12.Sept. 2018
Guillermo Balderas.
Last March I was offered an exciting possibilty to give a seminar with Endo Way to a group in Canada. It was to be my first seminar outside of Spain. I was very pleased that it was to be with a group directed by a deshi of Endo Sensei. At the same time, I also felt the weight of the responsibilty of having to offer something of value to a group who habitually practice Endo Sensei’s concepts.
The pressure disappeared the moment I arrived at Toronto airport and met Greg, who is a very friendly, caring and open person and who made me feel immediately welcome. It was very easy to make a connection with both him and his group.
I could attend to Greg’s lessons on Thursday as well. It was great, because I could feel the people before my seminar and check where they were in their Aikido, too. Of course, I could enjoy a lot Greg’s teachings.
Before my seminar, I visited Ontario Lake on Thursday morning. I had some time on the beach. It was wonderful. I had a very nice time and weather there. On Friday I visited the downtown Toronto. I loved it, because I could see the Amazing Ripley´s Aquarium with sharks, eels, swordfish, stingrays, sawfish, and jellyfish among others.
I also ate in several Canadian Restaurants. There the food was very good, tasty and healthy. The waiters and waitresses were so polite. Last evening I ate in the japanese Izakaya Restaurant. It was an amazing experience. Not only they have an relaxing atmosphere with excellent japanese food, but – this is the most curious thing – there the music was like in a disco. Also, the people were shouting, even waiters and waitresses. I enjoyed it a lot. It was very, very funny. This is a place where your mind wants to meditate, your stomach wants to enjoy the food and your body wants to dance: a very curious mix…
In Sudbury we visited several places, notably the Onaping Falls- such a quiet and beautiful place -, the Big Nickel and Dynamic Earth. There you can watch and visit a mine and see how the people were working a long time ago inside the mine. It was so interesting.
Guy is a so nice man. He told me a lot of things about Canada, Sudbury and their history.
My idea from the start of this trip was to try to apply concepts that I wished to transmit on the tatami, beyond their limits as well. Concepts such as listening to partner’s energy to lead a situation to a state of balance; to connect with the other person’s essence, which to me, is fundamental to our practice as it allows one to flow in the most natural way possible through every situation that arises without creating obstacles in the natural flow of energy. These are the concepts that I kept in mind throughout my trip.
The practice was enriching. Those who attended my classes in Canada were very interested in what I had to offer them, making me feel motivated and allowing me to advance in my own practice. With each person, I discovered new sensations and new areas to develop in the realm of friendship and respect, all within both the gentleness and the martiality of our practice.
I think Canada/Toronto/Sudbury is such a nice country/city. I felt that the people´s energy is so similar to that of the japanese: so quiet, very kind and very polite. I love this country/city. It is such an opposite to that of Spain. I was so surprised, because at first appearance they all looked like part of American culture. But they are totally different in a lot of things. I was left feeling satisfied and with a desire to come back soon for more.
Finally I’d like to give thanks to the organisers Greg Angus and Guy Pharand for their efforts, time and availabilty, to the attendees for their patience with my English and their willingness to immerse themselves into what I had to offer; and, of course, to Kimusubi Dojos International for this opportunity. Many thanks to you all!
