Kagami Biraki – Jan. 16-18, 2009 – Aikido of Dallas
Yamada sensei
I strongly recommend PAC members to attend or at least go and watch this seminar.
You will have the chance to meet other fellow aikidokas from different dojos around the Metroplex and US.
Visit the website below for further info
Check the article below. It is very interesting.
In the martial arts we all strive for a purpose.  Some of us may have multiple purposes, but in general most of us strive for physical and mental development through shugyo.  Some individuals might want to develop a certain skill level; others are more concerned with rank – especially the untrained newcomer.  In a recent situation that I’m sure many will recognize, an individual walked into our dojo after contacting me previously on numerous occasions.  Almost immediately on arriving, he asked me, “how long would it take me to get a black belt?â€.  I chuckled and replied, “Oh… around 2-3 days for an average one and about 7-10 days for a really nice one from Japanâ€.  After he looked at me quizzically for a few moments, I explained the joke to him.  Fortunately he chuckled and the ice was broken.
Read the whole entry:Â http://www.aikidojournal.com/blog/rank-versus-skill-by-salvatore-forestieri/
Mark your calendars. The next Kyu test is schedule to Saturday January 31. As usual, if you meet the time requirements and wants to test, please let the chief instructor know.
If you need assistance on some techniques, don’t hesitate to ask the instructors or sempais.
Hello everyone,
Sensei asked me to email all of you the information on these two books, so I’m taking the liberty of posting it here so it will be archived.
Both of these books were authored by Moriteru Ueshiba, grandson of O-Sensei, and current Doshu. Both are excellent. I have found the first of these books particularly helpful by going to practice, then coming home and finding the techniques we worked on in the book. This helps not only with understanding of the techniques, but with learning the terminology as well. The sequential photography is good, and since the techniques are demonstrated by Doshu, you can be sure they are the “Aikikai” way of doing things.
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Any Amazon associate payment from purchasing from these links will eventually go to the dojo (whenever Amazon pays me — Bob).
The next kyu testing is scheduled to Saturday September 27th. If you meet the time requirements and wants to test, please let the chief instructor know.
If you need assistance on some techniques, don’t hesitate to ask the instructors or sempais.
Most of us start focusing on specific Aikido techniques in preparation for a Kyu test. We usually consider Kyu level as a “social” status and reaching the black belt level is the ultimate goal for practicing a martial art.
When I was a child, I perceived a person with black belt as a super man. When I passed my Shodan, it didn’t felt that way. At that time, I realized that mastering Aikido would take a life long time, if ever. Since then, my path has changed direction. Instead of trying to achieve perfection, I keep practicing Aikido seeking for improving now and then without an ultimate objective. You will see, each step in your life, when you look back the achievements you accomplished and that is the fuel that makes me keep practicing Aikido.
Kyu test should be considered as a way to let aikidokas see where they are in the study of Aikido instead of considering it as an objective. If you are ready, there is no reason you would fail the test.
A Zen saying: “Aim the target and you will miss it. Aim beyond the target and you will always hit it”.
See you all at class.
We will have Kyu testing on Saturday, June 28.
