Whenever I get ready to go to a seminar taught by Maruyama Sensei, there are certain essentials that go at the top of my packing list, things that I simply cannot practice without: Gi jacket. Gi pants. Belt. Hakama. And a brand new 8 1/2 x 11" notepad.

The notepad is for the copious notes I take whenever Sensei teaches. People often ask me what I write about, or ask me when I'm going to publish my book. But if they were to read through my notes, I don't think they'd be too impressed: Just my sorry attempts to write down what I saw Sensei do, so I can try to duplicate it myself.

But why? What's the point of trying to get it right? What's the point of trying to do it like Sensei?

In truth, it's really not the movements that I care most about copying. What I want to do is copy Sensei's mind.

Unfortunately, we can't open up Sensei's mind and peer inside. We can't hook him up to an EEG and understand his mind's inner workings. And we can't get Sensei to describe what's going on in there. Even if he tried, he wouldn't be able to find the words.

All you can do is examine the evidence-the evidence that is displayed every time he throws. Studying that is the only sure path I know for copying Sensei's mind.

How do I know this? I wish I had better proof, but all I can say is that I've felt it. Now and then, when doing the right technique against the right strong, challenging uke, I've felt a shift in my mind as my movements became more like Sensei's. Suddenly, it's all effortless. And I feel a strangely familiar smile creep across my face. It's not familiar because I've felt that smile before. It's familiar because it's Sensei's smile. And I realize it can only well up from a certain wonderful feeling within.

I've seen this method work many times with my students, too. Say someone's technique is on the right track. With my mind on how Sensei looks, I can offer suggestions: Stand up taller. Straighten this leg. Turn your hips like this. Gradually the adjustments become second nature. The student's posture and movements becomes more like Sensei's. The ukes start flying better. And then, the confirmation: That student's face changes, exposing a new look, a new feeling of calmness, a new manifestation of power- and an undeniable truth: For that moment, she feels what Sensei feels.

That's why it's so important to try to do things just like Sensei. The way he moves is your secret door for entering his state of mind.

Roni Burrows Sensei, one of Sensei's long-time students, prodded me with this observation recently. She said, "When I watch Sensei, I try to imagine what it feels like in his skin." What does this approach do for her? Watch her, and you'll see she looks a lot like Sensei. Be thrown by her, and she feels a lot like him, too.

It's like a great impressionist. He'll find the little gestures, the facial expressions and the quirks of the person he is imitating. He'll put those on like a costume, and begin to feel more like that person. To capture that person's mind.

So copy the body, and your mind will follow.

It would be amazing to have a record of what is actually going on in Sensei's mind, some resource to turn to when we're trying to get our Aikido-and our lives-on the right track. Unfortunately, that can never exist.

But I've got something close: A big stack of notebooks reminding me of what Sensei did. And with those, I can sometimes catch a fleeting glimpse inside an amazing mind. And now and then, begin to copy it.

Once again in March, many members of our dojo traveled down to New Jersey for Kokikai International's Winter Camp. It was a chance to study with Maruyama Sensei and also for some of our more senior students to test for promotion. We have always been pleased with the level of expertise that our students demonstrate during Camp testing and this time was no exception. If you were not able to attend, you missed not only an opportunity to learn from Maruyama Sensei but to share in the pride for our dojo as testing progressed.

Congratulations are in order to:

Rosemary Pleninger and Philippe Plummer for their first kyu tests, both Rose and Phil have always stood out in the dojo for the exemplary way that they carry themselves. This was certainly true during testing where both ran through their demonstrations with calmness and confidence.

Steve Perino and Timothy Quinlan both tested for their shodan rank. A student's black belt test is somehow more symbolic than most other test levels. Earning the right to wear a black belt and hakama is true feat and often, the weeks leading to the test somehow test the student more than the actual test. This was true for both Steve and Tim. Steve was challenged by an unexpected medical problem that hospitalized him in January and sapped much of his physical stamina. Tim found himself facing some mental demons that he was forced to acknowledge and overcome. Both faced their pre-test challenges with the prowess of a black-belt-to-be and perhaps not surprisingly looked incredibly comfortable with their actual tests. We are so happy to now have them as our newest black belts.

Marcella Mosher tested for her second level black belt. Nidan testing is always a pleasure to watch. One expects the testees to be competent and beginning to show some ease in demonstrating at a quick pace before a large audience. Marcella surpassed these modest expectations, presenting a joyful demonstration of her comfort level with advanced technique. Everyone in the dojo can be proud of her test.

Finally, Christine Steerman tested for the rank of sandan. The sandan test is the final test of a student in Kokikai. It is generally looked upon as a student's opportunity to demonstrate their expertise in technique and their mastery on the mind/body side of training. Chris did exactly that in her test. Evidently at ease with herself and her test requirements, she handily flowed through the different phases of the test, not batting an eye even at Dave Comi's weapon attacks. She achieved what every student hopes out of their sandan test - a lasting reminder for all of their place in Kokikai.

Video Night - Thurs. April 20 at 8:00 pm.
Summer Camp - Thurs. July 13 - Sun. July 16 - Villa Nova, PA - Watch the bulletin board for more details!
Sensei in Rochester - Sat. July 22 - Sun. July 23 - Watch the bulletin board for more details!

Standing still at dusk
Listen...in far distances
The song of froglings!
~ Buson