HURON VALLEY AIKIKAI KAGAMI BIRAKI INFORMATION
Huron Valley Aikikai is pleased to announce its 2010 Kagami Biraki seminar on January 23 and 24. Our guest instructors for this event will be Meido Keith Moore, Roshi, 5th Dan Shidoin of Aikido Shinjinkai in Chicago IL and Ryugan Robert Savoca Sensei, 5th Dan Shidoin of Brooklyn Aikikai, New York City.
All proceeds from the seminar will be donated to support the activities of Brooklyn Aikikai and the Korinji Foundation - both not-for-profit organizations devoted to offering instruction in traditional Japanese martial arts and cultural and spiritual practices.
Please contact HVA with any questions you may have. We look forward to seeing you!
REGISTRATION and FEES
To register for the seminar, please use the form below or call the dojo at 734.761.6012.
If you wish you may pre-pay for the seminar using the PayPal buttons at the bottom of this page. Please note that the seminar fees are a recommended minimum donation. Any donation amount will be accepted, but we certainly also will welcome additional donations above the recommended amounts in support of Brooklyn Aikikai and the Korinji Foundation.
We will be collecting $10 for each person attending the party on Saturday evening; please let us know if you would like to bring additional guests. Also, we ask that those participating in the Sunday morning Misogi and Zen session kindly consider an additional donation of $5 to cover the cost of breakfast.
MISOGI AND ZEN TRAINING SESSION ON SUNDAY JANUARY 24
The 8-10 AM session on Sunday morning will consist of training in Misogi-no-kokyo-ho (purification through breath practices), hara conditioning exercises, and Zen meditation, followed by a formal Zen-monastery-style breakfast of okayu (brown rice porridge) and other traditional items. All seminar participants are welcome and encouraged to join us for this training but should carefully review the following.
All participants in the morning session are asked to engage in all the activities (misogi, zazen, breakfast). No partial participation will be permitted. All participants should arrive at the dojo no later than 15 minutes prior to the session.
Ryugan Sensei will lead us in the Misogi training, which has its origins in the Shinto spritual tradition and is practiced at the Ichikukai Dojo outside Tokyo. Traditionally this misogi practice has only been offered in Japan; however the current Ichikukai headmaster, Hiruta Sensei, has given Ryugan permission to conduct misogi training (called "harai") at the Brooklyn Aikikai, and has extended additional permission for Ryugan to conduct a session at our seminar. The training consists of several breathing exercises, the most prominent of them being the chanting of an eight-syllable phrase (TO HO KA MI E MI TA ME) with all of one's might. The purpose of the training is to stimulate and develop ki at its source in the hara/tanden (lower abdomen). Participants should expect to spend approximately 30 minutes in the seiza sitting posture. A zafu (cushion) may be used by those who have extreme difficulty sitting seiza (e.g., knee/ankle injuries) if absolutely necessary.
After the harai training Meido Roshi will lead us in additional hara development exercises (with roots in Rinzai Zen Buddhism) and then in one period of Zazen (seated meditation). Huron Valley Aikikai has several zafu that participants may use but we ask that those who have their own cushions please bring them to ensure that we have enough for everyone.
The formal breakfast will take place immediately after Zazen and will be taken in silence in seiza. HVA will supply the necessary bowls, chopsticks, etc. Please do not bring your own meal kits.
REGISTRATION AND PAYMENT FORMS
| Full Seminar | |
| Saturday Only | |
| Sunday Only |