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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This coming Saturday, Feb. 29th, we will have the party for everybody with a birthday in February. We will have cupcakes or pastries depending on what they put on the day old cart late Friday night. By going in late Friday night, I have been finding lots more day old things, so we have a pretty good choice of things for our parties. We will also have ice cream, grapes, bananas, apples, chocolate milk, orange juice and apple juice. We will stop practice and set up for the party about 10:30. After we clean up from the party, we normally play games till noon.
Saturday Feb. 22nd, we had 9 kids and 2 adults. Feb. 15th, we had 6 kids and 3 adults. On Feb 8th, we had 5 kids and 2 adults. The numbers fluctuate from week to week. We had 3 new kids on the 22nd. They came in around 10:30, so I stopped working on the more advanced kids tests and we started practicing some tehodoki, wrist grab escapes. This is what I am focusing on for the first test out at the Queen of Peace Academy for a number of reasons. I have noticed over time that when there are no senior students, new students don't get to see or understand working together with each other. They also don't understand relaxing and not putting up hard resistance to techniques being put on them. Tension and hard resistance can lead to injuries, which nobody wants. The tehodoki techniques help them understand the wrist warm-ups, simple get-out-of-the-hold movements, working together with a partner, simple responses to aggressions on the playground and how to respond to the technique as the effect of the technique comes on. They are also seeing pretty quickly that these responses can be pretty effective with minimal efforts. So the first test is made up of 1st, 2nd, 3rd techniques plus simple Kotegaeshi. I'm seeing reasonably good results from this path, so I will probably change my whole repertoire for how I run the Kyu rank tests. Just today, Sunday the 23rd, I'm thinking I could develop a simple Hiji Kime, elbow focus technique. This would cover all the wrist warm-up techniques. The test would have 5 same side wrist grabs and 5 opposite side wrist grabs. A good start. Thursday evening, Feb. 12th, we had 17 young ladies, college women, from the UF Women's Empowerment group, in for a Women's Self Defense class. Along with them, we had 4 guys from the UF ROTC come to help with registration and we also used them as fall guys to demonstrate techniques we were teaching the girls. There was a lot of laughing and surprise as to the power of the techniques we were showing them. Judging from the amount of laughter and responses I think they all enjoyed the night immensely. Keith and I certainly did. It is such a joy to teach such responsive students. Saturday, Feb 1st. We had 8 kids and 4 adults on the mats plus one little brother. 3 new students started. One is a Chinese girl who is so new to the country that she only knows a few English words. The Chinese boy, James, had to interpret for her. When we did the stretches at the beginning of class, omg! She stretched her legs straight out to either side and from there she could put her chest clear to the mat. She's very sharp. She understood what to do immediately each time I showed her something new and by the end of class she had picked up a bunch of English words. I hope she comes back. Thursday, the 6th, Rock passed his third test. It started out as a mock test with Sandor and Sorin as alternate Uke's (attackers), but Rock went through the techniques so smoothly, I only had him repeat about three times. So I passed him for 8th Kyu. He really understood what he's doing. The Kagami Baraki Practice, in Orlando, Saturday, Jan 18th, was good. Christopher, 10 year old blue belt was able to come down. He had a good time. He said so many people were so helpful to him. I had just started teaching him Katate Dori Kaitenage (rotary throw) last Thursday night, then Grady Lane, the last teacher for the practice, showed a Kaitenage that entered across the attacker's front that was confusing a number of the black belts, so I know Christopher was really struggling. Over all I thought he gave a good showing and I am very proud to have him as my student. Saturday, Jan 18th, the dojo will be closed. We are going down to the Aikido Orlando Dojo on the north side of Orlando, Winter Park area, for their Kagami Baraki opening the new year practice. There is no charge, no fee. Sensei Keith and I will be leaving early because I am going to teach an Iaido (sword) class starting at 9am. Therefore we will have to leave here between 6:15 and 6:30 in order to be down there in time. The Kagami Baraki Aikido class is starting at 10am. Then after the practice, I will make a video of the 15 Aiki Toho Katas with instruction, so they will have a base video to use for practice. I don't know if we will go out to dinner after that or not. We will kind of play that by ear, deciding on the times so we don't get back to Gaineville too late. Saturday, Jan 11th. Terrific day! We had 12 kids and 1 adult. Sensei Keith was down in Orlando for training. After the bow in, I assigned senior students to help junior students. They were very happy to be helping others, then the two most senior students arrived and immediately asked, "Who can we help?" Wow! THEY'RE GETTING IT! It's not just about advancing yourself. Helping others actually helps you get better. I think that Simone and Sandor are realizing that helping the lower students helps them to remember those techniques I taught them earlier and keep them ready for whatever I throw at them that is more advanced, yet uses those earlier principles. I am so proud of them! We had one new boy start and two other students who have not come in a long time return. Wonderful day. Last Saturday, Jan 4th, we had 6 kids and 2 adults. These small classes really allow everybody who shows up to get more out of it. They usually get at least one stripe or more. The coming Saturday after this, the 18th, we will not have a class here in Gainesville. Aikido Orlando Dojo is holding a Kagami Baraki, new year practice get together. There are normally guest teachers and I have been invited to be one. Any students from here who are interested can go down with us and practice. There may be a fee, but I don't think it will be much. We ended the year 2019 and started 2020 OK. Monday evening, the 30th, I had 6 students for Iaido class. I think that's terrific! The adult Aikido class has become a usual no show. If somebody does come they are getting a private lesson at class rates. I don't mind that. I want to teach somebody. Tuesdays are my day off from teaching, but still work on the dojo or paperwork, normally accounting. Wednesday, the 1st, there were 3 students for Iaido. That's still a pretty good showing for Iaido. I'm loosing one to go back to college up in Kentucky next week. Starting about the middle of January I will have Community Education classes for Aikido and Iaido starting. So perhaps I will get a few more students. Saturday, Dec. 28th. We had a good showing for the Bonenkai & December Birthdays Party. The Herron family came and added to the festivities. All in all we had 15 and 1/2 kids. Gavin's little brother is still 4, so he's not practicing yet, but he runs around and has a lot of fun while he's here. We also had 11 Adults come in. John came down from Live Oak to check in with us. Gavin passed his 3rd test. He has done nearly all his practice with me, so having Christopher to Uke (be the attacker and receive the techniques) for him pretty much threw him for a loop. He got through the test with a triangle grade, but it took some pulling it out of him. Once he would get though doing a technique once with Christopher, his memory would come back some. He was pretty happy when he got to the last technique. Keith brought chili and Bharathi brought rice which went so well with the chili. We cleaned out most of the chili and rice. Afterwards we had a really tough game of "Samurai Hockey". They kept the score tying up and passing back and forth for over a half hour. I passed out a bunch of Year End gifts for everybody. It was a great fun morning, then 4 students for Iaido till 1pm. The Iaido has done better than the adult Aikido classes this year. I would love to be teaching more Aikido to adults, but the students just haven't show up this year. Well this is it for 2019. Everyone have a Happy New Year for 2020! Saturday, Dec. 21st. We had 9 kids and 2 adults yesterday. OK for being right before Christmas and people traveling. Gavin finished up his last two stripes, which were half stripes already. In addition we went through all the rest of the techniques to make sure to get him ready for taking the 3rd test next Saturday just before the Bonenkai. I am very pleased with the results of the breaking up of techniques to parts, to drill smaller sections and build the techniques out so students remember lots more. The hard techniques on this test are shoulder grab Nikyo, same side wrist grab Sankyo and cross hand grab Sankyo. These are introductory on this test, focusing on the names of the attacks with forward take-downs to pins. For the little kids, on Sankyo's, I have them do all standing pins. The breakdown of a technique like Katatedori (same side wrist grab) Sankyo goes like this. Step out to the side (get off the line of attack), then step in towards my knee and throw a punch. That gets repeated for 10 times practicing on both hands, left and right. The next section is grasping the attacker's hand , driving it in and up towards the armpit while twisting, then continuing to twist the hand to set the Sankyo. The last section is twisting the Attacker's hand towards his nose, then cutting him down to the side and walking backwards to pull Attacker down to the mat before spinning back along-side to pin. The 1st section is done 10 times, 5 on each hand. Then adding the 2nd section and doing that for 10 more times. Finally, adding section 3 to take the Attacker down and pinning 10 more times. So by the time the student has done the whole technique 10 times he or she has done section 1, 30 times. Section 2, 20 times and section 3, 10 times. Then I change the attack to opposite side hand grab with a new section 1, but the same sections 2 and 3, 10 times each. Saturday Dec. 14th. We only had 6 kids and 2 adults, but everybody was working towards their next test and getting stripes this morning, so it was still a productive morning. We are aiming for Gavin's purple-with-a-white-stripe belt test for the 28th. Trying to get him promoted before the end of the year. I had a new 11 year old student come in Monday afternoon. He's very sharp. He and his mother came back Friday and he accomplished all his stripes for the first test. I expect he can pass the first test the next time he comes. Thursday Dec. 12th. The free classes on Thursday nights has tapered off to just two student showing up. I came to the conclusion that people have been hurt in this class, so I informed the person that I can't have this happen anymore, no matter whether intentional or because of a mental handicap. So as an alternative, he can come to the weapons classes as free. I can keep these safer and not touching people, so no injuries. This will continue to help his mind develop more neural pathways and get a good workout as well, actually more-so than the empty hand, because I usually don't have to stop as much. There is more continual movement with lots of coordination required. Saturday Dec. 7th. I had rehearsal for my church's Christmas contata this morning, so I cleaned the dojo before class and got started with 4 students before I had to leave. Sensei Keith took over and over the morning 6 more kids came in. So all total we had 10 plus 2 adults on the mats. I was able to return before noon, so some students were able to get either some whole stripes or half stripes before the end of class. I started telling people, in addition to our normal monthly birthdays party, we will have a Bonenkai (year end party) on the last Saturday of the month, Dec. 28th. I received this awesome message from my friend Mike Fowler about a night with Nishio Sensei after practice. This was Nishio Sensei's deep philosophy. In Tokyo, one night after class, we all went out to Nishio Sensei's favorite yakitori place for dinner. There were 5 or 6 students with us; We ordered some things and after a while Nishio Sensei looks at me and said "Michael, I'm one of the best martial artists on the planet, if you have a question for me, you can ask it now!” That's called “Front Street.” It's an unusual, direct way of Japanese speaking. I thought about it for a second and said, “Sensei, when you practice Ken Tai Ken, What do you feel when you meet your Uke without hurting them?” Sensei answered me in a deep voice, "Forgiveness.” “Most people have a hard time to forgive even once. I'm an aikido man. I must do better than that. In the Aikido techniques we practice, there are many points of reflection where we have the chance to learn forgiveness for others and ourselves, even when they want to harm us!” "Sensei, How many times do we need to forgive in one technique?" Sensei said, “At least 3 to 5 time's is good, or until they feel the sharp part of my sword, after that it gets repetitive!” "Sensei, What do we think about when we practice cutting with our sword?" "We should think that we are cutting out the bad parts of ourselves, or our character that we don't like. With every cut we go deeper. The Aikido sword cuts in the correct way for people to follow and develop good character and spirit to become strong and to help others to do the same.” “But first, we must work on ourselves!" “I believe in myself!" He said, “1000 Sword cuts for your heart!” “10,000 sword cuts for your spirit!” Sensei looked at me deep in the eye's for a minute and said, "Most students would not ask this kind of question of me Michael-san.” I looked at the other student's at the table. We all had tears in our eye's at that moment. We all said, “Kampai Sensei!” I always tried to pull things out of him in this way. Thank you Nakamichi Sensei, for reminding me of that moment in time. I feel AIKIDO is the physical expression of love and compassion. I miss you Sensei!” Michael fowler 5th dan Nishio sensei. Ronin, Saturday and Sunday Aug. 3rd & 4th. This was a terrific weekend. Here in Gainesville, there were 14 kids & teens on the mat, with two adults. Mr. Herron was teaching along with Judith, Joy, Martin, Sandor and Simone, the most senior of the kids and teens students. They actually developed a new routine that the students feel is like another game. Wonderful! We will try that again next time. Sensei Keith, his son Alex and I, along with Ian Phillips from the Aikido Orlando Dojo were up in the Fredericksburg area of Virginia at the Aikido in Fredericks Dojo for the first Nishio Style Aikido seminars East of the Mississippi since well before Nishio Sensei died in 2005. Arisue and Nakamichi Sensei's taught as a team for two seminars on two weekends, the first in New York and the second in Frederiksburg, Va. I trained often with these men for about 4+ years until the USS Independence got out of dry dock in late 1994. The last two years of my 6 years, I was out at sea for about 9 months of the year, so I would see them when the Independence was in port. I think Nakamichi Sensei was on 3 or 4 tours I gave my friends and I think Arisue Sensei was on at least one tour. If he didn't tour the ship, it was certainly not a slight. I loved showing everybody my ship! Nishio Sensei was on at least two tours. Nakamichi Sensei was at my retirement ceremony on the ship. The seminar was terrific! I learned more in depth about so many things, Aikido, Iaido and various people I know of in Japan. Many things I have been teaching for years were again verified as authentic and correct. Also new friends and connections were made with these students who have retired to the eastern U.S. after serving and studying Aikido in Thailand for many years. This is a video of Saito Sensei teaching a seminar in Japan. Maybe it's a university aikido club or perhaps multiple universities cause the average age looks like college student ages. Probably you won't be able to understand the words, but you can still understand the teaching cause it goes more by demonstration than exactly what he says. I linked it, so you should be able to just click on the url address here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzNa_7uufAs&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR16mgTh9-FqDmg1OPowQDP-lUQdXF0CRs8BNq0CbNwYm5rhjcD9VLwAGN0 I stumbled onto an old demonstration by Nishio Sensei. It's the 11th All Japan Aikido demonstrations. I think they are up to around 57 now so this must be back in the 1960's I'm about 85-90% certain the Uke's are Nishimoto Sensei and Masuda Sensei. Everyone is so much younger than when I practiced with them. Nishimoto Sensei was my Uke and tested me for Sankyu at the old Matsuo Dojo. He just called me up near the end of class and had me do techniques. I didn't even know I was being tested. How many white belts have a 7th Dan test and Uke for you at the same time. That was special and I didn't even know it at the time. I was still pretty clueless at the time. This is the link to the video: https://www.facebook.com/senseiaikidocom/videos/544548876016792/UzpfSTEwMDAwMTA0Njg4Njk3MzpWSzoyNDQ4NjUxNTQxODE2OTQw/ Sensei Keith was up in Virginia attending a Fukushidoin (assistant instructor seminar) in April. 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. 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, March 2019 to 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 I received this great email complement from Nathaniel after his first class in Jodo, walking staff, 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 video 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.