Just Aikido

It is with sadness that we hear about the passing of Claude Berthiaume sensei.

He was one of the most senior and probably technically finest remaining students of Kanai sensei. His technique was crisp and in his teaching he cared about students learning. But I remember not only the power in his technique but also his kindness and humor.

Aikido is losing some of its best, let‘s hope the coming generations can keep up and honor the tremendous work done by the ones that will be missed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1Jeq7cT2J4

Aikikai Aikido Shihan Claude Berthiaume Sensei - Demo - USAF Summer Camp 1994 Aikikai Aikido Shihan Claude Berthiaume Sensei - Demo - USAF Summer Camp 1994(20 years ago)

It was an overwhelming privilege and honor to be personally handed out my 6th Dan certificate by Doshu Moriteru Ueshiba at his office in Hombu Dojo in Tokyo, Japan.

He was a kind host and asked questions about my relationship with Miyamoto sensei who was responsible for my promotion.
It was also great to practice again at Hombu Dojo and meeting friends on the tatami like Pichereau from Paris.

As a next stop, we traveled to to meet Yoko Okamoto sensei. Practice at her dojo is always energizing and she is a gracious host. Conversations with her are always fun, but also quickly become deep and help me see new angles and perspectives on Aikido.

Finally, I was able to practice with Miyamoto sensei at his Dojo in Akasaka (Tokyo). Keiko with sensei is always energizing and he even taught a weapons class! After class, we had dinner together at sensei’s favourite sushi restaurant together with Miyamoto sensei and friends that I am always happy to see back and conversate.

After 28 years of continous Aikido practice I am incredibly touched by all the experiences, friendships and my personal development that have occured during this long but incredibly enriching way (japanese Do).
I can say without hesitation that I would not be the same person without Aikido and I am grateful on how it has had and continues to have an impact on my life for the better.

It was fantastic to have Mike Flynn sensei this weekend teaching his annual seminar in Barcelona.

He shared his vast knowledge in Iaido, weapons and body arts with us. It is always a refreshing and intense learning experience to see him!

Looking forward to seeing you next year again sensei!

Join us for this year’s seminar with Mike Flynn Shihan in Barcelona!

Body arts, weapons and Iaido, there will be everything an Aikidoka needs :)

See you soon on the mat!

The promotions for 2026 of Hombu Dojo are out after today’s Kagami Biraki ceremony in Tokyo! I am truly humbled to have been promoted to 6th Dan in Aikido, a beautiful and incredibly deep (yet if sometimes controversial) martial art.

In my 27 years of continuous practice, I have had the luck to meet, train and learn from incredible teachers of the art, particularly Kanai sensei who gave me the honor to join his Dojo in New England Aikikai when I was a young student attending college in Cambridge, MA. He is one of the most kind, charismatic and influential teachers I have had. His teachings inspired me early on to cross-train and learn Judo and BJJ to strengthen the martial base of my Aikido. Also Donovan Waite sensei, who I met by joining his Dojo of Aikido of Center City in Philadelphia, PA. The power and smoothness of his technique are legendary and were truly inspiring in many ways, and especially influenced me in the way I took free falls and executed powerful technique.
I have also to thank other great teachers that left a mark on me and my practice, like Yamada sensei, Chiba sensei, Frank Noel sensei, Yoko Okamoto sensei, Christian Tissier sensei and Murashige sensei. I also want to mention my first teachers at university varsity sports in Germany, Jan Bietz and Angelo, as without them I would probably never have gotten the opportunity to get in contact with the art.

Yet, I feel particularly honored to have been directly promoted by my main teacher, Tsuruzo Miyamoto sensei, who I have known for more than 20 years.
I have been following him all around the world, having had the honor of taking ukemi for him in seminars and demonstrations in front of huge crowds, while trying to understand his teachings. He has had the biggest impact on how I understand Aikido and ukemi, particularly the connection between nage and uke. His conception of henka waza and how you have to adapt to every single change of the uke, is the closest my Aikido has been able to get to a “free flow”, like the one you get in BJJ and even in some combat/competition situations in boxing and Judo, where techniques and movements just develop without any premeditation.

Miyamoto sensei’s humble and honest personality have also allowed me to accept Aikido as a martial art without the need of the typical worshipping and undefeatable “god-like” attitude many high-grade teachers adopt and that, in my opinion, makes the art lose credibility.

Miyamoto sensei has also been key to creating bridges between Aikido factions that in other times semt very far apart and barely interacted between each other, like Sansuikai (Yamada sensei’s students), FFAAA (Tissier sensei’s students) and Birankai (Chiba sensei student’s).
I started to know the Birankai group only because of Miyamoto sensei, as he was invited by Chiba sensei to teach at his camps in England, the US West coast and many other places. This allowed me to discover the Birankai weapons system, which is a fascinating weapons school and an incredible complement to Miyamoto sensei’s Aikido teaching. I have made many friends in Birankai over the years who have taught me a lot and have allowed me to develop my knowledge in weapons and Iaido.

And this is where I end up thanking Mike Flynn sensei, a great and influential teacher I have had the honor of meeting . His deep knowledge of Aikido, weapons and Iaido, combined with the no-nonsense attitude only a retired Col. of the Marines can have, have taught me that finesse often lies in mastering the basics and shedding the innecessary to smoothen your technique. I have only but gratitude for his generosity, the incredible depth of his teachings and all the selfless support he has been giving me and our group in Barcelona over the years without expecting anythin in return.

I want also to congratulate many friends that have been walking this fascinating Aikido path with me over the last decades who have also been promoted this year, like Miguel Moreno, Ea Murphy, Francesc Castellanos, Xavier Serra, Carlos Lopez, Anne Slui, Kirill Ivanov and many others.

I hope to keep seeing you all of you on the mat keeping up the same intensity in practice!! ;)

お知らせ詳細 – 合気会

November and December have been quite busy in Barcelona!

In November we had Miyuki Kumazawa sensei visiting us in Barcelona for the first time and holding an international seminar. It was great seeing her back after training with her in Tokyo some years ago.

In December we had Arashi group‘s traditional Christmas seminar with Kyu and Dan grade examinations.
For me, as a member of the technical commission of Arashi group (an officially Hombu-Dojo recognized Aikido organization) it was great seeing the technical progress made by the Arashi group students and passing their exams.
In my Dojo we also held a special Christmas class and had a nice dinner and a few beers afterwards with my students, which is the best of the training anyway! ;)

A big thank you goes out to Miyamoto sensei and Flynn sensei who is Arashi group’s technical director, for their technical guidance and inspiration.

Next year promises to stay busy with a seminar with Michael Flynn Shihan in February and Miyamoto senei in November in Barcelona and some more exciting news coming!

So stay tuned and happy new year everyone!

Mike Flynn Shihan at aikikai!

Grateful for the seminar we had two weeks ago and grateful for my teachers, students and the community near and far. Thank you for everything in this life. Please continue to help us out and support our auction that runs until December 13th. #aikido #grateful #thanksgiving #aikikai

Miyamoto sensei in L.A.! Do not miss!!!

Join us for an Aikido seminar with Miyamoto Tsuruzo Shihan, 8th Dan Aikikai Hombu Dojo, Oct 10-12.
Registration is now open at https://aikidaodaiway.com/miyamoto

The AFA summer camp with Miyamoto sensei in Spa (Belgium) is always a blast. Keiko is high-level and intense, meeting friends and people from all over is always so refreshing, and what is best than enjoying a summer party together sensei and friends on a warm summer night? :)

So great to have been able to attend one more camp with all of you!