Don Levine Visits Awassa Aikido Dojo 2009

This is a video from the trip to Awassa, Ethiopia where I watched and briefly filmed Sensei Don Levine teaching an Aikido class. It went something like this:

Twilight emerges, creating an ambiance of impermanence, and a group of about 25-30 teenage students kick off their shoes and leap across the dirt path into the self-made bamboo dojo. A single light bulb dangles from the ceiling. Sensei Tesfaye clapped and an orderly line forms; authentic, Japanese bows follow.

Then something magical happens: the dojo no longer appears to be a dojo. The Aikido class seems no longer just a class, and there are no Ethiopians or Americans or Japanese cultural boundaries to categorize or identify what happens. It all dissolves, very quickly and subtly. As Sensei Don begins to teach the eager, focused and class, the Wisdom and Compassion of the universe unfolds.

Light faintly glows, present in each movement, in the smiles of the students, in their amazingly, quick-learned skills, in the intelligence of Don's communication. He teaches a combination of traditional Japanese Aikido along with some Northern California high-level psychology, a class I would consider "highly advanced." But the context he instructs in—the atmosphere—transcends form. It's a room full of love and peace, beyond borders, beyond any real description.

-Bill

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[boodabill]

Not only that, he was humble, speaking Amharic, and everyone had a good time.

[Kalydosos]

Very good and Mr Levine wasn't patronising!!!!

[raysilverstrand]

Thank you!!

[TesfayeAwassa]

Great !!!

[Dakinivi]

I love everything: the content, the music, the protagonists and the feeling behind all. Love the people!