NEWS
AROUND THE DOJO
| July |
Please Note: Shindai Dojo Summer Schedule Changes
It is going to be an exciting and busy summer for the Shindai Aikidoka. There are numerous seminars, summer camps, and travel sessions planned. We are adjusting the schedule of classes for the next two months to reflect the opportunities our members and instructors have to experience Aiki outside of the dojo. All of this will come back to us in the form of greater understanding and stronger spirit. The regular class schedule will be back in affect starting the first week of September.
Monday
5:30-6:30 & 6:30-8:00 PM
Hooker Sensei
Fasen Sensei
Concepts/Principles
Regular class
Tuesday
5:30-7:00 PM
Fasen Sensei
Aiki principles through
ASU weapons kata
Wednesday
5:30-6:30 & 6:30-8:00 PM
Jeff Honey -
Keith Oshiro-
Concentration on Ukemi,
Uke and 3rd- Ikyu waza
Thursday
5:30-7:00 PM
McCartney Sensei
Free Class / Beginner
6th-4th Kyu waza
Friday
5:30-6:30 & 6:30-8:00 PM
Hooker Sensei
Fasen Sensei
Concepts/Principles
Regular class
Saturday
9:00-10:00 & 10:00-11:00 AM
Shindai Sr. Yudansha
Shindai Sr. Yudansha
Regular Class
Sunday
9:00-10:00 & 10:00-11:00 AM
Dan McCartney
Shindai Sr. Yudansha
Beginner Class
6th-4th Kyu waza
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| June: |
Shindai Aikikai is pleased to announce the establishment of a new affiliate dojo. Downtown Orlando Aikikai has begun offering classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:00 PM, under the instruction of Brian Davis Sensei (4thDan) and Donald Williams Sensei (3rDan). Classes are being offered for $55.00 a month plus a one time annual fee of 25.00 for insurance. The classes are being held in the new Toyama Ryu Sword Dojo connected to East Coast Martial Arts on East Colonial Drive, Orlando. For information on the dojo and classes contact Bob Elder at East Coast Martial Arts Supply (407-896-2487) during regular business hours Tuesday through Saturday. |
| June: |
Well, summer is here again. The elements of summer likely dictate that this will be the standing message on the front page for a while. It is a busy time of year for me and for most. But, a short report and a heads up is good to set in place for the time being.
The good news for summer this year is that we replaced the air-conditioner, which is now keeping the dojo relatively comfortable. For the hardcore few who sincerely believe that the musubi aspects of working out in whatever conditions prevail “make you stronger if it doesn’t kill you”… sorry. The rest of us can concentrate a little better on our breathing and Tai Sabaki when we can breath and it is possible to move. So as the cool air falls on the new floor, we all thank the Aiki Kami for the fortunes that have brought us to this point.
The summer seminar sessions have begun. We just finished with a busy first half of the year, followed by a marvelous seminar under Dennis Hooker Sensei at the North Florida Aikikai. Over the next couple of months many of our students are preparing for the Summer Camps in Washington and Colorado, and a few of us are looking at Ikeda Sensei’s seminar in LeVigan France in late August. Other events on the calendar are the Rokudan Seminar being held this year (August 21-23), and a seminar with Carl Long Sensei & Dennis Hooker in SC. Those will get most of us to the end of September. Keep an eye on our events calendars for information.
June testing takes place on June 27th at Shindai. Looks like we will be having an all dojo luncheon to go along with it. Let us know if you will attend.
As many of you know, Bob Elder Sensei and his sword group has left Shindai after 15 years. It goes without saying that we wish all of them well. Bob Sensei has established a dojo at the East Coast Martial Arts Supply location, which you have to stop and see. He and his students have done a great job! As part of this change he has invited Shindai to teach Aikido in the new dojo as an extension. So, very soon Aikido classes will start taught by Brian Davis (Tuesday) and Don Williams (Thursday) at 6:30 PM. Plans for Saturday classes are in the works. The dojo will be called The Downtown Orlando Aikikai. Hopefully everyone will stop in and wish them well by taking a few falls on the new floor.
Have a great summer. Train hard. |
| May
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Saotome Seminar
A general report on the weekend Seminar with Saotome Shihan would include many of the observations, declarations and accolades from any time he teaches. Great weekend! Motivational! Encouraging! Frustrating for every serious Aikidoka! Confounding to those who only want to train not learn! You know, stuff like that. But, that would only be for the people who did not attend, although frankly I am not sure some of them who were there got it. At least they were there in the fray.
So what was “it” that Sensei did? “It” was best articulated relative to a high ranking instructor who showed up two days late to join us for the BBQ, when he asked what Sensei had been doing. Being in the middle of the seminar I was at a bit of a loss and had yet to take the time to try and explain to myself. It was kind of like, “how was dinner” when the second course hasn’t been finished yet. All the receptors were still on taking in as much as possible leaving the assessment of scale and volume for later. I think my stumbling response however, was something to the affect that Sensei was working on the connection that proceeded movement and the execution of principle we attempt in Kihon waza, the awareness of and continual association with what we try to explain as Ki, while distilling intent into part of the mutual outcome… or something like that. Of course, after listening to the echo of my own rhetorical response, I said… “well you have to feel it to get some sense of what he is teaching. I am not sure I can fully explain it”. To which Saotome Sensei just smiled and nodded.
What he taught was nothing that can be seen, even though the result may have been a throw or fall. The link to the internal was offered to those with a wider base of experience. Experience was mandated as a necessary ingredient. Even though Sensei indicated that everyone could do it, he had no expectations that the general attendance would get it at that time, and never suggested when. “It” is open to everyone if they choose to pursue it. “It” was offered at a level that challenged the more experienced, with the expectation that they would work on “it” later with their Cohai and students.
If anyone that was there decided that they had done this before and were hoping to do something new and different… well, I guess they didn’t get “it”.
Shindai was graced with a great group of participants made up of old friends and new from around the US and abroad. We would like all of them for coming and making the weekend so successful. The atmosphere was comfortable, but held a serious sense overall. The social periods benefited from the contrast. They were pursued pretty intensely as well. Shindai’s master chefs wheeled out our new dojo smoker and treated us all to a major meat hangover on Sunday. But, what a great party on Saturday!
All in all it was a marvelous weekend.
Our next seminar at Shindai is with Ikeda Shihan in November. Keep in touch. |
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...OTHER
NEWS |
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What has been described as a historically significant event took place on February 19-21, 2010 at Shindai Dojo. The first, of what we hope will be an ongoing chain of East Coast Aikido Bridge seminars, took place at our dojo. The instructors were Clyde Takeguchi (7th Dan), Francis Takahashi (7th Dan), Greg O’Connor Sensei (6th Dan), John Messores (6th Dan), Dennis Hooker (6th Dan), and Todd Jones Sensei (5th Dan). These instructors came together to share a long history in Aikido and Budo without the restrictions implied by style or affiliation. Students of all ranks, dojo cho and instructors from around the country were in attendance to share this momentous weekend. It was a very fulfilling Aiki weekend of waza interaction, new friendships, meaningful conversation, and personal time with this outstanding group of instructors.
Next year’s seminar is in the works. The location and instructors will be announced later this year. This is the future we seek and what will take Aiki forward. |
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Mary Heiny Sensei treated Shindai Dojo to one of the finest seminar experiences we have ever had. What a remarkable human being, and what a remarkable woman. Her excellent teaching was enjoyed by a group that at times swelled to near 80. If you have not had the experience of training under Heiny Sensei’s compassionate and passionate teaching, you owe it to yourself to make the effort. She is insightful, articulate, and engaging in her technique. Her empathetic delivery is personal and nurturing. She is pragmatic, realistic, effective and inspirational. More than one person commented that the interaction had changed them in a profound and permanent way. Watch our events calendar for her return. |
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