This past weekend, the Seikokan Dojo in Windsor, Ontario played host
to Robert Mustard Sensei.

The Dojo was joined by representatives from Vancouver (Hi Vicki),
Ottawa, Oakville, Detroit, Southern California (Randy Stoner Sensei
and crew) and the Toronto area (including Marcel, the North American
Ronin).

For those who don't know, Mustard Sensei is a 6th Dan and is a
former Chief Foreign Instructor at the Hombu Dojo.

He is also known as the "Kevin Costner" of Yoshinkan. If you invite
him, he will come. Surprisingly, the Seikokan Dojo is one of the
VERY few in North America that have tapped into this incredible
resource.

If you have seen his Aikido, then you know that he is about as real
as the deal gets. However, you have not seen Mustard Sensei until
you have seen him teach.

I've heard Mustard Sensei's jokes before. I heard him talk about
Kamae and circles and relaxing before (and how good looking he is),
but each time is a new experience. Mustard Sensei does not come
with a script. Beginning with requests, he observes the dojo and
lets the needs of the students guide his teaching. (oh, and by the
way, if you ask for it, he does it on you!).

What struck me about Mustard Sensei was that he is still very much a
student. He is not "done". He openly talks about his challenges,
his breakthroughs and offers whatever he can to make sure that when
you leave you are one step further along the path (because if you
are not, you are probably one step closer to quitting).

"I'm not the best there is…" Says Mustard Sensei "…but my teachers
were, and I'm just trying to show you some of what they taught me".

Okay enough of the ad (it falls way short anyway).

The training was very good. We saw hard, soft, fast and slow.
Although we covered a number of techniques, the exercises and
principles were the focus. His use of posture to apply controls and
pins that do not hurt is a real eye-opener.

The final theme I can recall at this time is the one that struck me
the most: Uke.

Sh'te can't learn without Uke. Mustard Sensei continually reminded us
that the job of Uke is to help Sh'te understand the technique. This
means giving your energy to Uke so they can get the right position
and feeling. It's amazing how easily and often ego leads us to
tighten up or resist.

If this review seems to ramble, too bad. This sort of experience is
not the kind you can put in a box (a box set maybe).

Rob Bondy (October 2006)