There are currently openings for Adult and Children students. Interested candidates are invited to observe a class. The dojo is co-located with the Toledo Zen Center at 6537 Angola Road Holland, OH 43558 jayrinsenweik@gmail.com

Aikido is a non-competitive martial art that can be practiced by almost anyone. Aikido techniques do not rely on physical strength but rather develops relaxed power through the focus of intention and Ki. The result is a creative method of non-destructive conflict resolution.

Aikido is practiced on many levels. The first level is includes the development of stamina, flexibility, and learning how to focus one's intention. The second level is built on the first and stresses self-defense techniques that teach the natural order of movement. In this process the students also become adept at ukemi, the art of rolling, falling and protecting oneself. Aikido provides the opportunity for the development of the entire person. It is a workout of the entire body and mind and results in increased strength, overall physically fitness, flexibility and centeredness.

At the third level students are gradually introduced to the secrets of receiving and harnessing the power of ki, they also develop spatial awareness and learn to judge proper timing and distance. During this training the goal is to establish and maintain an energetic connection to your partner and to lead them off balance. This eliminates the need for more destructive means of resolving situations.

The highest level of aikido is mind over matter. This involves the use of visualization techniques, the power of intention and ki, breath control and meditation. Aikido is truly a spiritual martial art that explores themind - body - spirit connection. This advanced level of training at Shobu Aikido reaches a level not easily found elsewhere. The student learns how to manifest power and effectiveness by the focusing of intention alone. This level depends on and can only be reached through the refinement of technique and the students own deepest feeling. For this reason it alternates between the physical and the spiritual.

In the process of practicing aikido, students inevitably find themselves less stressed and more energetic, better equipped to manage life's many conflicts with calm control. Aikido is great for adults and kids alike because practice encourages respect for self and others, self control, cooperation and responsibility.

Gasshuku or weekend long intensive seminars with William Gleason Sensei are available seasonally.

Children's aikido classes provide a friendly, non-competitive environment for students to become more physically fit, agile, flexible, aware, focused, and relaxed. They learn how to safely fall, roll and perform a variety of self-defense techniques in a supportive, comfortable setting, and parents like Aikido because kids learn how to be powerful without becoming destructive.

Space: the final frontier

Pretty good for a cheesy TV show. But perhaps it should read more like this:

"Space: the only frontier.
These are the voyages of the awakened:
To seek out and explore their own life form, 
To boldly go where they've ever gone before."

Let me explain. Consider matter: all of it, form solids to liquids to gases is simply a bunch of cells bound together by gravity; more dense in the case of lead and less with helium. Since they make up all matter, what then is a cell? Quite simply, a cell has a membrane, a nucleus, and some protons and electrons. But when observed under a microscope these four elements are dwarfed by the space in which they exist. So, if all matter from lead to helium is mostly space, and humans are carbon based life forms, this means that we too are mostly space. Quite interesting when one considers that a human being completely sheds it's cellular structure every seven years much like a snake shedding it's skin every few months. This means that the person you are today is physically one hundred percent different than the one you were seven years ago. 
So what is it that makes you you? The answer is that you are the space within your cells. This is the part that never changes. This is the common thread that connects us to everything else. This is the Holy Spirit: God within you. This is what was and what always will be. This is what can not be destroyed because it was never created. This is you and all. The Buddhists express it thus: "One. Just one. That's it."
This is what one tries to realize through keiko. Uke exhales and becomes empty and concentrates their life-space into a laser-like beam of energy for nage to inhale and merge with and then redirect. So in keiko one is not really working on their own physicality but rather the space within it. The only thing that matters is what matter tries to contain, but can't. This is why Aikido, not Ai-body-do. The way of merging our souls with the Universal spirit. When one sees the truth, that there is space within everything, and that space is all there really is, then things will appear as they really are: infinite.
So in closing, I'd like to end with a quote from another cheesy space show. This one takes place during another keiko a long, long time ago... in a galaxy far, far away...

"Size matters not.
Look at me.
Judge me by my size, do you?
Mmm?
Hmmmph!
...And well you should not, for my ally is the Force...
And a powerful ally it is.
Life creates it...
Makes it grow.
It's energy surrounds us...
Combines us.
Luminous beings are we.
Not this crude matter.
You must feel the Force around you.
Here... between you, me...
The rock, the tree, everywhere.
Yes!
Even between the land and the ship."

- Master Yoda




8 comments:

Bob said...

It should be noted that Taisho has become a regular at the Thursday evening dojo socials. Activation of your inner blogger can happen too!

See you all on the Mat!

-Bob

Muketsu said...

Disclaimer: The comments made by Taisho may not necessarily reflect the views and philosophies of Shobu Aikido of Ohio or its chief instructor, Jay Chikyo Weik Sensei. Nevertheless, we at the Toledo Aikido Community Blog welcome any comments, thoughts or opinions, whether or not they make any sense. Gassho.

Anonymous said...

Well, either the call of the Jedi Master or the Space drew me to your blog tonight, or perhaps, it was my inner Yoda. So often I hear that we as humans are 90% water. This is the first time I heard the analogy to space. It made so much sense to me. Truly beautifully said.

Thank you so much and many blessings.

doug said...

ok science fans, instead of 'cells' i should have said 'atoms.' thanks andre! ;)

Muketsu said...

Taisho, we appreciate your candor and gladly accept your editorial correction. You, sir, are truly indeed an asset to this company. Continue to keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars. Gassho.

Chuck Greer said...

Actually, Taisho, I was kind of thinking you had used 'cell' on purpose...it is a stretch, but just think of the atom with electrons whizzing around ( like the cell wall) and in the middle are protons and neutrons (the nucleus). So even if we are mostly water, as the lady states, there is still a huge amount of 'space' in us, both at the cellular level and especially at the atomic level.

doug said...

exactly chuck! while i was typing the image i had in mind was that of a cell, which implies form surrounding space, but as andre pointed out, it didn't quite make sense. so i thought i'd better change it in order to 'close the gaps' in my theory, so to speak. thanks again to everyone who helped me work out the kinks; much appreciated!

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