Aikido of Gainesville
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Saturday Nov. 10th. We had 12 kids and teens on the mats this morning plus 3 adults and me, so all totaled 16 people on the mats. We got a lot accomplished, meaning many people got tape stripes on their belts. I'm very pleased with Mary, Michael and Bharathi for getting a number of stripes for learning their rolls as well as Tai no Henko and Morote Dori Kokyu Ho. They actually did well enough to get stripes for Bull Dogging and Run-Dive-over-the-ball-and-roll. They all really have only one more stripe to achieve and that's the forward-to-backward rolls. Christopher got three stripes for learning the Ura (back behind) take-down forms of the introductory techniques that he had on the previous test. We played Samurai Hockey the last 12 minutes. The teams didn't look it, but it turned out they were very evenly matched. They had some long, hard fought struggles to get one point for each team. So we ended the morning in a tie. Fun morning!
Friday Nov 9th. We gave a good educational demonstration at the Trilogy Charter School. I thought it went terrific! Sandor and Simone showed up and gave some wonderful responses to various attacks. Jackson goes to school there. He participated and did a great job as well. I really appreciate his and Jessica, his mother's, help in setting up this demonstration. We showed many of the concepts that we use in Aikido to enhance the effects of our responses. We also let the kids play a game we call 10 Strikes with pool noodles as swords. They had a lot of fun with that. Saturday, Nov 3rd. We had 11 on the mats this morning. We got a lot of good training done this morning. So most of the students who showed up earned colored tape stripes this morning. Thursday evening was good too. We had 8 on the mats covering 3 or 4 different attacks and using Kotegaeshi to escape and pin the attacker. We were loosely following techniques on the second and third adult tests. Saturday, Oct 27th. We set a new record this morning with 22 kids and teens on the mats. They were not all there at the same time. Some came and departed at different times, but over the whole morning, the number came up to 22. In addition we had three adults plus myself, so the total number was 26. The dojo finally looked like what I have envisioned it should look like with lots of people on the mats. Sensei's Keith and Shaun have collaborated and purchased a big woodblock stamp for the Dojo and name stamps. So now I can stamp the center of promotion certificates with a dojo stamp and a name stamp next to my signature. It gives the certificates a new cool Japanese style look. I emailed everybody last night about this and many showed up this morning with their certificates to have them stamped. So far I have done what has been brought in with the full ink. In looking them over, I think from now on, I will blot some of the ink off and stamp them with less ink, so it looks like a shadow, leaving the information easier to read. Thursday evening we had 9 on the mats, 5 being kids and teens. Joel suggested we go over the modified response techniques we had worked on Monday night, so we did that. The girls were surprised at how well the Nikyo choke escape worked. It only took a few times and they understood it. We will need to refresh these now and then, but it's good for them to know. We did some quick response same side and cross hand wrist grab techniques that are not in the normal Aikido repertoire for the rest of the class. These are good surprise attack responses. The Kids class starts at 2pm until 3:30, then the Teens time starts at 3:30 and goes till 5pm. These times are not hard/fast. If someone needs to come at an earlier or later time I will accommodate what ever you need to do. The times are more to keep the sizes of the students about the same. I am teaching on Wednesdays at the Queen of Peace Academy until December. This means the dojo will be closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. So I will for be open on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays afternoons. I will put these on a Google calendar. The senior Kids students are not asking to play games at the beginning of class anymore. They now realize that the Aikido is the "play" and they have graduated to a higher level of play. I'm hearing "I love this technique." or "This is my favorite Bo kata". And just a few months ago the statements were "This is hard." Now it has become "This is fun." I have decided to offer extra discounts of extra classes for parents or students who help clean the dojo while their kids or teens are in class. I'm swamped so much of the time with keeping track of the dojo financially, keeping up the websites, doing maintenance, processing new videos and such that the cleaning is not up to snuff. I think this can work out as a win-win for the dojo and the parents. The Aikido of Gainesville Dojo will be closed on Tuesdays during the day. I might be there to do maintenance, but I will not be teaching on Tuesdays. There will regularly be a Free Community Service Aikido Class on Tuesday evenings from 6:30 to 8pm. Tuesday Evening practices may not always be open. Please call ahead of time to determine if there will be a class that evening. Call first Jun Evangelista 352-222-0872. If no answer or Jun is not teaching, call Keith McInnis 352-258-4725. |
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The primary question: What constitutes a good dojo? How do you recognize a good dojo?
1. The Sensei (instructor) is knowledgeable, helpful and safe. 2. The techniques work and can be powerful, but don't always need to be powerful. 3. The senior students look out for and help the junior students and keep things safe. 4. Everybody is learning a lot and having fun. |
There are Dojos that stand a lot on visual image and ritual because they can't stand on knowledge and there are Dojos that forego a lot of ritual and may not look like much but they have an abundance of knowledge. We are in the latter group.
TEST US! There is an overwhelming abundance of knowledge here.
TEST US! There is an overwhelming abundance of knowledge here.
To see and learn more about the dojo, go across the top menu to "About". On the drop down menu click on "Location". On that page there are 10 videos showing the dojo with explanations of what I have on the walls.
Under the videos menu I have added instructional videos for both Iwama Style and Nishio Style. I will begin showing how I teach the techniques, as time allows. You may find them very informative.
If you want to get in contact with me, email; sensei@aikidoofgainesville.com or 352-494-7816.
Under the videos menu I have added instructional videos for both Iwama Style and Nishio Style. I will begin showing how I teach the techniques, as time allows. You may find them very informative.
If you want to get in contact with me, email; sensei@aikidoofgainesville.com or 352-494-7816.
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The more time spent in class becomes more learned which means the faster the advancement.
Free Saturday classes will remain in the mornings until further notice. Kids 9am to 10:30am and Teens 10:30am to Noon AOG web sites with information about Kids classes are; Aikido Kids of Gainesville, Stop the Bully Using Aikido and Bully Defense Using Aikido These sites have more information about what to expect in Kids and Teens classes and Anti-Bully techniques. Thursday Free Class times are 6:30-8:00pm. There is now a weapons class from 8:05 to 9:00pm following the free class. |
The Nishio Sensei videos shown above here are advanced techniques. I start practically everybody in the Iwama Style to build knowledge and a foundation of basic techniques. After you have the knowledge to pass the third test, then you will better understand and appreciate the Nishio Style techniques which are strong and fast.
Calendar of all Aikido of Gainesville Events
Classes will be tracked by the use of a punch card. The number of classes purchased will be written on the punch card and when the number of punches are completed a new card may be purchased. There will be no time restrictions on the cards.