Saotome Sensei Seminar at Shindai Aikikai (Orlando)

A few things discussed:

Before I go on trying to explain what I thought I understood at this seminar from the man who trained under Morehei Ueshiba (Aikido Founder) here is a video of each:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxxb2ctulEs&feature=related    O' Sensei
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mDv85KPpKI                       Saotome Sensei

Comparing Aikido to Chess:
The rules of chess are easy to learn, the application of these rules to "win" the game by placing the opponent in chess takes many years of study to discover new ways to achieve this goal.  It is similar to Aikido in that the different "techniques" and locks of Aikido: Shihonage, Ikkyo, Nikkyo, Sankyo, Yonkyo, Kotegaeshi etc are the "rules" of Aikido and what can be used.  The actual application of these to the uke's Atemi's (Attack): Shomanuchi, Yokomanuchi etc are what can take countless years of training to "master" and then re-learn when new things are discovered in the application of Kokyo (Spiraling Motion) and capturing of ones center.

Another comparison made was that the connection principles taught by Saotome are like the theory and principles of physics.  These are the "basic" (I use basic very loosely, since it may be basic to Saotome Sensei, but it is very difficult to actually master this :-P) ideals and principles one must grasp to appropriately solve physics problems, and conversely apply techniques to the opponents in order to capture their energy, center and so forth.

There were a lot of people using extraneous arm power and not maintaining a relaxed focus with their center being the power source as we are so often drilled about at North Florida Aikikai (NFA).  I am sure I was a perpetrator of this method as well but made a conscious effort most of the time to keep my arms relaxed, connected to my center and use my hips and core to move and redirect the attackers energy.

Some things I realized with assistance from Masura and Fasen sensei (as well as others on the mat) during practice was that there is a sort of bounce (or wave) in the techniques shown by Saotome that "invites" the attacker in drawing their energy to you and allowing it to be redirected without hindering it.  One technique involved preventing your body being lifted by pointing your fingers down and placing your mind and focus at your finger tips to stream your intention and the attackers energy into the ground.  Another example was the moving of 4 or 5 people anchored together.  Trying to move the arm and not the entire group proved futile. Rather, accepting in their energy and "inviting" it in allows for a kokyo (as in all techniques and principles I have seen) to draw out any slack and allow for them to be moved to the outside of their box of stability.  (This was explained to me by my fellow student Mike from what a former student at NFA student, doing his doctorate, had told him (Muy Thai was his name I believe).  The box outlines where their feet are positioned the back heel being one corner and the front foots toes being a diagonal corner.  Connecting these two in a triangle constructs a box (or rectangle).  Moving their center outside of this box instantly results in their loss of balance.  It's true, try it out!!

Meridith's Nidan test was quite an astonishing sight to see.  Her and Melissa maintained constant Mai'i (presence) and focus on one another, never breaking their gaze from one another.  She executed, in my humble and inexperienced opinion, beautiful and amazing big circle aikido from shoriwaza and standing.  Her bokken and jo kata were very fluid, and executed more as one motion, then steps one, two, three etc. as we have been told to eventually graduate to in class.  The randori part of the test was amazing to observe as multiple weapon opponents were thrown in the air by this small woman (in comparion to her much larger male attackers).

All in all the Saotome seminar was an amazing experience and quite an eye opener to the intricacies of aikido that I have yet to experience or understand.