Peter Gombala, 4th Dan

What a great trip

It’s always great to discover some new details while you training. They’ve been always there but you will discover or shall I say realise them only via continuous practice. More you train more natural movement you adopt. Doesn’t matter what kind of Aikido style you follow the movement is universal and foundations come from same core.

Our recent visit to Japan with the guys was one of the best ones so far I’ve been to. We could all experience things I mentioned above during brilliant morning keikos. The atmosphere was absolutely fantastic and great classes with Nakao sensei and guys from Seibukan Kobe made this trip even more special. Ideal number of people on the mat gave us opportunity for discovering more details through nice intensive practice which left us rightly tired.

Apart from keiko we’ve made nice trips around the Kansai which were very interesting, we went to some places I haven’t been before like Heian Jingu or Kinkakuji. We even managed to visit Tokyo and some of us even made it to asa keiko with doshu which was a nice experience again. Also on the way back from Tokyo we visited quite impressive place in Kamakura where big Buddha statue is situated.

Not only keiko and trips but also meeting the friends again was very nice part of it. But what made this trip really special and the best one so far in my opinion was that we are great bunch of guys willing to know more about Aikido and also participate in social part of the team.

I am very grateful that we could finally make it again to Kobe and meeting Nakao sensei and Akiko san and have a nice keiko together and then little social at their Izakaya. I’m also very happy that we met Ako and her family which was very nice.

And at last big thank you goes to Bryan & Ako for all the help and support and being there for us all.

Joe Szmutko, 2nd Dan

Back to Kobe after 10 years, Seibukan Dojo is a magical place, just as I remember.

I wonder if I will ever go back to Japan again? I would like to, maybe it will be sooner rather than later, heart & mind willing, body trying to keep up.

Aikido becomes part of life, always reminding us to be ready, & offering us some discipline for life. Watch what you eat, & drink, so you can train to the best of your ability. Experiment with everything & learn from the great ones, to expand your mind & see so much more in the moment. Aikido keeps the body & mind fit, & it’s fun too, one might say it’s a companion to keep you focused on the things that matter to stay healthy.

The Aikido mind presents so many questions, & offers so many answers, maybe it’s best not to question too much, all the time? rather just enjoy the time we have on the mat. The same might be said for life too, swimming upstream is possible, sometimes necessary, but it’s always much easier to go with the flow.

Life in England is very different from Japanese culture, but I feel sure most men walk the same path in Aikido, juggling the same thoughts, challenges, & mysteries within the mind.

The best parts of humanity evolve from hardship & utopia, always be the best you can be, don’t be lazy 🙂 I never envisioned that I would still be training, It’s always a pleasure to train with the Masters & a surprise, to see how easily they manage a session, given the age of some. This offers a welcome glimmer of hope, as age draws in on us all.

Life, like Aikido, is defined by the world you create in your mind, make your world a great place, & enjoy your journey, the best way possible.

When you look back at the path that lays behind you, make sure it’s a nice view.