It was very good to meet up with Bernie again after out last encounter in Brunei about just a month ago. I am very touched by the support that he gave us for our yudansha grading. He videotaped our grading and even made a dvd for us! I consider that as a very meaningful gift because it immortalizes the milestone in my aikido journey. Thanks again Bernie!
On the first night he took me to have Nepalese food since I have never had it before. We went to this place called Gurkha Palace It was a Sunday night and the place is just like Little India with so many people and activity. I actually enjoyed the scene. I can understand that leaving your home to work in some place far away and unfamiliar you would be happy to see your countrymen to get together and find about news at home. The place was full of good energy.
So here we are at Gurkha Palace
The tableware
The yummy dishes that we had.
This is similar to the guo tieh/gyoza.
Chicken masala.
The name of this yummy dish escapes me.
Garlic naan!
Delicious daal. Went very well with the naan bread!
On the second night that we met up Bernie brought a friend along who is also an aikidoka and we went to have some chicken rice. I find the set up to be quite western considering that chicken rice is a typically Asian dish. I was told that the eatery is located around an expatriate neighbourhood so that might explain the set up.
I like the colours. Very vibrant. Funny though that they choose the wrap the cutlery in paper instead of serviettes.
The yummy chicken rice!
The pork leg. Yum Yum Nom Nom...
We hopped over to the DIY yogurt store next door for some dessert.
Cookies and cream with almond rice for me :)
With my wonderful host Bernie and new friend Christine.
I wasn't sure whether I would have the time to join Bernie for training as I was actually on a working visit. Bernie was eager to have me join his class but I couldn't commit. I brought my dogi along anyway (as in all my trips) just in case. Luckily for me I managed to wrap up with client in time and since I had no plans on the last night in Singapore I decided that I would join Bernie for a class, which turned out to be a very good decision. Currently Bernie's dojo is located at Boon Tiong Road and classes take place on a void deck. We all helped out in laying the mats before training. The mats are the puzzle mats but not as tough as the ones that we have at BSRC. It was nice for ukemi.
Before class started I met Frankie sensei. He is over 70 years old but still training and teaching. I admired his determination as well as the passion he has for aikido. He asked me why I started aikido and told him that the reason was quite cliche but one of it is because I see this as a martial art that I can train for a long time. Frankie sensei is a testament to that. Of course due to his age he could not train as vigorously as us but I think you see the point. So barring some physical/medical reasons or other special circumstances, one can have a fairly long training life in aikido.
Bernie sensei's class lasted for 90 minutes and consisted of drills as well as technique. I was honoured to be asked to take ukemi for a nikkyo technique and I enjoyed training with almost everyone at the dojo. It was an easy and rather informal atmosphere. Bernie sensei reminded his students to train as instructed and put away the mindset that they have put up from other classes. I think this point could not be more over-emphasized. We attend class to learn from a teacher. Wouldn't that mean you learn from that teacher at that point of time? I find that some students don't empty their glasses, to speak figuratively, and make comparisons with what the instructor teaches to what they see on videos and learn from other instructors. I find that to be disrespectful . If you are not about to train as how your instructor teaches, I think you are wasting everybody's time. You are not prepared to learn.
After class Bernie invited his students for dinner and we got to know each other more. I had a great time and it was a wonderful way to end my last night in Singapore.
Group picture with members of Makoto Dojo.
Followed by dinner after.
No comments:
Post a Comment