On October 24th, I woke up a little before 7 a.m., still feeling the lingering heaviness of my cold. I started the morning by boosting my vitamin C with a mandarin orange. 

At 9 a.m., I met up with the same members from yesterday, and we headed to the Old Town by metro.

Prague’s metro system is wonderfully simple, with just three lines—A, B, and C—each clearly color coded. Even the underground passageways have colored stripes for each line, so as long as you follow them, it’s almost impossible to get lost.

Once we reached the surface, we were greeted by rows of colorful buildings that instantly made the whole area feel like a fairytale. 

This is the heart of the Old Town. The astronomical clock moves at noon, so the square was still fairly quiet.

After two unusually hot Junes in Japan, this year’s rainy season has felt more typical—mild temperatures, plenty of humidity, yet surprisingly comfortable. Summer is always something to look forward to, though we can only hope the heat will be gentle this year.

Today, we are pleased to share the latest updates for the always-popular Aikikai Hombu Dojo Shihan Seminars. Below you will find information on the seminars scheduled for October, along with newly added events.

✔ Aikido Seminar

Date: July 11–12

Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands

Instructor: Kuribayashi Takanori Shihan

Organizer: Vriesman Dojo

https://aikidotravel.com/seminar/2127/aikido-seminar

An international seminar will be held in Amsterdam, the Dutch capital known for its beautiful canals. Hosted at the renowned Vriesman Dojo, this two-day event offers a wonderful chance to enjoy the charm of this historic waterside city while connecting deeply with aikidoka from around the world.

★ Explore Popular Hotels in Amsterdam

As I followed the path up the stairs, the view opened up to reveal Prague’s beautiful cityscape, filled with rows of unified brick red rooftops.

Since it was the autumn season, the contrast with the colorful trees made the scenery even more striking.

A guard stood at the entrance, and once we stepped inside, a number of buildings spread out before us

“Is that the castle behind us?”

“This whole area is the castle. And that over there is St. Vitus Cathedral.”

From April to May, the Aiki Jinja Annual Grand Festival, the All Japan Aikido Demonstration, and several international seminars held in Japan brought many aikidoka from both within the country and abroad to the Aikikai Hombu Dojo. It was a lively and inspiring time, and I am truly grateful for the opportunity to train together with so many wonderful practitioners.

Those who visit the Hombu Dojo regularly may already be familiar with the etiquette here, but for first time visitors, some customs may differ from those of your home dojo and feel a little unfamiliar.

The etiquette at Hombu Dojo is not posted on the walls; rather, it has been passed down carefully from member to member over many years. Below are a few points that may be helpful.

【About Personal Appearance】 

・Women are asked to wear a white T shirt or tank top under the gi to ensure the chest area is not exposed. Since Aikido is practiced by people of all ages and genders, creating an environment where everyone can focus comfortably is important. We kindly ask men to be mindful of keeping the chest area covered. Choosing to wear a T-shirt underneath is a great option.

・All accessories should be removed. Just as jewelry is prohibited in martial arts competitions, this is an important measure to prevent injuries to yourself and your partner.