I had waited almost 4 years for this day and finally the day has come. My desire to live in a Japan was seeded when I attended the 10th International Aikido Federation's Congress and Seminar held in Tanabe, Japan. I started training in aikido a year before and HH sensei encouraged us to attend the seminar because it was held only once every 4 years (makes it sound like Aikido Olympics huh?), and also because it would be very good exposure for an infant aikido organization in our country.
We had a few hiccups here and there but we finally made it to Tanabe. There were 3 of us from Brunei and 2 from Aikikai Malaysia. I was very excited to be at the seminar as it was the 10th anniversary and the federation decided to hold the seminar in the birthplace of O'sensei, Ueshiba Morihei.
I was in awe when I went for my first session in the morning. Coming from an infantile and very small aikido community, it was an aikido heaven for me.
See what I mean? My cousin commented that it looked a United Nations meeting for aikido! The rest, they say, is history.
In the meantime, I took the liberty of attending as many seminars overseas as I could and it only fuelled my desire to come to Japan, to learn from the source.
My departure made many people feel sad, particularly my family. But I felt very much at peace after reaching the decision.
I am here now, and enjoying every moment of it.
We had a few hiccups here and there but we finally made it to Tanabe. There were 3 of us from Brunei and 2 from Aikikai Malaysia. I was very excited to be at the seminar as it was the 10th anniversary and the federation decided to hold the seminar in the birthplace of O'sensei, Ueshiba Morihei.
I was in awe when I went for my first session in the morning. Coming from an infantile and very small aikido community, it was an aikido heaven for me.
In the meantime, I took the liberty of attending as many seminars overseas as I could and it only fuelled my desire to come to Japan, to learn from the source.
My departure made many people feel sad, particularly my family. But I felt very much at peace after reaching the decision.
I am here now, and enjoying every moment of it.
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