Photographs and Memories from Fukakusa Shihan's seminar at our dojo - December 2012 - Masatake Dojo ISRAEL


In December 2012, we had the pleasure and honour to host a seminar here in Israel with Fukakusa Motohiro Shihan, an Aikido master 8th Dan Aikikai from Renbukan Dojo - Thailand.

This year, the seminar had two main events:
1. A six days Aikido seminar at our dojo (Masatake Dojo Israel)

Fukakusa Shihan teaches at Masatake Dojo
2. A peace seminar (between Arabs and Jews in Israel) - to introduce Aikido to a very special organisation called: "Budo For Peace".

Fukakusa Shihan teaches Arabs and Jews for Budo For Peace
Together with Fukakusa Shihan, came from Japan and from Holland many many guests, among them, Mrs Fujita Shoko - our dear teacher's wife. Fujita Masatake Shihan 8th Dan Aikikai leads our dojo since 2006. In 2009, unfortunately, he became ill, and since then he is at his home in Tokyo, being taken care day and night by his wonderful wife. This year, Mrs Fujita asked to visit us during this aikido seminar, to enjoy watching how well Fukakusa Shihan helps taking care of our dojo and aikido organization.

Mrs Fujita Shoko- the dear wife of Fujita Masatake Shihan 8th Dan
Also came to train with us: Lawrence Warry Sensei and Paul Jungschlager Sensei both 4th Dan from Holland, and from Japan: Fukushima Sensei 6th Dan, Urushihara Sensei 5th Dan (with Mrs Urushihars who came to watch the seminar and travel in Israel), Kigen Nakagawa Sensei 5th Dan, Kazuko Watanabe Sensei 4th Dan, Midori Takajo Sensei 4th Dan, Ichizaki Sensei 4th Dan, and Ayumi, Maiko and Tomoko - three aikido friends who practiced with us joyfully and helped so kindly with the kids classes. 

A group photo with all the distinguished guests
Getting ready for the seminar, is always a celebration of friendship and team work. Many dojo members worked hard happily together to clean the dojo and to prepare each and every corner and detail. Many members volunteered to head the seminar managing teams: hosting, cleaning, registration desk, caring for guests from abroad,  driving and more... 
preparing, cleaning, dusting, polishing and even shining the ceiling
Happy team work preparations at Masatake Dojo
Early in the morning, on December 11th, Fukakusa Shihan landed after a very long flight (over 12 hours) from Bangkok to Tel-Aviv. We picked him up, and he looked happy to be here. After some coffee, we drove him to his hotel in our little and peaceful town Rehovot (about 30 minutes from the airport).

Welcome to Israel Fukakusa Shihan
At the end of the seminar, waited for us black belts examinations to some of our dojo members. Before the seminar started, all the exam candidates gathered at the dojo office to listen to advice from Fukakusa Shihan. Shihan told them to execute the techniques in the same way they practice regularly at the dojo. He told them not to worry about making mistakes: "Just practice as usual, this is what I want to see. The most important thing is to show the basic techniques in the most precise way, because once you have your black belt, your big responsibility is to assist the beginners at the dojo, and to teach them the basics in the best possible way."
Black belt exam candidates listen to advice from Shihan
Please enjoy the following photos from the seminar:

Seminar in Rehovot - Masatake Dojo Israel
seminar postcards

registration table team

shihan teaching

timing and kiai

thank you

showing o-sensei's fan tai sabaki

always teaching in a pleasant mood

showing a waza

Shmulik and Slava

weapons class

yokomen uchi

flowers for shihan

with Mauricio who hosted shihan in the Golan last year

Budo For Peace seminar for friendship between Arabs and Jews

on the way to the north of Israel, to the Arab village Kefar Salem where the Budo For Peace seminar took place.
Shihan and Mr Danny Hakim Sensei the head of Budo For Peace

Shihan meets Mr Shimane from the Japanese embassy. This peace event became a part of many events that commemorated this year - 60 years of relations between Japan and Israel.


Shihan and Lawrence Sensei

Kazuki and Ze'ev

Shihan gives instruction 

Budo For Peace Seminar group photo

Miho teaches girls

Shihan introduces Sankyo wrist control


Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday that was celebrated on the same day as the seminar. All holidays are respected and celebrated between Budo For Peace members - Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Buddhist etc.

Happy Hanukkah and O-Sensei - Founder of Aikido

Happy Hanukkah and a great peace seminar

Back to Masatake Dojo - Rehovot:
Dan Examinations at the end of the seminar 

onegai shimasu - beginning of the exam
Shinsain - exam commity: Fukakusa Shihan, Ze'ev, Fukushima Sensei, Urishihars Sensei
Fukakusa Shihan gave at the end of the exams many comments and instruction, and it was a great opportunity not only to grade our students, but also to receive useful feedback and profound teachings from Fukakusa Shihan. Here is a video clip showing Shihan's comments and explanations after the exam:




If you wish to see more photos from the seminar, please click here for our facebook photo album. Also, please visit this page again if you wish to watch the videos taken during the seminar. The link will be posted just bellow this message in a few days from now.

Thank you for reading, I hope you had a great seminar here, and if you missed it, I hope you at least enjoyed the stories and pictures.

Thank you Fukakusa Shihan for a most memorable and fruitful seminar.
Thank you Mr Danny Hakkim and all the people of Budo For Peace.
Thank you my dear wife Miho and my dear son Kazuki.
Thank you Masatake Dojo members and friends - for hosting guests, for taking care of the dojo, for showing best hospitality to our guests from abroad and from Israel.
Special thanks to Shmulik and Harel for your kind help with planning and managing the seminar and to Yoav for taking the guests back to the airport and waving goodbye to them until the last person was not in sight anymore... until next time here :-)

Hoping for many such events.

Sending prayers for Fujita Sensei's fast recovery.
Fujita Masatake Shihan 8th Dan Aikikai
Ze'ev Erlich
Masatake Dojo
Israel.

Photos by: Dorit Friedman, Olga Vigini, Robby Yahav, Harel Avrutsky, Ze'ev Erlich

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