Aikido Black Belt Exam October 18, 2003 Here are a few pictures (taken by my daughter Lyra) of my recent shodan test at Centerfield Aikido. It was a great day! Here's a wide angle shot of the dojo, with the senseis (Jack Wada sensei, Betsy Hill sensei and David Keip sensei all visible) along the wall behind me, and the students along the other. I spent a lot of time on my knees, which thankfully have since forgiven me. Another shot of kneework, called "hanmi handachi", where I'm throwing my friend Catherine Osterbye. Betsy Hill sensei is in the background, with a fuzzy Mary McLean sensei and Sylvia Marie. Ah, it's so much fun to throw those black belts around! Here's a better picture of Jack Wada, the visiting sensei from Aikido of San Jose who sat for my test, as well as Betsy Hill sensei and David Keip sensei from my school. I believe this is Michelle Keip that I'm throwing in a classic "corner-drop throw" here. It's an easy and elegant technique, especially when it works! And here's one of me throwing my fellow brown belt Roger Solin, with Mary, Sylvia and David looking on.