The "Shihan party"

I am so happy that I joined the party for Stefan yesterday. It exceeded my expectations and we had so much fun. We got to see a fire performance outside and then Anders Ljungar-Chapelon played two marvellous pieces by André Jolivet. We also enjoyed a variety of excellent foods brought by everybody and the meal was devoured accompanied by one of Stefans absolute favourite musicians, Joakim Thåström, on a very high volume. Several persons gave emotional speeches and we all felt a strong connection to each other. We then had a music quiz which was anything but serious and after that we started the karaoke machine. What happened in that room will stay in that room, but I can say that boundaries where broken and timidity was eliminated. When we had emptied the karaoke repertoire we continued in a cappella, singing things like Thåström, Lou Reed and dirty old English lyrics. Time flew and me who planned to just stop by for a few hours suddenly discovered that it was one a clock in the morning and we had laughed and loved for 7 hours. I was filled with joy and energy when I went home for my last nights sleep in Sweden.

Stefan is my first aikido teacher and we have been through both ups and downs in our long relationship, strong-minded as we both are, but my respect for him is enormous, not only as an aikido teacher but also as a friend and fellow thinker. Many are the long discussions we have shared over a dinner after practice and that is one of the things I also miss when I am no longer in Malmö. His role as my aikido teacher is also very much fundamental for who I am when I step in to a dojo today. His approach to his students is very unique, shared with merely a few other teachers. Being his student means enjoying a committed personal guidance, getting constant feedback and support that helps you shaping your aikido in the most fruitful way. No matter where in the world I am, or which other teachers I might train with, Stefan will always be my Shihan and a big part of me will always belong with him and the rest of the beautiful people in his dojo.