2nd SMR Jodo seminar with Sergio Dieci at Padova
September 19th to 20th 2009
Our second SMR Jodo Seminar with Sergio Dieci Sensei took place in the very last summer week-end of the year. Happily, we had bright sunny days, contrary to all the previous forecast. Moreover, the warmth and the enthusiasm of the people attending the seminar contributed to finally provide the last ingredient for a pleasant atmosphere of practice.
Fifteen Jodoka attended the seminar: Anna and Mirella from Roma; Mario, Michela&Roberta sisters from Milano and its environs; Domenico from Osimo (with Stefania, thanks for the kind support and the pictures); Christian from Vienna (thanks for making this seminar still international!); Tony from Vicenza; Andrea, Antonio, Filippo, Giancarlo, Luca, Orfeo and Maria Rosa from Tsuki Kage Padova. Furthermore, four young people (Matteo with a friend, Alberto and Alex) had their initiation in Jo, during a segment open for free to everybody.
At first, Sergio gifted us with an enbu of calligraphy, making at once the shomen proposed for the seminar, i.e. kokoro (wo) tagayasu, which means to plow your heart/mind. After a preparatory taiso guided by Mario, the plowing started with the study of honte-uchi uchikomi from jodan. The importance of the hanmi and of keeping the correct te-no-uchi since the beginning of the exercise was pointed out, by checking carefully the threat of superfluous compensations with the body. Sergio allowed us to focus on the concept by proposing some interesting variations of the exercise and similar applications in kihon.
Sergio is signing his masterpiece
Kihon demonstration
Before the usual series of kihon tandoku, a specific study on kuri-hanashi sotai was proposed: the importance of the basic geometry of the movement (from both uchidachi and shidachi sides) was remarked and the new correction of Nishioka Sensei given in Matsumoto during the last IFJ gasshuku was presented. Additionally, Sergio showed us also the "evolution" of this kihon in decades, thus pointing out the general lightness and pureness of the effective style (a sort of .."r-evolution") introduced by Sensei in the last years. Afterwards, the study of the three kuritsuke/kurihanash/taiatari performed in sotai but in a sequence decided by shidachi followed, thus testing the absorption of uchidachi as much "neutral" as possible.
After a rich dish of pasta the practice was resumed with the demonstration of the first six kihon sotai, which the most part of the afternoon was dedicated to. Some remarks on maki-otoshi and its "evolution" were again very interesting to observe, thanks to the direct and deep experience of Sergio.
Finally, a session of exam was performed: Andrea, Domenico, Filippo, Roberta and Tony had their welcome in the ryū as 5th kyū, Giancarlo attained 4th kyū successfully, as well as Luca and Michela which achieved the 3rd one.
The exam started
Mirella's metsuke
A short but nice sightseeing in the living historical district of Padova, accompanied by the tasting of typical drinks and food, concluded the happy day of the participants.
On Sunday, the last 4-hour segment of practice started early at 8.30 in the morning with the warming-up combined by some taiso exercises and the classical series of four kihon (from the first to the third, then the sixth) performed with the jo in tandoku. Then, the most important points and "variations" of maki-otoshi where resumed in sotai.
Afterwards, most kata of the Omote series were demonstrated and practiced, by taking advantage of the more advanced people present in the hall to "feed" the others. A relevant space of time was spent in the seminar for the questions asked by the attendants. Finally, it was the turn of people from Chūdan to Kage to have the privilege to receive direct corrections from Sergio.
Thanks everybody attending the seminar and for the outstanding teaching of Sergio.
Looking forward to meeting all of you again next year.
Maria Rosa
Some of the proud bunch of participants.. which withstood until the end!
Fédération Européenne de Jodo / European Jodo Federation