Aikido is unique among martial arts in that it teaches calmness and creativity in the midst of aggression .... compassion and non-violent responses towards violence .... and resolution of conflicts without harming others.
Miles Kessler
Miles Kessler
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If you find this site helpful and educational, please donate. Every little bit goes to pay the rent and utilities and helps keep the doors open. Thank you for your support.
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I now have a new computer with the help of some nice donations. Thanks very much to those who donated. Sensei Keith has helped out with installing extras which make it blistering fast. This is for the video productions. To catch up on the past three weeks.
March 30th, we had 17 kids with one new boy and 1 adult and held the March Birthdays party. Alvaro passed his second test and I tried to help Lamiya and Rafa get ready for their third test. April 6th, was a slow week and that was actually good for me cause Sensei Keith was up in Virginia attending a Fukushidoin (assistant instructor seminar). We only had 6 kids show up of varying levels with no advanced students. That makes it hard for me to control what's happening and give more help to those advancing. To expand on Sensei Keith's experience of the weekend, he already knew much of what was being taught while many 2nd and 3rd Deg. blackbelts were seeing things as new. It is always so gratifying to me when my students go somewhere and see that what I am teaching is spot on or even advanced to what others are teaching at the higher levels. I know I'm a good sensei, but it's better when my students really recognize it for themselves. Others may take my attitude as arrogant. No, it's self awareness of what I was taught in Japan and what I continue to expand on and pass on. April 13th, I had to leave early because of dress rehearsal for the choir cantata at my church. I had two students I told Thursday night to come early so I could help them before the other kids showed up. So I got to help Christopher get another stripe for his test and tested Michael for his purple belt, 2nd test. He passed well. When I left there were 5 kids there. When I got back there had been 8 more show up. So all together we had 13 kids and 2 adults. In the last 15 minutes I was able to test Sorin for his first test, finally. He has been coming with his brother and sister since he was 3 and has been playing techniques on me like what he sees his siblings do, but not quite right. I have been trying to get him to roll properly for years, but he has not gotten it right. Finally, he is getting things right. That yellow belt is a big step for him. We sang through the cantata twice today at church. It went wonderfully well. It's been a great week. I received this wonderful Thank You from the woman who requested and coordinated bringing the children with Tourette Syndrome to the Saturday morning classes. She said posting this was great with her. Simpson, Heather N. Mon, Mar 4, 8:03 AM (2 days ago) to me Sensei Tom, Thank you so much for welcoming our group this weekend. I know that the children loved it and really enjoyed learning the activities. In particular, while the kids were learning, the parents were bonding and connecting, which was a real bonus to Saturday. I have taken your flyer and will hand it out whenever possible. Your program is truly remarkable and I appreciate your kindness to the group. Most sincerely, Heather Simpson, OTD, MOT, OTR/L Tourette Clinic Coordinator Southeast Regional Centers of Excellence UF Health Rehab Center at Fixel Center for Neurological Diseases Saturday March 2nd. This has been a terrific week. Tuesday we had the college girls in for a free mini Self Defense seminar with 31 people on the mats. The Herron family was there too and the college girls were really impressed with those kids. Today, Saturday, we had 24 kids plus 3 adults, so counting me, there were 28 on the mats. Five of the kids and teens who were trying out Aikido, suffer from a malady called Tourette syndrome, which I'm calling a brain malfunction that can cause various muscular movements or sounds or even ADHD. Apparently these maladies can often go undiagnosed, which could explain why I didn't notice anything I have not seen or heard before. One boy spoke up a lot, but this was nothing I have not seen before. At any rate, they fit right in and had fun just like everybody else today. I am convinced that the practice of Aikido can have miraculous healing and expanding effects on the brain. The challenge is getting people to keep coming to the point the healing really happens. The body movements of Aikido build new, multiple neural pathways in the brain which may bypass limited areas. Tuesday evening, Feb. 26th, was a banner night. One of the Sororities from UF checks out various exercise venues, on Tuesday evenings, to see what places are doing/teaching. That's my choir practice night and we are working on the Easter music now, so it's not good to miss. Keith taught them what we do for a Women's Self Defense class. There were 24 girls plus 7 regular students, so 31 people on the mats. That's the kind of crowd I have always wanted to teach. The Herron family was there to help teach. I think those girls were really impressed with the Herron kids. Keith said the college girls were saying the Joy and Judith were so strong. They are. I was teaching and taking ukemi for them Monday evening and they are just as strong as many adults. They are on the path to becoming phenomenal Aikidoka. I am extraordinarily proud of them. The PTSD training down in Ocala was interesting. This varies from no touch to light touch and no fall standing pins to just deflect and disengage. The variables of personal reactions to various techniques or movements are limitless. I bought a book by the man who did this training with veterans for about 20 years till he died of cancer. It's a kind of blog about what he was doing and reactions or break throughs that he witnessed. The man who is a therapist and teaches this stated it's best to have a trained therapist with whatever group is being taught. Saturday Feb 16th. We had 10 kids and 4 adults on the mat today. The party went well. Rafa has a birthday next week and I know Sorin had a birthday earlier in the month, but he didn't come yesterday. Rafa and Lamiya got their pink stripes for Kata Dori Nikyo (wrist twist from a shoulder grab attack). The three sisters earned theirs last week. Michael earned a red stripe on his test for a Katate Dori Kotegaeshi. (extract the hand from your wrist, off balance the attacker and then throw backwards) Christopher and the Herron family came Thursday evening. That pushes them along even faster. I taught the Queen of Peace students the Steering Wheel choke throw Wednesday. People are moving up towards that next test. It was a good week. I received this great email complement from Nathaniel after his first class in Jodo last Thursday evening. It's so nice I asked him if I could post it on the website. He said he would be honored. Dear Sensei, Thank you for writing and for teaching a wonderful class. Having dabbled in various martial arts and numerous dojo’s over the years I have developed a good sense for quality instruction and found it in abundance on Thursday. And I feel very fortunate to be able to receive such a level of instruction within a small class (although I do not expect the class to remain small for long). The commute is a challenge but is what it is. I look forward to seeing you again on Thursday. Best regards, Nathaniel This explains how to perform the first kata of the Aiki Toho Iaido developed by Shoji Nishio Sensei. I also explain about the cutting draw I was taught right from the start of my practice of Iaido. I did not need to change anything when I was introduced to Tasaburo Tokutomi Sensei, master of the Morinaga line of the Toyama-Ryu style of batto-jutsu, cutting of rolled rice straw matting. Here is the URL of the first Aiki Toho kata https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBuEw99f3CE 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 rd352-258-4725. |
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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.