Before the practice, beginning at 10:00 pm, Ueshiba Doshu spent time in both the Hombu Dojo 3rd floor dojo and also before the shrine located in the room dedicated to the memory of the Founder giving thanks for the closing year and praying for the best in the coming year.
So, three years later, I decided to come back and practice again, not knowing what I would think this time. However, a lot has changed for me since that last time. Now, I know the people I am training with and I was happy to be with them at such a special time. I also know the Senseis to some degree, and again, I felt a sense of community in being with these people who have become a part of my daily life.
With new eyes, I even actually enjoyed training in such a crowded environment this time around. Most people practiced softly, and everyone was focussed on their own ukemi, and mindful of their movements and the space around them. These are things that are too easy to forget in a regular practice. We did the whole range of techniques, starting from Irimi-nage and ending with the familiar koyku-tanden-ho, changing partners all the way through. Though many of my partners were unfamiliar to me, I felt that I was at times, practicing with some pretty special people, and felt humbled again at how far I still have to go.
@@I must say that I also found it interesting to see all of the senseis taking ukemi for the Doshu. It was a very rare sight, for me, to see the likes of Osawa-sensei and Kuribayashi-sensei being thrown around for a change! But, again, interesting to see their ukemi.
After the practice the Doshu gave a speech, we were introduced to some top shihan who had come to join the practice, and we celebrated the new year with some absolutely delicious nihon-shu (really :-). I had the fortune to be sitting next to a lecturer from Tokyo University, who just happened to be an expert on British history. So we had a good time talking about Britain and Japan.
And now, when I look back even at the first time I went to the etsuengeiko three years ago, I remember how I was able to make a friend there who has helped me out many times since that night, and really helped me to create a life for myself here in Tokyo.
I am now in my fifth year in Japan, and each year I've done something different for New Years Eve. I've done the Western style clubbing thing; I've spent the night in front of Kohaku and Pride with a Japanese family and visited the shrine at midnight; and I've done the etsuengeiko. On balance, I can't think of a better way of crossing that special hour than with the people you have been training with all year, and doing something pure and healthy in the process. This year I went to the practice as a different person, and managed to take a lot more out of the event as a result.
Thanks to all of my partners this year, for tolerating my mistakes and teaching me new things, and to all of the senseis at honbu dojo for their patience and help.
Brian Parker
Hombu Dojo