Sergio Dieci at Padova 2008
September 26th to 28th
The first Jodo Seminar in Padova was held by Sergio Dieci, SMR Shomokuroku and IFJ Chuden, with the participation of twenty-six people. Jean-Louis (from Genève), Uwe (an Hungarian in Strasbourg..) and Elena (an Italian in Zurich..) joined from abroad the group of Italians: Daniel, Lorenzo, Umberto, Ilaria, Mario and Roberta (from Milano), Patrick (Udine), Paolo (Trieste), Tony and Franco (Vicenza), Domenico (Osimo), Anna and Mirella (Rome) and the Tsuki Kage people (Andrea, Giancarlo, Giannantonio, Luca, Marco, Marzio, Michela, Orfeo, Silvia, and Maria Rosa).
Actually the practice started with a preliminary session of Shodo on Friday afternoon, where both neophytes and more experienced people enjoyed the explanation of the evolution of “Mu” (nothing/empty) and measured themselves with the writing of a kanji signed with their own name in Japanese. Sergio Sensei tooks the opportunity to write the Shomen of the seminar: “Mu-Ryokû” (without-force), taking care that the “Chikara” was empty of ink to make it weaker.
A ki-hon tandoku session followed, with the daring participation of some neophytes (Sara, Roberta and Andrea) who, astonished by a surprise Embu asked by Sergio, mostly remained with us for the whole week-end. In the evening, some videos about Shodo and Jodo were screened, enjoying at the same time a fortunate potluck.
The basics of the first three ki-hon were studied in tandoku in the morning session of Saturday, leaving people the time to realize once more how far is the achievement of the awareness in the use of our body blended with the Jo. After some uchi-komi work, the final exercises of sotai ki-hon (happo-giri) with bokken, consolidated that concept for the sword side too.
After a generous lunch and a deserved little rest, our understanding of the theme of the seminar was checked by resuming the uchi-komi practice, with a particularly deep immersion on the multiple problems of maki-otoshi, followed by the study of the series of kata (from Omote to Kage-waza).
A good Italian pizza restored the participants in the evening, allowing to refresh one’s energy for the next day of practice.
The Sunday started with a brushing up session of ki-hon tandoku, followed by the study of Kuri-tsuke, Kuri-hanashi and Tai-atari, in sotai. Then, an interesting application of some Tan-jo kata was performed within a sword-to-sword situation. More advanced people had the opportunity to practice Jutte-jutsu and Kusarigama-jutsu, and to perform a little Embu to show the study of the parallel weapons in Shintô Musô Ryû to the audience.
The seminar ended with a short exam session for four local students (Giannantonio, Marco, Silvia and Marzio) who were warmly welcomed in the Ryû getting their 5th kyu; finally, after a short trip in the historic centre of Padova the attendants took their leave, joyfully wishing to meet again soon at the next Budo event.
Someone is missing in the picture! more photos
Maria Rosa Valluzzi
Fédération Européenne de Jodo / European Jodo Federation