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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Space......The Final Frontier

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

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