Aikido Winter Intensive: Day2

Aikido Winter Intensive
Day 2:
The morning class was taught by Kevin Choate Sensei from Chicago. Boy is he a trip! Is movement reminds me a-lot of Olson sensei, if you took out all the "techiques" and judo training.
All that would be left is posture changes (really small) and incredible subtle center sinking ability that takes uke's legs away. Choate sensie is obviously American, but he's adopted some very Saotome-esque speech manarismas, to which one must add some wierd facial expressions.
Add that to his tall frame and you get a funny looking (movement and otherwise) sounding guy!
I had the pleasure of training with Peirre Musy, where you practice keeping uke from getting up off the ground.
I also training with a nice and instructional Sensie from Tampa (Steven-sensei) who showed me how to split people energy as they're trying to get up.
Very cool stuff to try back home.
The training was quite nice! The focus was on the listening aspect of aiki. Listening to uke, before during and after an attack/techique.
I like the way Choat sensei put it. If uke doesn't want to do ikkyo, then find something he does. This removes any thought of sticking with a given technique, even as you start to struggle against it. I enjoyed class very much, and find it's complimentary to Ledyards theory's, and also takes the stance as an attempt to explain and demonstrate an aspect of what makes Saotome's art, work. Which we all need.
Between this and the next class I had fun free training in Choat sensei's class content "stuff" with Dan Penrod sensei from Beaverton's dojo. (budodojo.com)

After Choat sensei's class was Saotome's pre-lunch class.
Shugyo - sincere training. That was the word of the day. Focus was on advanced level training, take-musu-aiki, and striking-based counters attacks.
Attack and defense are one. Something I enjoy, as I have found that aspect in weapons training very fulfilling.
Given a strong tsuki, the next step would be a center connecting and grounding entry of the outside hand. Interesting, but not suprising the hand's shape make a big difference.
Sensei showed the palm slightly turned towards uke, as a pausing strategy to setup the next movement, which he then added variations to for the rest of the class.
I was interesting to note different uke skills as I roamed around the mat, from front to second row people. It's cool to feel where you are in the space of things with the uke's you train with. Sensei finished class with a classic sincere "peeesed-off" lecture. Hummm, I need more practice.