Shobu Aikido of Ohio

2010-10-10T13:50:00.002-04:00

2010-10-09T00:57:00.002-04:00

2010-10-07T01:02:00.001-04:00

2010-10-06T01:05:00.002-04:00

2010-10-05T22:39:00.000-04:00

Congratulations Victor on earning your brown belt, well done!

Gleason Sensei in Toledo

2010-10-04T09:47:00.001-04:00

Bill Gleason Sensei will be leading the Thursday 6pm class, Friday from 6-8pm, and Saturday from 10-noon and 3-5pm.

See you on the mat!

Gleason Sensei is Coming to Oberlin

2010-08-26T20:59:00.004-04:00

William Gleason Sensei will be at Oberlin College for a Gasshuku on September 17-19. The classes are 7-9 PM on Friday, 10 AM - 12 PM and 3 - 5 PM on Saturday, and 10 AM - 1 PM on Sunday. Before the seminar he will also conduct a special class at Cleveland Aikikai on Thursday night from 7 to 9 PM. The fee is $100 for the entire seminar, $30 for each class. The Thursday night class is $25. According to Sensei, the dojo will be closed for the weekend so that we can all make the trip to the Gasshuku.

Mega thanks all!

2010-07-21T08:35:00.005-04:00

Hey All,

I just wanted to thank everyone for the training and spirit over these past 6 years together. It has been a wonderful experience and I know that I have certainly grown in many ways as a person which ultimately is the goal of any art be it music, literature, or martial. This has been a discovery of self which is not always easy to come to terms with. A mirror to what one is about. I am not sure what my next chapter for Aikido has for me but it will work out.

I wish peace, love, spirit, and good health to you all.

Bye for now,

Chelsea (Deuce)

Muketsu Invades D.C. (Part 1 of 5)

2010-07-07T21:25:00.010-04:00

It’s been awhile since I’ve done my “Invasion” series (March 2007, December 2007), but I hope this one does not disappoint. This time I went to Washington, D.C. for the 2010 ASU Summer Camp, which was held in the DeFour Athletic Center at The Catholic University of America from July 1 to July 5. For me this trip was 1-2 years in the making because not only was this camp a requirement for nidan according to the ASU, but also I have heard good things from this camp from Danny and Doug’s experience. And I have always wanted to check this camp out and make it out to D.C. to visit my friends who I have not seen in a long time. During my experience, I kept a running journal of what went down during the days’ activities. Because of the length of this essay, this will be presented in five parts.

The theme of this year’s summer camp was “two swords with a focus on the aikido principles that underlie two-sword training.” In preparation for this summer camp, I studied “Two Swords of Aikido,” an instructional video featuring Mitsugi Saotome Shihan of the ASU. Unfortunately, this video is limited in its helpfulness because the majority of the video, and therefore content, consists of footage of a 1988 Two-Sword Seminar at the Chicago Budokan. The footage was shot as a home video where the resolution was grainy, it was difficult to make out the details of the techniques, the techniques were shown from only one angle, and I can barely hear Saotome Sensei. Nevertheless, the video interestingly demonstrated the principle of Kobo Ittai (Offense and Defense as One).

In addition, I read “The Book of Five Rings” by Miyamoto Musashi. Many martial arts enthusiasts have heard of this man. But for those who have not, Musashi was a masterless samurai, independent teacher, and Japanese swordsman famed for being undefeated in duels and for his distinctive style of swordsmanship. “The Book of Five Rings” is a text on military strategy, similar to “The Art of War” by Sun Tzu. There were several quotes that were inspirational and relevant to this summer camp, and some of those quotes will be presented in this article.

What made Musashi’s style unique was his use and mastery of two swords.

“When your life is on the line, you want to make use of all your tools. No warrior should be willing to die with his swords at his side, without having made use of his tools.” – from the “Earth Scroll”

Even though the techniques of Musashi’s school – Niten Ichi-ryu, or “The School of Two Swords” – are not necessarily in the aikido curriculum, the principles do apply to aikido and the two-sword techniques that Saotome Sensei developed. It should be noted that studying two swords is ordinarily reserved for the more experienced student, as the practitioner should already have some level of proficiency with using the single sword. This is how the curriculum of the Hyoho Niten Ichi-ryu is set up.

With that in mind, let’s talk about the camp…

Day 1 – July 1

Morning

So I enter the DeFour Athletic Center, and whom do I see at the registration desk…Amy! It was really cool to see her again. (And by the way, she sends her best to everyone at Shobu Aikido of Ohio!) Saotome Sensei led the first class at 10:00 AM, and we worked with just the bokken. The first lesson was how to wield a sword. According to Sensei, the sword should be pointed to the opponent’s face, the knees should be bent, and the shoulders should be relaxed. The grip should be akin to wringing a mop. At one point Sensei referred the sword as the “killing sword.”

“The long sword should be taken up with the thought that is something for killing opponents. Let there be no change in your grip even when slashing opponents; make your grip such that your hand does not flinch.” – from the “Water Scroll”

Next, we did paired kata with the bokken. Amy and I were partners for the first half of class. There were no mats available yet, so practice felt like kendo training. The movements were similar to Aiki-ken #6-12.

In the kata, Sensei was showing something resembling “sticky blade,” where when uchitachi (in this case, Chuck Weber Sensei), struck Saotome Sensei’s sword, he did not allow his own sword to be deflected but rather received uchitachi’s energy and stuck to his sword.

There is this one slick move where Sensei makes an irimi-tenkan and grabs uke’s sword while at the same time stabbing uke with Sensei’s sword wrapped behind his back.

“The sticky body means getting inside and sticking fast to an opponent. When you get inside the opponent’s defenses, you stick tight your head, body, and legs…Sticking to an opponent means that you stick so close that there is no gap between your bodies.” – from the “Water Scroll”

During the break at the halfway point of the first class, Amy introduced me to the D.C. aikidoka.

The second half of class consisted of more paired kata with bokken. During this time, I paired up with Mark Kaye Sensei, Chief Instructor of the Aikido Wellness Center in Miami, Florida. Very kind gentleman. In one kata, there was some confusion regarding who initiates the first movement: shitachi, uchitachi, or both.

“There are three kinds of preemption. One is when you preempt by attacking an opponent on your own initiative; this is called preemption from a state of suspension. Another is when you preempt an opponent making an attack on you; this is called preemption from a state of waiting. Yet another is when you and an opponent attach each other simultaneously; this is called preemption in the state of mutual confrontation.” –from the “Fire Scroll”

Next, we went over two aikidoka with swords against one aikidoka with sword.

“The way to win a battle according to military science is to know the rhythms of the specific opponents, and use rhythms that your opponents do not expect, producing formless rhythms from rhythms of wisdom.”
-from the “Earth Scroll”

“Even when still, your mind is not still; even when hurried, your mind is not hurried. The mind is not dragged by the body, the body is not dragged by the mind. Pay attention to the mind, not the body. Let there be neither insufficiency nor excess in your mind. Even if superficially weakhearted, be inwardly stronghearted, and do not let others see into your mind.” –from the “Water Scroll”

Finally, Sensei showed us some sword-drawing techniques.

Lunch

During my first three days at D.C., I stayed with a friend from college. For lunch, he suggested Yes! Organic Market, located at the corner of 12th Street NE and Quincy Street NE. It’s about a 3-minute drive from camp and does having a small adjacent parking lot. This place is an organic food grocery store that also sells prepared sandwiches. Everyday, I got lunch from this place and brought it back to the gymnasium. Organic food is the blandest food I ever tasted, but it did the job and got me through the day. At least it wasn’t oily and greasy that would slow me down during keiko. A typical lunch of an organic sandwich, organic potato chips, and bottled organic lemonade cost me less than $10.

Afternoon

The afternoon classes were led by senior ASU instructors, all rokudans. The first class was conducted by Tres Hofmeister Sensei of Boulder Aikikai. At this time there were no mats yet, but he wanted us to take forward and backward rolls on the hardwood floor! The rest of the class was very basic practice with Katate Tori Tenkan Ho and Katate Tori Irimi movement and study of connection with uke pushing off from nage.

Kevin Choate Sensei of Chicago Aikikai taught the next rokudan class. The practice was very sugaso in nature. To be honest, it was very difficult to comprehend what he was saying. In fact, the entire class was confused. I know that he has been training in Systema lately, so perhaps he was conveying the incorporation of Systema principles to his Aikido. I’m not really sure.

Evening

Finally, we have mats! Hiroshi Ikeda Shihan taught the evening class. We worked on paired jo kata, which resembled the movements in Aiki-Jo #4-6. Next we worked on Jo Dori that focused on unbalancing uke who is grabbing the jo. This transitioned to empty-hand practice involving unbalancing uke from katate tori. Ikeda Sensei has always been difficult to figure out, which I will later elaborate in detail. At one time he called me up to be his uke for a demonstration, which is always a thrill. He told me to grab his wrist and fight him as much as possible. So as I was grabbing him, he told that class that he was “not entering” and then “entering.” Neither of those two things he was doing on me felt any different. Then as he was “entering,” he said that he has my balance. Again, I did not feel any different and or unbalanced at all. The next thing I know, I was on my back. How the hell did he do that??? He did not just do that on me!!! All this time, I was summoning the resistance of Danny and the skepticism of Dale (all of you Chikyokan Dojo guys know what I’m talking about) and Ikeda Sensei was still able to break my balance. Anyway, at the end of class, he made his announcement regarding Bu Jin Design. He was selling merchandise during the camp, including new videos. In the meantime, he is talking with a German company, and hopefully Bu Jin will be up and running in a few months for selling hakamas, etc.

After class, I checked out the Toledo Lounge. Mary and Stephanie Abbajay, two sisters from Toledo who worked for the government in D.C, established the Toledo Lounge. After losing their government jobs, they decided to open a bar, which paid tribute to their hometown and the Midwest. It was a very small bar. There were memorabilia from Toledo hanging on the wall, but other than that, it was nothing special. At least I made my pilgrimage to this establishment and got a burger and a Guinness while I was there. Here are some pictures.

That's right - St. Francis, my former high school! Go Knights!

Now on to Day 2…

Muketsu Invades D.C. (Part 2 of 5)

2010-07-07T21:21:00.004-04:00

Day 2 – July 2

Morning

During the 8:30 AM class, the class was broken into four groups. One group worked on Aiki-ken #1-5, another group worked on Aiki-ken #6-12, another group worked on Aiki-jo #1-6, and another group worked on the basics of two-sword technique. I went to the two-sword basics class, taught by Eugene Sensei of the D.C. dojo and George Ledyard Sensei of Aikido Eastside of Bellevue, Washington. First, Eugene Sensei taught us how to wear, draw, and hold the bokken and shoto. Next, we worked on basic kamae followed by an irimi-tenkan exercise with both swords. Lastly, we practiced on basic kata practice involving shomen followed by a side body blow, shomen followed by an upward wrist cut, and shomen followed by tsuki.

“When you attack an opponent, in order to parry the blow of the opponent’s sword, making as if to stab him in the eyes, you dash his sword to your right with your sword, thus parrying it.

“There is also what is called the stabbing parry. Making as if to stab the opponent in the right eye, with the idea of clipping off his neck, you parry the opponent’s striking sword with a stabbing thrust.

“Also, when an opponent strikes and you close in with a shorter sword, without paying so much attention to the parrying sword, you close in as if to hit your opponent in the face with your left hand.

“These are the three parries. Making your left hand into a fist, you should think of it as if you were punching your opponent in the face. This is something that requires through training and practice.” – from the “Water Scroll”

Ikeda Sensei taught the 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM class. First, we worked on the jo, and Sensei showed us the proper way of attacking shomen and yokomen. Yokomen attacks are not like swinging a sword. The body is faced straight ahead, and the angle of the attack comes from body positioning where the leg and the shoulder are forward. Next, we worked on paired jo kata. During this time, I worked with Jim Sorrentino Sensei of Aikido of Northern Virginia. Ikeda Sensei was demonstrating how the jo was used as both offense and defense. Next, we practiced on jo vs. bokken. Some of things to keep in mind during this practice is the maai and the fact that the sword can be used to chop up the jo. After the break, we worked on breaking uke’s balance with katate tori and morote tori. Here, Sensei was showing how he was internally shifting his hara from his front to his back. Huh? And when uke is fighting, Sensei would instruct to move uke’s shoulder first and then uke’s elbow. He also was talking about making movements smaller.

Afternoon

Charlie Page Sensei of Baltimore Aikido taught the first Rokudan 2:30 PM – 5:00 PM class of the day. We worked on techniques including Katate Tori Ikkyo, Ryo Kata Tori Kokyu Nage, and Katate Tori Kaiten Nage. On this last technique that I mentioned, Page Sensei went around as we practiced and corrected me by telling me to enter deeply and leaving NO GAP between uke and me. (Note: It seems that I have been encountering this no-gap concept a lot since I received my aiki name.) At one point, while I was taking ukemi from Page Sensei, my toenail of my left big toe got caught in the crack between the mats causing my toenail to be lifted from its nail bed. This left a large hematoma underneath my toenail. During this keiko, I worked with Eric from Pennsylvania who gave me a hint on doing and effective ikkyo from kata tori. He told me to apply pressure to the elbow joint with the palm of my hand and then rolling the shoulder toward the point of imbalance.

After a brief break, Wendy Whited Sensei of the Inaka Dojo in Beecher, Illinois led the second Rokudan class. We worked on two-person randori with bokken. (Nage is also using a bokken.) I got to give a shout out to Steve Singer of Baltimore Aikido, who was one of my training partners. Cool guy. Sensei used all the women aikidoka as uke for her demonstration. Nothing wrong with that. Fun class.

Evening

For the first half of the 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM class, Saotome Sensei compared wielding a sword with one hand in two-sword technique to horseback riding. In horseback riding, the samurai is limited in certain sword movements because of the horse’s head in front of him. So we worked on paired single-sword exercises with this concept. The second half of class can be described with one word: FUN. We finally worked on two-sword technique consisting of attacks from shomen, yokomen, shomen followed by right yokomen, shomen followed by left yokomen, and shomen followed by tsuki. At the end, he briefly showed how two-sword technique related to empty-hand technique with atemi.

Now on to Day 3…

Muketsu Invades D.C. (Part 3 of 5)

2010-07-07T21:19:00.004-04:00

Day 3 – July 3

Morning

For the 8:30 AM class, I decided to try out the Aiki-ken #6-12 class taught by Robert Sensei of the D.C. dojo because I felt I could use some practice with this set. This time, we worked on Aiki-ken #8-9. To my disappointment, I was confused because the way Sensei showed us how to do these kata is different from what we were taught at our dojo and different from how they are shown in Saotome Sensei’s video and Ledyard Sensei’s video. After class, I went to one of the students who attended the two-sword class asked him to show me some of the techniques that were shown. Luckily, I didn’t miss too much.

Saotome Sensei taught the 10:00 AM class but we did not practice with any weapons, saying “the mind is the weapon.”

“First of all, keep martial arts on your mind, and work diligently in a straightforward manner; then you can win with your hands, and you can also defeat people by seeing with your eyes. Furthermore, when you refine your practice to the point where you attain freedom of the whole body, then you can overcome people by means of your body. And since your mind is trained in this science, you can also overcome people by means of mind. When you reach this point, how could you be defeated by others?” –from the “Earth Scroll”

Later on, Sensei became upset because of the lax attitude and sloppy technique displayed by several aikidoka in class, saying that we did not have the right spirit. After this scolding, it was humorous to listen how many of the aikidoka tried to show Sensei that they indeed had the right spirit in their practice by adding kiai to their technique. C’mon folks, seriously?

After Sensei cooled down, we worked on Atemi Waza and kicking defenses.

When I went to the same organic market during lunch, I noticed that they had organic sweet potato pie! It was very good. OK, moving on…

Afternoon

John Messores Sensei of the Jionjuku Aikido Academy of Warrior Spirit in Largo, Florida taught the first Rokudan class of the day. He discussed about taking the center. When uke attacks, instead of trying to figure out what technique to do, Sensei said that the first priority is controlling the center line. Once that is accomplished, then nage can determine what technique to use depending on how uke’s body is positioned.

Unfortunately, I had to step out of the mat for the majority of the class because I had a clumsy partner who kept stepping on my bad toe, which resulted in re-aggravating the injury. So I had to clean up the blood and re-bandage my toe. In fact, later on I had different partners that stepped on my bad toe. Why always my bad toe? Why can’t they step on my good toe?

Random thought: Is it me or does Messores Sensei bare some resemblance to Anderson Cooper?

George Ledyard Sensei of Aikido Eastside of Bellevue, Washington taught the second Rokudan class. I was looking forward to this class because I have been a fan of his work. His videos on “Entry” and the Aiki-ken #6-12 are very informative. In fact, I purchased his “Principles in Randori” video manual during camp. His style of teaching is that of an undergraduate college professor where he is able to discuss advanced concepts in terms that a beginner can understand. He discusses Aikido in practical and tactical terms. In other words, he discusses Aikido as a martial art.

In his class, Ledyard Sensei followed up on what Messores Sensei talked about in taking the center. Afterwards, Ledyard Sensei discussed about the association of two-sword technique with empty-hand technique. This makes Shomen Uchi Shiho Nage more sense.

Evening

During Ikeda Sensei’s 6:00 PM class, one of the concepts that he showed was moving uke with katate tori. Here, Sensei would establish a line of connection from his center to uke’s shoulder. From there Sensei would move uke’s shoulder. Another concept was transitioning big movement to small movement and movement from outside to inside. This means that as one advances in expertise, the aikidoka would create the same movement from inside one’s body. This leads to a segment I like to call “The Mystery of Ikeda Shihan.”

The Mystery of Ikeda Shihan

During my time in D.C., I have been trying to figure out why Ikeda Sensei is so hard to comprehend. First of all in terms of teaching, Sensei would tell us and show us what he is doing to uke, but he would not show us how exactly he is doing it. Or perhaps it’s not so obvious. Furthermore, he would tell us to go from Point A to Point B but he would not necessarily tell us how to do it. Second of all in terms of watching his performance, his movements are so small it looks like he is not doing anything to unbalance uke. Finally, when I take ukemi from him, all I feel is emptiness. When I take ukemi from Gleason Sensei, at least from the last time he came to our dojo for a Gasshuku, I could feel that he is applying light pressure in throwing me and I could sense that he is controlling the space such that if I move one way, I would end up in a painful joint lock, and if I move another way, I would be vulnerable for an atemi. With Ikeda Sensei however, I could not feel his center, I could not feel his power, and I was not sure if I could feel a connection. But for some reason, he makes an infinitesimally small movement that generates a certain feeling resonating throughout my body that causes me to go wherever Sensei wants me to go. It borders between whether his technique actually works or am I just simply taking ukemi for him.

On to Day 4…

Muketsu Invades D.C. (Part 4 of 5)

2010-07-07T20:38:00.017-04:00

Day 4 – July 4 (Independence Day)

For the first three days of camp, we were blessed with moderate weather. However, on July 4 and 5, temperatures were reaching the high 90’s to 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

Morning

For the 8:30 AM class, I decided to go back to the two-sword class where Ledyard Sensei discussed the application of two-sword technique to empty-hand technique. I was working with Wendy Whited Sensei where the practice turned into a boxing-like sparring gone chaotic.

For the first half of the 10:00 AM class, we went over Tanto Dori with Saotome Sensei. The lesson here is that the focus is not on the knife but on the whole person.

“The eyes are to be focused in such a way as to maximize the range and breadth of vision. Observation and perception are two separate things; the observing eye is stronger, the perceiving eye is weaker. A specialty of martial arts is to see that which is far away closely and to see that which is nearby from a distance.

“In martial arts it is important to be aware of opponents’ swords and yet not look at the opponents’ swords at all. This takes work.

“This matter of focusing the eyes is the same in both small- and large-scale military science.

“It is essential to see to both sides without moving the eyeballs.” –from the “Water Scroll”

The second half of class consisted of Shinai Dori from Shomen, Tsuki, and Yokomen attacks. During this phase of training, Sensei again became upset about students having the wrong spirit. "Shiniai training but no shinai spirit," he said. He stated that shinai training is as close to working with a live blade.

Afternoon

The afternoon class went from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM with Ikeda Sensei. Throughout his class, I worked with Doug Clubine Sensei of St. John’s College Aikido in Annapolis, Maryland. He attended a few of Bill Gleason Sensei’s seminars in the past, and we became pretty good friends during this week. And so we did some deep research together while Ikeda Sensei was teaching. Sensei discussed more about breaking uke’s balance, and as usual the mystery of Ikeda Sensei lives on as he unbalanced four people who were all grabbing and placing weight on his shoulders.

Evening – The Fireworks

I spent two nights at the Holiday Inn Express, which was about a 10-minute drive from camp. Luckily, there was a free shuttle that took us directly from the hotel to Union Station, which was a few blocks from the National Mall. The shuttle ride was about 15 minutes, and so I did not have to worry about figuring out the Metro or any other form of public transportation. I took the 7:30 PM shuttle, and so by the time I arrived there the temperature cooled to about in the 80’s. Here are some pictures.

Remember "A Capitol Fourth," the July 4th concert shown on PBS? This was taken behind the stage. You could hear the music, but it sounded like a marching band rehearsal.

Here are a couple of U.S. Army cannons. At the time, I didn't know what they were used for or when they were going to be fired. They actually fired during the fireworks. When I returned to the hotel and saw the rebroadcast on television, I realized that they were used during the 1812 Overture. (Of course!)

I tried to make my way around to see the concert from the front, but first I had to go through security and metal detectors. On my way toward The Capitol, I could hear Gladys Knight singing "Midnight Train to Georgia" (Whoo whoo!) and "I Heard It Through the Grapevine." There was a lot of people filling the steps of The Capitol to see the concert. Unfortunately, the center section in front of The Capitol steps were closed off by security, so I could not see the stage very well. I did see Jimmy Smits and Darius Rucker on the Jumbotron. I decided to head back down and walk toward The Mall.

There was a lot of activity on The Mall. One was the Hare Krishna Festival with Indian music and dancing. I wanted to continue on walking and get a spot by the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. But I didn't realize how far a walk it was, and I don't think I was halfway near the Washington Monument. Considering that I wanted to go back to the hotel as quickly as possible after the conclusion of the fireworks, I decided to walk back.

The fireworks were awesome! After they were over, I dashed back to Union Station and was able to make the first shuttle back to the hotel. It was around 9:45 PM.

I had a great time. Seeing fireworks on the 4th of July at the nation's capital - It can't get any better than that!

On to Day 5 and the Conclusion...

Muketsu Invades D.C. (Part 5 of 5)

2010-07-07T20:23:00.009-04:00

Day 5 – July 5

The last day was a half-day with the 8:30 AM class followed by a one-hour class with Ikeda Sensei and then a one-hour class with Saotome Sensei, ending at around noon.

For the two-sword 8:30 AM class, we reviewed the various kamae and the irimi-tenkan exercise. Next, Ledyard Sensei showed us more forms involving an Aiki-ken block from a shomen attack. This time, I partnered with Wendy Whited Sensei again. I enjoyed working with her.

“When your opponent and you both strike forth, and your opponent catches your blow, the idea is to close in with your sword glued to the opponent’s sword. Gluing means that the sword is hard to get away from; you should close in without too much force. Sticking to the opponent’s sword as if glued, when you move in close it does not matter how quietly you move in.” –from the “Water Scroll”

Next, we did a free waza-type exercise where we defended from different uke coming from different directions.

Ikeda Sensei

First we worked on bokken practice and showed us to do a yokomen attack, which is similar to a yokomen attack with the jo where the arms do not swing but rather the angle is created with body positioning involving moving the right or left shoulder forward. Next, he talked about dropping his weight in unbalancing uke. He told us to drop the tailbone without using the knees. Rather, the knees are used to stop the descent. He demonstrated this with the bokken where he emphasized putting the weight on the tip of the sword. He then applied this concept to hand-to-hand training. Think of this exercise as riding the Demon Drop in Cedar Point.

Saotome Sensei

Saotome Sensei spent a good 30-40 minutes talking about various topics including using the mind as a weapon and the meaning of Shodan. He then talked about how there is no competition in Aikido. No championship. Previously, he stated that Aikido is about survival training. And today he stated that we are training to be champions of ourselves, of our lives.

“Warriors learn military science accurately and go on to practice the techniques of martial arts diligently. The way that is practiced by warriors is not obscure in the least. Without any confusion in mind, without slacking off at any time, polishing the mind and attention, sharpening the eye that observes the eye that sees, one should know real emptiness as the state where there is no obscurity and the clouds of confusion have cleared away.” –from the “Scroll of Emptiness”

Afterwards

After the conclusion of camp, I made my way down to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, which is about a 5-minute drive from the camp down Michigan Avenue NE, still located in the Catholic University campus. It is a magnificent church of art and architecture. The basilica consists of two churches, one in the lower level and the other in the upper level. It also contains several oratories and chapels, each showing various representations of the Blessed Mother of different cultures and nations, symbolizing the melting pot of America. The mosaics are spectacular; one would not think that this was built in the 20th Century.

Tips for Attending an ASU Summer Camp
1. Keep yourself well hydrated.
2. Bring an extra gi.
3. Bring a combination lock to keep your gear secured in the locker room.
4. Bring band-aids and Neosporin.
5. Bring athletic tape and a pair of scissors.
6. Trim your toenails!
7. Small towels to put inside your gi are useful during keiko.
8. If possible, try to find a nearby Laundromat to dry your gi during lunchtime. (I didn’t need to because I used the air conditioner in my car while I was getting lunch.)
9. Use a GPS system whether you’re using a rental car or your own car.
10. Don’t forget your yudansha passport (if applicable).

Critique of the 2010 ASU Summer Camp

Facility: Excellent
The basketball court provided adequate space. The locker room was adequate with plenty of available lockers, showers, and bathrooms. There were vending machines for snacks and refreshments. There were chairs and couches in the second floor in the lobby for eating lunch, reclining, and napping. Finally, the water from the drinking fountain was very cold!

Registration Process: Excellent
Amy did an awesome job. Registration was located right at the main entrance, and the process was simple. I got a free t-shirt, and I was able to retrieve my signed yudansha passport without any trouble.

Format: Average
Positives:
5 days of training was adequate. I liked how the first day was not a full schedule to allow time for registration. I also appreciated how July 4 was not a full day to allow time for the fireworks and the July 4 festivities. It was also good that the final day was a half-day to allow for travel exiting the city.
Negatives:
1. I felt that the day ending 8:00 PM was unnecessary. Unfortunately, I had a late dinner and I did not have enough time to spend with my friends and go out eating and sightseeing.
2. I also felt that the 8:30 AM weapons class was unnecessary. The Aiki-Ken and Aiki-Jo kata can be taught and reviewed at one’s home dojo. Also, there seems to be different variations and interpretations of these kata from one instructor to another. The only useful class was the two-sword basics class.

In an actual camp – like the ones I attended in grade school, high school, and the Zen Mountain Monastery – the day typically ends at 5:00 PM, dinner is at 6:00 PM, and the evening is reserved for playing, socializing, or meditation. And depending on the camp, I was able to sleep around 10:30 PM after having plenty of social activity and receiving plenty of sleep.

This is how I would have scheduled the camp:
8:00 – 10:00 AM: Rokudan Class
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Saotome Sensei or Ikeda Sensei
12:00 – 2:30 PM: Lunch
2:30 – 4:00 PM: Two-Sword Basics Class
4:00 – 6:00 PM: Saotome Sensei or Ikeda Sensei

Nearby Food/Restaurants: N/A
I didn’t do enough exploring to see what nearby restaurants are available for lunch. There is a 7-11 and a Domino’s Pizza within walking distance. For me, I relied on the organic market, which is a 2-3 minute drive.

Teaching: Excellent
You can’t go wrong with Saotome Sensei and Ikeda Sensei. Furthermore, it was good to have the different rokudans being given an opportunity to teach and for us to receive different perspectives of aikido. Also, the use of the microphone was a plus.

In keeping with the 2-Sword Theme: Below Average
With exception of the basics class at the 8:30 AM class, of all the time spent in the camp, there was only one hour that Saotome Sensei dedicated to actual 2-sword training. I’m sure that 2-sword principles are inherent in Saotome Sensei’s teachings, but they were not explicitly discussed, practiced, and explored. If it were not for George Ledyard Sensei, who was the only one other than Saotome Sensei to talk about the use of two swords, I would have given this a “Poor” rating.

Overall Grade: B
It was the experience that balanced out the negatives that were discussed above. Great training. Great teaching. Great training partners. You rarely get the opportunity to train one-on-one with high-level senseis as training partners. They are very helpful, and they drop a few hints here and there. They also appreciate it if you give very honest and challenging ukemi, and they don’t mind if you are able to land a good atemi. During this experience, I met some very nice people and made some good friends. I want to thank everyone who trained with me, and I want to thank those people for their indulgence and tolerance. I also want to acknowledge the Aikido Shobukan Dojo for a well-organized and well-managed camp. I hope to come again and see and train with all of you in the future.

Gassho.

-Andre ("Muketsu")

Announcement: Monday Classes are Available from 6 to 8 PM.

2010-06-09T23:48:00.001-04:00

Chelsea-san Featured in the Toledo City Paper

2010-06-09T23:36:00.006-04:00

(Taken from the Toledo City Paper. You may click on the title above for the link to the article.)

Toledo says goodbye to the Toledo Symphony Orchestra’s resident conductor, Chelsea Tipton II

It’s all about the music. That’s the mantra Chelsea Tipton II, Resident Conductor for the Toledo Symphony Orchestra, has lived. The son of two music teachers from North Carolina, he was inspired at an early age to expose young people to music. Tipton began conducting while studing clarinet at the Eastman School of Music. He became so enamored with the power of an orchestra that he continued on to earn a Masters of Music in orchestral conducting from Northern Illinois University. After many years of teaching and conducting, Tipton settled into his role with the Toledo Symphony Orchestra, one that he has held for seven seasons.

But the end of the 2009-2010 Season marks a close in this movement of the symphony that is Tipton’s life. Over the last year he has doubled as TSO’s conductor and as Music Director for the Symphony of Southeast Texas in Beaumont. He will make the latter his full-time pursuit next season. “This is a bittersweet moment,” said Tipton. “Toledo is my home.”

“I remember my first concert in the Peristyle [in the Toledo Museum of Art]. It’s my favorite moment. We played Pines of Rome, featuring the Glassmen Drum & Bugle Corps. It had all of this offstage brass surrounding the audience for the crescendo. It was so loud. The audience leapt to their feet. My parents were there. Great, great, great moment.”

“I have grown so much since that concert,” continued Tipton. “One of the blessings of the position is that you are always busy: music, concerts, endless opportunities to hone your skills. I think I’m a better conductor now than when I started, as well as more able to connect with the audience. I feel I owe much of that to the excellent group of musicians in this orchestra.”

Supplementing Tipton’s love for the symphony is a passion for martial arts. “I’ve also grown by studying Aikido, which promotes a philosophy of peace to resolve conflict. This is a life principle I apply to all areas of my life, including conducting,” he said in preparation of his black belt test in early June.

Being the face of TSO for nearly a decade, Tipton has worked diligently to connect the symphony with the community. “Some orchestras, certainly not this one, have an air of distance about them. ‘This music is for special people.’ But I have the philosophy that music is for everyone, and this orchestra does better than almost any at bringing music to the people.”

What will you miss most about Toledo?
The main thing that I will miss is the level of music making we are able to achieve with the TSO. The orchestra plays so well, and it is an absolute job to work with these musicians week to week.

What restaurant do you visit to treat yourself?
My favorite restaurant is Chipotle. I eat there 2-3 times a week. Good clean healthy food.

What has inspired you while living in Toledo?
I love the martial arts scene here in Toledo. That is how I spend a good part of my free time when not with the TSO.

Chelsea will be a guest at WGTE FM Radio (91.3 FM) this Friday, June 11, from 1 to 3 PM. Please tune in!

Yamaguchi Sensei in Action

2010-06-09T23:28:00.002-04:00

Seigo Yamaguchi Shihan, teacher of William Gleason Sensei, is shown in these video clips performing a demonstration at Meiji University.

Gleason Sensei and the New Shodans

2010-05-31T21:54:00.017-04:00

What a great weekend we had with Gleason Sensei! As always I feel like a beginner (as in newbie as opposed to simply having a beginner's mind) whenever he comes to town. Many new concepts, different techniques, and deep philosophies were explored with an amazing Shodan test included as a special treat. Congratulations to our newly minted black belts: Andy, Bob ("Tenchi"), and Chelsea! Here are some photos from the gasshuku including our dinner at Sakura, the local hibachi-style Japanese restaurant in Toledo. (Note: In some of the photos there were several cameras taking pictures simultaneously which explains why everyone in the photos is looking at different directions.)

The Muketsu Brown Belt Lineage. Who will be next to join this exclusive and prestigious club?

Later that evening, Andy honorably restored our dojo's Shodan tradition (please refer to the 12/23/06 posting). Tenchi followed suit the following day as one can see in the later photos. Chelsea apparently has had a head start even before he started Aikido (pun not intended, or was it?) :p

The Two New Shodans:

The Two Senseis:

The Two Docs:

The Two Maestros:

And the Tradition Lives On...

Bravo, Chelsea-san!!!

2010-05-26T22:26:00.009-04:00

This past Sunday, our dojo's very own Chelsea Tipton II, currently 1st Kyu, conducted his final concert as Resident Conductor of the Toledo Symphony. He will be moving on as Music Director of the Symphony of Southeast Texas in Beaumont. A good number of Aikidoka attended his farewell concert to show support as well as enjoying good music. Appropriately entitled "The Stars Align for the Toledo Symphony," the concert included special performances from Doc Severinsen, Mark O'Connor, David Shifrin, the Toledo Youth Orchestra, the Toledo Youth Orchestra Sinfonietta, and the Toledo Symphony School of Music. Congratulations, Chelsea-san, on your extraordinary performance, on your achievements with the Toledo Symphony, and on your contributions to the musical community in this town. And for now, good luck on your upcoming Shodan test!

Here are some photos from the concert:

Chelsea with Doc conducting one of the numbers...

Could switching to Geico really save you 15% or more on car insurance? Does Chelsea play a mean clarinet?

During the intermission...

We were laughing because Sensei was making fun of me for not paying my ASU dues on time.

And now, the finale...

Gassho.

Gasshuku with Gleason Sensei - This Weekend!

2010-05-26T22:19:00.003-04:00

Yes folks, William Gleason Sensei, 6th Dan, is coming to Toledo this weekend, May 28-30. Here is a clip from his DVD, Aikido and Japanese Sword. His latest book, Aikido and Words of Power, is available in bookstores and for online purchasing.

2010-05-01T14:12:00.002-04:00

Falling Down

2010-03-24T21:57:00.003-04:00

Lately, when I've been reflecting about my aikido practice, I've been considering how many times, since I began practicing over 5 years ago, just how many times I've fallen down to the mat. And while I have absolutely no idea what the actual number is, (tens of thousands but I don't think it really matters) I wonder what my life would be like had I not fallen down all those times I estimate I have fallen. I remember early on in my training, the muscles burning in my legs, my stomach, the seeming absurdity of falling down. "Why not just stay here, down?" Of course though, falling implies getting back up. There is no doubt in my mind that the physical effects of picking oneself back up, over and over again, builds an amazing resiliency and strength. Not just physical strength though, a transformational strength if you will, to continue to rise to the challenges life presents with skill and confidence, that I can be there to assist my fellow human beings to rise up when they are down. I know that if I fall down, I get back up. Fall down 7 times, get up 8.

Bujin Closing

2010-03-02T12:24:00.004-05:00

Bujin design is reporting that they will soon close their doors. If you need a new hakama or would like to plan ahead, now is the time. They are selling only their current stock.

Gleason Sensei Seminar at Shobu Aikido of Ohio

2010-02-19T00:49:00.003-05:00

Bill Gleason Sensei will be teaching a seminar here the weekend of May 28-29-30. Please make sure the dates are set aside and plan to join in the practice!

New Introductory Rate for Adult Memberships!

2009-11-23T09:44:00.002-05:00

We are happy to offer a new introductory rate for adult students: Just $55.00 per month for unlimited classes for 3 months! This would make a great holiday gift for anyone!

Gleason Sensei Video

2009-11-13T10:58:00.002-05:00

Some recent footage of my teacher Bill Gleason Sensei.

Managing Change in Aikido

2009-11-09T09:03:00.003-05:00

Here is a great post about the Internal Aiki training we have been working with by George Ledyard Sensei, chief instructor of Aikido Eastside in Bellvue WA.

Coupon

2009-11-06T15:34:00.001-05:00

Please use this link to get a 30% off coupon at the Libbey Glass outlet store. Just go to the site and print it out! Enjoy!

http://toledostore.libbey.com/

Basics Seminar Cancelled

2009-10-30T02:57:00.002-04:00

The Basics seminar that was schedule for this Saturday, October 31st has been cancelled due to influenza. We will, however, hold the regular class this saturday from 10 to 11:15am.

dojo membership

2009-10-29T11:52:00.002-04:00

This next Wed., 11-04, I am hoping to have two, maybe three, prospective dojo members show up for class. If you know of anyone that you can invite, please keep that in mind. Maybe in the last five minutes we could have a total and complete head shaving ceremony for Phil-san, whaddya say?!? LOL

What a weekend...

2009-10-01T03:23:00.002-04:00

Well if you don't know by now, Gleason Sensei, was in town this past weekend. Whenever Sensei makes a trip into town it always seem to leave me, as well as others, incredibly humbled and with a list of a lot of stuff to work on to improve my aikido training. This weekend was no different!!! But this weekend was unlike any other in the fact that I was testing for shodan, and Doug was testing for nidan. As if it wasn't intimidating enough just taking ukemi from Gleason Sensei, I was tasked with testing in front of him. Needless to say I was quite frightened. The test went very well and both Doug and myself passed!!!! I cannot write in words what an honor it is to be the first to test for shodan in front of someone from our direct lineage of aikido instructors.

This accomplishment does not belong to just me though. Our dojo has seen some good times and some bad times... and no matter what we've become a stronger dojo family from them both. This is not a victory for myself alone, but for all of us. I would not have completed the mountainous task laid in front of me on Saturday evening if it were not for all of you giving your blood, sweat, and ki on the mat with me in the months and years leading up to it. Thank you for the honest feedback, the patience, the impromptu morning test reviews, the dedication in this tough time. For that I am truly grateful.

There has been a lot of new ways presented to us at the dojo recently, and testing in front of Gleason Sensei is another one on that list. Despite the nervousness Friday, the absolute fright on Saturday all day, and the relief and soreness on Sunday, we were all still very victorious. Victorious in the sense that we all made one hell of an effort to take up the gauntlet that Gleason Sensei continually laid down for us this weekend. Even Gleason Sensei this was an "advanced seminar." I can promise you that I will continually add depth to my practice and increase my feeling, as long as I continue to have a great uke backing me up and responding honestly. I know all of you will continue to do the same. Thank you all for this, and for the making the dojo what it is.

Philip Behnfeldt

Weekend pictures

2009-09-29T16:50:00.003-04:00

Here are two pictures from the weekend seminar:

Update!!! Congratulations to Doug Krohn for achieving Nidan, and Phil B. for passing his Shodan test...Gambatte kudasai!!

Gasshuku with William Gleason Shihan, Sept. 25-27

2009-09-09T21:09:00.006-04:00

Author of his latest book, Aikido and Words of Power: The Sacred Sounds of Kototama, Bill Gleason Shihan, 6th Dan, is coming back to Toledo. We had an excellent turnout during his last two visits, and Gleason Sensei as always does not disappoint with his wisdom and brilliant demonstrations. Do not miss the opportunity to learn from such a well respected teacher and practitioner. And so please make time in your schedules for what will be a valuable experience.

Gasshuku Schedule:
Friday 6-8 PM
Saturday 10 AM-Noon, 3-5 PM
Sunday 10-1 PM

For those who are interested in seeing and learning more from Gleason Sensei, he will also be at Cleveland Aikikai on Sept. 17th and at Oberlin College on Sept. 18-20.

Hope to see you on Sept. 25-27. We look forward to train with you. Gassho.

Weapons/Basics Seminar Pics

2009-08-30T15:17:00.008-04:00

sensei playing some jazz the night of the testing with his UT jazz faculty colleagues

Victor (3rd Kyu) and Sensei

Shane (5th Kyu) and Sensei

Donovan (6th Kyu) and Sensei

Chuck (1st Kyu) and Sensei

A very good weekend for training in a combination of basics and weapons. Congrats to all who tested and passed. Here are some pictures:

Jay Weik in Boston July 2009

2009-08-23T22:59:00.002-04:00

September Aikido Seminars with Bill Gleason Sensei

2009-08-21T16:34:00.003-04:00

Copied from http://www.aikiweb.com/

Cleveland Aikikai and Oberlin Aikido Club are pleased to announce an upcoming seminar with William Gleason sensei on September 17 through 20, 2009. He has been visiting Oberlin and Cleveland for years and we feel very fortunate that he continues to share his comprehensive knowledge of the art with our community. The seminar keiko schedule is as follows: Cleveland Aikikai dojo at 3965 Mayfield Road, in Cleveland Heights, OH 44121: Thursday, September 17, from 7 to 9 p.m. This special class fee is $25 per student. Due to limited space, please register in advance. Oberlin Aikido Club dojo, Hales Gym, Oberlin College, 180 W Lorain St., Oberlin, OH 44074 Seminar fee $100, or $30 per class. Friday, September 18, evening class at 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday, September 19, morning class at 10 to 12 p.m., and afternoon from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, September 20, morning class at 10 to 1 p.m.

Apparently Bill Sensei is teaching a seminar in CA on 9/10. Aiki Journal doesn't list Oberlin or the Toledo seminar. Shobu of Boston lists only the September Toledo seminar. Confused yet?

I've sent Bill Sensei a email inquiring about the schedule and will update this if I hear back.

Until then does anyone have more info?

-Bob

An Interview with Jay Weik for the Toledo Evolutionary Bodywork Alliance

2009-08-20T21:54:00.000-04:00

This is a new video about both the Aikido dojo and the Zen Center that is from a local group I have helped create called the Toledo Evolutionary Bodywork Alliance. It is made up of a number of resonant folks who have banded together to help increase community awareness of what we do, including yoga, massage, hypnotherapy, energy healing and Nia. I hope you enjoy!

- Jay

Gleason Sensei at the Shobu Gasshuku in Boston Summer 2009

2009-08-06T09:31:00.003-04:00

Find more videos like this on Shobu Aikido of Boston | MA | VT | OH | ME | CA | CT

We shot this after regular class at the recent summer shobu gasshuku in Boston. Folks taking the Ukemi are Robert Liberti, myself and then Gordon Fontaine. Enjoy!

- Jay

New dojo family member

2009-07-29T16:24:00.003-04:00

Greetings to all. I just wanted to let everybody know that we have had our baby!!! On July 27th at 128pm, my wife and I were blessed with a new baby girl! I hope you can tell from the photo who she looks like!!! HAHA!!

I will bring in more photos soon.

Phil

Sound Zen

2009-07-20T08:28:00.006-04:00

It was a wonderful day at the dojo as part of a series workshops being presented centering around different aspects of Zen. This special workshop today was of particular interest to me as music is the way that I make my livelihood. The workshop was led by Jay Sensei and John Kyomon Wieczorek who is a freelance percussionist visiting from New York. He and Jay Sensei have gigged together and have shared Zen retreats together along their path. So much of what I do in music as a conductor is structured and follows a very narrow musical highway. The musicians must play the right notes and rhythms as an example of this. It really got me thinking about what is the “rightness” in music and art.

Labels and judgment are such major factors in music regardless of what genre you listen. For example, “that is out of tune”, “the trumpets are behind” or “man, he is a really good player” having the need to put a label on what was just heard. For me the workshop was a pathway to try to work away from that judgment and the placement of labels on elements of music and in life. When we place a label or a judgment on someone or something we actually limit our ability to see it evolve because we have it “figured out”. So if they change, we don’t always perceive it immediately if ever. I learned early on in my teaching career to be careful about telling young people they aren’t capable of doing something because so often they will prove you wrong. People’s capacity to change, grow, evolve is only limited by their mind. And often the desire to do it “right” is what gets in our way of reaching our full potential. We hold ourselves back for whatever reason.

I find this to be true in Aikido as well. Not to be governed by fear or doing the technic correct. (Although I have found on occasion it is good when falling to land “correctly” otherwise the mat will happily offer a not so gentle correction. LOL) Move in life down a path of mindfulness. Being really present on the mat or the stage or with my parents etc leads to living life truly honestly. To be in the moment and not in fear of messing up, or playing a wrong note leads to real intimacy with whatever you are doing. When there is the space and openness of non judgment it allows people to share and open up with what they are about AND most importantly to share what is inside of them which in turn creates an intimacy circuit of giving and receiving. Both Sensei and John created an open space for all of us express ourselves and dig into what we are about by using the vehicle of sound. Many thanks to John Kyomon Wieczorek for sharing his thoughts and talents with us. There are many other workshops and you should definitely come and check them out. It will be time well spent.

Peace

The Maestro (There I go labeling myself, LOL)

Musical Zen

2009-07-18T23:07:00.004-04:00

Saturday Schedule Changes

2009-07-14T00:13:00.002-04:00

Due to the Zen Arts workshop series, there will be no saturday morning keiko on July 18th, August 1st, August 8th.

Basics Seminar Rescheduled

2009-07-14T00:09:00.002-04:00

The Basics Seminar that was scheduled for July 25th has been combined with the August weapons seminar and rescheduled for the weekend of August 28-29-30. This weekend will provide opportunity for kyu testing for those who are ready, in depth weapons training and a full gasshuku schedule. Friday 6-8pm, Saturday 10-noon and 3-5pm, and Sunday 10-1 pm.

Living Color

2009-07-09T16:40:00.002-04:00

Here is one of only two videos I've ever seen of O Sensei in color. Short but sweet. (check his style out at 38 seconds)

Okugyo Retreat in Canada, August 2010

2009-06-12T10:11:00.001-04:00

Shobu Okugyo Aikido Retreat on Wednesday - Friday August 11 - 14, 2010

Please join Gleason Sensei and Jay Weik Sensei at our Aikido retreat at Dorje Denma Ling is Canada's only Shambhala International residential centre.

For more information on the venue, please visit http://dorjedenmaling.org/".

Event: Shobu Okugyo Aikido Retreat with William Gleason Sensei
Start Time: Wednesday, August 11, 2010 at 11:00am
End Time: Saturday, August 14, 2010 at 3:50pm

Gasshuku with Jay Sensei June 26-28

2009-06-12T00:58:00.003-04:00

Gasshuku time is here again - we will be training with the Aiki principle all weekend - lets dig in!

Friday 6-8pm
Saturday 10-noon and 3-5pm
Sunday 10-1pm

$100/weekend
$50/day

Note: Those students on the inclusive membership will be paying just $55.00 for the entire weekend...

Persian Gulf

2009-05-31T22:56:00.002-04:00

This is a picture Dale-san took from his balcony the other day looking out at the early morning on the Persian Gulf. Thought you would enjoy the serenity of it as much as I did.

The Founder of Aikido

2009-05-30T22:04:00.000-04:00

New Stock of Weapons Available

2009-05-29T21:39:00.004-04:00

A new batch of weapons are available for order. I have bokken, shoto, tanto, jo, and hanbo in top grade, tight grain hickory and bokusen in heavy, beautiful lignum vitae. Bokken available in various styles. Sakura Co. 419.494.8058.

O sensei clips

2009-05-28T00:36:00.001-04:00

The Founder of Aikido.

Kids Summer Aikido Camp with Jay Sensei!

2009-05-26T13:33:00.003-04:00

This summer, we will host our annual kids summer camp at the dojo from Monday through Friday June 22- 26.

There are two program options:

Kids Half Day Program
Ages: 4 - 10
9:00-11:15am
Fee $125.00

Youth Full Day Program
Ages: 11-18
9:00-3:00pm.
Fee: $225

The mornings will begin with meditation and warm ups. We will work with several key aikido techniques and also enjoy some fun games together. The kids participating in the half day program will be picked up at the dojo at 11:15am, and those participating in the full day will eat lunch together while watching a fun movie. After lunch, we will go outside and so some fun 'pool noodle' weapons practice together.

Participation in the week camp earns a bonus stripe for current students, and these programs are also open to kids with no aikido experience. For those staying the full day, bring a lunch! To register or get more details, see Jay Sensei at the dojo or email jay@toledoaikido.com

The Spirit of Memorial Day

2009-05-22T07:48:00.004-04:00

I try to refrain from wishing people "Have a Happy Memorial Day" because it is a time to reflect on those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in war. Memorial Day weekend is more to me than the beginning of summer or barbecues, or sales at JC Penneys. Since I have never been in the military I use it as a time for reflection. I am always grateful to our military for the men and women who have offered their lives to protect our great country. Politics aside, it is a huge sacrifice for families and communities to send their sons, daughters, mothers, fathers, etc. in harms way. O'Sensei created this wonderful MARTIAL art to create peace and harmony in our lives and the world. It is an interesting dichotomy that we learn to fight to create peace. But it is through conflict that we find resolution. I wish all of my Shobu brothers and sisters a "Reflective Memorial Day" weekend. The spirit of Aikido is one of peace and there have been many men and women who have given their lives in a quest for peace. Let us reflect and be grateful and honor those that have sacrificed so much for freedoms that we are blessed with today.

I wish you well on this Memorial Day Weekend.

Peace to you and your family.

Chelsea

The "Ki" to Success

2009-05-20T06:51:00.010-04:00

Greetings everyone. It was a wonderful class tonight at the dojo. Perfect temperature and some good Aikido took place at Shobu. Now that the orchestra season is over I can come to the Tuesday night classes and Sensei examines ki and how it is used in Ai-KI-do.

I must say, if you think that it is hard to articulate Aikido technics in words, this material is next to impossible to write about. The biggest challenge in writing about ki is my lack of knowledge of this aspect of Aikido and the fact that it really is a feeling and how do you express a feeling? It is like trying to explain what Beethoven’s 5^th symphony sounds like to someone who cannot hear sound. So much is lost in translation.

Some elements that I took away from tonight’s class is the importance to connect to uke’s ki meridians and in doing so unbalances uke. This is an element that is extremely useful in performing kokyu nage (breath throws) technics.

To me, ki is not so much about physical applications of Aikido as much as the importance of the mind although mudras (hand positions that shapes the direction of ki) are very important. Sensei talked about how ki is like a beam that is similar to pole of energy that goes through our spine. What came clear to me towards the end of class is the need to extend that ki deep into the ground and far beyond my head at the same time. The ki curves around like a wave coming under and over uke to connect to uke’s ki and then we can unbalance uke.

This aspect is similar to orchestral conducting in the sense that when I am on the podium I am trying to influence not only the people near me in the strings but also the woodwinds and brass who are maybe 20 feet away. So my gestures, body, hands, eyes, and most importantly my mind must connect with them to influence them and assist them to play better.

The technic that we primarily examined to explore ki elements were yokomen uchi (strike to the side of the head) kokyu nage, kata tori (single hand shoulder grab) kokyu nage and finished the class with katate tori (single hand grab) tenkan ho (turning). Ki is an essential element for getting to the root of what Aikido is about. There is the martial component to Aikido that I love to examine but Sensei is trying to get us below the surface, beyond the physicalization (Tipton-ese word) of Aikido. The physical side is easy to see, (nikyo, sankyo, irimi nage, etc) and that is important but what about what we cannot see. We can’t see oxygen but it is very important to us to survive even more important than food and water and yet it is invisible and all around us much like ki. We need to tap into that unlimited source of energy that extends far beyond our physical body. It truly can be the “Ki to our Success” if we can find it and harness it.

It was great fun, explorative, imaginative, frustrating, rewarding all rolled up into one. I always welcome your comments and thoughts. Have a great week AND BOLDLY GO WHERE NO ONE HAS GONE BEFORE (I finally got to see Star Trek movie last weekend. It was soooo good!)

The Maestro

Jo Seminar with Jay Sensei May 30-31!

2009-05-18T01:14:00.003-04:00

Don't miss the Jo Seminar with Jay Sensei May 30-31! Class Saturday will be from 10-noon and 3-5pm, Sunday class will be from 10-noon. If you are not on the inclusive membership, the fees for the weekend are $75 or $50 for saturday, $35 for Sunday. These are the video highlights from last years Jo Seminar:

Living the Bodhisattva Life: Transforming Anger, Awakening Patience.

2009-05-14T13:30:00.001-04:00

The Toledo Zen Center presents an afternoon workshop with Jay Sensei Sunday May 24th from 1:30-4:30pm. This is the second in a series of workshops in which we will work with the seemingly paradoxical way a Boshisattva lives in the world. This event is open to the public, no registration is required. The suggested free will donation is $25.

"With the thorn of anger still lodged in the heart, there can be neither peace, nor joy, nor true action."
-Jay Rinsen

Space......The Final Frontier

2009-05-14T07:51:00.005-04:00

It was a nice to be on the mat moving after hanging in the extreme humidity of Texas for a spell. I always feel that the dojo centers me when life starts going in numerous directions.

Speaking of numerous directions, Sensei began the class with a series of exercises with the staff jo. It examined how to remain centered in the midst of chaos moving around us. We were “twirling” the jo like a baton but our hand ideally would always remain in the contact with the jo as it turns. So we were never throwing the jo in the air like a baton there was always a connection to the weapon with the hand.

The title of today’s post is “Space …. The Final Frontier”(and the new Star Trek Film opened last weekend, YEAH) because while were doing this and everyone’s jo is spinning, we had to move and walk. Oh yeah, and not hit each other and drop the jo while doing all of this. It was important that we remain centered in our own space otherwise we might whack ourselves or one of our friends on the mat. We had to maintain and take care of our own space. The other element that I noticed in doing this was that this movement needed to germinate from the hara. When this happened it would seem as the though the jo would have an engine and generate its movement on its own. Sensei said that we mustn’t try to “make” the jo move but allow the movement to come from our center and waist. When this was done properly, it would appear that there was very little movement being made on the outside of our bodies but it would create a dynamic movement from the jo. It is kind of like driving a car at 60 miles per hour, the slightest movement from the steering wheel can have a DRAMATIC influence on the car.

Much of Aikido is about managing space in a relaxed fashion and when my “Wow, I haven’t dropped my jo” mind entered the picture I would immediately um, well, let me see, drop my jo. With this jo exercise, it is imperative that one stays as relaxed as possible even though there are so many things happening around you. In the craziness of Randori (tori is attacked by multiple ukes) with all of the energy and attacks coming tori must remain centered, calm, and in control of their breathing. The other issue is to create constant movement with the jo similar to cursive writing, a constant flow. No corners or edges to the movement of the jo. This principle is found in the empty hand technic in Aikido. We then put the jo away and examined how this principle is expressed in Ikkyo (first technic). It is funny that sometimes we begin the class and I just don’t “get it” but like any martial art, if you stay present in the class and the long arc of martial training AND have a good teacher then the understanding of what and why we do certain things in class will eventually arrive.

Well, that is all for now. Have a great rest of the week. I will bid you goodbye in the words of the great philosopher Dr. Spock, Live Long and Prosper!

The Maestro

Michigan Aikido

2009-05-13T23:57:00.003-04:00

The Michigan Aikido Club has found a great new training space and will resume regular keiko every Wednesday 5-7pm. Look us up if you're up north! More info at www.annarboraikido.com.

Yudansha (and 1st kyu) seminar with Gleason Sensei

2009-05-08T10:20:00.000-04:00

Yudansha (and 1st kyu!) Seminar - Shobu Aikido of the Berkshires - William Gleason Sensei' on Shobu Aikido of Boston | MA | VT | OH | ME | CA | CT!

Time: May 16, 2009 at 10am to May 17, 2009 at 5pm
Location: Shobu Aikido of the Berkshires
Organized By: Sato Sensei

Event Description:
Hi my Aikido friends.

We are going to have a Yudansha Seminar on May 16-17th at Shobu Aikido of the Berkshires with Bill Gleason Sensei.

16th: Saturday
10-12 noon, 3-5pm

17th: Sunday
10-1pm

$70 for two days, $40 for one day only

This seminar for 1st kyu and above. We have limited space, so please pre-register via e-mail to ShobuAikido@msn.com or call Sato 413-528-1044

Accommodations are available at the dojo. Please bring a sleeping bag.

We are looking foward to seeing you.

Sato

See more details and RSVP on Shobu Aikido of Boston | MA | VT | OH | ME | CA | CT:
http://shobuaikido.ning.com/events/event/show?id=2378805%3AEvent%3A5582&xgi=dJzV8HZ

A Beginner's Mind

2009-05-02T15:49:00.009-04:00

A Beginner’s mind is something that we should all strive to maintain in our lives. That does not mean that we come to class and forget everything we have learned in the past but rather to be in a state of openness to learn and grow. At keiko practice this Saturday morning we had three students just beginning their way with our Aikido school. Christian, Donovan and Heather did a wonderful job working to understand Aikido at the start of their journey. When I look at them make their way down the path it reminds me of when I began 5 years ago and that we should all strive to approach our time on the mat with the mind of a beginner. Open and without ego to absorb new concepts, ways of thinking, people, and movements.

We are currently in a cycle of testing preparation for the dojo. It is a wonderful time when we especially work to help each other grow in a more concentrated effort. The newer folks learn from the upper ranks and as an upper rank, I ALWAYS realize how difficult it is to verbalize and to help someone learn a particular technic. But we make our way and I ALWAYS come away from sharing, with a better understanding of what we were working on. The learning definitely goes both ways!

In music we say if you really want to learn to conduct try teaching someone to conduct. That is when you really realize you don’t know what you are doing! The gift in teaching is similar to meditation to me in the sense teaching really acts as a mirror to what you know (or think you know). It is like the beginner’s mind all over again.

In class this morning we focused on making a connection with uke (one who receives the technic) through katate tori (single hand grab) and morote tori (two hand grab to tori’s one arm). Once that connection is made then tori (the one executing the technic) can shape the direction on how things can go. So much of Aikido is about relaxation and being able to sense uke’s intention. It was great to see our new friends connect, relax, sweat, and smile through the course of the morning. The mat is a great learning space for us to learn about ourselves as well as others. The relationship between uke and tori is one that allows growth for both as long both are present and mindful in the moment. But first we must bring the “Beginner’s Mind” and to have our hearts open to receive the gifts offered.

Peace,

The Maestro

Shobu Gasshuku in Boston July 10-12

2009-04-10T13:18:00.002-04:00

The annual Shobu Gasshuku in Boston will be held July 10-12 this year. I hope that as many of our students as possible will attend. Perhaps we could rent a van like we did a few years back and road trip together? All the students of Bill Gleason Shihan who have gone on to start dojo will be there teaching a class, and it is a great opportunity to meet and train with more of our shobu family.

Feelings, nothing more than feelings!

2009-04-09T08:21:00.002-04:00

Yes, that is me with Tiger Woods! Ok, it is only wax but close enough!!

It was a nice evening at the dojo with Keiko and then followed by meditation at the Toledo Zen Center in the zendo. The evening started with physicalizing (not sure that is a word) the art followed with introspection in the zendo at the Zen Center. I find it interesting that between the Zen Center and the Aikido classes it is a completely different community of people. I love floating between both groups and experiencing the energies that both groups bring to my life. Anywho, at Keiko practice Wednesday night we had an interesting exploration of ki extension and how it works inside Aikido techniques. Sensei talked about the need to balance one’s ki feeling with technique. We learn a variety techniques in Aikido which is an important aspect to our training however that needs to be tempered with the feeling of extending one’s ki and intension out to the universe.

The image that Sensei was trying to get us to focus on was to have a pole coming from our back. The result of this image is that it causes one to move from the waist. This is a new approach for many of us to move from the waist and not to focus on the hips. The pole image allows us to focus on extending one’s ki beyond our physical bodies. The way that I look at it is that my arm is maybe 2 feet long so when I punch there is a very finite distance that I can extend my arm. And if uke is just one inch beyond my reach then I cannot influence uke from a physical perspective. However if (and that is a big if) I can extend my ki, feeling, intension through my arm then I can have influence far beyond my physical arm and body. Another example is when I drive my car I am not focused on the road five feet in front of the car but I look far out into the horizon so I can be aware of what is coming. This to me is another form of extending my ki.

This is a very interesting especially in sensing when one may be attacked so that tori (person receiving the attack) can receive the attack in a relaxed fluid harmonized way. So extending your feeling or ki, to the front, back, sides, and even above you is the ultimate objective. It is said that it was impossible to sneak up on O’Sensei because he was always aware of his surroundings and stayed in a sense of Zanshin (staying attentive). The technique that we used for this was a variation of irimi nage (entering throw) and katate tori kokyu nage (one hand breath throw). It was a fun class but you really had to be there! My words don’t do it justice but the journey continues! Peace all. The Maestro

Spring Time Renewal

2009-04-05T20:34:00.003-04:00

It was a beautiful morning at the dojo Saturday. It was blue skies and we had the garage door open to get some fresh air and fresh ki circulating throughout the dojo. With spring comes renewal. We had Gleason Sensei to lead the last Gashuku here several weeks ago. Gleason Sensei is someone who is constantly examining and deconstructing the art of Aikido to find new perspectives. Finding the real Aiki is very difficult in Aiki-do. We often focus on the “do” part of Aikido. The “do” part referring to the physical side of the art which is very important as this is a martial art. But discovering the Aiki is very elusive. For me there are several aspects that are important in Aikido:

Kokyu, breathing
Ma-ai or distance between uke and tori
Kuzushi, unbalancing uke
Zanshin, staying attentive until the end of the technic
Aiki, which seems to be a unification of energy

These five elements must work in harmony to have an understanding of the martial side of Aikido. I am sure there are more elements but these are the five that I keep coming back to in my training. There is also the spiritual, Zen aspects of the art that remain elusive to me and the use of ki energy. At Shobu, since Gleason Sensei’s visit we have been looking at a different approach to hara, stances, hips, and waist movement. It is both fascinating and challenging. It is nice to take a fresh look at the old as it becomes new again. Much like the renewal that comes with Spring. More ramblings from the Maestro and ALWAYS open for discussion. Have a great week all.

Experts Say Nation Could Use A Stimulus of Happiness

2009-04-04T00:38:00.001-04:00

The Toledo Blade columnist Roberta de Boer did an interview with me for this article in todays paper. The full article is here. Below is an excerpt.

"After years on the fringe, the practice of meditation is now a mainstream and frequently recommended approach to recalibrating racing minds.

"Toledo native Jay Rinsen Weik returned here from Boston in 2001 and founded the Toledo Zen Center.

"One of the main [Buddhist] practices is generosity, because that strikes right at the heart of this cocoon we wind around ourselves, this 'I have to protect me.' That feeling [nationally] is like a thick fog right now: 'We're going down the tubes, baby, and I'm hunkering in.'•"

In fact, Mr. Weik argued, the economic downturn offers an upside.

"We have a great opportunity, actually. When these material things are taken away, what are you going to do? On the other side of it, it's a way of seeing, 'You know what? That wasn't who I was anyway.' I mean, I'd rather have a full retirement account, but there's much more to me than that."

Mr. Weik describes with a Buddhist mindset the weekly meditation practice and periodic gratitude workshops he leads, but he echoes findings in positive psychology..."

"Jay Rinsen Weik, founder of the Toledo Zen Center, finds a silver lining in the economic downturn."
( THE BLADE/LORI KING )

Toledo Zen Center Weekend Intensive Retreat

2009-04-04T00:22:00.003-04:00

The Toledo Zen Center will hold a weekend intensive retreat April 17-19. Details are posted HERE. Join Jay Sensei for this important opportunity for deepening your zen meditation practice, all Aikidoka are welcome to join.

"If you have not
Linked yourself
To true emptiness,
You will never understand
Aikido."

- O'Sensei

Ask Jay Sensei "What is the dojo culture like? Is it competitive? What do you like about it?"

2009-03-30T09:53:00.001-04:00

Ask Jay Sensei "How often do I need to come to class, and what are the seminars about?"

2009-03-24T02:13:00.002-04:00

My Martial Journey

2009-03-22T14:51:00.003-04:00

It was good to be on the mat Saturday after a bit of a hiatus. Spring is finally here and sprung. I like the transition from winter which feels so inward to the renewal of life that spring offers. And the training takes on a different shape during this transition as well.

The keiko practice offered many gifts today. Following our warm up we proceeded into examine kokyu (breath) throws. There is a Japanese method of teaching string instruments to really young kids like age 4 and 5 year olds that is quite popular in the United States called the Suzuki method. And the principle behind this method is that the student is taught how to play the instrument first and then the learning to read music comes down the line. The children learn by imitating the teacher. I have Suzuki experiences in Aikido keiko practice all the time where I am trying to learn the movement but the understanding of what I am doing just about always comes at a later time.

We were practicing a particular throw from katate tori (single hand grab). The spiraled aspect of the shape of the hand as the hand pivots around the thumb or the pinky was such an Oprah “A Ha” moment for me. And how it works with the center was very revealing. These mudras (hand shapes that control the flow of ki) have a very specific movement which in turns affects the ki and hara (source of ki) of uke.

We then applied these mudras to Tenchi Nage (Heaven and Earth Throw) to see how it manifests from a two handed grab. For me the hands help to draw uke into the open space when connected to the center and the movement is generated from the center. Recently a friend mentioned how working with really good ukemi is like you are moving through water. Water offering no resistance and yet there is definitely a connection being made and just the right amount of connection for the moment. The mudras help to create that connection which in turn allows tori to shape the connection.

I always find “writing” about Aikido somewhat frustrating because it really is such an experiential art. One needs to get on the mat and feel it to really begin to understand it. And this goes back to the Suzuki String teaching method that there needs to be a level of faith required of the practitioner. We are guided by Sensei and Sempai that if we keep moving down the correct path in our lives whether it is Aikido, or buying a house or starting a relationship etc eventually an understanding of what we are doing will reveal itself to us in time. But it is up to us to continue to cultivate and work on staying on the “right” path.

Regards sent from Amy and Josh Brown. We had some brunch while I was in Baltimore and they attended my concert afterwards. They miss Shobu (especially the mat space) and wish everyone well.

This is my story and I’m sticking to it.

Peace all,

The Maestro

Ann Arbor Martial Journey

2009-03-09T08:38:00.006-04:00

A group of us traveled up north to Ann Arbor Michigan to support our brother in Shobu, Danny Kline’s opening of the Ann Arbor Aikido dojo and to participate in a seminar led by Dan Messisco Sensei (6th Dan). It was a very interesting approach to Aikido. Messisco Sensei has been studying and practicing Aikido for 45 years. The concept of “Aikido techniques” certainly changes into something deeper and more spontaneous after so many years of study. I personally like the idea of "Aikido techniques" but it is great to explore outside of the box which is what we did.

I tried to understand his approach as best I could during our brief encounter. It seemed to center for me around owning one's space, remaining centered and the power that we have when we are grounded in our own center and hara (source of ki). Moving naturally and relaxed in the same way that we do when we make common gestures and expressions with our bodies such as bending down and tying our shoe or rubbing our head. Uke would apply katate tori (wrist grab) and we would do these very spontaneous movements. The object of the expression was for tori (person receiving the attack) to find movement in a centered fashion. It was important for tori not to “stick” their hand out to be grabbed because that creates a sense of attachment. Rather simply present the wrist in a very natural balanced way. Another way of looking at it is that if you have your hand outstretched against a wall and your weight is against the wall and the wall is removed then you will fall. If you outstretch your hand in a balanced way AND you happen to be touching a wall, then it does not matter if the wall is there and you will remain balanced.

For me, Messisco Sensei caused me to think about what I am attached to in my own life. I know sometimes when we practice with the bokken (wooden sword) and I get so fixated on making contact with my partners bokken and we miss I actually lose my balance. The same can certainly be said for matters that we go through in life. We need to have a healthy balanced sense of what is necessary in our lives and to remain grounded in what is important. I love experiencing something and leaving with plenty of questions to marinate on. I’m still workin’ it out! Thanks Danny for sharing Messisco Sensei with the Shobu community and good luck in Ann Arbor. I’ll be on the road for some concerts for a spell but I will be back on the mats in a couple of weeks. See you when I get back.

Peace to you,

The Maestro

Kids Aikido Summer Camp: June 22- 26

2009-03-06T22:46:00.003-05:00

This summer, we will host our first annual kids summer camp at the dojo from Monday through Friday June 22- 26.

There are two program options:

Kids Half Day Program
Ages: 4 - 10
9:00-11:15am
Fee $125.00

Youth Full Day Program
Ages: 11-18
9:00-3:00pm.
Fee: $225

Participation in the week camp earns a bonus stripe for current students, and these programs are also open to kids with no experience. For those staying the full day, bring a lunch! Registration Required. There will also be Aikido Camp options this summer at Maumee Valley Country Day School, dates are not set yet.

Friday Classes Canceled.

2009-03-06T21:36:00.004-05:00

Due to demands on Dokei's schedule, the Friday night ne-waza classes need to be cancelled for awhile. I got the chance to talk with him today, and we are both optimistic that his work schedule will shift as the spring unfolds, and we will be able to start these classes up again.

- Jay

Taking Center Stage Part Two

2009-03-03T08:11:00.006-05:00

Shobu Aikido had a wonderful weapons seminar this past weekend at the dojo. The first class was free that was open to the public to come and check out the digs, move around on the mat and get a taste of what we examine in the school. There were probably 15 or so new people on the mat with us and they brought a good fresh energy and were very open the experience that Sensei shared. For the members of the school on the on the mat, it was an excellent review of the basics with the sword. After practicing for so many years it is nice to revisit where you start to get back to neutral.

Then the rest of the classes focused on taking center from various attacks. Shomen uchi (top of the head), yokomen uchi (side of the head), and mune tsuki (chest strike) were the primary attacks from uke. It always amazes me how the sword or in our case the use of the bokken, relates to the empty hand technics of Aikido. In some of my earlier posts I have discussed taking the center and unbalancing uke and this is what we explored with the bokken. Breath, timing, foot work, hara, ki, correct posture, AND spiraling must all work in concert in order for this to happen. One of the analogies that Sensei used was a screw driver screwing in a nail. There is the force from the arm pushing forward (irimi) and the spiraling action from the hand (tenkan) that must work together against the screw in order for the screw penetrate the wood. This same analogy is used in working with the bokken in taking the center. There needs to be a turning spiraling motion from the bokken as you move toward uke. The lesson that I gathered is not to get fixated on the weapon itself but the person holding the weapon is what we need to deal with.

Then in Monday nights class Taisho reviewed the weapons aspect of taking center and then examined how that aspect relates to the empty hand applications of the Aikido. After trying to take center with using the weapons it was much easier to understand the principles when I tried to apply this concept without the weapon. Weapons and the empty hand applications really do work hand in hand (a dash of pun intended!). It has been a great couple of days of Aikido. Have a great week and see ya next time on the mat as the journey continues!

Peace,

The Maestro

2009-03-02T16:05:00.005-05:00

Training will begin for Ann Arbor Aikido with a seminar with special guest instructor Dan Messisco Sensei (6th Dan). This is a one day seminar on Saturday, March 7 from 10:30-noon and 2:30-4pm. Cost $50. Please join us for this special occasion celebrating our new club and Dan Sensei's recent promotion!
More info at www.annarboraikido.com

Regular classes will follow every Saturday from 10:30-noon. Fee $10/class.

You can find a collection of video clips of Dan Sensei at http://www.youtube.com/user/dendando.

Nia Events at the Dojo

2009-03-02T14:56:00.003-05:00

Everyone is invited to a Nia Party at the Dojo. Bring your spouse and your children. This is going to be FUN! Let's Dance! March 15 from 4:00 to 6:00.

The Crystal Bowl Moving Meditation will be the next weekend following the Ancestors Retreat at the Zen Center. March 22 from 5:00-6:00.

Nia Intensive May 1-7 with Winalee Zeeb.

Basics Seminar Date Change

2009-02-27T13:01:00.002-05:00

Just a quick heads up that the Basics Seminar that was scheduled for April 25th has been moved to May 9th, the dates listed below and to the left are all correct and current.

- Jay

Trusting What Can't Be Taken

2009-02-21T19:36:00.001-05:00

Jay Rinsen Weik gives a talk and leads discussion at the Toledo Zen Center on July 16, 2008.

"Mostly, our mind remains fixed in what's called a dualistic state...which means being trapped, unawaredly in a way of perceiving the universe such that everything is shattered, separate and distinct... In the practice of Zen, there is uncovered another way of perceiving, a way that's not bound by the traps of this and that, or the distinctions of high and low... You have to be willing to drop your images of what God is to be able to really see God's face. As long as you have an image in your mind, your mental construction of what you think that's supposed to be, there's a block. There's a stage at which having an image can be a useful thing. There's a stage at which it becomes a problem and needs to be transcended."

This Drinking Gourd Podcast is available via iTunes or at www.thedrinkinggourd.org For more information about the Toledo Zen Center, please visit toledozen.org. The Toledo Zen Center is a member of the Hermitage Heart Sangha, online at hermitageheart.org.

2009-02-19T10:57:00.001-05:00

Taking Center Stage

2009-02-19T08:51:00.004-05:00

It was nice to be on the mat last night as I always look forward to keiko practice on Wednesdays because it is the middle of the week and about that time I need a little boost to propel me to the weekend. (Red Bull just doesn’t do it for me! LOL) Last night we focused on yokomen uchi (strike to the side of the head) shiho nage (four direction throw) and really pulled it apart. And really examined the inner mechanics of the technic. I heard Sensei refer to these mechanics as internal gears at one time. I thought that was a nice description as things are happening to uke but you can’t always see them from the outside.

As we were practicing last night I remembered an old jiu jutsu adage that states “position before submission”. Meaning before you can use a submission or finishing technic (armbar, triangle choke, etc) you must be in the correct position. The same is true with shiho nage from the stand point of taking uke’s center. Before shiho nage can effectively be completed you must first take uke’s center thus unbalancing them. This unbalancing is one of the internal gear aspects that is hard to see from the outside however it can definitely be felt when applied properly. It is also hard to achieve especially if you are working with a larger stronger partner. But once uke has been unbalanced it is next to impossible for them to resist. Chocolate cake unbalances me and unfortunately fills my center but I digress! LOL What I find most challenging about Aikido is that all of these functions must work simultaneously. Proper foot placement, connecting with uke, breath, timing, and correct hand mudra (hand shapes to direct the flow of ki) must all work as an orchestra for the technic to be effective. What we examined last night was the importance of taking uke’s center to allow us the opportunity to execute the technic.

Looking forward to reading “Aikido and Words of Power” by Gleason Sensei. Got mine ordered last week and it should be here any day. That is all for now. Always open for comments or discussion as I am just trying to make way down the Budo path. Peace Y’all!

The Maestro

Friday Schedule Change

2009-02-16T13:07:00.003-05:00

Friday class times have changed:

Friday 6-7pm Ne-Waza (Ground Techniques) with Dokei Sempai

See you on the mat!

Free Japanese Swordsmanship Class for Beginners!

2009-02-01T19:03:00.004-05:00

This free two hour class on traditional Japanese Swordsmanship will be held Saturday morning from 10 am to noon Sat February 28, 2009 at Shobu Aikido of Ohio with Jay Weik Sensei. Beginners are welcome to join in, no prior experience is necessary.

For current dojo members and Aikidoka visiting from other dojo, the seminar will continue Saturday from 3-5pm and Sunday from 10-noon.

Please spread the word and invite friends that you think may enjoy the practice!

Morihei Ueshiba And Aikido

2009-02-01T15:16:00.002-05:00

A nice video presentation of O'Sensei, founder of Aikido:

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Weekday Morning Classes Cancelled.

2009-02-01T10:28:00.002-05:00

Due to lack of attendance, the morning classes have been cancelled. This is the usual winter cycle for the morning classes, an perhaps in the spring we can resume them again if there is sufficient interest.

Bill Sensei's New Book Available Now!

2009-02-01T10:14:00.004-05:00

Sensei's new book is now available and can be ordered directly from our online link with Amazon. Place your order via the Amazon widget posted at the bottom of this page today! Ordering this way will help benefit the dojo.

Get together after the Basic Seminar

2009-01-30T13:58:00.002-05:00

If anyone is interested in sharing a drink and some food please let me know. A number of people have shown interest in getting together for a Saturday evening Dojo Social after this weekends seminar.

If you plan on attending please leave a comment.

Thanks,

Bob

The Dance of the Gods

2009-01-29T21:36:00.002-05:00

Thanks to James Ford Sensei for sharing this...

- Jay

Boston Spring Gasshuku w/Messisco Sensei

2009-01-27T12:12:00.003-05:00

Is anyone interested in attending/roadtripping to Boston? If so leave a comment and perhaps we can set something up.

Shobu of Boston - Spring Gasshuku with Dan Messisco I'm assuming Gleason Shihan will also be teaching.

Thanks,

Bob

Why Aikido teaches us to get out of the way!

2009-01-25T00:35:00.002-05:00

Action Figure punches remix from Alex C on Vimeo.

Equanimity

2009-01-21T01:22:00.000-05:00

Jay Rinsen Chikyo Weik gives a talk and leads discussion at the Toledo Zen Center on June 11, 2008.

"Develop meditation that is like the earth, for when you develop meditation that is like the earth, agreeable and disagreeable contexts will not invade your mind and remain. Just as people throw clean things and dirty things, excrement, urine, spittle, pus and blood on the earth, and the earth is not horrified, humiliated or disgusted because of that." --Buddha

Listen via iTunes Drinking Gourd Podcast, or HERE.

Test Prep Class Video

2009-01-19T23:27:00.002-05:00

I thought it would be nice to post this for those who may not have seen it as yet. It explains the test prep class format we use for some of the training in the month prior to our Basics seminars. It is at the Basics seminars that kyu testing happens.

- Jay

"The Spiritual Journey"

2009-01-17T19:00:00.000-05:00

A Drinking Gourd Podcast talk and discussion at the Toledo Zen Center with Jay Sensei on May 28, 2008.

"Long seeking it through others, I was far from reaching it.
Now I go by myself and I meet it everywhere.
I now am not it, and just now, it is nothing but myself.
Understanding this way, I can be as I am."
-Master Dong-Shan

aikido

2009-01-14T06:25:00.001-05:00

roy k

Dojo Party!

2009-01-08T19:35:00.001-05:00

We will hold a dojo open house pot luck new years (and my 40th birthday) party at our home January 18th from 3-9pm. All are welcome!

Basics Seminar January 31st

2009-01-08T19:11:00.002-05:00

This month our attention turns to the kyu testing process. The Basics Seminar with Jay Sensei wil be held Saturday January 31st from 9-noon and 3-5pm.

The Shapes of Aikido

2009-01-08T08:25:00.004-05:00

Happy New Year everyone! I hope that you had a glorious holiday and fellowship with family and friends. I had my first keiko with Sensei last night at the dojo and it was great to be on the mat with him and work off some of the holiday “cheer” that I tend to gain over the break. The shapes of Aikido refers to class last night. Sensei was talking about the shapes of receiving uke. Circle, triangle and square was an interesting way to examine our movements. My understanding (and trust me, my understanding is always open to discussion) the triangle represents moving off the line of attack. As uke moves to attack, nage will move off to the side and enter. If you look at the shape of a triangle it does just that with the point and the sides flare out to redirect the energy from uke.

The circle represent harmony. Harmony is certainly at the core of Aikido philosophy. This deals more with the blending of ukes attack. The use of wavelike movements allows us to blend with ukes energy. It is a continuation of the shape that the triangle created for us. Last but not least is the square. As a musician I see the square as a cadence point in a musical composition. We are not at the end of the piece of music but there is a resolution of some sort where the music relaxes. Sensei mentioned this to the class last night. When we get to the square stage in the technic it is important for us not to disengage completely. Continue one’s awareness, uke may have a friend who wants to get involved, uke may want to continue the composition, maintain my distance (mai) to uke to remain safe, and so on. Keep your awareness attached as things may not resolve the way that we expect. So the square is the pin or the throw, which hopefully leads to a peaceful resolution with our partner. Sensei had us to use a kokyu throw to examine these Aikido shapes. Definitely food for thought in our examination of Aikido.

It was great to see everyone last night. My phrase that I would like to share with everyone for the new year is “2009 is our time to SHINE”! Let us all work to make Shobu Aikido and ourselves the best we can be this year. I look forward to our journey together this year.

Peace,

The Maestro

samurai archery

2009-01-04T13:45:00.000-05:00

Check this out!!

2009 Seminar and Weekly Training Schedule

2008-12-28T11:38:00.000-05:00

Here are the seminar dates for 2009, Please note that we are fortunate to host Bill Gleason Sensei twice this year:

Jan 31 Basics
Feb 28-Mar 1 Weapons
Mar 27-29 Gasshuku (Gleason Sensei)
Apr 25 Basics
May 30-31 Weapons
Jun 26-28 Gasshuku
Jul 25 Basics
Aug 29-30 Weapons
Sep 25-27 Gasshuku (Gleason Sensei)
Oct 31 Basics
Nov 28-29 Weapons
Dec 18-20 Gasshuku

Here is the new weekly training schedule for 2009:

Monday
5pm Adult Basics (Krohn Sempai)
6pm Adult Aikido (Krohn Sempai)

Tuesday
11am Adult Aikido (Kline Sempai)
4:45pm Kids Aikido
6pm Adult Weapons (Weik Sensei)
7pm Adult Aikido (Weik Sensei)
8pm Advanced Aikido (Weik Sensei)

Wednesday
3:30pm Kids Aikido
5:45pm Adult Aikido (Weik Sensei)
7:15pm Toledo Zen Center

Thursday
11am Adult Aikido (Kline Sempai)
6pm Adult Weapons (Kline Sempai)
7pm Adult Aikido (Kline Sempai)

Friday
5pm Adult Basics (Mulvaney Sempai)
6pm Adult Ground Techniques (Mulvaney Sempai)

Saturday
10am Adult Aikido (Weik Sensei)

Onegaishimasu

2008-12-21T08:47:00.003-05:00

Just five days to Christmas. I did some Christmas shopping today but not before heading to keiko practice this morning at Shobu. It was chilly in the dojo this morning and the body was achy but once we got into the business at hand it is amazing how the body gets the job done.

Today we examined a cousin of ikkyo. The attack that we used included kata tori (lapel grab) and katate tori (single hand) grab. The connection point was an interesting aspect that we needed to move toward (irimi) the attack in order to maintain the proper connection. Seisei made several references to jiu jutsu and grabbing. What we want to maintain in our Aikido practice is connection rather than grabbing uke’s wrist or arm when doing the technic. This requires one to really be sensitive to where you and uke are in order to maintain proper connection. This has to do with the ittai (one point) and that we can create a vortex or an empty space to draw uke into. Connection is the responsibility of nage and uke to maintain.

Connection in life is important and maintaining a healthy connection with the important people in our lives. During this time of the year it is important that there is a spirit of gratitude for the many blessings that are bestowed upon us. The relationship between uke and nage is a relationship where one needs the other. I think that it is interesting that we say onegaishimasu (please do this for me) when we partner up. To me, it signifies a spirit that this person is allowing me use their body for some Aikido technic in order for me to grow in the art and I respond in kind to help them with their growth offering my body and ability. It is a wonderful gift that I receive from my partner in order to grow in the way. I wish all of the people at Shobu, their families and the important people in their lives a happy and safe holiday. See you all in the new year!

Peace to all,

The Maestro

Happy Holidays!

2008-12-19T10:57:00.000-05:00

Wishing everyone a safe and happy holiday time! Remember "if you think you're enlightened, go spend a week with your family." -Ram Dass

My Martial Journey

2008-12-16T08:14:00.002-05:00

Happy Holidays All,

We had a very interesting advanced Aikido class last night. Danny and Doug worked with me on ukemi and how to move more efficiently from the center. It got me really thinking what is ukemi and how to receive from the hara. Not an easy thing to do. So much of good ukemi is staying connected and being aware and prepared to fill an opening if one is presented by nage while moving. They were talking to me about having heavy hara on light feet. Again not so easy because of the paradoxical nature of heavy and light in the same body. But I find this to be the case in many Aikido concepts, Heaven and Earth, water and fire mudra, and so on.

And the other aspect that we worked in class were kokyu throws and the importance of getting uke off balance by taking the center. Of course timing is very important but this also develops Kime or spirit. A belief that this particular approach in dealing with this conflict will result in a resolution. Especially with the kokyu technics this is absolutely key to them effecting uke’s center. It was good food for thought.

Peace,

The Maestro

Gasshuku Dec 19-20-21

2008-12-12T12:06:00.002-05:00

We will be hosting out last seminar at the dojo for the training year 2008 the weekend of December 19-20-21. We will work closely with the principle of Aikido, and I look forward to the training together.

The schedule is:

Friday 6-8pm
Saturday 10-noon and 3-5pm
Sunday 11-1pm

The fees for those who are not on the inclusive membership are $100 for the weekend or $50 per day.

See you on the mat...

- Jay

Something to do Friday Night

2008-12-03T21:07:00.002-05:00

Hey everybody, this Friday night, December 5th there is an art event going on at the Secor Building at 425 Jefferson. It starts at 5pm and goes till midnight. I am performing musically there at 8pm on the 1st floor. There is all sorts of good local art and interesting music. I play a musical style I like to call Tribal Ambient Trance Space Music with keyboards, synths, didgeridoos, drums and whatever other instrument I bring along. Here are the links for the front and back of the flyer.

http://s232.photobucket.com/albums/ee101/jerrythegray/?action=view¤t=secorholidaycardNEW55x4frontFLAT.jpg

http://s232.photobucket.com/albums/ee101/jerrythegray/?action=view¤t=secorholidaycardNEW55x4backFLAT.jpg

It be great to see some of you there.
Peace and blessings,
Andy

New Years Keiko and Celebration!

2008-12-02T09:13:00.003-05:00

There will soon be a sign-up sheet at the dojo for anyone interested in participating in the New Years Keiko this year. It typically goes from 10 to midnight on New Years Eve and is a very nice way to welcome the coming year. Also, it should be noted that Sensei's birthday is on Jan. 1 and this one happens to be the anniversary of his 40th year!