rest of the body. 

Correct nutrition and lots of rest as well as occasional visit to Sento are good prevention of injury. 
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Chida Sensei teaches Kote gaeshi technique during recent three day Kangeiko training.
Probably most difficult thing about the course is the day in and day out grind. What used to be enjoyable hobby two, three or at best five times a week, now is basically a full time job. But more than that, at least for a year it becomes a lifestyle wrapped in everything this beautiful country and its rich culture have to offer. The language, the customs and the spirituality, the mentality of the people made up of kindness, respect, dedication and continuous striving for harmony; the delicious food, the genki attitude and ganbatte approach will flow through you. Exposed to such a different circumstances and multitude of stimuli from which you are used to, this is surely going to challenge all of your senses and perception, and if you allow it, touch into areas that otherwise would have stayed dormant. Yes, in many ways it will take you out of your comfort zone, and in that lays its greatest value. 

LIFE OUTSIDE OF THE DOJO
Despite the numerous duties in training, it’s always possible to find some free time to get to know the city, people, culture and customs. Tokyo is the biggest city in the world and has whatever you’re looking for. Many different kinds of restaurants, Izakayas (Japanese pubs), museums, galleries, famous sights, sports and cultural events, festivals of all kinds, concerts, Disneyland, aquariums, manga cafes, owl cafes… so many things to see and do that it can take many years to get to know the city and the surroundings. How much you will be able to see depends mostly on your budget and free time if you have to work to support yourself, and how much you want to integrate into society. You can spend a year without knowing a word of Japanese language, although it is not common that Japanese either know or want to speak English (unless they are really good at it).
​Life in Japan can also be on a budget, especially if you do your own cooking, because the prices of the basic food ingredients are very similar to those found in most European countries. Even if you are eating mostly by buying ready made meals you will be pleasantly surprised by accessible prices for basic lunch or fast food options available at every corner. 
Accommodation is kind of expensive. Unless you decide to live with roommates be it in the apartment (more expensive) or shared house - cheaper option, at least to start with. 
Transportation is not so expensive per se, but depends on how often you use it. For every day routes you can buy a bicycle for very little money, a popular transportation means of Japanese moms, mamachari. 

COURSE END
​Last month and a half Senshusei learn how to effectively teach, Shido-ho, or teaching method. Upon successful completion of the course they are prepared to independently conduct a class. Some Senshusei decide to remain in hombu dojo, like myself, assisting the next generation of Senshusei as Sewanin (assistant) and thus deepen the knowledge and perfect the technique more. Some decide to go back and open their own dojo. Some simply go back to their home dojo and continue with training in regular tempo, richer for a life experience, while others life takes somewhere completely else. 

Whatever you decide to do afterwards, this will be one year you will definitely never forget. 
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Any course related questions you can direct directly to Renshinkai dojo or me. ​
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Senshusei course graduation 2016

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MUNCHMELLOWS

8/2/2015

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Munchmellow, anyone? ;-)
I'm not going to be boring again talking about how difficult Senshusei training can get at times. Long 5 weeks of review and then test training is behind us now as the second test took place on this last Friday. It's not the injuries nor the soreness that get to you. Those are mechanical and relatively easily fixable. It's the jumping from the carefree hobby state of mind you get practicing at dojo 3-5 times per week at home to the crunching rythm of spending 5-6 hours every day in the same 100m2. It's keeping your mouth shut and do instead of discuss. It's being always alert and not confused. It's being quick but not rushing. It's working together when you just want to get away. It's being compressed at 120% of your energy level and keeping your calm. Like I said before, no mysterious secrets (other than having a living legend for a teacher, but even he can't make you do what you don't want) and no secret training formulas, just day in and day out endless repetition at maximum focus. 
As idealistic as it may sound reading about it, actually doing it is whole other box of munchmallows. Sometimes you lose focus. Sometimes you don't feel like it anymore. Sometimes you wish you were doing something else. Sometimes you just don't care. Digging out the energy and will to push for another try at 100% can be a challenge, even if you like what you're doing. Finding the right motivation at those moments can make a big difference. It can be some goal you set. It can be a person who supports you. It can be an outcome you strive for at the end. It can be some other image you have in your mind. But I think it's important to have it ready, because when the time comes that you need it, you won't have anything left in you to find out what it is. And it can happen more often than you'd like to admit. 

Here's a video of great drummer Dario Rossi on the streets of Amsterdam. Even if you don't like techno (I'm not crazy about it myself either), don't let the lenght of it scare you, watch every second of it. Think about the time he put in, and the motivation behind it. Let him be your motivation for today's training. 

Do your best, whatever it is you do.

がんばって!
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SENSHUSEI COURSE 2016/2017

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NAKED RELATIONS

7/23/2015

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Sento in Asakusa.
Japan is one of those rare cultures which still has the tradition of public baths, called sento. Looking from the outside, or the inside, Sento doesn't give an impression of luxury or exclusivity. Before entrance door there is a machine where you insert money and choose your "package", do you want just the basic bath, or for example sauna and depending on wether you've got your own towel, toothbrush, shaving razor, etc. you can have that as well. Price for the bath and basic accessories if you come unready and directly from the street is about 4 Eur, if you have your own stuff (shampoo and such is free for all) 3 Eur and a bit. Time to relax - unlimited. As in all public spaces there are certain rules of conduct so that everyone feels comfortable. Sento is full-monty surroundings, from the Meiji era separated area fro men and women. Since when Japan opened to the West, westerners realized that it's great how with the towel and warm water you get for free - naked women, so Japanese moved them aside so that they are "not in a way". 
PictureFirst you pick the kind of service you want at the machine in front of the entrance. At the counter you just hand over the receipt and get the accessories in case you payed for them.
You leave your clothes and private stuff in the locker and you get a key on a string which you put around your arm or leg. On the small plastic chairs (really small, like kindergarden small) in front of the mirror you take a shower in a sitting position, shave or whatever you like and thoroughly clean all the dirt and shampoo from your body. Barely a hand reach on either side from you there is another happy user of this facility. Here you start adjusting to the warm water that awaits you. Small towel (really, REALLY small) which is used as a scrubbing sponge while showering you rinse and take with you (and along with the locker key that's all you take, that and what your momma gave ya)  to the common bath. While you are soaking yourself, you keep the towel folded on your head or at the side of the bath. Certain corners of the bath release bubbles under pressure, while others release - electric current! That's what I liked the most, reminded me of my physio sessions when Joseph would electrify my foot tendons, so I positioned my sore knees which were very grateful, and later functioned like new. The Japanese have special expression for the communication among men which goes on in public baths - hadaka no tsukiai, or translated literally "naked relations". That's because they believe that certain level of intimacy in communication can only be reached in public baths when people are stripped of literally everything, all equal as if they were just born. I wouldn't know, my Japanese is far from any level of intimacy use so I kept mostly quiet :) 

They say you should stay in the bath until you count to 100, but I must have lost myself in the electric current around 70 and couldn't get out, so I've gotten a little lightheaded. Along the way I made friends with nice little old man who guided me to the basics of sento orientation, which way to turn, and which way, eigh, not to.

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Munchmellows

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120%

5/23/2015

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がんばって。 Ganbatte - give your best! On the photo, people doing their best at the recent Sanja festival.
This past week the preparations for the first of the three tests that lead to graduation test have started. We'll be tested on basic movements and about 20 different techniques from the first part of the curriculum which we've been practicing for the past couple of months. Training tempo is constantly increasing as the time goes by and after 5 to 8 hours in the dojo of constant training sometimes you feel like you've had enough for that day. Aware that there is lot of things to polish to make all of the techniques on the Senshusei level, we had no idea what to expect from the mock test in the begining of the week. What a fiasco :) In the class only Chida Sensei, two of the main instructors and two assistant instructors and the two of us, the Senshusei. No pressure :) Test is only for 10 minutes; basic movements and five techniques each, chosen by Chida Sensei. At the first moment I was confused. 10 minutes? What kind of a test is this? Anyway, we started. First technique; ok, went pretty ok, 5/10. Second one, ok, maybe a bit better, maybe 6/10. The third one, ha, we've warmed up by now, and we are half way through, this looks optimistic, test isn't going to be a problem, maybe even 7/10. Fourth, oops, little mistake, 5/10. Fifth... oops again. Hmm... Final bow and back to the line. General impression wasn't that shiny and left a bitter taste in the mouth. Standard procedure followed after giving a demo that we've grown accustomed to in the Kenshu trainings. Starting from lowest ranking to the highest, instructors take turns to give their remarks to each of us, politely bowing and calmly offering their impressions. At the end Chida Sensei turns to us asking what was our impression, how many percent did we give? Hahhaa... "25?" I barely let out any voice. Sensei nodded smiling. - "Frank?" - "Same." says my Senshusei partner in even lower voice :) We didn't understand it. How did we fall so low? Then we heard it. We are doing only selection of five techniques. First one should be done at 100% of ability so that after that we have no strength left and the other 4 "you should do running on fumes". Immediatelly I had this war movies scene in my head where fighter planes were returning from the battle running on fumes wondering if they are going to make it. What does that even mean? We gave our maximum even now, right? If we do stronger, then it's with more strength, that's out of the question. So it's not that. Faster attack? More intention? Quicker falls? Quicker standing up? Faster return to the basic line? Faster than this?! As Chida Sensei said, 10 minute test has to have compressed energy of 90 minute intensive training. We just cut out 10 minutes from those 90 and did it in the same tempo as if we had an hour to go. "You could do this test now again, right?", he asked. True. Tempo was the standard one - distinctly faster from the general members class, but still the same one we do from 8-13 hours. The goal is to compress all this energy in the first technique and after it feel like we do at the end of the exhausting day and then last for another 4. We've taken comments to the heart and in two days eagerly waited for the next opportunity. Same torture again. Chida Sensei asked, "How many percent?" - "50?", said I, with little disbelief thinking it was maybe more like 45, but certainly much better than the first time, with more enthusiasm and wanting, definitely with more nervousness. Attacks are still a bit unclear and reactions too slow. Steps through the technique sometimes leave hesitating or non-chalant impression. The rest of the training we did only one technique at the time and then rest, concentrating everything we've learned in the past two months into every milimeter of movement. No extra movements not even with a little finger and every movement with 100%. We practiced separately each attack and grab of every technique, first reaction and every segment that we later put together. Only after one and a half hours is starts to hit you what it really means to give 100%. We were even a little satisfied how tired we would get from doing only one technique while we were waiting on what Chida Sensei was going to say. Finally he comments: "this is now at 60%. Now you know what it means to try to put 100%. Let's try to get to 85%."
Hahahha crazy! I must admit that from this perspective it looks a bit sci-fi-ish, but today is Saturday, there is still time till Friday :) 
"Aikido is Budo... Basic principle of Aikido is shuchuryoku, concentrating of entire body's power, focus. Concentrating each movement, attention to your partner and working together we develop focus. Make sure every time you do a technique in practice that it's at 100...120% of your abilities, always perfect. If you make a mistake, don't adjust and correct as you go, but do it again. But best is do it immediatelly correct." finished Chida Sensei. 
No calculation or saving strength, all out on the first, one and only one perfectly done attempt. Often times there is no second chance. On my way home riding my bicycle I was thinking what must happen when every day every movement is performed with 120%... not when you think it is done like that, but when it really is? Chida Sensei was uchi deshi (live-in student training for the most of the day similar to Senshusei course) for 22 years when Shioda Kancho awarded him 8th Dan. 

Keep pedaling my friend...
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Return movement

4/14/2015

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The other day Chida Sensei remembered how Gozo Shioda always used to say: "Return movement is Budo." He then explained: "Aikido is not a sport, but Budo. In sports we have 1:1 competition and once a person wins, the other loses and then the referee makes a call that it's over. Budo is fight one against many oponents and return from the finishing the technique on one person into the ready position - zanshin - for the next oponent is very important. Work more on your return movement." - referring to the usually relaxed return to kamae (basic stance) from Kihon dosa (basic) movements and naturally later the techniques. Advice which in broader context can find application in everyday life as well.
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As it should be

4/12/2015

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My mamachari patiently waiting in front of the building where the dojo is.
Outside of the official information, you can't find much info on the Chida Sensei's Senshusei course. At least I couldn't before I got here. You apply and assume that you know what it's all about - Shidosha Yosei (Senshusei) course means specialist course for instructor development in the Gozo Shioda's style of Aikido. If you know that Gozo Shioda had been student of the founder of Aikido for 9 years in the prewar years (and one of his best students in general), and that Tsutomu Chida was the same with Gozo Shioda for 33 years, then you expect the "real deal". What exactly that means differs from one person to another. And that's the surprise part. Some see it through endless repetition of the movements, some through the physically demanding training, some through constant focus on the dojo, instructors, some through the whole day dedication to only one thing - like a monk. The truth is that Senshusei course is all that. My started only two weeks ago, and at the time of writing this it was only a week. So my views on it will definitely change as the time goes by. I'm used to hard training and I came to Japan ready both mentally and physically for what's coming, the best I could and knew how. And it's obvious that the begining is in a way less demanding since you start from the very base and there is no accumulated waste in the body. After first four days of training, all together some thirty hours spent in a dojo, I can't tell what was which day, and all seems more like a month rather than a week. No wonder, if you consider that by regular training 3 times a week you have to wait month and a half or two to accumulate that many hours.

Dojo js a place to train. Depending on a day, we have to be ready in gi (the practice uniform) at 6:30am at the latest, or about an hour later if there is no early 7 o'clock training that day. Attendees of the 11 month course  are called the Senshusei. In contrast to the regular members, in addition to more intensive training, Senshusei care about the tidyness and cleanliness of all the area in and out of the dojo, taking care everything is on time, constantly keeping an eye for the assistants and main instructor, Chida Saiko Shihan. 
Picture"Like a kid in a candy store."
The training is a bomb. Basically, there's not much to say, it's like a regular training, only whole lot more focused, more detailed, more work and faster. Senshusei curricullum starts from the very begining. For example, the whole first day in every training we practiced kamae, the basic stance and seiza ho, transfer of that stance into the kneeling position. In layman's terms, you stand on your feet, you kneel, you get up again. And so for 6 hours. What, why, how. Every segment of the movement is analyzed, tested, explained. Besides them having to know how to do the movement, Senshusei have to be able to explain how and why each of the movement parts is done. No part of your body stays in a certain way without a reason. Up, down, up, down, other side, rest, repeat. 

This post is mainly for my friends and colleagues who unfortunatelly, although they might have wanted, never got around to practice under these conditions. Imagine the way you do things in regular training, and how that is different from when you practice details at home by yourself. Now imagine that what you do at home is actually regular training, and there is equally distant, more detailed level and you are doing everything on that level, all the time.

Welcome to the world of the Senshusei training. 
PictureYou think you are ready for what awaits you...
I don't know if that's because of the age, or bad maintenance and genetics, but with time your joints are not as greased as they used to be. Having a picture of what awaits me, I started to prepare almost two years ahead of time to balance out and tighten the muscles which hold the joints together, especially knees. In aikido a lot of weight is being put forward and strong legs help to prevent injuries. On the second day we did Hiriki no yosei 1 movement (similar to tsugi ashi, only deeper, for my Aikikai readers). Part by part, then testing each one of them, then connecting, then testing again. Every centimeter is being watched and corrected. Instructor is talking or correcting someone else and explaining, you stay in position. Oss! Someone translating, you hold the position. Oss! No, what did we say, no good, deeper! Oss! (Oss?) You simply cannot allow that from somewhere with a corner of his eye Chida Sensei (always with the same expression on his face) is looking, and that you make excuses like that your brain hurts from how much your legs hurt that the pressure has gone to the peripheral vascular system so that your ears end up hurting more than your legs. Ears! Or to allow yourself to make any kind of facial expressions, like showing you are having hard time, but there you are poor good soul, you say nothing. Because then you take one look at his feet and see his toes all curled up in a permanently closed position from the hundreds of thousands of movement repetitions so that even today, at 65 years of age still he can do everything with such smoothness - all the moves you think that can't be done because of your "special" circumstances. Sure it's not easy for him either (maybe it is now), but his facial expression is always like he's half way to falling asleep. 

In one of the breaks Chida Sensei remembered what Shioda Sensei used to say: "Shioda Sensei said that Shugyo is a process of self study in which through hard work you find and correct your mistakes. Sometimes it is not possible if you are not aware that you are making a mistake. If some of the instructors or I correct you, you have to do it immediately and not repeat it. That is important. If I say something, you have to do it immediatelly. Not rush, but do it in that moment quickly. If I say something, and you first think about it, wait, and then do it quickly, that's rushing. Do it immediately." It is expected from Senshusei to practice what's been taught in training at home so they don't do the same mistake tomorrow in the training, or at least make it better. Ganbatte - "do your best" - is one of the basic Japanese characteristics in everything they do, whether it's work or free time. 
In betweenn clasess, there is half an hour break. Amongst other duties, Senshusei use that time to write keiko no nisshi, practice diary, description and comments on what was done that day. Older instructors are still writing down everything Chida Sensei is saying, because they believe that in that way they are ingraving all the information and knowledge just like in exercise itself. 

Tatami is exercise mat. In the begining and at the end of the day it's being washed, and after every training it's first being cleaned with a broom, and then later the dirt is vacuumed. On such classes as international class, where anyone can attend or the public Kenshu (advanced) class, there are people other than Senshusei. Sometimes only 4 or 5, sometimes 30 or more. But there is only 6 brooms. What do others do? Go to change? Chat a bit till the others work? Look around? Japanese culture embodies all for one and one for all principle, in training just as in the work environment. If only 6 of them is cleaning, the others are making sure they are not in the way and to give support, just as if everyone was cleaning, since they all messed it up equally. It develops a team spirit and feeling of unity. Senshusei Toban is Senshusei who each that morning at 9:45 gives report to Saiko Shihan and at the end of the day to the instructor of that class. Amongst other things, he is in charge of vacuuming that day. But others don't wait for him to do it if he's doing something else, although he should be able to do it both. I'm holding a broom, and just as I'm about to run off to get the vacuum cleaner, one of the dojo members is already taking it out of the closet. I'm right there to pick it up from his hands, he lets it go and takes the broom from my hands to put it away. I place the vacuum cleaner on the ground and I was just about to pull out the cord, the other person is already doing it. I vacuum quickly, turn to the electrical socket, third guy is taking it out already. I look at the vacuum cleaner which is arm length away from me, the fourth guy is already pressing the button to retract the cord. I take the vacuum cleaner to the closet, Osawa Sewanin (assistant instructor) is already holding the door open. Once we are done, everyone is turned towards us and when there's nothing more to be done, everyone leaves to change. It all takes less than 5 minutes.

And so everything is done in similar manner. 

All day in the dojo is oriented towards development and learning, be it a technique, a concept, or developing a sense of harmony. 

The rest of the day at home is oriented towards preparation for the next day, be it mentally, through repetition or rest.

As it should be.
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OLD JAPANESE HERMIT

4/5/2015

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PictureMy mamachari riding through the night
This post has gone all in wrong direction. First I was going to write about the Senshusei course which has just started. Turned out as I was riding my mamachari, I was thinking about how this place makes me feel so calm and I couldn't help not to make references to the general life in my home country, Croatia.  It is mostly understandable only to Croatian people, because it touches the subjects rooted deep within Balkans in general. They say that whatever makes the charm and appeal of the country is at the same time it's greatest fault. Like precision and discipline of the Germans, who charge you 20 Eur if you park facing the wrong direction in a one way street. Or the laid back attitude of the Brasilians, Jeitinho Brasileiro, which wikipedia defines as "is finding a way to accomplish something by circumventing rules or social conventions. It is a typically Brazilian method of social navigation where an individual can use emotional resources (appeal to emotion), blackmail, family ties, promises, rewards or money to obtain favors or to get an advantage." Both are extremes. What wikipedia doesn't say, is that there's a place where this is brought to a perfection, where this is commong practice, but everyone swears it doesn't exist. It's covered in another charming trait, temperament and great sense of national pride. While both can be used to a positive advantage, increasing one's vigor or enthusiasm, hardly so if it's taken to extreme and used as a tool of manipulation to "accomplish something". And that's all without going into politics. That is the class of supermasters in all of the above mentioned. 
So my article ended up revolving mostly around the things I notice here which are on the other side of the spectrum. Sure, no country is perfect and given time you will certainly grow to "love" it's illogicallities that you will notice no matter how perfect it may seem in the begining.

PictureOne of the Buddhist temples in the neighbourhood. I would say oasis of peace, but everything is already so peaceful.
They must be producing cars here without a horn. You know, the good big ol' button in the middle of the steering wheel people in Croatia love to sit on whenever their subconsiousness reminds them of their miserable lives, unpaid bills, dissatisfaction at work, mother in law still living with them, or whatever, maybe it's just not their day. So while to you if you come from say The Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Ireland, or some other uncivilised nowhere, may be normal to wait on a person in a car if they are little late to start when the lights turn green on a traffic light, where I come from they already fix their hand on a horn in a ready steady position while it's still red, in case they don't already see starting movement while it's yellow! So you can imagine how I notice these things as I see people relaxed waiting on a person to start a little late while the green's been on for a while, for whatever reson. Because it happens to everyone. Same thing with people waiting in a lines in a supermarkets, stores... all the energy you save by not having to listen to nagging and complaints from down the line because you are "taking too much time" just because you want to finish your order. To the fact that the streets are so spotless not because Japanese don't produce trash, but because they clean up after themselves, Each after himself. So simple, yet so shockingly different.

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Street closes for some 20 minutes for the morning exercise. From the radio on the boths ends of the street the quiet music is playing.
PictureSimilar image some 500m away, by the river, in the park. Tai-chi and soft music.
Every form of verbal and non-verbal communication amongst strangers and friends alike is formulated in the way to cheer up the other person, send positive vibe. It can be through smile, gesture or just a well intended "Hello". Everyone is careful and mindful of the other, not to be a disturbance by cutting in, jumping into his/her spot and such. Because it spreads negative energy. And when all that gets into you like a smell of cooking when you are visiting a friend's house, you feel like you are in a smoked up movie. Add to it this quiet music coming from everywhere (in the streets) ... only Teletabies are missing. But all this creates feeling of great harmony and peace. 

PictureSmall Shinto shrine among the buildings.
Amongst the houses and big buildings alike, every now and then a little Shinto shrine or Buddhist temple sneaks in. Two religions harmoniously coexisting giving a calming tone to an overwhelmingly concrete scenery. That and 7.000.000 sakura (cherry) trees planted everywhere all blooming at the same time. 
I better stop. Now it will turn out that I'm spitting on my own and everything is better elsewhere. Croatia is still one of the most beautiful countries in the world. I hope that is not the only thing you can conclude from it all. But what do I know, I'm just an old Japanese hermit. And like I said, it was supposed to be a post about the Aikido course that started a few days ago. And the craziest thing that course is. So we have a topic for the next time. 

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Despite the concrete and the cables, the spirit of old Edo is still hiding in the old wooden houses such as this one which is home to a nice quiet traditional restaurant.
For those who are interested, more photos are on facebook. If you don't have an account and still want to take a look, click here.
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Gruber's little tank

3/28/2015

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When you are doing laundry in Europe, or Croatia at least first you put the clothes inside, you set the program by rotating the wheel on the machine, or using the buttons. Newer ones even have a touchscreen. In separate compartments of a little detergent drawer you put soap, softener and stain remover, making sure you don't confuse the compartments since then it wouldn't wash right. And then step by step you check it all out again: soap (liquid for dark clothes, white for bright), softener, temperature. Wait, is this program for sensitive or very sensitive fibrics? Ok. Small drop of sweat rolls down your forehead. Is it too much? You open the door one more to feel the empty space. You close the door almost hermetically with one decisive movement. You move all the fragile things from the washine machine so that when rinsing starts and the machine releases its rage everything doesn't go flying. Check if the whole machine is rocking a little, it shouldn't. And then you kneel quietly beside it, with the eyes in the distance you stare at the closed door. Lean you finger gently on the Play button (but without pressing immediately) and with the long stare filled with insecurity which they probably gave to Gagarin on his first trip to outer space, you make that jump of fate and press the button, for better or for worse.
And noone knows exactly what goes on. You see nothing through the glass, the washing machine first runs then stops, clockwise and counter clockwise, pumps, heats, empties, sucks, cleans, fills the water in again, thumbles it all again, when, what and why noone can tell with good certainty. Even if you wanted you couldn't open and check the progress because for your own sefaty it's been time delayed for a couple of minutes.

But not in Japan. My washing machine has one button. One. Red, big and square. Ok, more like orange. I open it up from the top and first thing when I insert the money cold water starts pumping inside. Only cold, no warm water ever. While I keep the lid up, my Japanese roommate tells me: "Wait for 30 seconds and then throw in your stuff and soap. "Ok, I'm counting 30, 45, 50, ...70... 120... water is still pouring in. I throw in my clothes, soap, the water is still runing. "That's it, in 40 minutes it's all over". Maybe my roomie said something other than what I understoo. ("Is that all he said? Seemed like a lot more", Bill M., "Lost in translation")Now alredy slightly with panic I observe how the water will pour over into the inside of the washing mashine, and in the very moment I reached for the safety vault to cut off the water supply, like in the movies, the second I touch it, water stops. I didn't even have time to think, "Wow, in the last mo...." with the noisy sound the washing started. Looks like a giant case of instant soup making.
Maybe it won't play a tune and sing when it's done, but definitively it's trying and makes noise in it's own way the best it can. When after longer period of banging and squeeking it made it to the last minute, I swear I thought the hatch is going to open and in the cloud of smoke Gruber would come out and say - "Who wants to ride in my little tank?!"
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Legendary Lt. Gruber in his little tank ("Alo, Alo")
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