UCAR aikido (December 2000-August 2005)

UCAR Aikido 2000-2005

Let's reminisce.

The first UCAR aikido class, held in December 2001. For some reason, I thought it a terrific idea to have the first bokken session outdoors in the fresh snow. Elevation: one mile up.

For the first year or so, aikido classes were held in two places. This one was truly spectacular. Perched above Boulder in the UCAR research center in the Foothills (to the Rocky Mountains, no less), we ventured outdoors on good weather days.	Let's give sensei the o'heave ho! The original group consisted of Erik Kluzek, Judith and husband Aimé Fournier, Paul (head in back) Henderson, Julie Caron (top of head), Woody Wang, Steve Emmerson and J.
With UCAR student Loren Spencer, giving a bokken demo to my tai chi club. We connected the ebb and flow of tai chi with the awase of aikido. February 24, 2003.	Group photo of UCAR aikido group on September 25, 2004. Group includes Julie Gunyak, Tom Acierno (CU film studies student), PY, Nathanial Fischer (CU student), and Erik Kluzek.
Tom, Julie and Nathan practice rolling.	I took several brave UCAR students up to Glenwood Springs for a summer aikido seminar. Near the end of the day, we could smell smoke. Driving back into town we witness a huge mountain fire. Then entire ridgeline was ablaze with exploding trees. There is not much forgiveness in the nature of Colorado.
As we held our apreé-seminar party in the park, the flames and smoke became alarming. Here we are taking serious stock of what to do. The road back over the mountains to Boulder and Denver was already closed down. Fortunately, the firefighters kept the flames away from the town. The next day, we started home over alternative mountain roads.	The morning after the fire, Takako Sonobu and I drove back through Aspen. Here we celebrate our good fortune with a lovely garden espresso in Aspen.
After the first set of white belt kyu tests, we celebrated at Julie's home. Steve arrived a bit late from his Scottish bagpipe engagement. Erik and Julie get ready to attack with a beer-kokyu. September 15, 2001.	Our farewell party. I certainly miss them all. It was the best of Boulder. I left for Japan after graduating with my new MA in East Asian Languages and Civilization (Japanese literature, basically) later that month. I've never found a better group of students than my brave band at UCAR Aikido. I was a lucky bunny to be their leader.
A few months later, to my astonishment, I saw that UCAR had established itself anew in the remote island of Awaji, offshore of Osaka, Japan. My heart leapt for a split second, and I was transported back to the high, dry, wilds of Colorado with my aikido group. Ah, but UCAR here only stands for Used CARs. Anyway, would you buy a car named "Die Hatsu"?	Most of the UCAR aikido classes took place here, in the aerobics room of UCAR in Boulder, Colorado. We laid out two or three mats. I set up the musical accompanyment (Blue Man Group, Japanese Enka, Mozart), and popped in a dvd or video. For the first year, we watched all six Okami Kozure (Lone Wolf and Cub) as a means to introduce them to Japanese martial culture. Not sure what harm I may have inflicted on their minds with this. Then, we got down to business and viewed Saito Sensei training tapes for the first few moments of class. Then, inspired, off we went to train together.