In announcing my leaving to Saudi Arabia, I inadvertently got caught up in the ritual of leaving an Aikido fraternity. During the last class everyone would get the opportunity to throw me 10 times, any technique. This was done at the end of Friday’s class at Calgary Aikikai. Just when I thought I’d got away with it, Maciej Sensei invited me up and started the process. The warm up started with 10 shomenuchi kotegaeshi administered by Andrew Barron (Ni Dan)… nice! Then a few iriminage, kaitennage, shihonage, hanmi-handachi, kokyunage, nikyu and koshinage. My arms and wrists were now truly starting to get warmed-up!

Oscar Martinez (Shodan) then walked up with an anticipatory smile, and started his set with a couple of round-the-neck slam dunks. I’m not sure what the proper technique is called, but I’m going to find out. Was that the best he had to offer? A few painful nikyo ura pins, solid kotegaeshi slams and koshinage to finish off. Thanks Oscar!

Maciej Sensei then had the last set, but by that time I couldn’t really remember what the throws were. I do remember the last one being a very firm yonkyo pin, that I am still feeling 48 hours later.

So my advice to anyone reading this is…

DON’T TELL ANYONE YOU”RE LEAVING! :-)