Special thanks to our hosts Paulo Barreto and Ruben Cabral.

We started the weekend’s training working in a beautiful park along the river. The Torre de Belém is in the background.

Moving into the dojo on Saturday and Sunday, Goldberg Sensei focused on the connections between the solo exercises and technique. He emphasized the importance of building an aiki body and then using the resistance of a partner to feel how to express those aiki principles through our bodies.

Most of our time was spent in walking distance to the dojo. It is impossible to capture the beauty of Portugal in just a few days, but everywhere you look, Lisbon’s unique character comes through. Sensei even found time for a quick trim.

Congratulations to all of those promoted, including UK Study Group leader Alister Gillies, Madrid Study Group leader Adrian Figueroa, and Lisbon Study Group leaders Paulo Barreto and Ruben Cabral.

On our way to the airport and home, we managed to find just a few more hours to train in the park. Shugyo never stops.