Dojo Mojo

Announcements

2008-12-15T00:19:00.002-05:00

1. Because of Christmas and New Year's Eves landing on Wednesdays, our last official training day of the year will be Saturday, December 20. Regular classes will resume Saturday, January 3.

2. Memphis Judo and Jiu Jitsu has gift certificates available. They can be purchased in 1, 3, and 6 month increments and are available for any of the classes at the school. If you're interested in purchasing one for someone, you can either get in touch with David Ferguson or contact me and I'll take care of it for you.

3. The Memphis Judo and Jiu Jitsu Holiday Party is this Friday, December 19. From the dojo newsletter:

Holiday Celebrations at Memphis Judo & Jiu-Jitsu

MEMPHIS JUDO & JIU-JITSU HOLIDAY PARTY
When: Friday, Dec. 19th @ 7:00 PM
Who's Invited: Memphis Judo & Jiu-Jitsu students, affiliates, family and friends
Where: Memphis Judo & Jiu-JitsuWhat to Bring: All tasty beverages except beer (we will have a keg)
What to Expect: We will have a Brazilian BBQ cookout, show fights, dartboard, etc.

!!!PING PONG TOURNAMENT!!!

We will also have a single elimination ping-pong tournament at the Holiday Party, and a $100 cash prize will go to the winner! Tournament brackets will be made the night of the party. Be sure to put your name on the sign-up sheet at the front when you arrive.

KIDS' CLASS HOLIDAY PARTY
When: Thursday, Dec. 18th @ 5:45 PM
Who's Invited: All Kids Judo & Jiu-Jitsu class students and family
Where: Memphis Judo & Jiu-Jitsu

2008-11-21T15:35:00.003-05:00

I'm not sure what happened but if anyone comes looking for their photos, I've had to move the albums to a new picasa account. The aikicenter one has disappeared and google wasn't able to retrieve it. I'm not sure what happened but it may have occured when I split my work blogs from my personal one. I'll be uploading old albums as I can but fyi, that's what's up.

Announcements and Photos

2008-07-18T21:06:00.003-04:00

Classes have begun at Memphis Judo and Jiu Jitsu! Our next class is this Saturday 9-10:30. Also, at noon, there will be an in-house MMA/Muay Thai/Boxing Tournament at the school. Everyone is invited and it is free to watch. It will be a great opportunity to meet some of the other students at the school and affiliated schools and a chance to see a little of what some of the other schools teach.

I've got the last of my photos up at the school photo page. here are the links. Again, none of these have been sorted or edited but I figure you can download what you want and take care of any changes you want.

November 2007

These are cute.

Kids December 07

There are a bzillion in this one so have fun. :)

Aikido Feb 2008

New Classes

2008-06-26T10:20:00.003-04:00

Greetings, aikidoka!

I am very happy to announce that Aikido at the Center is back in business! Our classes will meet Wednesdays 2-4 pm and Saturdays 9-10:30 am beginning July 16. We will train at Memphis Judo and Jiu Jitsu located at the corner of Kirby-Whitten and Stage Road in Bartlett. I don't have any information on pricing at the moment but I will let you know that information as soon as I can.

Please let me know if you have any questions. I will send out updates as they are available.

2008-03-28T08:57:00.001-04:00

This is real life aikido.

I know I've been slacking with the photos because I'm getting to the part that isn't already organized. I have a couple more months to post, though, so keep in touch.

Kids September 07

2008-03-14T12:05:00.001-05:00

Aikido Kids September 2007

May 07

2008-03-10T15:28:00.001-05:00

Aikido May 2007

April 2007--kids and adults

2008-03-06T14:36:00.000-05:00

There are a ton of photos in this set.

April 2007

Kids march 07

2008-03-03T10:53:00.000-05:00

Aikido Kids March 2007

January 2007

2008-02-29T22:35:00.000-05:00

Aikido January 2007

September 06/Sharaze's 3rd Kyu

2008-02-28T21:41:00.000-05:00

Aikido September 2006 (Sharaze's 3rd kyu)

August 2006

2008-02-26T14:47:00.001-05:00

Not sure why I have such a huge time gap between this set and the last. Oh, well...

Aikido August 2006

November 2005

2008-02-25T11:41:00.001-05:00

Aikido November 2005

October 2005

2008-02-24T20:20:00.001-05:00

Aikido October 2005

September 05

2008-02-21T17:02:00.001-05:00

Aikido September 2005

Photo dump

2008-02-21T16:57:00.000-05:00

I'm starting the process of uploading all the photos I've acquired over the years. I'll post the albums as I complete them. I'm starting with 2005 and will end with the last classes. I had been editing and posting the best photos but I think I'm just going to put everything up and you can download what you want. Have fun!

We regret to inform you...

2008-01-22T22:10:00.000-05:00

Well, I have put this off as long as I can so I will make the announcement quick and probably not-so-painless...Aikido at the Center will be closing its doors effective Monday, January 28.

However, we won't be going completely away as we will continue training with Aikido Society of Memphis which meets at Rhodes. Dojo cho Robert Kores Sensei and Dojo Founder Jim Baker Sensei have generously agreed to allow us to maintain any rank we earned while at Aikido at the Center although future testing will be according to USAF requirements.

We are, of course, very sad to say good bye to the community and space we have built. At the same time, we are also looking forward to the new opportunities that await us at Aikido Society.

We'd like to invite everyone to come to our last training day next Monday. The plan is to hand out past rank certificates as well as dvds of each student's demos and do some ~~good-bye~~ see you later throws. :)

Keep an eye on the blog because Sensei will be posting a letter to the students in the next couple of days. We hope to see you on Monday and, starting Saturday, February 2, we hope to see you at Rhodes. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact me at info at aikidoatthecenter.com or call Sensei at the number listed on our website.

Dojo Vacation Schedule

2007-12-19T22:38:00.000-05:00

There will be no classes Saturday, December 22 through Monday, December 31. All classes will resume on Wednesday, January 2.

Happy holidays from all of us at Aikido at the Center. Hang in there on this one--it is way cooler than it appears at first! :)

Pat Hendricks Sensei

2007-12-15T00:17:00.000-05:00

Sensei found this one. It features Pat Hendricks Sensei who is the head of Division 1 in the California Aikido Association. It's about 5 minutes long and she is in the second section, the lady with the long braid. I'm not sure why, but I think she looks like Marion from Raiders of the Lost Ark. :)

Looking for an edge

2007-12-11T21:19:00.000-05:00

Ananth sent me a link to a great blog posting from another aikidoka to share with everyone. I emailed the author asking if I could link the article here and he replied with a very nice yes. So here's the link. I hope you enjoy.

There have been some technical difficulties getting the student of the month papers, by the way. So, I think that they will resume in January, possibly in a new format.

A Word From Sensei: Integrity

2007-12-06T21:01:00.000-05:00

Why do we care about the Attacker’s Integrity?

Integrity, like many words, holds different meanings for different people. For some of us it implies steadfast honesty or truthfulness, others call it the matching of our words with our actions. Still others think that integrity relates to our state of being complete or whole.

In the practice of martial arts we usually have the common goal of maintaining or protecting our integrity even when being attacked violently. The means we employ to do so differs depending on the particular martial art and style. Many martial arts use destructive force to take an attacker’s physical integrity in order to protect their own wholeness or that of loved ones.

Aikido strives to maintain one’s integrity while actually respecting and attempting to preserve the integrity of an attacker who is attempting to harm us.

There are many reasons for this part of Aikido philosophy. I will mention two here.

The first is that Aikido is the art of peace or harmony. If we were to strike, kick or hit our attacker, we would risk initiating or contributing to a classic cycle of violence which feeds on the exchange of destructive attacks or retributions. Here our hurtful defense or responses would most certainly compromise the attacker’s integrity by wounding them or robbing them of their health, wholeness and harmony. Their loss could then trigger another violent response toward us by them or their loved ones.

The second reason for wanting to respect an attacker’s integrity is that it is virtually impossible to compromise another human being’s integrity without giving up a little of our own. Every time we hurt another human we lose some of our own humanity.

Many of us are not ready to sacrifice any part of ourselves to respect an attacker’s integrity. Fortunately, the practice of Aikido offers us some alternatives to merely sacrificing ourselves. Our techniques and training help us defend ourselves in nondestructive or less harmful ways. My understanding is that O Sensei wants us to train and use Aikido in nondestructive ways. His techniques offer us powerful ways to maintain our own integrity while honoring the wholeness of any attacker.

If our goal to is to protect our own integrity, how is this end served by action that hurts us as well as others? This is a question for all practioners of the martial arts, as we strive to bring our actions into alignment with our values. What do you think?

Not an Aikido Video

2007-11-29T13:39:00.000-05:00

This video is actually about a filipino martial artist. I got it from a friend of mine who trains in California. I decided to post it because it is such a fantastic representation of "determination and the adaptability of the human spirit," to steal a phrase from Robin Schermerhorn when he emailed me back after watching it. There's so little that we genuinely can't do and this guy is a perfect example of how true that is. If you have trouble viewing the video, try updating your quicktime software.

Moriteru Ueshiba

2007-11-27T15:47:00.001-05:00

Happy Birthday, Sensei!!

Also, here's a good video of the current doshu Moriteru Ueshiba, O Sensei's grandson. Both he and the ukes are wonderful to watch. Everything flows beautifully and with the silence of the audience, you can really hear that the ukes have such soft ukemi--no jarring thuds or bone-crushing slams. Nice.

Halloween Photos and Announcements

2007-11-18T21:17:00.000-05:00

Finally got the Halloween photos posted. Click this link, they are part of the Aikido Kids album. More photos to come!

Also, there will be no aikido classes Wednesday, November 21, and Saturday, November 24. We hope everyone has a happy and safe Thanksgiving.

Students are welcome to meet at the dojo for extra training days. However, please be aware that Memphis Internal Arts does hold classes and seminars in our space. It might be beneficial to check their website periodically to ensure that their training time is not interrupted.

Aikido Angles Video

2007-11-17T13:20:00.000-05:00

Here's a video from Frank: Bird's Eye View of Aikido. Interestingly, it made me nauseous to watch it so I had to take it in chunks. But it was totally worth it.

Student of the Month: Children's Classes

2007-11-10T22:10:00.000-05:00

November's Student of the Month for the Children's Classes is Elgin!

Elgin is one of Aikido at the Center's most dedicated students and is well on his way to being one of our senior students in the kids' classes! He and his brother began training together in July 2007 and Elgin's favorite technique is ikkyo.

Outside of the dojo, Elgin is in the 5th grade, enjoys keyboards, soccer, and cub scouts. He also likes legos and origami. Elgin is the kind of guy who is very energetic and loves life. He's also a great big brother to Adrian and his new little sister Angelee.

Elgin, thanks for your enthusiasm!

Student of the Month: Adult Classes

2007-11-10T21:33:00.000-05:00

November's Student of the Month is Frank!

Frank is one of our assistant instructors as well as one of Aikido at the Center's most dedicated students. With past martial arts experience in jujitsu and previous training in Germany and Portland, Oregon, Frank is a favorite training partner for all of the students.

When not at the dojo, Frank spends his time in a variety of ways. He enjoys oil painting, landscape photography, playing drums, windsurfing and hiking as well as viking history, travel and medieval reenactment. Frank is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology at the University of Memphis, having already completed his undergrad in Augsburg, Germany, and his masters at Lewis and Clark College in Portland, OR.

Age: 29
Hometown: Augsburg, Germany
Rank: 4th Kyu
Favorite Technique: Kaitenage
Training Since October 2002
Other Martial Arts Experiences: Jujitsu (5th Kyu)

In his own words:

How/When did you become interested in martial Arts?
I had been interested in martial arts since my teens but was not so much fascinated with the offensive disciplines. Judo, the only widely known form of martial art in Germany, seemed too boring to me and I was not aware of Aikido until my last year in college. I was taught Aikido under Peter Eisele sensei (3rd dan) for about six months before I started jujitsu. I picked up training Aikido again in January 2004 under Aki Fleshler (shidoin).

Why aikido?
The philosophy fits my personality and allows me to spend time with people who share similar values. I believe that people who stick with Aikido for a while generally have a peaceful nature, are a little nostalgic, and try to become more mindful of their environment.

Has aikido changed your daily life?
Aikido is a great way to relieve stress and integrate your physique with your mind. Since training in Aikido, I have also become a much more spiritual person.

Not A Professional Review or, Perhaps I Should Not Blog At Midnight

2007-11-05T01:48:00.000-05:00

Sensei and I had the opportunity to see the Shaolin Warriors perform at the Germantown Performing Arts Center tonight (well, technically last night...I am up late). This is a promotional video that has just a few excerpts from the performance as well as an explanation in the sidebar.

This performance was incredible. Some highlights:

It was incredibly freaking cool to see:

* Someone chop lettuce on their rock hard abs.

* A monk lay on a bed of SWORDS with a bed of NAILS and another PERSON on top of him--and then other monks broke a large slab with a mallet on top of the pile!

* One of the two boys in the group put his foot in his mouth! Literally!

I don't even have the time to go into (rather, the skill in writing to not make it boring) the tumbling or weapon twirling (kung fu mama aka Mrs. Dach says 18 different ones--including whips!). And the action scenes ranging from dramatic to frantic were pretty awesome--who knew that fight moves could tell a story not just so well, but so beautifully?

All that was crazy cool but I have to say that I was struck most of all by their precision. The stances were impeccable--feet perfectly placed, thighs parallel in even the most impossible looking stances, and partner sets and acrobatics beautifully timed (occasionally with flags and ribbons!). Even more amazing was how softly they all could land--unless they wanted to stomp, of course. It makes me feel not so bad about fussing when people stomp around in class. haha.

The whole show makes me pumped for class. If anyone gets a chance to go to a performance of this caliber, definitely take the opportunity. Although I know I really can't count on highs to get me through my martial arts career, like anything else I do, I need to have my bar reset occasionally and be reminded that what I'm doing is, heck, just plain cool. :)

halloween safety tips

2007-10-29T11:09:00.000-05:00

1. When it appears that you have killed the monster, NEVER check to see if it's really dead.

2. Never read a book of demon summoning aloud, even as a joke.

3. Do not search the basement, especially if the power has gone out.

4. If your children speak to you in Latin or any other language which they should not know, shoot them immediately. It will save you a lot of grief in the long run. However, it will probably take several rounds to kill them, so be prepared. This also applies to kids who speak with somebody else's voice.

5. When you have the benefit of numbers, NEVER pair off and go it alone.

6. As a general rule, don't solve puzzles that open portals to Hell.

7. Never stand in, on, or above a grave, tomb, or crypt. This would apply to any other house of the dead as well.

8. If you're searching for something which caused a loud noise and find out that it's just the cat, GET THE HECK OUT!

9. If appliances start operating by themselves, do not check for short circuits; just get out!

10. Do not take ANYTHING from the dead.

11. If you find a town which looks deserted, there's probably a good reason for it. Don't stop and look around.

12. Don't fool with recombinant DNA technology unless you're sure you
know that you're doing.

13. If you're running from the monster, expect to trip or fall down at least twice. Also note that, despite the fact that you are running and the monster is merely shambling along, it's still moving fast enough to catch up with you.

14. If your companions suddenly begin to exhibit uncharacteristic behavior such as hissing, fascination for blood, glowing eyes, increasing hairiness, and so on, kill them immediately.

15. Stay away from certain geographical locations, some of which are listed here: Amityville, Elm Street, Transylvania, Nilbog (you're in trouble if you recognize this one), the Bermuda Triangle, or any smalltown in Maine.

16. If your car runs out of gas at night on a lonely road, do not go to the nearby deserted looking house to phone for help. If you think that it is strange because you thought you had half of a tank, shoot your-self instead. You are going to die anyway, and most likely be eaten.

17. If you find that your house is built upon a cemetery, now is the time to move in with the in-laws. This applies to houses that had previous inhabitants who went mad or died in some horrible fashion, or had inhabitants who performed satanic practices in your house.

18. When trying to escape from a serial killer, never run Upstairs.

Adjustment

2007-10-25T14:27:00.000-04:00

We normally put up the Student of the Month on the 25th but we're going to skip October and put up the November students during the first week of November. The change is so that the students' photos and bios can be posted at the dojo for the month they are chosen instead of just at the blog.

Aikikai Festival Clip

2007-10-17T21:34:00.001-04:00

Great video from Frank. The general consensus is that, no, we would not like to be this man's uke. :P

Misc.

2007-10-10T02:24:00.001-04:00

I uploaded a few new photos. Added the pics from Stewart's last day to his 6th kyu album and added an Aikido Kids album. If anyone has any good photos from regular class or their kyu demos, I'd love to post them. I only have photos of the demos I have been able to attend or knew of in advance so I could bring my camera.

Click here for another great video from Sensei. This one is a demo from 1986 featuring the current doshu Moriteru Ueshiba, O Sensei's grandson.

Class Announcement

2007-10-04T17:22:00.000-04:00

Don't forget that our new adult class begins this Saturday at 11 am. Since this is the first Saturday in October, it will be a weapons class.

Also, Sensei's Tiger Bookstore appearance has been rescheduled for November 3 at 1 pm.

Student of the Month: Adult Class

2007-09-25T22:51:00.000-04:00

September's Student of the Month for the Adult Classes is Stewart!

Age: 18
Hometown: Memphis
Rank: 6th Kyu
Favorite Technique: Uzumaki
Training Since June 2007

Stewart decided to spend his summer learning aikido soon after graduating from MUS and proceeded to attend nearly every class this summer. Aikido drew him because of its beginner-friendly nature and philosophy of harmony.

Outside of class, Stewart enjoys soccer, ping pong, basketball, teaching himself the Ukulele, and, like all good martial artists, watching martial arts movies. As of this month, Stewart is a freshman at Dartmouth and plans to continue his martial arts training as part of his schooling.

We'll miss you, Stewart!

Student of the Month: Children's Classes

2007-09-25T22:11:00.000-04:00

September's Student of the Month for the Children's Classes is Adrian!

Adrian is one of Aikido at the Center's most dedicated students! He joined us in July of this year and has been to almost every class since then. Adrian's favorite movement is the front roll and he also likes aiki dodge ball.

Outside of the dojo, Adrian is in the third grade, is good at drawing and likes soccer, art, and building with legos. He loves being a big brother to his new sister Angelee and being a little brother to his fellow classmate Elgin. A great listener, Adrian is is the type of person who likes to help people reach their goals.

You're doing great, Adrian! Thank you for your hard work!

Just dojo stuff

2007-09-17T23:49:00.000-04:00

Since I am not done with the adult handbooks yet (there's a lot more typing and formatting than I initially thought), I'll try to mention any questions I hear or have been asked more than once here on the blog. If you have any questions, no matter how random, definitely ask and I'll do my best to get the right answer for you.

First up, Aikido at the Center is affiliated with both Utah Aikikai and California Aikido Association. That's where our connection to Japan comes from and where we get our test requirements. I found this highlight video of a Doran Sensei demonstration. He's the head of our CAA division. I got to go to one of his seminars last September and it was very, very cool.

The second and completely unrelated question I've heard several times is about the hakama. Different aikido schools handle the hakama in different ways. Some wear it only at black belt, some at first kyu, some from the very beginning, and in some schools only women wear it from the beginning and men wear it at some other point.

At both Utah Aikikai and Aikido at the Center (I'm not sure about other CAA schools), adult students both male and female wear the hakama after reaching 3rd kyu. Children get to wear their hakama at brown belt. Brown belt also marks where a kids class student moves into the adult class and kyu system as a 3rd kyu.

The student orders his or her hakama about 8 weeks before their expected demo date because it is usually custom made. The hakama has to be black but once a student reaches shodan, it can be navy blue.

That's all for now!

Most important self defense "move"

2007-09-13T22:55:00.001-04:00

Here's an interesting link.

I used the crimetracker this week after a friend of mine called to let me know that there has been a rash of various crimes in my neighborhood. I was curious about what was happening and when since Lakeland is usually pretty quiet, so I zoomed in on the area around my house. Sure enough, some people have been quite busy for the last month.

I'm a big believer that the best self-defense move in the world is awareness. We're already pretty good about some things like keeping porch lights on and bushes trimmed back, and we try to avoid predictable routines. Now that there's a pattern of events that we are aware of, we can take special care to avoid situations that make it easier for thieves and vandals. Of course, there's always a chance that something will happen regardless of the precautions we take, but hey, knowing is half the battle, right? :)

Training Days

2007-09-11T09:19:00.000-04:00

Please remember that any time 2 or more people meet at the dojo to train, it counts as a training day. This is totally on the honor system and a section so students can mark extra days will be included on the attendance sheets starting in October. For now, students can simply score mark extra days in the blank space next to the last day of the month on his or her row.

As hopefully everyone knows, keeping up with training days is very important because they are part of the demo requirements. Attending the requisite number of classes does not always mean a student is ready to demo. However, as the number of days continues to climb, the student can use that as an indication of when it is time to step up training, seek out senior students for more advanced practice, and begin the process of demo preparation. Usually by the time day 50 (5th kyu), 70 (4th), 90 (3rd), or 120 (2nd) rolls around, the student is ready to begin practice demos in preparation for the filmed demo.

The teachers are marking the attendance sheets but it is always a good idea for students to check the attendance sheets periodically and have a general idea of how many days he or she has accumulated so that any mistakes can be caught and corrected.

Schedule and Fee Announcement

2007-09-06T17:57:00.000-04:00

Please note that our new schedule and prices are now on our website. The schedule is effective October 1 and the updated fees are effective immediately.

"Real Aikido"

2007-08-27T11:36:00.000-04:00

I got this video from my "supplier" Henry who trains with Chuck on Tuesdays nights at the dojo. :) It's a little grainy and I'm not really sure why the nage is wearing a ski mask but the techniques are done in a real life fashion. My favorite part happens around the 30 second mark when the uke moves in and the nage leads him off-balance without ever touching him.

Spotlight on Sensei

2007-08-25T19:38:00.001-04:00

This month, instead of an adult class Student of the Month, we're going to shine some light on Sensei's life outside of class!

As many of you know, Sensei Stephan McLaughlin is not only the founder of a local nonprofit called HEAL (Humans Everywhere Allied in Love). He is also the author of a recently published book called Seeking Self: an inner journey to healthy relationship!

In the past few months, his book has received some national attention from the Library Journal, Midwest Book Review, and the radio show Share Your Mission, among others. As part of the book's promotion, Stephan will be participating in a local book tour over the next few months. We invite any of our dojo students and friends to come lend their support at these events.

For more information on Sensei's book and updates to the author tour, visit seekingself.org or email info@healfoundation.org.

September 8
Selichot Presentation
Temple Israel

September 27
Book Signing
Davis-Kidd Booksellers

October 6
Book Signing
Tiger Bookstore

October 12-14
Southern Festival of Books
Nashville

November 9
Author Reception
Memphis Central Library

Also, look for upcoming ads in Malco theaters, What is Enlightenment, The Utne Reader, and Sun Monthly.

Student of the Month: Children's Classes

2007-08-25T19:25:00.000-04:00

August's Student of the Month for the Children's Classes is Madeleine!

Madeleine is one of Aikido at the Center's first students! She began training back in September of 2003 when she was just 6 years old. Now almost 10 and in the 4th grade, Madeleine's experience and leadership skills have made her a valuable part of the children's program. Her favorite parts of class are footwork, blowing in and out, and glom tag and her favorite technique is ikkyo.

Outside of class, Maddie enjoys horseback riding, soccer, drawing and, in school, reading, science and art. She also loves animals and has 2 cats and a dog. Madeleine was born in Utah and she did her first roll when she was 2 years old at Utah Aikikai!

Keep on rolling, Madeleine!

Public Service Announcement

2007-08-21T15:12:00.001-04:00

1. Please don't forget that we are not having 7-8 pm classes this month. We will be posting a new schedule in the coming weeks. For the time being, adult students at all levels are invited to attend the Monday and Wednesday 5:30-6:30 class as well as the Saturday 9-10:30 class.

2. There will be no classes on Monday, September 3, in observance of the Labor Day holiday.

3. It looks like this heat wave isn't going anywhere. Although we do train in an air-conditioned environment, please don't forget to stay hydrated throughout your workout. A good rule of thumb is to remember that if I'm thirsty, I've waited too long to hydrate.

These kids are great!

2007-08-14T16:08:00.000-04:00

This has nothing to do with aikido but I thought it was hysterical. I am so doing this with Autumn as soon as she can, well, walk. Ha!

HTML is fixed!

Sokumen Iriminage Video

2007-08-10T12:40:00.001-04:00

Here's one for the 4th kyus and anyone who has learned Sokumen Iriminage. These guys do it a little differently and the "real life setup" is a little amusing but the flow and practical application are really apparent in this clip.

Click

Ukemi Demo

2007-08-06T13:29:00.000-04:00

This is some awesome soft ukemi.

Click

Schedule Announcement

2007-07-31T14:14:00.000-04:00

The 7-8 pm class will continue to be on hold for the month of August. All other classes will take place on schedule and are open to all students.

Student of the Month: Adult Classes

2007-07-25T21:44:00.001-04:00

June's Student of the Month for the Adult Classes is David!

David is one of our assistant instructors and one of the first Aikido at the Center students.

Age: 40
Hometown: Memphis
Rank: 4th Kyu
Favorite Technique: Any Iriminage
Training Since Fall 2004

David became interested in martial arts as a way to regain flexibility and ease of movement after several years of back problems. He chose aikido because of the spiritual dimension of the art and has found that it helps him maintain a sense of groundedness. Outside of the dojo, David is an assistant district attorney and takes yoga classes in addition to his aikido training.

Thank you for your contribution to our school, David!

Student of the Month: Children's Classes

2007-07-25T21:35:00.000-04:00

July's Student of the Month for the Children's Classes is Ty!

Ty is almost always in class and brings a ton of enthusiasm and energy whenever he is around. He is one of the best at solo ukemi and can bend and dodge like nobody else during game time.

Ty just turned 9 years old and is in 4th grade. He began training in April 2007 and doesn't have a favorite technique--he loves them all!

Outside of class, Ty likes gymnastics (we can tell!), piano, singing, soccer, and baseball. Although Ty is a major extrovert, he has a quiet side and like to compose and sit outside and talk to God.

Great job, Ty!

The Uniqueness of Aikido

2007-07-19T00:37:00.000-04:00

Quote from Morihei Ueshiba, founder of Aikido:

Aikido is nonviolence. Every human being has been entrusted with a mandate from heaven, and the victory we seek is to overcome all challenges and fight to the finish, accomplishing our goals. In Aikido we never attack. If you want to strike first, to gain advantage over someone, that is proof your training is insufficient, and it is really you yourself who has been defeated. Let your partner attack, and use his aggression against him. Do not cower from an attack; control it before it begins. Nonviolence is the true practice of Aikido.

Aikido in the News

2007-07-16T13:48:00.000-04:00

I read a few aikido and general martial arts blogs on a regular basis. These two news stories came up in the last couple days:

Aikido in Action
Not what I expected but so true.

A new use for the dojo? A new profession for sensei? I don't think so.

Sandan Test

2007-07-13T16:18:00.001-04:00

Here's another video from Frank--one of his favorites. This one is a compilation from a sandan test. It looks like the various elements are solo kata, weapons, partner practice, and randoori.

Click!

"Aikido vs." Video

2007-07-10T09:04:00.000-04:00

Here's a great video of aikido techniques against various kicks. The title of the video is aikido vs. kickboxing but I think the uke is actually using karate or some other art along those lines. Either way, watch his ukemi. It is fantastic!

Click here to view

Thank you to Frank who provided the link!

Workshop Update

2007-07-08T14:53:00.000-04:00

There are only 7 slots left for the mediation lecture Tuesday, July 17, at the dojo. Please notify Chuck Sullivan at sully19@juno.com or Sharaze at info@aikidoatthecenter.com if you are interested in attending.

Some more information on the workshop content from Chuck:

Many think that mediation is just blurring your vision and letting the mind go "open" or "empty" (this a type of false emptiness, not real emptiness). This is not what we will be learning. We seek to develop awareness and focus. Without focus one will have a really hard time developing any skill whether it is in meditation, taichi, aikido, carpentry, picking stocks, etc. For those of you who would like to do a little reading about neigong and the internal martial arts before the class please consider the following: Relax Into Your Being by BK Frantzis.

Unfortunately there aren't many good books out there that talk about this type of practice. This book is okay. Also, you may want to check out this website: www.neigong.net. It can introduce you to some basic topics.

Workshop Announcement

2007-07-04T18:07:00.000-04:00

Chuck Sullivan with Memphis Internal Arts will be hosting a workshop entitled Introduction to Neigong Meditation on Tuesday, July 17, at 6pm. The objective and purpose of this workshop is to introduce basic concepts of meditation as it relates to neigong/qigong and to introduce a productive meditation practice that will support students' goals and lay a foundation for deeper study. Introduction to Neigong Meditation is free of charge and all you have to bring is a meditation cushion or blanket to sit on.

Memphis Internal Arts is now sharing space with Aikido at the Center! If you are interested in classes or the workshop, email sully19@juno.com. Also, take a few minutes to visit the Memphis Internal Arts website and YouTube playlist.

Schedule Change

2007-07-02T13:57:00.000-04:00

Please note that all 7-8 pm classes are suspended for the month of July.

Also, we will not be meeting on Wednesday, July 4. We hope that everyone has a safe and happy Independence Day!

Resistance and Ukemi

2007-06-29T12:42:00.000-04:00

This is a good article on ukemi. As far as I can tell, the writer's views are very similar to how we approach ukemi in our school.

Student of the Month: Adult Classes

2007-06-25T11:17:00.000-04:00

June's Student of the Month for the Adult Classes is Ben!

Ben is one of our newest student teachers. He has recently taken on a vital role in our Children's Classes, both assisting and leading as the need arises.

Age: 16

Hometown: Memphis

Rank: 5th Kyu

Favorite Technique: Kotegaeshi Ura

Training Since April 2004

Like many martial artists, Ben became interested in martial arts after watching movies. He chose aikido because it is "a big challenge but worth the end goal." Ben has also trained in taekwondo and outside of simply physical self-defense, he has found that his training has helped him during arguments and other verbal situations.

Thank you for all your hard work, Ben!

June Student of the Month: Children's Classes

2007-06-25T10:47:00.000-04:00

June's Student of the Month for the Children's Classes is Connor!

Connor has worked hard and put a ton of energy into class. He has learned to roll, increased his jump roping skills over 100% and is just a lot of fun to have in class.

Connor is 10 years old (as of yesterday!) and just finished 4th grade. He began training in April and his favorite technique is the roly poly because it is an easy way to fall and is a lot of fun.

Outside of class, Connor is multi-talented! He plays piano and guitar and enjoys soccer and basketball. Last summer, Connor performed in the Play Dr. Seuss as part of the Playhouse on the Square Summer Session.

Great job, Connor!

Schedule Change

2007-06-23T21:33:00.000-04:00

We will not be having the 7-8 pm classes on Monday, June 25, and Wednesday, June 27. All other classes will proceed as scheduled.

Student of the Month bios will be posted on Monday!

RSS in Plain English

2007-06-21T11:06:00.000-04:00

This is a great video for anyone who is either new to blogging and reading their news online or for anyone who just didn't realize how easy it can be.

back In business!

2007-06-19T10:15:00.000-04:00

Hi, everyone! This blog was supposed to launch last month (as you can see from the first posts) but things were interrupted by a little future aikidoka named Autumn who arrived unexpectedly on May 14! In the next couple of days, we'll be getting this rolling starting with the June Students of the Month.

O Sensei's Dojo Regulations

2007-05-02T11:50:00.000-04:00

Aikido decides life and death in a single strike, so students must carefully follow the instructor's teaching and not compete to see who is the strongest.

Aikido is the way that teaches how one can deal with several enemies. Students must train themselves to be alert not just to the front but to all sides and the back.

Training should always be conducted in a pleasant and joyful atmosphere.

The instructor teaches only one small aspect of the art. Its versatile applications must be discovered by each student through incessant practice and training.

In daily practice first begin by moving your body and then progress to more intensive practice. Never force anything unnaturally or unreasonably. If this rule is followed, then even elderly people will not hurt themselves and they can train in a pleasant and joyful atmosphere.

The purpose of Aikido is to train mind and body and to produce sincere, earnest people. Since all the techniques are to be transmitted person-to-person, do not randomly reveal them to others, for this might lead to their being used by hoodlums.

Source

Video from 1952

2007-04-25T11:00:00.000-04:00

Click here to view

Special thanks to Henry of Memphis Internal Arts for the link!

First Post!

2007-04-25T10:39:00.000-04:00

Welcome to the new Aikido at the Center blog! We'll be featuring class and dojo announcements, student of the month bios, photos, event details, and other aikido related information. Students are welcome to submit links, feedback, suggestions, etc. by emailing info@aikidoatthecenter.com.

Dojo Mojo

Announcements

Announcements and Photos

New Classes

Kids September 07

May 07

April 2007--kids and adults

Kids march 07

January 2007

September 06/Sharaze's 3rd Kyu

August 2006

November 2005

October 2005

September 05

Photo dump

We regret to inform you...

Dojo Vacation Schedule

Pat Hendricks Sensei

Looking for an edge

A Word From Sensei: Integrity

Not an Aikido Video

Moriteru Ueshiba

Halloween Photos and Announcements

Aikido Angles Video

Student of the Month: Children's Classes

Student of the Month: Adult Classes

Not A Professional Review or, Perhaps I Should Not Blog At Midnight

halloween safety tips

Adjustment

Aikikai Festival Clip

Misc.

Class Announcement

More fun videos

Student of the Month: Adult Class

Student of the Month: Children's Classes

Just dojo stuff

Most important self defense "move"

Training Days

Schedule and Fee Announcement

"Real Aikido"

Spotlight on Sensei

Student of the Month: Children's Classes

Public Service Announcement

These kids are great!

Sokumen Iriminage Video

Ukemi Demo

Schedule Announcement

Student of the Month: Adult Classes

Student of the Month: Children's Classes

The Uniqueness of Aikido

Aikido in the News

Sandan Test

"Aikido vs." Video

Workshop Update

Workshop Announcement

Schedule Change

Resistance and Ukemi

Student of the Month: Adult Classes

June Student of the Month: Children's Classes

Schedule Change

RSS in Plain English

back In business!

O Sensei's Dojo Regulations

Video from 1952

First Post!