The New Mexico branch recently packed into a single suburban truck and
made the two-hour trek to a Southwestern Aikikai club in El Paso, Texas.
The trip, which was sparked by an invitation by Paul Forhan, the chief
instructor at the club, was made last-minute as it was revealed two
teachers from the New York Aikido group would be visiting that day.
Not wanting to miss the chance to work with New Yorkers, five members of
the New Mexico branch (The Hut), drove on out.
The seminar started at 8 a.m. and concluded about 4 p.m., amidst lovely
summertime temperatures approaching 100 degrees. (The dojo, however may
have had their thermostat set to "broil." It was a good seminar,
although it stayed mostly in the realm of ukime practice with some newly
developed techniques from the Japanese teachers in New York.
Our students were met with respect and demonstrated good discipline and
sound technique. One El Paso aikido practitioner was heard to say "I've
done this a long time, and I've never seen anything like that!," as Mike
"Gumbi" Kinkle took an exceptional kotegaeshe on one of the Texas
students.
Along with the New Yorkers on the mat, was an Aikido teacher from the
Middle East and two teachers from Mexico. The Hut members practiced
extensively with these teachers and had a good time.
The obligatory stop to a bad Chinese Restaurant was also made.
