Weekend in San Francisco Bay Area to honor HF Ito

by Connie Borden

Shintaido of America arranged for two Keiko to celebrate H.F. Ito on the weekend of 17 & 18 May 2025.  Nicole Beauvois, who lives in France, was in the SF Bay Area for these events. Saturday’s morning Keiko was on Mount Tamalpais , a peak in Marin County, California. 

In the evening, we gathered for a potluck dinner & music at the home of Jennifer Peringer and Martha Rodriguez. 

On Sunday, Shin Aoki, General Instructor, led Keiko at Lake Temescal in Oakland, California.

About 15 gathered at 8:30am on Saturday the 17^th of May. Robert Gaston, Senior Instructor, led the group with the movements of Taimyo on Mount Tam with an overlook of the Pacific Ocean. HF Ito often came to Mount Tam to meditate and gain inspiration. He also brought groups to study Shintaido on Mount Tam.

This inspirational point on the mountain top lent itself to grounding us, while the vista gave us the ability to expand beyond ourselves. 

Several people commented on feeling Ito Sensei very strongly. Some commented they could hear him laughing as we struggled to maintain our balance when the gusts of wind blew strongly off the ocean. Others saw Ito in the overhead clouds that were blowing by. 

After Taimyo, the group gathered for a picnic to spend more time together and share memories of HF Ito. Our picnic area was in a grove of trees that proved a peaceful break from the wind. Over our casual picnic people told stories and caught up with each other.  After many hugs and more laughter, we said our goodbyes until the next event.

At 6pm on Saturday the 17^th of May, we gathered for a potluck dinner and music at Jennifer and Martha’s home. Over Indian curry, pasta, salads, and desserts, we continued our conversations. People brought music, poetry, and other creative expressions to share. David Sirgany read poetry.  Elli Nagai-Rothe spoke of her experience of growing up with Shintaido and HF Ito that began at the age of six. Kazu Shibao brought photos of HF Ito from 1982.  Jennifer strummed her guitar, while Martha played her clarinet. Everyone joined in for these two songs: “Le Martiniana” and “I’ll Fly Away”. Both songs are often sung after the death of a loved one.

On Sunday, the group gathered for Keiko at Lake Temescal. Shin Aoki led the group, deepening our connections. Shin honored HF Ito by teaching Daikihon, the three core movements of Shintaido: Eiko, Wakame and Tenshingoso. Shin explained we learn the kata (movements) from our teachers and transmit the kata as purely as we can to others. However, each of us add our own heart and soul to this transmission. 

After warmups, led by Derk Richardson, Shin started with Eiko Sei. We studied Wakame reaching directly to the core of our partner. Then, we studied what Ito Sensei often called “Welcome, come this way.” 

One person reached into their partner’s core with a Tsuki attack, while the second person used their hand with palm facing inward, and pivoted allowing the energy to go past. We built upon this kumite as one partner continued to move past and turned, repeating first with a right Tsuki, then a left Tsuki, ultimately both people moved in an infinity spiral of movements. 

This kumite included deflecting the attack with “Ah” , transforming this into Tenso and we let our partner sink into the earth.  Shin finished with Tenshingoso Sei and Tenshingoso Dai.

Enjoying the sunny weather, we stayed lakeside for a second picnic breakfast. HF Ito was present throughout our meal as his portrait graced the table. We departed the morning with hugs and plans for keeping our connections with each other. 

To close with part of the song: “I’ll Fly away,” lyrics by Alison Krauss and Gillian Welch:

I’ll fly away
To a land where joys will never end
I’ll fly away.