Welcome to South Austin Aikido

Once again we have survived an intensive training weekend in San Antonio.  I say survived only because it was quite exhausting.  It was an aikido packed weekend in which we covered a lot of ground in preparation of several shodan tests.  This included suwari waza to koshinage and jiyuwaza.  We also spent some time on tantodori and the kumitachi.

The training began on Friday night followed by a full day of training on Saturday.  Saturday's classes were followed by a pizza dinner, compliments of Michael and Shawn Young.  On Sunday, we returned to Austin for our regular scheduled class along with Michael and Shawn Young from San Antonio.  Since it was Shawn's birthday (I am sure she said she was 29), Shawn Sensei taught the all levels class, going over several exercises explaining the importance of connection and uke's role in making the connection happen.  Leslie Sensei taught the advanced class, covering suwari waza, hamni handachi and tachi waza from katadori.  By the end of class on Sunday, I was completely spent.

Barbara and Todd Kammerer prepared a Barbeque at their house in honor of the anniversary of Shawn's birthday.  As it has been explained to me, once you reach a certain age you no longer have birthdays but just anniversaries of a birthday.  It all makes sense to me cause I have just had my 29th for the 22 time.  Pamela and Barbara had also prepared pies and cheesecake for Shawn as part of the celebration.  I would like to note that I only had small portions of the lemon meringue and apple pies (Just in case the wife reads this).

Thanks to Everyone at Alamo City Aikido in San Antonio for sponsoring the intensive training and to Craig Slack Sensei and Mike Young Sensei for sharing their aikido with us.  These sessions add so much to our regular practice.  Special thanks to Michael and Shawn for putting us up for the weekend and to Todd, Barbara and Brenda for preparing a great barbeque on Sunday!