William Gleason Sensei
This weekend I had the opportunity to view a seminar hosted by Aikido Eastside http://aikieast.com that featured William Gleason Sensei. It was a wonderful experience! I had planned on just viewing a couple of hours Saturday but ended up staying the afternoon and coming back Sunday. Sunday I also brought a notebook (and I donÂ’t like taking notes!)
The reasons I am posting this in the Russian Martial Art section are. That is the art that I practice and it is how I view things martial. The things that Gleason Sensei was saying and demonstrating could have been a systema seminar (except the pjÂ’s and the mat slapping:wink: ) for illustrations here are some of the quotes (I paraphrase) and things he talked about. DisclaimerÂ…this is not a complete list and as I said before I hate taking notes! Anything not making sense is almost assuredly my own fault and not that of Gleason SenseiÂ’s.
“You throw baseballs not 160lbs people”
“When hands are done bring them back. When Hands comeback they carry your weight down, making you weightless” (reminded me somewhat of heavy hands
Hands “one is leading one is following”
“Just enough”
“Bend legs NOT body”
Getting up “get feet under you, outside up inside down, this is stronger” “stop blocking with your face, get up using correct posture”
“Just smile”
“Everyone is to tight” (I was sure push-ups were coming but not this time )
“Eyes are deceptive”
“These throws were originally meant to be done while engaging multiple opponents. Look around while you are doing the technique. You don’t have to watch your opponent. We watch our opponent because we are insecure. We watch to get reassurance that we are safe and doing the technique correctly. You have to NOT CARE! It is OK to be not OK. Success equals safe not success equals technique working yet you failing.”
“Give up your attachment to the results”
“Very tired yet Very awake”
“Mind not getting in the way”
“Direction equals freedom. Lack of direction equals no freedom”
“Partner grabs you the way he wants to grab you, he wins. Partner grabs you the way you want, you win”
“If you can fail then there is room to grow. If you don’t fail then you are stuck. You should fail everyday! Not only are you a failure, everyone else is also a failure”
“Push pull lift and your partner feel an opening”
“Body movement not arm movement”
He also talked about waves, figure 8's, body contact, looseness, movement.
Gleason Sensei even had short hair he just wasnÂ’t wearing any camouflage pants.
I felt right at home. Thanks everyone for making me feel welcome.
See you on the mat soon
Friends
Brian
This weekend I had the opportunity to view a seminar hosted by Aikido Eastside http://aikieast.com that featured William Gleason Sensei. It was a wonderful experience! I had planned on just viewing a couple of hours Saturday but ended up staying the afternoon and coming back Sunday. Sunday I also brought a notebook (and I donÂ’t like taking notes!)
The reasons I am posting this in the Russian Martial Art section are. That is the art that I practice and it is how I view things martial. The things that Gleason Sensei was saying and demonstrating could have been a systema seminar (except the pjÂ’s and the mat slapping:wink: ) for illustrations here are some of the quotes (I paraphrase) and things he talked about. DisclaimerÂ…this is not a complete list and as I said before I hate taking notes! Anything not making sense is almost assuredly my own fault and not that of Gleason SenseiÂ’s.
“You throw baseballs not 160lbs people”
“When hands are done bring them back. When Hands comeback they carry your weight down, making you weightless” (reminded me somewhat of heavy hands
Hands “one is leading one is following”
“Just enough”
“Bend legs NOT body”
Getting up “get feet under you, outside up inside down, this is stronger” “stop blocking with your face, get up using correct posture”
“Just smile”
“Everyone is to tight” (I was sure push-ups were coming but not this time )
“Eyes are deceptive”
“These throws were originally meant to be done while engaging multiple opponents. Look around while you are doing the technique. You don’t have to watch your opponent. We watch our opponent because we are insecure. We watch to get reassurance that we are safe and doing the technique correctly. You have to NOT CARE! It is OK to be not OK. Success equals safe not success equals technique working yet you failing.”
“Give up your attachment to the results”
“Very tired yet Very awake”
“Mind not getting in the way”
“Direction equals freedom. Lack of direction equals no freedom”
“Partner grabs you the way he wants to grab you, he wins. Partner grabs you the way you want, you win”
“If you can fail then there is room to grow. If you don’t fail then you are stuck. You should fail everyday! Not only are you a failure, everyone else is also a failure”
“Push pull lift and your partner feel an opening”
“Body movement not arm movement”
He also talked about waves, figure 8's, body contact, looseness, movement.
Gleason Sensei even had short hair he just wasnÂ’t wearing any camouflage pants.
I felt right at home. Thanks everyone for making me feel welcome.
See you on the mat soon
Friends
Brian
