The Kayla Feder Seminar Experience

The Kayla Feder Seminar Experience - - - by Jonathan Weiner

I have to tell you, I really didn't know what to expect on Saturday. I was talking to my good friend, and Chief Instructor of Open Sky Aikikai, Steve Kaufmann Sensei, and he's like you got to come check out Kayla Feder, she's got this amazing weapons background, studied in Japan, has been training a very long time, she's great... so several members of the dojo made the trek up to Hillsborough and I was just amazed at her knowledge of Aikido, the history, O'Sensei...her experiences with some very famous Shihan. She talked for quite a bit, and you could see that her demeanor and personality couldn't have depicted a more accurate picture of what Aikido is all about. She was humbling, no ego, selfless, warm and generous. Then I watched her move and she has a strong technique, good posture, a lot of power and excellent "Ki", Ki'ai is a very important part of martial arts training and it's rare to see and Aikido person actually verbalize it in their technique. She did. I was also intriqued by her sharing of Omoto Kyo and how O'Sensei would share it's philosphy in his training and teaching. While I'm not personally a deep spirited person from the religious standpoint, I have to tell you as she started class and went over "her" style of bowing in with the clapping, I was intrigued. It was powerful in a commanding way.

Needless to say, after the Saturday classes, Kayla Sensei and I chatted for quite awhile. You will see her on Aikido Radio very soon and I hope you enjoy her knowledge as I have.