This is an English version by Silvia D’Arrigo of the Italian text by Enrico Neami.
Original version here.
Photo courtesy Eric Savalli – Aikidojo Azur.
Volker Hochwald Shihan (6th dan Iwama Shin Shin Aiki Shurenkai) led a Dentō Iwama Ryu Aikidō koshukai (seminar) in Châteauneuf- Grasse (Nice hinterland, France) in the weekend of 6-7 April 2024.
Volker Hochwald is one of Iwama Shin Shin Aiki Shurenkai European senpai, and is ackowledged as one of the most up-to-date and knowledgable direct students of Saito Hitohira Soke; he’s been training for more than twenty years with constancy and dedication attending lessons annually in Iwama, Japan (cradle of Aikido, a rural town in the Ibaraki prefecture where O Sensei, the Founder, settled in from 1942 in order to extend and hone his study of Aikido).
Hockwald-Shihan has been invited in Nice by Eric Savalli sensei (5th dan Iwama Shin Shin Aiki Shurenkai, and 6th dan of Daniel Toutain’s Fundamental Aikido), dojocho – i.e. head the the dojo – at Aikidojo Azur, where he runs and organises classes of Dento Iwama Ryu Aikido, Yoga and Qi Gong in different venues in Châteuneuf de Grasse, Roquefort, La Rouret and Sophia (Nice hinterland).
The seminar was structured in three sessions of two keiko each: the first Saturday morning keiko focused on Aikiken (ken suburi, go no awase and ichi no kumitachi), while Taijutsu was the topic of the second keiko (katatedori tai no henko kihon and ki no nagare, morotedori kokyuho and yokomenuchi). In the afternoon, the third keiko dealt with Aikijo (jo suburi, ichi no kumijo + henka), and the fourth with Taijutsu (katatedori tai no henko kihon and ki no nagare, followed by ushiro dori). On Sunday, the fifth keiko was focused on Taijutsu (katatedori tai no henko kihon and kinonagare, hanmihandachi waza) and the sixth on Aikijo (13 no jo kata and kumijo 8, 9 and 10 + their jodori form, as a natural segue to the programme started during the koshukai in Modena in February 2024).
In addition to the many valuable teachings and technical details illustrated by Volker Hochwald Shihan especially on the fundamentals of practice – and in addition as well to the numerous other juicy details dedicated to more seasoned practitioners – the seminar provided all partecipants with remarkable insights, which are the results of Hochwald Shihan‘s extensive experience and his profound devotion to the teachings of Saito Hitohira Jukucho, Saito Morihiro Nidaime (Yasuhiro) Waka-sensei, Saito Mitsuyoshi sensei and, in general, the Saito family. There have been many instances where Hochwald sensei complemented the techniques with information on how the didactics in the Iwama central dojo evolved over time, as well as sharing personal memories regarding lessons and teaching methods of Saito Morihiro Shihan, or past misunderstanings about Iwama-ryu technical contents, and stressing the paramount importance of constantly challenging oneself, in order to avoid growing complacent and risk developing mistakes caused by over confidence in oneself or in one’s ability and knowledge. One should never stop learning and should always be constantly vigilant of one’s own mistakes, which – also for long-standing practitioners – could reappear over time.
Beside the stimulating moments of practice on the stylish mat of the dojo Plantier, the excellent organisation of the host, Eric Savalli sensei, and his close-knit team of practitioners of the Aikidojo Azur allowed participants to enjoy themselves greatly during the Saturday evening party (held with kindness and care by Marie and Luca Marchetti in their own garden and enriched by the outstanding vegetarian cuisine of Simone Gisoni), as well as during the trips to local points of interests (Nice, Antibes, the picturesque village of Gourdon, the seaside between Nice and Cannes) which took place before and after the seminar.
The Cote d’Azur mat saw the presence of many students of Eric Savalli sensei – among which were also some very young practitioners who usually attend the kids classes – as well as from other dojo closely connected with Aikidojo Azur, and their teachers, but also practitioners of Iwama Shin Shin Aiki Shurenkai coming from Paris and from Italy (from Piedmont and Friuli Venezia Giulia).
The commitment, focus and energy of all participants permeated the seminar from start to end, beginners and long-time practitioners alike were left satisfied and the teachers who were in attendance were able to find food for tought to keep studying and honing their practice in their respective dojo.
enriconeami.net 