The iaido seminar held in Roeselare, Belgium, on the last weekend of March was one of those experiences that stays with you. It had everything: honest training, strong moments, new insights, but also plenty of laughter and genuine human connection. Our journey began even before the seminar itself. Early on Friday morning, Marián and Adriana had to wake up well before dawn to catch their 6:20 flight from Budapest. At that hour, most of the world is still asleep, so the first challenge of the weekend was simply opening your eyes and functioning. On the plane, they met Tamás, and from that moment on, they continued the journey together from Brussels all the way to the west of Belgium. The trip was long, but the mood was just right: slightly sleepy, yet full of anticipation.
Toto gasshuku bolo výnimočné najmä tým, že ho po prvýkrát viedol Suzuki Kenji sensei z Odawary. Bolo cítiť rešpekt aj vďačnosť, že máme možnosť cvičiť pod jeho vedením. Jeho prístup bol pokojný, sústredený a veľmi presný. Tréningy boli intenzívne, ale veľmi dobre vyvážené. Prešli sa všetky kata z Omote no maki, Chuden, Koran no maki aj Gokkui. Bolo dosť času nielen na samotné cvičenie, ale aj na vysvetľovanie a otázky. A treba povedať, že otázok bolo dosť, niektoré veľmi technické, iné také, pri ktorých si človek uvedomil, že nad tým vlastne nikdy poriadne nepremýšľal.
Training took place in groups according to technical level. Adriana trained in the 4th and 5th dan group under the guidance of Patrik and Marián sensei. Throughout the sessions, Suzuki sensei moved between the groups, stopping to correct details and answer questions. Sometimes, just a single glance from him was enough for you to immediately realize: “okay, that wasn’t quite right.”
We were especially pleased when he appreciated the Chuden series, which is closest to Marián and Adriana. It was clear he noticed not just the technique, but also the connection to it. At the same time, it was interesting to see that even among advanced practitioners, there were some who did not yet feel fully comfortable with this series. A good reminder that we all still have things to work on.
Saturday evening was dedicated to a shared dinner. Everyone gathered at a restaurant, where the dojo atmosphere quickly shifted into a relaxed and friendly setting. There was conversation, laughter, and plenty of shared experiences and training stories. And of course, there were also some “expert analyses” of techniques, this time with a drink in hand. The seminar brought together 60 practitioners from 12 countries: Belgium, Canada, France, Greece, Guadeloupe, Hungary, Japan, Jordan, the Netherlands, Romania, Slovakia, and Spain. This diverse group created a very open and welcoming atmosphere. Despite the different languages, everyone understood each other in the most important way, through movement and shared passion.
The Tamiya gasshuku under Japanese guidance was a powerful experience for all of us. We left tired, but also grateful and motivated, taking home new inspiration, a desire to keep training, and the feeling that gatherings like this truly matter.
