It's been exactly one year since the very first entry of the Toledo Aikido Blog. And it has been quite a remarkable year for our dojo community. We had three students become the dojo's first Shodans. Later, our "Fourth Musketeer" returned to the community after an extended absence away from the dojo. Furthermore, the dojo's first ever wheelchair-bound practitioner passed his 6th (and later 5th) Kyu test and still continues to practice, which is remarkable and inspirational to all martial arts practitioners everywhere. We had our friends from Canada visit and practice with us during a Gasshuku, and yours truly "invaded" a few dojos in California. And of course, a certain Aikidoka got married a few months ago. The dojo took field trips to Chicago, Oberlin College, Boston (which I will put up pics from that trip, I promise), the Toledo Mud Hens game, and the Okugyo retreats in Vermont (www.shobuokugyo.com). In addition, we had special workshops going on at the dojo including the Bonsai and Zen training workshops. Meanwhile, Michael Chikuzen Gould Shihan provided Shakuhachi lessons, and our very own Mike Mulvaney - with his background in Judo - started teaching newaza classes. Sensei and the dojo were featured in two local newspapers, not to mention appearing on the front cover of the Toledo City Paper. And Sensei even got a gig playing with members of the Jazz Faculty of the University of Toledo! And our dojo continues to grow in number, strength, and spirit.
Throughout this past year, I am surprised how many people across the globe visit our blog. I want to thank everybody who contributed to the blog and all of you who checked out our website. I hope you have found the contents in this blog to be enlightening, or at the very least, decent bathroom reading material. To the members of the Chikyokan Dojo, please continue to contribute to the blog. And to all of you, please continue to check out our humble website and you are welcome to visit and train with us anytime. I look forward to another good year of training, beginning with the New Year's Keiko. Gassho.
-Andre ("Muketsu")
Co-located at the Buddhist Temple of Toledo, Shobu Aikido of Ohio provides Aikido and Internal Power/Aiki training for adults and children in the greater Toledo area with weekly classes and seasonal seminars. Visitors are always welcome.
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.
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1 comment:
very funny no gaps.
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