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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A Shodan Tradition?







It has been common knowledge in the dojo that Doug Krohn would go without a haircut for several months until the shodan test where he would shave his head soon afterwards. (Check out the "before picture" in our group photo with Saotome Sensei.) Well, during this past Thanksgiving Gasshuku at Chicago, I agreed to shave my head as well after the test. And then Doug, Sensei, and I talked Douglas Cifuentes into joining the band wagon. And so Doug shaved his head the following Monday. Then on Saturday morning, he brought his clippers and shaved my head before class. Then three weeks later, Douglas finally fulfilled his pact. So do we have a tradition -- that every Chikyokan dojo member who achieves the rank of shodan will have his/her head shaven? As the Pharaoh Rameses, played by Yul Brynner, said in The Ten Commandments: "So let it be written, so let it be done."

-Andre (aka "Muketsu")

3 comments:

toledoaikido said...

Hell, yeah!
I say you guys have established the tradition already!! "So desu" "It is"
Chuck

December 24, 2006 at 2:49 PM
toledoaikido said...

Muketsu -

What did shaving the head mean to you?

- Sensei

December 24, 2006 at 5:08 PM
toledoaikido said...

For awhile I have always wanted to shave my head to see how I would look like. There are some people who look good with their heads shaven (that of course includes you, Sensei), while there are others who can't pull it off. I've even seen women with shaven heads, and they look very angelic. And I thought to myself, what the heck, I think I have a nice looking scalp. So when I looked at myself in the mirror after Doug shaved my head, I thought - well, I'm glad my mom kept turning my head when I was lying on the crib.

But upon further reflection, shaving the head to me felt like a rebirth. That I was entering a new phase in my life as well as my training. Also especially since Doug ("Taisho") and Douglas ("Katsujin") shaved their heads, I feel a special connection among us, that we together - under Sensei's guidance - trained, faced the fire (I admit that I was absolutely anxious coming into the test), and passed with flying colors.

So that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

-Andre ("Muketsu")

January 2, 2007 at 3:03 AM

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