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2000 Fowler Seminar - Review By Dr. Diane Mirro On a winter's weekend in February, Sho Shin Juku Dojo experienced some west coast sunshine in the form of Michael Fowler Sensei of Santa Monica, CA. Fowler Sensei, who holds the rank of godan in Aikido and yondan in Iaido, conducted a fun and enlightening seminar at the Martial Arts and Dance Studio of San Antonio February 11-13, 2000. Sensei's enthusiasm and energy motivated the dozens of seminar attendees, who represented various styles and schools from as far away as Houston. Sensei started each day's training with the elegant movements of Aiki Toho Iaido, the style developed by Shoji Nishio Sensei. He then transitioned to taijutsu forms, but seamlessly integrated work with bokken and jo into the practice. Doing a technique such as nikkyo with both partners empty-handed, then with one using a bokken, then with one using a jo, then with both wielding bokken, and then finally with one using a bokken and the other using a jo. This method graphically illustrated Aikido's origin in the swordwork of the samurai. This connection has been Nishio Sensei's emphasis in his innovative and effective style, which Fowler Sensei has studied for the last fifteen of his twenty-plus years of Aikido. We felt very fortunate to partake of his expertise. The seminar itself was a testimony to the harmony and goodwill that can exist among serious martial artists. Although practitioners represented several styles of Aikido, Judo, Jujitsu, Karate and other arts, a strong sense of enjoyment and camaraderie pervaded the weekend. More experienced students patiently assisted beginners, and everyone made a game attempt to emulate Sensei's subtle and challenging movements. The seminar culminated with John Bollinger's promotional exam for shodan, a test which left no doubt in anyone's mind that he truly deserved this rank. The day Fowler Sensei left, San Antonio seemed a little quieter (and much cloudier). Fortunately, he left us with many happy memories, as well as a beautiful photograph he took of Nishio Sensei in which his sword appears to be made of gold. Many of us are looking forward to seeing Fowler Sensei again in July, when Nishio Sensei conducts a seminar in the L.A. area. Of course, maybe we can entice him back sooner... |
