by Philippe De Oliveira
Sharing, Progress, and Friendship I had the opportunity to participate in a Naginata seminar in Bolvir, near Puigcerdà (Girona, Spain) organized by Leo Pereira, who kindly invited me so I could improve my skills and bring back some knowledge to share in Portugal.
We were fortunate to have Loïc Delalande lead the seminar, with the collaboration of Yolanda Vaneste. They shared their expertise, experience, teaching methods, and kindness, which allowed all the participants (Leo, Marina, Fran, Neus, Richard, César, Natalia, and myself) to progress in the best possible conditions. This seminar brought together Naginata practitioners from four countries: France, Belgium, Spain, and Portugal.
For my part, Leo kindly picked me up at Barcelona airport, famous for the Sagrada Família. We then went to the gymnasium in Bolvir, a charming village in the Pyrenees, about an hour and a half from Barcelona. Saturday was dedicated to technical work. We were able to discover or rediscover fundamental concepts essential for progress, both in technique and in sparring. These basic exercises, sometimes seemingly simple, remind us how important the foundations are in Naginata practice.
The social gatherings at lunchtime and in the evening also played a vital role during this weekend. They allowed us to exchange ideas, get to know each other better, and strengthen the bonds between practitioners from different countries in a warm and supportive atmosphere.
On Sunday, we began by putting on our armor to practice Geiko, simulating combat situations where we apply the techniques we had previously worked on. The goal of Geiko is to improve our technique, explore new strategies, combinations, and striking opportunities. Unlike Shiai, the goal isn’t to win at all costs, but rather to develop a sound technique and achieve beautiful Ippon.
After intense training, we also practiced Shikake-Oji Waza (kata), which allowed us to work on precision, timing, and understanding of combat. Unfortunately, the nearby thermal baths, which in previous years had allowed practitioners to relax their muscles after the weekend’s intense training, were closed for renovations. We’ll make up for it next year.
Throughout the seminar, Loïc and Yolanda’s kindness and expertise enabled us to progress and acquire valuable tools to continue training more effectively in our respective dojos. Beyond the technical aspects, this seminar will remain above all a wonderful moment of human connection. The positive spirit of all the participants, the constant mutual support among practitioners of all levels, and the friendly atmosphere perfectly reflected the values of Naginata.
A huge thank you to the organizers for their welcome, generosity, and dedication, as well as to Loïc and Yolanda for the quality of their instruction and their availability throughout the weekend.