Aikido

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Sep 6-8, 2019: Seminar with Doshu in San Mateo, CA
From: Peter Ralls posted on 14. Jun 2019, 08:32am
URL: http://ai-ki-do.org/doshu-2119

Doshu Ueshiba Moriteru will be teaching a seminar September 6-8, 2019, at the San Mateo County Event Center in San Mateo, California. For more information go to ai-ki-do.org/Doshu-2019

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Aikikai Malta Gradings
From: Kevin Bonanno posted on 14. Jun 2019, 08:32am
URL: http://www.aikidomalta.net

The first Maltese Aikidoka being examined and promoted in Malta to Nidan and Sandan are Claude Calleja and Kevin Bonanno respectively. The gradings were conducted by Satomi Hakkenkai, Tokyo, Chief Instructor Jun Nomoto Shihan (7th Dan) on behalf of the Aikikai Foundation. The gradings were held at Aikikai Malta, the new established Aikido school recently authorised by Aikikai Foundation.

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June 15-16, 2019: Pat Guerri Sensei in Louveciennes, France
From: Ron Tisdale posted on 14. Jun 2019, 08:32am
URL: https://www.facebook.com/events/424455464796877/

Patricia Guerri Sensei, Uchi-deshi (élève à demeure) pendant plusieurs années à Iwama au Japon dans le dojo d’O’Sensei Morihei Ueshiba, Fondateur de l’Aikido. Diplomée par Morihiro Saito Sensei, 9ème Dan, des 5 Mokuroku traditionnels (certificats Japonais attestant de la connaissance de l’AikiKen, Aiki-Jo & Bukiwaza autorisant à les enseigner) décernés en 1991. Diplômée d’état Aiki-ken, Aiki-jo. Médaille de bronze du Ministère de la Jeunesse et des Sports pour son enseignement professionnel.

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Aikikai Malta First Seminar
From: Kevin Bonanno posted on 14. Jun 2019, 08:32am
URL: http://www.aikidomalta.net

Aikikai Malta is organising a seminar with the participation of a Japanese delegation from Tokyo lead by Jun Nomoto Shihan, the Aikikai Director for Aikikai Malta. During the seminar there will be a demonstration and commemoration ceremony for the founding of Aikikai Malta being authorised by Aikikai Foundation in 2018.

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Recently I had the honour to help out 2 training partners to obtain an official teaching certificate from one of our national organisations.

Now I don't have a special love for organisations. To me it seems they often don't contribute a lot and have a tendency to grow into institutions that mainly seem to hold people back and limit what one is doing. Just the sheer amount of organisations is already a sign of something fishy going on. Why does Aikido have the reputation of being the martial art with almost more organisations than dojos?

As for teaching, I do see the benefits of having a program where aikidoka learn how to teach. Having some kind of obstacle preventing just everybody from teaching is not a bad thing. Shifting the perspective of what you are doing is also very important and can contribute to further growth and development.

Having said that, I do think there are several major pitfalls when people become teachers. The first and obvious one is that they lose Shoshin, the mindset that is open, eager and free of preconceptions wants to learn. In most people's training shoshin is under constant attack. Simply they idea of already knowing a technique closes the door to further learning and development.
A teacher should not lose shoshin. A teacher should pull open the closed doors in the mind of his students. Always, whether they are nage or uke.

How can organisations contribute to the development of Shoshin?

Erik doesn't matter.

Tea Time After Aikido

After Aikido class
We all go to a coffee shop
(Some have tea!)
We are mostly too old to
Care to go to a bar…
And, sweat cooling
We all discuss the class
Techniques, successes, failures
General pain and suffering
And then usually move
On to other subjects
(Religion, Politics, War, Logic,
Math, Science, Stupidity, etc.
all the common ailments
of Humankind)
A long-time class tradition
An open invitation
Sometimes outsiders join us
Old café denizens creeping out
Of the dark recesses of the coffee shop
Drawn to our charisma!
Calling us Sensei, Ninja Master…-
Who are we to disabuse them
And crush their souls?
But, then, Joseph starts talking
And we are all brought down to Earth
Still, we miss him when
He is gone and like him
So, we smile and nod our heads
(Sometimes slapping his)
And let the Aikido universe spin on
With cup o'tea in hand

Wandering

I exist in a world that
Is not as it seems
It is so easy to get lost
Wandering
I long to see past the illusion
Past misleading thoughts
I seek the hidden principles
The true reality behind it all
To find my true self
And finally become conscious
I fart and stand up, stretching
From my lotus position
Am I conscious, yet?
How would I know?




The greatest barrier to consciousness is the belief
that one is already conscious.
~ P.D. Ouspensky

June 3, 2019: San Diego Martial Arts & Community Center Anniversary Seminar
From: Lisa Tomoleoni posted on 8. May 2019, 01:27pm
URL: http://www.sandiegomacc.com/2019-fundraiser.html

June 3, 2019, San Diego, CA: The San Diego Martial Art & Community Center is celebrating our 1st Anniversary with a fundraising seminar! Try or watch Intro classes for SIX different arts offered by some of our professional Instructors from 9 am-1:30 pm! Afterwards, we will hold a BBQ Pot Luck party until 4 pm! Training and the BBQ Potluck Party are family friendly, and all classes are open to beginners and/or those who have to adapt for any physical needs. Observers are welcome and the facility is non-discriminatory. The participating Programs are: Sound Vinyasa Yoga & Sound Healing with Guide John Jai, Jiai Aikido with Cat Strada Sensei & Lisa Tomoleoni Sensei, Misfits Martial Arts Academy No-Gi Jiu Jitsu with Coach Manny Garcia ***Snack Break*** Traditional Shotokan Karate of San Diego with Juan Balmaceda Sensei, San Diego BJJ & Judo Academy with Luciana Bassoli Sensei, Progressive Combat Solutions with Ken Good 1:15-1:30 pm Sound Vinyasa Yoga & Sound Healing with Guide John Jai 1:30-4:00 pm Potluck BBQ Party (Please bring something to share!) The San Diego Martial Arts & Community Center ("SDMACC") is a world class, incubator Training Dojo and Healing space where Coaches, Instructors, and Healers can easily open, expand, and/or grow their own programs…..This is where dreams are realized and futures made. Please join us and help support the SDMACC! See you June 2nd! Further information at www.SanDiegoMACC.com.

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June 28-30, 2019: Aikido Shimbokukai USA Summer Seminar, Crystal Lake IL
From: Lisa Tomoleoni posted on 8. May 2019, 01:27pm
URL: http://https://www.aikidoshimbokukai.org/usa-summer-seminar-2019.html

Join us for our annual summer seminar, to be held this June at the Abiding Spirit Aikikai in Crystal Lake, Illinois. The seminar will be three days of training, fun, and friendship. Please take this opportunity to meet other Shimbokukai members, as well as folks from other organizations. The seminar will feature 18 hours of training, with instruction by four main top class instructors, supported by other Shimbokukai member instructors. Early Registration discounts until May 15, so don't wait too long! Dates: June 28-30, 2019 Location: The seminar will be held at Abiding Spirit Aikikai, 829 Virginia Rd, Suite D, Crystal Lake, IL 60014. ​ Main Instructors Lisa Tomoleoni Sensei, Director, Aikido Shimbokukai Hiroshi Ikeda Sensei, Boulder Aikikai, Boulder, Colorado Todd Jones Sensei, American Butokukan, Tampa, Florida Meido Moore Sensei, Shinjinkai, Chicago, Illinois As well as other Aikido Shimbokukai Instructors: TBD ​ All students of Aikido, regardless of affiliation, are invited to join us!

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31st May - 2nd June, 2019: Toshiro Suga, 7th Dan Aikikai in Edinburgh
From: Scott Reed posted on 8. May 2019, 01:27pm
URL: http://www.edinburghaikido.co.uk

Toshiro Suga started aikido in 1968 in Tokyo. He moved to France in 1971 and was a senior student of Tamura Nobuyoshi Sensei. He teaches seminars worldwide and is returning to Edinburgh for his annual course. Please bring aikido weapons and insurance. Everybody is very welcome

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Cognard Hanshi 8thDan in VA & CA (June 2019)
From: Andrea Debiasi posted on 8. May 2019, 01:27pm
URL: http://www.usa-seminar-kakkhh.com/

"Kokusai Aikido Kenshukai Kobayashi Hirokazu Ryu" (KAKKHR) and "Los Angeles Aiki Kai" cordially invite you to a series of June 2019 seminars with André Cognard Shihan 8th Dan (Hanshi, Dai Nippon Butoku Kai): Arlington, VA (June 10); Santa Ana, CA (June 13-14); Los Angeles, CA (June 15-17 & 21-23 & 26); Irvine, CA (June 18); Escondido, CA (June 19-20); Bakersfield, CA (June 24-25). All levels and affiliations are welcome. Check out the details in the dedicated Website: http://www.usa-seminar-kakkhh.com

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Conversing In Silence

How many times are you going
to read all this stuff?
I mean, you always read stuff.
When does it end?
Are you that much smarter, now?

Well, I could say it is a process.
I am ignorant.
I am trying to learn how to BE
So, I read and read.
I study.

Yeah, I get that.
But, when does it end?

Think of it as a ladder, or,
if you are older, like me, an escalator.
One day I will no longer need to climb.
I will just sit
Just sit and be still
Bypassing all the learning
Bypassing all the processes
Actually trying to unlearn all my learning
To be unwise, as it were
And, BE there -- actually, be HERE

That's it?
That's what all this is about?

Well, yes and no.

What?!
Don't give me that mystical mumbo-jumbo.

I'm not trying to, but it's hard to explain.
Being-in-the-world is just the beginning.

To what?

Well, I'm sure when I reach that place
I will not have the words to explain it.

But, but….

Exactly…
Perhaps then, we both could just sit
and converse in silence, and be unwise
together

Falling Leaves

They say that death and sacrifice
Are necessary for life and well-being
That apoptosis - the falling leaves
Of programmed cell death
Lead to a harmonious life
Till?

Aug 3-4, 2019: Takao Arisue and Kayzua Nakamichi Sensei in Spotsylvania, VA
From: David McConnell posted on 17. Apr 2019, 11:52am

The Nishio Aikido Keikokai Northern Virginia Inaugural Nishio Aikido Seminar welcomes Takao Arisue Sensei (7 Dan Aikido) and Kazuya Nakamichi Sensei (7 Dan Aikido) guest Shihan from Japan August 3 and 4, 2019 at the Aikido in Fredericksburg Dojo, Spotsylvania, VA. POC for the Virginia seminar is Dave McConnell +1-540-645-0554, or email fudoshindojo2019@gmail.com. Arisue and Nakamichi Sensei will also be in New York, NY the weekend prior to this, July 27-28, 2019, hosted by Professor David James, GM Vee Arnis Jujitsu. This is Arisue Sensei and Nakamichi Sensei’s first visit to the United States, please help us welcome these two incredible Sensei from Japan. The venue for the Virginia Seminar is the beautiful Aikido in Fredericksburg Dojo, located at 6155 Hickory Ridge Road, Spotsylvania, VA 22551. Saturday August 3, 2019: 10:00am to 1:00pm and 3:00pm, to 5:00pm Sunday August 4, 2019: 10:00 am to 1:00pm Cost is $120.00 includes 2 days of seminar participation. $100.00 if registration fees are received by June 30, 2019. $85.00 for single day participation fee. Paypal: Fudoshindojo2019@gmail.com For further details, please contact Dave McConnell 1-540-645-0554 For details regarding the New York, NY seminar and venue please contact Nixon Frederick 1-347-535-2506, or email frednix147@gmail.com

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Apr 27, 2019: WAAI 2019 O’Sensei Memorial Aikido Seminar in Newark, DE
From: Birte Feld posted on 15. Apr 2019, 06:39am
URL: http://www.aikidoda.org/dojo.html

World Aikido Aikikai Inc. and the members of its headquarters at Aikido Delaware Aikikai are happy to announce their Annual O’Sensei Memorial Seminar. Please join us in the 50th memorial celebration of the life and legacy of Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of Aikido. The event will start with a traditional Buddhist memorial ceremony led by WAAI Founder, Chairman, and Chief Instructor Rev. Zenko Okimura Shihan. After this, students and visitors are invited to Embrace Peace and enjoy the essence of O'Sensei's teachings through "skinship" classes, wonderment, and conversations with laughter over a bountiful potluck feast proudly hosted by ADA. Okimura Shihan will conduct WAAI yudansha testing for qualified candidates to demonstrate their sincere efforts and dedication to learning O'Sensei's Aikido. Adults: $80 (includes lunch and dinner on Saturday), Aikido Kids: free on Sat 11am to 12pm. All are welcome! Where: Aikido Delaware Aikikai, WAAI Headquarters, 667 Dawson Dr, Ste A, Newark, DE 19713; When: Sat, Apr 27 8.30 am to 6.00 pm (followed by potluck dinner); Sun, Apr 28 8.30 am to 10.30 am For more information visit www.AikidoDA.org or call 302-369-AIKI (2454).

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Watahiki Yoshifumi, Student of the Founder, Passes Away
From: Carl Thompson posted on 15. Apr 2019, 06:39am

It is with great regret that I must inform the aikido community of the passing of Watahiki Yoshifumi Shihan. Born in 1937 in Iwama, Ibaraki Prefecture, Watahiki Sensei entered the aikido founder’s dojo in 1949 at the age of twelve. He is one of the last few aikido teachers in the world to have trained on a regular basis as a direct student of Morihei Ueshiba, over a period spanning twenty years. Rising to the rank of seventh dan, Watahiki Sensei taught aikido in the founder’s dojo (the present day Ibaraki Branch Dojo) as well as the children’s class in Iwama Budokan. For those of us who had the honor of knowing him, this is a devastating loss of an ageless, indomitable figure in former Iwama Town. He was always rushing around the dojo, repairing things, building things, cooking, cleaning and of course teaching, with a youthful vigor that left uchi deshi less than half his age struggling to keep up. He seemed superhuman to us, indestructible, and so his death comes as a great shock. He passed away on the morning of the 8th of April, 2019 at 81 years of age. after being admitted to hospital the week before for tests. It was discovered that Sensei had late-stage intestinal cancer. He leaves behind a large family, including many devoted aikido students. His traditional ‘tsuya’ vigil and funeral were held on April 11 and 12 respectively. People traveled from across Japan and as far away as the US to attend. He will always be in our hearts.

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My name is Erik Calderon and I've been doing martial arts from the age of 5. When I was 20, I got this incredible itch to move to Japan and study martial arts full time.

In 1989 I went traveling to Mexico with my Dad. One night, he had some business to attend to, and I was left in the hotel to kill the time. I turned on the tv and a movie called, "Nico," was airing.

It was interesting, and I enjoyed watching it. I especially like the martial art that was highlighted in the film, Aikido. I knew nothing about Aikido, but from what I saw, it looked like fun.

When I got back to Boston, I looked up a few Aikido schools and started taking Aikido classes at Shobu Aikido of Boston under William Gleason.

I read every book I could find on Aikido and learned about it's history, it's culture and its philosophy.

Aikido was founded by a man named Morihei Ueshiba. He was born in 1883 and died in 1969. In 1926 he moved to Tokyo, Japan and opened up his dojo, the Aikikai World Headquarters. During World War II the dojo was closed and Morihei Ueshiba moved to Iwama and built a dojo there. It's important to note these two location, because they have developed into two distinct styles of Aikido, the Iwama Ryu and the Aikikai style.

Learning about the history of Aikido and Japan and how it influenced the development and ultimately the meaning of Aikido is very important to make note of. During the war, and Japan's loss, the martial arts as a whole changed in Japan. First off, during the US occupation, all martial arts were banned. This is about the time Morihei Ueshiba moved to Iwama and was able to continue his teaching and training in secret.

All arts transformed at this time, from "jutsu" (術 【すべ】 way, method, technique, means) for example, Ueshiba had trained in Daitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu, to "do" (道 【みち】road-way, street, district, journey, course, moral) Aikido. This helps us understand how this word was shaped, from method or technique to way of life or path.

The Japanese language is structured differently than the English language. In English we typically have the Subject - Verb - Object structure, where as in Japanese the structure is Subject - Object - Verb.

This difference in language structure helped me understand, on a deeper level, what Aikido means and the practical applications of the techniques. Let's say that this is one of the hidden secrets of Aikido. Instead of me being an active participant in applying a technique, the subject, me and the object, my attacker are brothers and the technique is what comes last.

Let's take a look at the the word, Aikido (合気道.) The word is made up of three seperate Chinese Characters know as Kanji (漢字.) The first kanji - Ai - 合い means to fit, suit or join. We usually refer to this word as meaning harmony. The second kanji Ki - 気 - spirit; mind; heart​. We refer to this word as meaning spirit. And the last kanji - Do - 道 - road-way, street, district, journey, course, moral, teachings. We refer to this word as way.

So, translated into English, Aikido means, "The Way of Spiritual Harmony." But, what does that actually mean? The word has a deep philosophical meaning that transcends the literal meaning.

I've been doing Aikido for over 19 years, constantly thinking about what Aikido means and why I continue to pursue learning Aikido.

Constantly, I think about Aikido on three separate plains; the physical, the mental and the spiritual.

On a physical level, Aikido means the forging and training of the body. Constant and never ending physical exercise. Taking our bodies as far as they can go. And yes, that means being extremely physically fit. Training the body so that you can train all day long. Training the body so that even when you are tired, you can continue. Kind of like running a marathon. You need to constantly train the body so that you are at a level that, one, you can compete against the clock, and two you are physically able to run the marathon without injury.

This is a very important point to note. You do not train to injure yourself, but train in order to build the physical body to prevent injury and endure long training sessions.

On a mental level Aikido means that we are constantly studying and seeking for understanding on a philosophical level as well on a technical level of the movements of Aikido. While in Japan, I spent hours upon hours reading every book I could in order to understand what Aikido is. I studied the religions it's based on, I studied the people that wrote the books. I studied the philosophies of the time. Everything I could get my hands on, even fictional books. I enjoyed the novel, Miyamoto Musashi. This novel is a must read for anyone interested in martial arts. Musashi was a true figure and a legend of the sword in Japan. He also wrote, "The Book of Five Rings." And, another book I read about him: Miyamoto Musashi: His Life and Writings.

One important point to make note of, you can always learn something and the deeper you dive into the learning, the deeper the pool of knowledge becomes.

On a spiritual level, Aikido means that we are working on values that add to and build our spirit:

Self-Discipline
Compassion
Responsibility
Friendship
Work
Courage
Perseverance
Honesty
Loyalty
Faith

I actually picked up these values from a book I read, "The Book of Virtues," by William Bennett while in Japan studying Aikido and they became a core essence of what I believe to be the important values that we can build while training in Aikido that will transcend into every aspect of our lives.

It's not easy training the spirit, it's such an unknown and hard to understand aspect of our lives. Exhaust yourself physically, never stop learning and that is the gateway to the spirit. And yes, the bible is a great book to read.

Although Aikido literally translates into, "The Way of Spiritual Harmony," it means a lot more than just that. Aikido is a martial art, or a fighting art. The techniques are designed to protect you from an attack. Interestingly what separates Aikido from other martial arts, is that the techniques are also designed to protect your attacker as well. This adds even more meaning to the word Aikido.

As you train, you will develop your own meaning, the harder and deeper you study, the more profound your understanding of the word Aikido will become.

Visit my website for more information: Aikido Houston