The event drew more than120 local and international practitioners of the art - from enthusiastic beginners to seasoned senior black belts. Russian, Scottish, Italian, Japanese, German, Dutch and Australian aikidoists mingled with those from Cape Town, Johannesburg & Pretoria, Port Elizabeth, East London & Grahamstown, Bloemfontein and Potchefstroom.
In fine African tradition, there was a "Big Five" - international lead instructors who each brought their own flavour to the training.
Heading the line-up was the representative from Hombu dojo and the Doshu, Shihan Hayato Osawa (7th dan). Osawa Shihan was eight years old when he became a member at Hombu Dojo. At the time, his father (Kisaburo OSAWA) was Dojo Cho of Hombu Dojo. Kisaburo Osawa was an influential aikido teacher who taught for many years at the Aikikai Hombu Dojo and was a close advisor to Kisshomaru Ueshiba.
He held the rank of 9th dan.
Today Shihan Hayato Osawa is seen to be one of the most prominent and loved instructors at Hombu dojo. He has taught seminars all over the world as Hombu representative. He was otomo for Kisshomaru Doshu for many years and continues his undying support for the current Doshu. Attending AFSA’s 30th anniversary marked Osawa Shihan’s first visit to the African continent.
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Also instructing was Shihan Yoji Fujimoto (7th dan).
Fujimoto Shihan was born in 1948 in Hagi in Japan. His teachers were Tohei Koichi Sensei and, later on, Masuda Sensei. In 1971 Fujimoto San who was at that time Sandan, went to Italy where he met Tada Sensei. He lives in Milan where he established Dojo Milano and became Vice Instructor of Aikikai d'Italia.
Fujimoto San teaches Aikido in Milan, but almost every weekend he holds seminars in other towns and for many years, a Summer Seminar in Laces in the wonderful mountain region of North Italy during July. Moreover he assists Tada Sensei in the main Italian Aikido events: an Easter Seminar, Summer Seminar and a Fall Seminar. He also teaches in Yugoslavia and Ireland and he is often invited to hold seminars in Germany, Switzerland, Ireland, Russia etc. Since 1994 Fujimoto Shihan has held the rank of 7th Dan. Fujimoto Shihan was chief instructor at AFSA’s 25th anniversary in 2002.For more information about Fujimoto Shihan please visit his web site.-----
Another instructor with warm ties to South African aikido is Sensei Mitsuko Minegishi (6th dan).
Minegishi Sensei started her aikido career at Hombu dojo in 1972. She was educated in Japan and the United States. She received her 1st degree black belt from Hombu dojo and taught aikido at Smith College, Amherst College, University of Massachusetts, Keen State College and the University of New York. She received her 6th dan from Hombu dojo in 1998. She founded and is the chief instructor of Kiribati, Saipan and Guam Aikikai.
She started visiting countries such as Sweden, Singapore, South Africa, Italy and South Korea upon invitation. Minegishi Sensei took part in AFSA’s 25th anniversary in 2002, and has frequently visited us since then.For more information about Mitsuko Minegishi Sensei please visit her web site.
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Rounding up the international instructors was Sensei Franco Martufi (6th dan).
Franco Martufi Sensei started aikido at the age of 14.
He trained extensively with Veneri, Hosokawa, Fujimoto and Tada Sensei.
He is today 6th Dan Aikikai and the AFSA Jokyushidoin and conducts classes at the annual AFSA Aikido Winterschool and Summerschool.
For more information about Franco Martufi Sensei please visit his web site.--------
From South Africa Sensei Paul de Beer (5th dan) shared his experience and training as one of the founder members of AFSA.
Sensei de Beer has more than 30 years experience in aikido and other Japanese martial arts and still trains actively. He carries the honorary title of Shidoin within AFSA and instructs at
national seminars.
Mr de Beer started his martial arts career in 1966. He studied karate under
Richard Salmon sensei (5th Dan, Budo Ryu) and to a lesser extent also with Stan Schmidt sensei (now 8th Dan, Shótokan), the charismatic fathers of SA Karate.
Although the pioneering years of South African aikido were extremely tough, Mr
de Beer was fortunate to always be under the constant influence of instructors with direct ties with the Hombu dojo in Japan and also even with the Founder. His teachers are named below in chronological order: Messrs C Smart (3rd Dan, Aikikai), K Cottier (now 6th Dan, Aikikai Shihan), G
Veneri (6th Dan, Aikikai; Former Chairman of the IAF), F Martufi (6th Dan, Aikikai), Mrs M Minegishi (6th Dan, Aikikai).
While this was by far the highest concentration of senior dan grades ever seen in South Africa, the celebration owed its success in a large part to the spirit of all of the participants on the mat. Old friends reconnected, new friendships were formed, every pairing on the mat offered new lessons to be learnt and different approaches to be explored.
In Aikido, one owes so much to one's uke, one's partner, without whom it is virtually impossible to uncover the intricacies of the technique. And with the range of ukes on the mat, one was often stuck for choice.
On Saturday 01 December, an embukai - or public demostration - was held to share that spirit and the beauty inherent in aikido also with the general public.
After the final training on Sunday 02 December 2007, with weary bodies, sore muscles but also with a soaring spirit, we went our separate ways - richer for the experience, sad that it was over, and touched by all with whom we had come into contact. That is the true meaning of "training together under African skies".
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