Bio: Varjan Sensei: Recently promoted by Yoshida Sensei to 6th Dan Aiki To-Ho Iai, 5th Dan Aikido and Aikido Weapons, began Aikido training in 1980 in Copenhagen, Denmark with a group belonging to the Iwama style of Aikido under Morihiro Saito Sensei.
After 4 years with the Iwama Style dojo, Varjan Sensei encountered Nishio Sensei also in Denmark, at his very first Seminar there in 1984. Varjan Sensei was very impressed by Nishio Sensei's work centering around the Sword and detailed Footwork.
"I remember one of my first questions to my Iwama Style instructors. How do the weapons' techniques and the Taido fit together and relate to one another?" They couldn't answer me. When I saw Nishio Sensei, I knew this man could answer my questions. Also, the Iwama group didn't train any Iai Swordwork. We did train Tachi Kumi, and Jo, which I very much enjoyed, but I felt that to truly understand the Aikido movements, I needed to study the sword in depth. I knew Nishio Sensei could show me the way to this understanding. So, after a transitional period of about one and a half years of training both styles, I decided to continue full time with my Nishio studies. The Iwama Style gave me a very solid foundation in breathing and a key to understanding "Movement from the Center".
The Nishio Style gave me dynamics. The two styles did not exclude one another, as a matter of fact, they complimented one another, but it took years to understand this, and it was essential to study them separately before I could put them together again. An interesting fact, that many people do not know, Nishio Sensei and Morihiro Saito Sensei were good friends in spite of the fact that their approach to the study was so different. It is my hope to continue this tradition."
To contact Sensei Varjan for class and info click here stephi@kogenninpodojo.com
After 4 years with the Iwama Style dojo, Varjan Sensei encountered Nishio Sensei also in Denmark, at his very first Seminar there in 1984. Varjan Sensei was very impressed by Nishio Sensei's work centering around the Sword and detailed Footwork.
"I remember one of my first questions to my Iwama Style instructors. How do the weapons' techniques and the Taido fit together and relate to one another?" They couldn't answer me. When I saw Nishio Sensei, I knew this man could answer my questions. Also, the Iwama group didn't train any Iai Swordwork. We did train Tachi Kumi, and Jo, which I very much enjoyed, but I felt that to truly understand the Aikido movements, I needed to study the sword in depth. I knew Nishio Sensei could show me the way to this understanding. So, after a transitional period of about one and a half years of training both styles, I decided to continue full time with my Nishio studies. The Iwama Style gave me a very solid foundation in breathing and a key to understanding "Movement from the Center".
The Nishio Style gave me dynamics. The two styles did not exclude one another, as a matter of fact, they complimented one another, but it took years to understand this, and it was essential to study them separately before I could put them together again. An interesting fact, that many people do not know, Nishio Sensei and Morihiro Saito Sensei were good friends in spite of the fact that their approach to the study was so different. It is my hope to continue this tradition."
To contact Sensei Varjan for class and info click here stephi@kogenninpodojo.com
