Summer Camp - VIllanova University, Villanova, PA

Front row, l. to r.: Larry Alexander, Paul Gardner, Candy Martens, Jim Lahue, Judy Warner, Marcella Mosher, Harold Leve, Brian Martens.
Back row, l. to r.: Rose Pleninger, Dave Simons, Anna Smorodina, Christian Haacke, Dave Laber, Bobby Stearns, Bob Martini, Carroll Wilcox.

It happened again, another wonderful summer camp has come and gone and the notebook I took to camp has only one entry. The ironic part is that this lone entry isn't even mine. It's a haiku poem written on a napkin by Anna Smorodina that I tucked between the pages of my notebook for safe keeping.

I repeat this note taking pattern or non-note taking pattern at every camp. Faithfully, I pack my notebook intending to take copious notes, yet come home with just a few sad scribbles. Often while sitting on the mat during class I repeat a good teaching point or quote over and over like a mantra in hopes of committing it to memory. My intent is to immediately enter the mantra in my notebook right after class but some where between the final "Thank you, Sensei!" and putting my sandals on I develop a small hole in my head and my new mantra leaks out.

Back home and once again note-less I reflected on my dilemma. Without any notes how was I going to write an article for Nikyo Monthly? All I had was Anna's haiku and a quote from Dave Simons that I had some how managed to memorize. Alone these two bits didn't make an article but they did spark an idea. Why not collect a few "notes" from other people who attended camp and work them into an article, sort of a minimum effort, maximum effect on my part. I sent out my plea asking a few people who attended camp if they would share a thought, an observation, or anecdote from their summer camp experience. Here are the "notes" I received:

'The hugs. I got more hugs in four days than I could shake a jo at.' - Anna Smorodina

'During my test, Dave Comi was my uke during the knife attack phase. At one point, he yelled "Stick 'em up!" and pointed the knife at my belly. In our school, we have always done that procedure from the back and we have learned a specific defense against it. So I obligingly turned my back so he could properly do the 'Stick em up' attack. Later he pointed out to me that was an incorrect response. ;~) I guess the moral is always expect the unexpected.' - Carroll Wilcox

'There's nothing like a good roll in the morning'…said while standing in a line of 15+ people waiting my turn to be thrown tsuki kaitennage. - Dave Simons

'The energized/calm state after completing a test feels great.' - Christian D. Haacke

'After testing at camp, many people came up to me and said "Now you can relax and enjoy the rest of camp". At first I thought, yes now I can then realized that the key is to be relaxed and enjoy camp before and during, as well as after testing. I will try to remember this for future camps, easier said than done of course.' - Dave Laber

'...wonderfully overwhelming, the whole process has been a joy. I'm still processing it all!'...reflecting on testing for Shodan. - Bob Martini

Each of these shared notes triggered a pleasant camp memory for me. I intend to fill my notebook with them, tucking them all in my notebook along with Anna's napkin haiku.

Thank you everyone for sharing your "Notes from Camp"!

When you watch black and brown belt testing at camp, it's easy to see the challenges that each person confronts: Demonstrating their best in front of hundreds of people. Handling multiple attackers at once. Performing under Sensei's watchful eye.

But it's not always easy to know the challenges that these people encountered in getting to that point. Barriers that made it hard to continue practice, or made them seriously wonder whether they would ever be able to practice Aikido at all.

We had the good fortune of having three people test for Shodan-1st degree black belt-at our recent Summer Camp with Maruyama Sensei. But well before these people stepped onto the mats for their tests, I started bragging about their achievements. Let me tell you a little about what I mean.

One of these people had experienced two heart attacks before he even started practicing with us. I remember when he first sent an email to our dojo, wondering if we had a place for someone like him. We said, "Of course." He came, he practiced, and now he is a black belt. And he shares his joy of practice with everyone on the mat.

Another of these people had a great personal tragedy this year: His brother died. He would be away from practice for a short while, his wife called to tell us. But two weeks later, he was back, demonstrating his great resilience and no doubt using his practice to help him get through this hard time in his life.

The third of our new black belts has been experiencing another great challenge: His girlfriend is battling cancer. This isn't her first time, either. Yet he comes into the dojo each night with a feeling of appreciation for this place, and quiet, encouraging words for the people he practices with.

These three people-Bob Martini, Christian Haacke and Carroll Wilcox-impressed hundreds of people with their tests at Summer Camp. But those who knew their stories were impressed even more.

We are also pleased to announce that Bobby Stearns tested for 1st kyu, and David Simons and Dave Laber both tested for 2nd kyu. We congratulate them on their fine tests.

Purposefully sore,
I wake, yawning, aikido
has left its mark.

Video Night - Thurs. August 17 at 8:00 pm.
Testing in the Dojo - Thurs. August 17 at 7:00 pm and Fri. August 18 at 7:00 am.

Listen to what you know instead of what you fear.
~ Richard Bach