tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73301186408986371892024-03-05T02:42:31.292-08:00Dojo News - Member ResourcesMember Resources for students of Aikido Multnomah Aikikai in Portland Oregon.
Dojo News blog articles now hosted on http://www.multnomahaikikai.com/dojo-newsSuzane V.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13994632336280116271noreply@blogger.comBlogger125125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330118640898637189.post-29185137063860312282017-12-30T11:30:00.000-08:002017-12-30T11:30:16.710-08:00Sense What's Behind You + Dojo News shifts platforms<br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Sense What's Behind You -</span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Jan 2018 Winter Intensive theme</span></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">January Winter Intensive is a time to renew your resolve to practice, to warm up your internal engine in the cold of winter, to come together with your fellow dojo members and support each other in taking a significant jump in progress. <span style="white-space: pre;">This year's theme is:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><em style="white-space: pre; word-wrap: break-word;"><strong style="word-wrap: break-word;">Sense What’s Behind You. </strong></em></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The new year is an excellent time to look in the mirror (kagami),break our old habits (biraki) and resolve to improve ourselves. I invite you and challenge you to step up your training this month...</span></span></div>
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<b style="color: #990000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; white-space: pre;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Read more of this post on the new</span></i></b><b style="color: #990000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; white-space: pre;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">home </span></i></b><b style="color: #990000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; white-space: pre;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">for Dojo News blog posts:</span></i></b></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>This site will remain the home of Member Resources!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Check here at the blogspot for study guides, articles, links to great sites to supplement your training.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Dojo News</b> as a publication of articles and news about the dojo is shifting to our main website multnomahaikikai.com and retains the title "Dojo News." Visit the blog now:</span><br />
<span style="white-space: pre;"><a href="http://www.multnomahaikikai.com/dojo-news"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">http://www.multnomahaikikai.com/dojo-news</span></a></span><br />
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Suzane V.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13994632336280116271noreply@blogger.com0Portland, OR 97239, USA45.4874111 -122.687554145.4428836 -122.7682351 45.531938600000004 -122.6068731tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330118640898637189.post-16660878775393099232017-12-24T00:54:00.000-08:002017-12-24T00:54:39.150-08:00Holiday cancellations and end-of-year class schedule<br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dec 25-27 (Monday through Wednesday): </span><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space: pre-wrap;">Adult classes are cancelled.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thursday Dec. 28 and Saturday Dec. 30th. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Classes </span><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">will</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> be held, Come train!</span><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space: pre-wrap;">*</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Dojo will be closed for the </span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">New</span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> Year holiday Jan. 1 and for the MLK Jr. Holiday Jan 15.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Winter weather note:</span><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Extreme weather conditions may lead us to cancel a class from time to time. Check <i>Upcoming Dates</i> page if you’re wondering whether class is on. We’ll post a notification as soon as we make the determination. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://tinyurl.com/aikidodates" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://tinyurl.com/aikidodates</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Links to check for the latest Portland weather forecast:</u></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.katu.com/weather"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://www.katu.com/weather</span><span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.kgw.com/weather"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://www.kgw.com/weather</span><span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.wunderground.com/weather-forecast/US/OR/Portland.html">http://www.wunderground.com/weather-forecast/US/OR/Portland.html</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">*If we ever need to cancel class due to inclement </span><span style="color: #444444; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">weather, we'll post a notice on </span><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Q6wm7n72FK4IT3XthH61MF-WfoZpULjZBJX0LnR3dms/edit?usp=sharing" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Upcoming Dates</i></span></a><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span></span></span></div>
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Suzane V.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16612645391191555947noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330118640898637189.post-24819485973300524202017-11-11T19:00:00.000-08:002017-11-11T23:38:36.865-08:00Lynn Sensei and Bluhm Sensei teach aikido seminar together Dec 1-3, 2017<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Multnomah Aikikai is proud to host Elizabeth Lynn Sensei and Darrell Bluhm Sensei, teaching aikido together for the first time in a seminar Dec 1-3, 2017.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This seminar is a celebration and honoring of their promotion to 7th dan. Please join us for a special weekend of training. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">View seminar details on our <i><a href="http://multnomahaikikai.blogspot.com/p/mark-your-calendar-for-these-upcoming.html" target="_blank">Seminar page</a>.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444;">Printable Flyer:</span><i style="color: #073763;"> </i></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FGxT53SI3nUlKFWhrIJcfTTv1YmMODj8/view?usp=sharing">https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FGxT53SI3nUlKFWhrIJcfTTv1YmMODj8/view?usp=sharing</a></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh2aLOqtNeVGgt_w1is8ZqJgJoQQpSZsyJn7TMHVt81yf9cuiiQGt-R0Ue4Oq6u_92usfsqxUWw5Sn12UczzB2dM9xrN0uZDYxrb3_AIGV0y_UYAZWzT-QeTqj71kwWpWQuWTZA6-nrvhP/s1600/SENSEI_ELIZABETH_LYNN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="570" data-original-width="410" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh2aLOqtNeVGgt_w1is8ZqJgJoQQpSZsyJn7TMHVt81yf9cuiiQGt-R0Ue4Oq6u_92usfsqxUWw5Sn12UczzB2dM9xrN0uZDYxrb3_AIGV0y_UYAZWzT-QeTqj71kwWpWQuWTZA6-nrvhP/s320/SENSEI_ELIZABETH_LYNN.jpg" width="230" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #424242; font-family: "helvetica";"><b>Elizabeth Lynn, 7th dan Shihan</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Founder of Eastshore Aikikai</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Lynn Sensei began training in Aikido in 1971. She trained in Chicago under the late A. Tohei Shihan, and continued her training in San Francisco and in Berkeley, CA. From 1990 -- 1994 she was kenshusei in the teacher's training program conducted by I. Shibata Shihan at Berkeley Aikikai. She founded Eastshore Aikikai in September 1991. She was General Secretary of the United States Aikido Federation, Western Region, from 1984 -- 2001, and General Secretary of Birankai North America from 2001 -- 2006. In April, 2007 she was awarded the title of Shihan in BNA by T. K. Chiba Shihan. She is the current Chair of Birankai North American Senior Council. </span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Enjoy this video clip of Lynn Sensei teaching at the 2016 BNA Aikido Summer Camp:</span><br />
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<b>Darrell Bluhm, 7th dan Shihan</b></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Founder and Chief Instructor, Siskiyou Aikikai</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Darrell Bluhm Sensei began his Aikido training in 1970 as a student at UC Santa Cruz. In 1973 he spent two months living at the Iwama dojo in Ibaraki prefecture, Japan, training with M. Saito Shihan, as well as time training at Hombu dojo in Tokyo. In 1981 he became a student of T.K. Chiba Shihan and a founding member and assistant instructor of San Diego Aikikai. In 1983 he founded Siskiyou Aikikai in Ashland, Oregon where he has taught Aikido and Tai Chi Chuan for the past 33 years and the Feldenkrais Method for 20 years. In 1996 he was promoted to 6th Dan, in 2002 awarded Shihan title by Chiba Sensei, and in 2006 received Shihan recognition from Doshu M. Ueshiba at Hombu Dojo. He serves as a member of the BNA Senior Council and as the BNA representative to Aikikai Hombu Dojo.</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Enjoy this video clip of Bluhm Sensei teaching at Bucks County Aikido in 2013:</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b>Check our seminar schedule, prices and directions to the dojo:</b></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><a href="http://multnomahaikikai.blogspot.com/p/mark-your-calendar-for-these-upcoming.html">http://multnomahaikikai.blogspot.com/p/mark-your-calendar-for-these-upcoming.html</a></span></div>
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Suzane V.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13994632336280116271noreply@blogger.com06415 SW Macadam Ave, Portland, OR 97239, USA45.4776788 -122.6725172999999845.4775048 -122.67283229999998 45.4778528 -122.67220229999998tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330118640898637189.post-16902938830140138712017-10-07T11:00:00.000-07:002017-10-07T11:00:09.360-07:00Ready for your First Course in Aikido?<h3>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i>First Course</i> in Aikido starts Tue. Oct 17, 2017</span></span></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigyuUfTGWprSYPSJmmpgy64P7ywt7bBfJ2Z_mXnDuPWfp-lFyVCABc0BVxZjSkH8EuAm7klZycVG5FR1_FAu3ukCIKEaiWaQjbsw5nNJmAcP2dL4xyUM9MoJoZ5bvB8qGSYyRk3Y_-X3RT/s1600/aikido_spring_images_square2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="750" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigyuUfTGWprSYPSJmmpgy64P7ywt7bBfJ2Z_mXnDuPWfp-lFyVCABc0BVxZjSkH8EuAm7klZycVG5FR1_FAu3ukCIKEaiWaQjbsw5nNJmAcP2dL4xyUM9MoJoZ5bvB8qGSYyRk3Y_-X3RT/s320/aikido_spring_images_square2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> Aikido practice is tasty and
nourishing! Ready
to dig in to your first course? For the first day, plan to arrive about 15 minutes before
class. We'll get you registered and ready to roll. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Plan to wear
something comfortable you can move in. Be prepared to practice barefoot.
Before stepping onto the mat we’ll ask you to clean your feet and
remove any jewelry. </span></span> </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><strong>Schedule</strong></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">First Course participants are eligible to take two <em>fundamentals</em> classes per week: </span></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Tuesdays, 6:15pm-7:15pm and </span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Saturdays, 10:30am - 11:30am </span></span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><strong>Fee: $97 </strong>includes a uniform and classes two days per week</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">. Series runs Tuesday October 17 - Saturday November 11th. </span></span></span></span> </span></span><br />
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<b><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">How to register: </span></span></b><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Download and fill out the <a href="http://www.multnomahaikikai.com/register-now">application form</a>; you can bring it in with you on your first day. Make your payment for "First Course" through <span style="color: blue;"><a href="https://squareup.com/market/multnomah-aikikai" target="_blank">our online payment portal.</a></span></span></span><br />
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<b><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Location:</span></span></b><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Aikido Multnomah Aikikai: 6415 SW Macadam Ave, Portland OR 97239 </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Learn more: <a data-ft="{"tn":"-U"}" data-lynx-mode="async" data-lynx-uri="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2FPracticeAikido.com%2F&h=ATOnDGc2W3fKCc22bvNHa7VWpohkPr8kKuAFm2WF7zgZG4w22P1v6PB-31ZKPd_a0zcauIe2gHx_hLiZgxN2t4aLJkzkKyw-wbW5gY_nWG3fJz869dLzqhiSYgYX6GMy5TtwRaeSRQdzpORJCALH9OK--cYwXwXzXjcXDN0ZCDckw8-5D_iEVv3fbA1gZNMAT3-KLG2M3wbdryquOfUG-hfMlsR-A70poq9nLJKkfuYqs7GNEMuN6wteEFTaDSYE0E6lv8MTd47NHi0xjLopNz2YPH9Dq0puzwdHcBScSqPW" href="http://www.multnomahaikikai.com/first-steps/" target="_blank">PracticeAikido.com</a></span></span> </span></span></div>
Suzane V.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13994632336280116271noreply@blogger.com06415 SW Macadam Ave, Portland, OR 97239, USA45.4776788 -122.6725172999999845.4775048 -122.67283229999998 45.4778528 -122.67220229999998tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330118640898637189.post-56227165126542695542017-09-12T22:46:00.004-07:002017-09-12T22:46:57.437-07:00A free taste of Aikido at the Aikido Appetizer Open House<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "cambria"; line-height: 1.2; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We invite our Portland neighbors, our extended dojo community and anyone curious about the art of Aikido.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhff0RCAwGlN20zEGeo_BWwVTcNzfuocImWGgxkWTkJfFVCKWN5jhy0zHZz3-rb9N2M70UZ9lp5OMb1SNFidg1FTPphVxWRuTA8wwjsSSlhJ3vzbk4H6btI2E17qghnMMoo8aFa_ITyHouq/s1600/aikido_spring_images_square.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhff0RCAwGlN20zEGeo_BWwVTcNzfuocImWGgxkWTkJfFVCKWN5jhy0zHZz3-rb9N2M70UZ9lp5OMb1SNFidg1FTPphVxWRuTA8wwjsSSlhJ3vzbk4H6btI2E17qghnMMoo8aFa_ITyHouq/s320/aikido_spring_images_square.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.multnomahaikikai.com/first-steps/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "cambria"; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Aikido Appetizer</span></a></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: "cambria"; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.multnomahaikikai.com/first-steps/" style="text-decoration: none;">Saturday </a> Oct 7, 2017</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "cambria"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: x-large;"><i>Free!</i></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "cambria"; line-height: 1.2; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Enjoy a taste of what the practice of Aikido is all about. </span><span style="font-family: "cambria"; line-height: 1.2; white-space: pre-wrap;">Get ready for fun! </span><span style="font-family: "cambria"; line-height: 1.2; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is an ideal opportunity to experience Aikido firsthand. This free</span><span style="font-family: "cambria"; line-height: 1.2; white-space: pre-wrap;"> event is open to both adults and children</span><span style="font-family: "cambria"; line-height: 1.2; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.2; white-space: pre-wrap;">You are invited to our Open House - the Aikido Appetizer! Family, friends, neighbors are welcome! This is a great opportunity to try something new. Here's the schedule:</span></div>
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<li><b style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.2; white-space: pre-wrap;">10am:</b><span style="font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.2; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Doors open. Enjoy a cup of tea or coffee and get oriented to the space. </span></li>
<li><b style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.2; white-space: pre-wrap;">10:30am:</b><span style="font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.2; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Step onto the mat for a sensory experience and introduction to the art of aikido. Whet your appetite for for martial practice and get your body moving. Everyone can participate at their own pace. </span></li>
<li><b style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.2; white-space: pre-wrap;">After class: </b><span style="font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.2; white-space: pre-wrap;"> We will have tea and sushi. Socialize and ask questions of members. </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "cambria"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="line-height: 19px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Learn more:</b></span> </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.multnomahaikikai.com/first-steps/" style="font-family: tahoma; text-decoration: none; white-space: normal;">http://www.multnomahaikikai.com/first-steps/</a></span></span></div>
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Dave Dewberryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12087006234252096826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330118640898637189.post-82565740524143907472017-08-08T09:51:00.000-07:002017-08-08T09:51:36.567-07:00Jo Ha Kyu - universal progression of phenomena<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Jo - Ha - Kyu </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">by Adam Westphal</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHjkeazHPc8Px4n7ZXpi6TSzLo9leIPGOnYBCLD_SjFApf-72aiEimOtwfmOk2Wgt4FmKKsDVJ7SRAI6PyT4eg8pI2Q0y1qsPg32DWjqhX9IlnFr55fPIdD3JAjUCUIUvBZq_EwIYvqyLH/s1600/bamboo+deer+scarer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="667" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHjkeazHPc8Px4n7ZXpi6TSzLo9leIPGOnYBCLD_SjFApf-72aiEimOtwfmOk2Wgt4FmKKsDVJ7SRAI6PyT4eg8pI2Q0y1qsPg32DWjqhX9IlnFr55fPIdD3JAjUCUIUvBZq_EwIYvqyLH/s320/bamboo+deer+scarer.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>shishi-odoshi</i> = deer scarer</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Any season is a beautiful time to visit the Japanese Gardens
but summertime is especially nice.<span> </span>The warm
weather, the lush greenery, and all the sounds that fill the natural space combine
to make for a wonderful experience.<span> </span><span> </span>Tucked away between what is called the
Strolling Pond Garden and the Natural Garden is a curious device made of bamboo
called a <i>shishi-odoshi</i> which
translates as ‘deer-scarer’.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">This dual-purpose fountain and animal chaser consists of a piece
of hollow bamboo resting with its heavy closed end against a rock.<span> </span>A pivot suspends its middle and the open end
points up towards the sky as water pours slowly and steadily into it.<span> </span>Filling up with water causes the center of
gravity to change, forcing the open end downward.<span> </span>This shift dumps its contents, forcing a
sudden reversal as the heavy end knocks back against the rock making a sharp
sound.<span> </span>The cycle repeats.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">In many traditional Japanese arts, there is a concept called
<i>jo-ha-kyu</i> (序 破 急).<span> </span>The characters can translate in many
different ways.<span> </span><i>Jo</i> is most commonly means ‘beginning’, <i>ha </i>when isolated can read ‘to break; to
ruin; to destroy’, and <i>kyu </i>reads as ‘rapid; urgent; quick’.<span> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">The term <i>jo-ha-kyu</i>
first appeared in writings around the 14<sup>th</sup> century by the renowned Zeami
Motokyo, creator of the Noh Theatre.<span> </span>Similar
to martial teachings, his writings were hidden away, shared only within
families of the Noh theatre, until they were discovered in a second hand
bookshop.<span> </span>He wrote, “Every phenomenon in
the universe develops itself through a certain progression.<span> </span>Even the cry of a bird and the noise of an
insect follow this progression.<span> </span>It is
called Jo, Ha, Kyu.”<span> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">This progression describes how a Noh actor should raise
their arm slowly, hold it momentarily suspended, and then quickly drop it.<span> </span>It also dictates the composition of the music,
progressing towards faster and more climactic tones.<span> </span>Even the acts of a Noh drama follow this form
towards climax.<span> </span>The bamboo <i>shishi-odoshi</i> fills slowly and just as
slowly starts to teeter.<span> </span>It reaches a
point where it suddenly purges itself of its water and rushes back to its
stationary position, punctuated with a loud noise.</span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
In partner practice in aikido and iaido, there is a build-up of tension as the
pair approaches each other, a sudden break in this tension as a technique is
executed, and acceleration towards the end of the form.<span> </span>The solo practice of iaido kata lends itself
well to the study of <i>jo-ha-kyu</i>.<span> </span>One can isolate movements without
interference or distraction.<span> </span>At more
advanced levels of practice an onlooker might be able to imagine an
opponent being cut down by the strikes of the practitioner.<span> </span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
What forces work upon the pair or the <i>shishi-odoshi</i>?<span> </span>It is not simply the bamboo that makes the
noise.<span> </span>Gravity, the water, and the
positioning of the bamboo all play their part.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;">At the beginning of your next practice, you will face the <i>shomen </i>while sitting in <i>seiza</i>.<span>
</span>The calligraphy on the wall is a permanent record of a moment of <i>jo-ha-kyu</i> by the calligrapher.<span> </span>If the preparation of the ink is not correct,
it will be too light or too dark.<span> </span>If the
composition is not considered, the lines and characters will be out of
balance.<span> </span>If the calligrapher lingers or
hesitates while writing, ink will pool.<span> </span>How heavy or
light the hand was that held the brush will show in the lines.<br />
<br />
How will your next practice begin?<span>
</span>And how will it end?</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTckWWzqDvbQ6hxckYtcbuPZryq1aAvCHPKcV9OS-iwM1dxnnRIyJoOfPAseyRFi-Sw2XYJtoDg8DdqGBh-UFL6JpIPjpdH25xzhUB7BOm8tfQ2SWW6dwLi8iFE2WPllKZUETTCWsISvhe/s1600/calligrapher+images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="211" data-original-width="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTckWWzqDvbQ6hxckYtcbuPZryq1aAvCHPKcV9OS-iwM1dxnnRIyJoOfPAseyRFi-Sw2XYJtoDg8DdqGBh-UFL6JpIPjpdH25xzhUB7BOm8tfQ2SWW6dwLi8iFE2WPllKZUETTCWsISvhe/s1600/calligrapher+images.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<br />
<br />Suzane V.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13994632336280116271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330118640898637189.post-10270441898329453802017-07-23T18:30:00.000-07:002017-07-24T01:09:14.526-07:00"Let Go of Me!" Self Defense and Embodied Learning workshop<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/let-go-of-me-embodied-learning-self-defense-tickets-36474263504" target="_blank">Register </a></b></span></div>
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>"Let Go of Me!"</i></b></span></span><br />
<div class="js-xd-read-more-toggle-view read-more__toggle-view">
<div class="js-xd-read-more-contents l-mar-top-3">
<br />
<b>If someone takes hold of you, literally or figuratively, how do you release their grasp?</b><br />
<b> </b> <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibF_97gnwmDBzXT4JMImd-zF8rSfwrvXWMqkJFyLDze-pp0gcWoKj_o5ovRlSYqLGHsJWUCJt4dIkKJAN0-sa4Vf9P53Zp5sa89uABWQMjjq-xHMN-Mvc6XP2sfIW8o_CEwfglutSjWrxJ/s1600/Flashcard+image+IMG_2835.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="498" data-original-width="378" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibF_97gnwmDBzXT4JMImd-zF8rSfwrvXWMqkJFyLDze-pp0gcWoKj_o5ovRlSYqLGHsJWUCJt4dIkKJAN0-sa4Vf9P53Zp5sa89uABWQMjjq-xHMN-Mvc6XP2sfIW8o_CEwfglutSjWrxJ/s320/Flashcard+image+IMG_2835.PNG" width="242" /></a><br />
At this event we will explore common wrist grabs, options for
response and how you can move your body to release a person’s grip on
you. This physical practice serves as not only a metaphor for
interpersonal encounters but an embodied learning experience you can
carry with you and apply to your everyday interpersonal encounters.<br />
<br />
<br />
A supple stance, both mentally and physically, allows us to
move and adapt to the changing environment. The non-competitive martial
art of aikido affords us the opportunity to make the conceptual physical and
explore the nuances of communication and leadership in a safe
laboratory of embodied learning practice. When we imbue the sensory
activities with intention and awareness, the relevancy to our workplace
encounters springs to life.<br />
<br />
<u>Benefits and outcomes include:</u><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Practice simple wrist releases to quickly escape unwanted physical contact. </li>
<li>Learn how you can use the power of the ground to apply leverage and break someone’s grip on you.</li>
<li>Understand the mechanics of the human grip and experiment with the natural levers of the body.</li>
<li>Sense your instinctive response to challenging encounters and consciously introduce options for change.</li>
<li> Build confidence that you can learn to change the dynamics of a developing situation in its early stages.</li>
</ul>
<br />
Please be prepared to remove your shoes and participate barefoot. Wear something comfortable you can easily move in. This event is free for dojo members. $25 for non-members. Become a member: <a href="http://www.multnomahaikikai.com/becomeamember/">http://www.multnomahaikikai.com/becomeamember/</a><br />
<br />
<b>Taught by</b> Suzane Van Amburgh, Chief Instructor of Aikido Multnomah Aikikai and Founder of Space to Move.<br />
<br />
<b>When:</b> August 5, Saturday, Noon- 1:15pm<br />
<b>Fee:</b> $25 (Free for dojo members)<br />
<b>Where:</b> Aikido Multnomah Aikikai, 6415 SW Macadam Ave, Portland Or 97239<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/let-go-of-me-embodied-learning-self-defense-tickets-36474263504" target="_blank">Register now! </a></b></span></div>
</div>
Suzane V.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13994632336280116271noreply@blogger.com0Aikido Multnomah Aikikai, 6415 sw Macadam Ave,Portland, OR 97239, USA45.4874111 -122.687554145.4428836 -122.7682351 45.531938600000004 -122.6068731tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330118640898637189.post-36863018147982772422017-06-13T12:12:00.000-07:002017-06-13T12:12:08.348-07:00"Five Principles - Looking Deeper" by Aki Fleshler Sensei<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmssfHcOOc0djm9hS-JT38IBXlVMrgkEtp8ez3NskoMroCifS0iOo0g5sX9DgEDBqpiP__B42MlxBn8iIH96FTZIyFHLfsrTdYPWVIFNuCWx0vEg1XAxqP4pjUMI8BWuoJ7c0Ayd8IdgfA/s1600/Chiba+Sensei+memorial+class+20170606_192626.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmssfHcOOc0djm9hS-JT38IBXlVMrgkEtp8ez3NskoMroCifS0iOo0g5sX9DgEDBqpiP__B42MlxBn8iIH96FTZIyFHLfsrTdYPWVIFNuCWx0vEg1XAxqP4pjUMI8BWuoJ7c0Ayd8IdgfA/s400/Chiba+Sensei+memorial+class+20170606_192626.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chiba Sensei memorial class held at Multnomah Aikikai on June 6, 2017</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<b>Five Principles -
Looking Deeper</b></div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; text-align: justify;">
Aki
Fleshler, 6-dan, Shihan</div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; text-align: justify;">
Founder,
Technical Director, Multnomah Aikikai</div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="NL" style="mso-ansi-language: NL;">Portland, Oregon</span></div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; text-align: justify;">
June
5, 2017</div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
[Disclaimer(s): Along
with other senior teachers in BNA, I was asked to write a long piece for the
community. I’ve never been very shy about this, but now that we are approaching
the 2-year anniversary of Chiba Sensei’s passing, it might be thought that I am
contributing to some kind of Sensei-worship. So I need to be clear here: Sensei
was flesh and blood and mind and spirit, mortal, magnificent, and also on good
terms with his own demons. He taught us that we must learn to “swallow the
teacher whole and then spit out the poison.” Many of us have done exactly
that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My hope is that I can pass along
the medicine which I retained. </div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
Sensei often spoke of
his work as a kind of gardening: he spoke of planting seeds deeply into his
students, and then releasing them to see what would come of it. He also
acknowledged that he was setting impossible goals for himself, but said, “I
would rather be a noble failure than not try.”</div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
I would love to have
some confidence that any of my own efforts, on the tatami or behind the
keyboard, could help some future student, or future teacher. And surely there
will be someone who is offended by what follows, or who sneers at my <i>na</i><i><span lang="NL" style="mso-ansi-language: NL;">ï</span>vet</i><i><span lang="FR" style="mso-ansi-language: FR;">é</span>, </i>or who wonders how that grouchy old
guy in the corner survived the training to which we are committed. However, all
of that is out of my “span of control”.]</div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
Some 10+ years ago
Chiba Sensei presented to us his “Five Principles”. As I recall, he said that
O’Sensei has shared “Six Principles”, and that we were to pay attention to
that. However, Chiba Sensei was presenting principles based on his own personal
experience. </div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
The Principles:</div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level3 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -12.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Centeredness,</div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level3 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -12.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Connectedness, </div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level3 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -12.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Wholeness,</div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level3 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -12.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Liveliness and </div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level3 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -12.0pt;">
<span lang="IT" style="font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: IT; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="IT" style="mso-ansi-language: IT;">Openness</span></div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
In all honesty, this
penetrated barely below the skin of my own practice and my own teaching. It
seemed so clear that you could look at beginning, intermediate and advanced <i>aikidoka</i>
and see little, partial, and finally mature manifestations of these principles.
That was all I needed to see, all I need to know. Just keep training. Help
students become more lively etc…</div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
My perspective has
shifted; deepened, I hope. Before elaborating, I need to share more about the
process of training from my perspective.</div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
* * * </div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
Recently I was asked
what was unique about Chiba Sensei. The undertone of the question was really,
“How could you stand to study with such a person?” Indeed, from the outside,
i.e, watching classes and demonstrations live or over video, the younger Chiba
Sensei appeared to be brutal, uncaring, and violent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
Sensei was famously
concerned that Aikido would become de-fanged, watered down, lose its martial
roots. To the very end of his career he would remind us of O’Sensei’s teaching:
that the techniques of Aikido are potentially deadly, and should be practiced
with all due seriousness and care.</div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
From the inside,
although the physical training itself was indeed quite risky, there was a
dimension of relationship and communication, completely invisible from the
outside, which was intimate, compassionate, and supportive. I don’t mean simply
that we’d go out for beer and talk about life after class, or roll around on
his floor listening to 1950s Top 40 (which we did). I’m talking about the
crucible of the <i>dojo</i> itself. </div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
The depth and meaning
of this is only now becoming clear to me, over 4 decades since my first contact
with this remarkable master.</div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
For example, I was
always astonished at how every class I took from Sensei was specifically
intended for me, for what I needed in my development at that particular moment.
Then I realized that everyone, even in a room of 300 people, felt the same! I
asked my <i>sempai</i> how he did that… “I asked him the same question. He told
me, ‘I walk in the room and stop, and feel everyone present, before taking
another step.’”</div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
Initially I accepted
this response as a direct answer to my question. Somehow Sensei was able to
“get” that I needed to see the relationship between <i>ikkyo</i> and <i>kokyu-ho</i>,
or how to take <i>ukemi</i> from <i>kote-gaeshi</i>, while at the same time
filling the needs of the other 299 bodies on the <i>tatami</i>. </div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
Another example:
Sensei urged us to “Know where your teacher is at all times!”, to “Walk in your
teacher’s shadow!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seemed to me that
this was simply encouragement to pay attention (no small thing), and to
maximize the value of your time with your teacher (also important, to be sure).</div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
Another example: Once
he took a group of teachers outside to sit on the grass and listen to some
stories. He told us that a teacher must have “claws of an eagle and heart of a
Buddha” (as I remember it). Initially I thought he was telling us that in order
to transmit<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>Budō</i>, the Way of the
Warrior, it was necessary to be ruthless and violent; but without the restraint
of compassion and human understanding, we would destroy our students, so who
would be there in the end to receive and pass along the teaching? </div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
Likewise Sensei
explained that teachers embody the “<i>Bodhisattva</i> principle”: some are
satisfied to get to the “other shore”, even after a very long and difficult
journey. Then there are those who feel compassion for humanity and go back to
bring others across. In doing so, they, the teachers, must suffer through the
journey again with their students; one must be willing to bleed all over again,
to have one’s heart broken all over again! But in my bottom-line understanding:
it’s the other shore that is the objective.</div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
I had also heard —
this from Sensei M Nakazono — that the character for <i>Ai</i> (<span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">合</span>) could be read either as Love
or as Combat/Battle/War. This seemed really clever to me: a vital encounter
between two sides could be either erotic or violent; and perhaps sometimes, in
some pathological manner, the distinction might even blur! </div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
Also — again with
Nakazono Sensei — after a particularly exhausting and terrifying two-hour
session — we sat <i>seiza</i> until our legs were falling off — then he shouted
at each one of us in turn demanding to know, “What is the purpose of Aikido”?
Finally his answer, “The purpose of Aikido is to become a human being!” It
seemed to me that he was saying, “if you can survive this, all the violence
will be gone from you, and you can be a good person.”</div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
* * *</div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
After a very long
time, it has become clear that my thinking and understanding was completely
upside down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Having survived a lot of
extremely challenging life experiences, hearing the lessons of the <i>dojo</i>
whispering in my head and my heart, louder than thunder, here where the road
has led me:</div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level3 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -12.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>The real transmission of <i>Sensei’s very
personal embrace of each student in the class of 300</i> was not at all the
techniques which he imparted, but rather the feeling of complete, unreserved
connection.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level3 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -12.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>The real teaching of <i>Know where your teacher
is at all times! / Walk in your teacher’s shadow! </i>was to fire up our own
ability to connect, at all times, beyond our own personal boundaries, and
ultimately to a way of self-denial and self-sacrifice. </div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level3 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -12.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>The real teaching of <i>eagle’s claws/Buddha’s
heart</i> was that the Way consists of both sides, that the Teacher must
transmit both sides, that the Student must absorb and digest and embody both
sides.</div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level3 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -12.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>The real teaching of the <i>Bodhisattva
principle</i> was that the Way is actually embodied in the shared journey of
the Teacher and the Student, not in some destination that, once reached,
releases you from further effort and sacrifice on your own behalf.</div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level3 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -12.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>The real teaching of the <i>two sides of Ai</i>
is that Life and Death, Living and Dying, are the same, intimately fused at the
root, and that one does not come without the other.</div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level3 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -12.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>The real teaching of “<i>To become a Human Being</i>!”
is that even in the midst of desperate, risky, frightening combat, one can be
conscious and compassionate, at every moment.</div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
These are not
abstract teachings. If you embody these teachings, then you embody Sensei, and
his teacher, and his teacher before him. This is why we bow to the <i>shomen</i>
at the start of class. </div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
* * *</div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
It is very natural
that people come to study a “martial art” with a dualistic, mechanistic
mindset, with raw physical self-defense as an objective. It is very natural
that it would take a lifetime to penetrate beyond the technical to the
soul-depth of this remarkable Way. </div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
Recently I had an
conversation (a martial encounter?) with a new student, who is ordained clergy.
He was somewhat trained in western boxing, Thai kick-boxing, <i>hapkido</i>,
and <i>parkour</i> (not considered a martial art, but…). In his training, he
embodied the principle of break-or-be-broken, kill-or-be-killed — what Chiba
Sensei called “<i>Ai Uchi</i> — mutual striking down”. He could not see or
sense the principle of executing techniques with any sensitivity to the <i>uke</i>
or moderation to the circumstance. He responded to techniques (hard to call it
“took <i>ukemi</i>”) with rigidity and resistance, and, frankly, fear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I marched him over to a sign on our wall
listing Chiba Sensei’s “Five Principals”. “This is what we are all about. This
is where we are going,” I said. I presented Sensei’s concept of “<i>Ai Nuchi</i>”
— mutual passing through, with full commitment. “I don’t understand,” he
responded. “What does any of that have to do with martial arts? what about the
bad guy?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I proposed that this was the
path to a compassionate outcome for both him and his attacker, a complete way
of life, and that if he really took his faith seriously then this was the only
martial path to embrace.</div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
He was not convinced.</div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
* * *</div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
But I did have my own
epiphany. For Sensei, and for those of us who strive to embody his art, these
are the principles of the Big Aikido. </div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; text-align: justify;">
to
be <i>Centered</i> at all times and in every interaction, </div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; text-align: justify;">
to
be <i>Connected</i> to all things and all people, </div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; text-align: justify;">
to
be <i>Whole</i> in all your movement and all your stillness, </div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; text-align: justify;">
to
be <i>Lively</i> in your responsiveness to the ever-changing, </div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; text-align: justify;">
to
be <i>Open</i> to all that surrounds you, in every direction of time and space
…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
The <i>dojo</i> is a
pure laboratory where we can assess and improve our embodiment of these
principles in their simplest, purest form. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sensei railed against a “pleasure-seeking
attitude” in our training, a “winning-losing mentality.” As I now understand
it, these are deep flaws which block and undermine our acquisition of the “Five
Principles”. I believe that training is no more than escapism, and a decadent
self-indulgence, if we do not carry that embodiment and its continual
improvement beyond the <i>kata</i>, beyond the <i>tatami</i>, beyond the walls
of the <i>dojo</i>, and out into our wide crazy life in the wide crazy world.</div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
If nothing else, this
is my challenge to myself. I hope to meet with you again on that trackless
path.</div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
Palm-to-palm </div>
<div class="Body" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
Aki Fleshler</div>
<br />
<br />
~<br />
<br />Suzane V.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13994632336280116271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330118640898637189.post-67410481691109523002017-05-18T21:33:00.002-07:002017-05-18T21:33:26.579-07:00Aikido Summer Camp - a revelation and an opportunity not to be missed!<h2>
<span style="color: #0b5394;">Aikido Summer Camp is in Tacoma WA </span></h2>
<h2>
<span style="color: #0b5394;">Wednesday July 26 - Monday July 31</span></h2>
Birankai North America sponsors summer camp at <a href="http://camp.birankai.org/location/">University of Puget Sound</a><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><b>Why go?</b></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="m_7709153239740543456gmail-p1">
<i>When I attended my first Summer
Camp, I had only been practicing Aikido for a few years, and the world
of my practice was largely defined by the narrow walls and small circle
of dedicated students at our San Francisco dojo. I was training in a
snug mental room with only a small window offering me a glimpse of the
larger world. </i></div>
<div class="m_7709153239740543456gmail-p1">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="m_7709153239740543456gmail-p1">
<i>My arrival at Summer Camp was a revelation, as if an
entire wall of the room had been torn away to reveal an expansive
landscape of Birankai members and teachers from across the country and
around the globe. I couldn’t help but venture out
and start exploring, both the larger world of Aikido and the limits of
my own endurance and capabilities. </i></div>
<div class="m_7709153239740543456gmail-p1">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="m_7709153239740543456gmail-p1">
<i>Summer Camp showed me that I could
train harder and longer than I’d ever dared before, encouraged by the
vast wealth of sensei and sempai all around me. As the
week progressed and I became weary, I found that I no longer had energy
to waste on rigid or inefficient movements. </i></div>
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<i>My technique became more
supple and flowing because I was too tired to be otherwise. This unique
experience stuck with me after Summer Camp ended, and I couldn’t wait to
return the next year to find it again.</i> ~ Dan Reid<br />
<br />
Read another compelling story of Leslie Cohen's first summer camp experience:<br />
<a href="http://biran.birankai.org/?p=1500">http://biran.birankai.org/?p=1500</a><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Learn all about Summer Camp</span></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> at: <a href="http://camp.birankai.org/">http://camp.birankai.org/</a></span><br />
<ul>
<li>See the line up of instructors: <a href="http://camp.birankai.org/instructors/">http://camp.birankai.org/instructors/ </a></li>
<li>View the rates and options:<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7d0dzlWZXyoOUZ3MmdJcjBWUk0/view">https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7d0dzlWZXyoOUZ3MmdJcjBWUk0/view</a> </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="color: #990000;">Early registration discount ends <b>May 21 </b></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #990000;">Be sure to complete your registration by <b>June 18</b></span></li>
</ul>
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Suzane V.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16612645391191555947noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330118640898637189.post-60025210189167292502017-05-14T21:04:00.003-07:002017-05-14T21:04:48.192-07:00Kyu tests next weekWe will hold kyu tests in Forest Grove on 22 May at 6pm.<br />
Everyone in the Multnomah Aikikai community is welcome to attend.<br />
<br />
Contact me if you have any questions.<br />
<br />
Thanks,<br />
DaveDave Dewberryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12087006234252096826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330118640898637189.post-40865551748715711072017-04-14T13:00:00.000-07:002017-04-14T13:00:11.905-07:00The Right Way to Fall - "aim for the meat, not the bone"<br />
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Is there a right way to fall?</span></h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn8X6p-nE7Xqif-hmJAFEcQsvGH7N38c7ZM4PF1Obv-omB8Mo9s_AIXeGNLxn-I2S8-lhTZHl2yEglQUb4NjzqlnG9q4Qi9AJ688cvdLR6Go2bIc3PRX1G7ka5IyPKM0O4AtH_wEAQswJU/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-04-07+at+6.19.15+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn8X6p-nE7Xqif-hmJAFEcQsvGH7N38c7ZM4PF1Obv-omB8Mo9s_AIXeGNLxn-I2S8-lhTZHl2yEglQUb4NjzqlnG9q4Qi9AJ688cvdLR6Go2bIc3PRX1G7ka5IyPKM0O4AtH_wEAQswJU/s400/Screen+Shot+2017-04-07+at+6.19.15+PM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">This New York Times article describes the value in learning how to fall and strategies for minimizing injury during a fall.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">here are a few excerpts...</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , "times" , serif; font-size: 17px;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , "times" , serif; font-size: 17px;">The key is to not fight the fall, but just to roll with it, as paratroopers do. “The idea is to orient your body to the ground so when you hit, there’s a multistep process of hitting and shifting your body weight to break up that impact,” said Sgt. First Class Chuck Davidson, master trainer at the </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.bragg.army.mil/index.php/units-tenants/advanced-airborne-school&source=gmail&ust=1485563410130000&usg=AFQjCNGJ0TZ5QdMwkmAXwbr7TzRwoZmQEg" href="https://www.bragg.army.mil/index.php/units-tenants/advanced-airborne-school" style="color: #326891; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 17px;" target="_blank">Army’s Advanced Airborne School </a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , "times" , serif; font-size: 17px;">at Ft. Bragg, N.C.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , "times" , serif; font-size: 17px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , "times" , serif; font-size: 17px;">Accept that you’re falling and go with it, round your body, and don’t stiffen and distribute the energy so you take the fall in the widest area possible,” said Paul Schreiner, a black belt jiu jitsu instructor at </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://www.marcelogarciajj.com/&source=gmail&ust=1485563410130000&usg=AFQjCNFX2oad8vtF0fkDFattRD7uxxyY_A" href="http://www.marcelogarciajj.com/" style="color: #326891; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 17px;" target="_blank">Marcelo Garcia Academy</a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , "times" , serif; font-size: 17px;"> in New York City.</span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , "times" , serif; font-size: 17px;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , "times" , serif; font-size: 17px;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , "times" , serif; font-size: 17px;">...try to take the hit on the fleshiest parts of your body, like the side of your thigh, buttocks and shoulder. “Aim for the meat, not bone,” said Kevin Inouye, a stuntman and assistant professor of acting, movement and stage combat at the </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://www.uwyo.edu/&source=gmail&ust=1485563410130000&usg=AFQjCNFXOLg3nehYr5AafvLeCuw1AseePg" href="http://www.uwyo.edu/" style="color: #326891; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;" target="_blank">University of Wyoming</a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , "times" , serif; font-size: 17px;">. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , "times" , serif; font-size: 17px;">Full article:</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/24/well/move/the-right-way-to-fall.html?emc=eta1"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/24/well/move/the-right-way-to-fall.html?emc=eta1</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">or this short url link is "print friendly":</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #f0f4f5; color: #333333; font-size: 11px;"> </span><span style="color: #004276;"><span style="font-size: 11px;"><b><a href="https://nyti.ms/2jSQS1I">https://nyti.ms/2jSQS1I</a></b></span></span></span></div>
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Suzane V.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16612645391191555947noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330118640898637189.post-88416552462021379612017-04-08T11:00:00.000-07:002017-04-08T11:00:11.302-07:00First Course in Aikido (beginners series) begins April 12, 2017<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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FIRST COURSE: BEGINNER'S SERIES</h1>
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FIRST COURSE IN AIKIDO: <strong>SPRING, STARTS APRIL 12TH</strong></h3>
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<strong>Special includes a uniform and classes two days per week. Fee $97</strong></div>
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Ready to dig in to your first course? Aikido practice is tasty and nourishing! For the first day, you can arrive a few minutes before class. We'll get you registered and ready to roll. Plan to wear something comfortable you can move in. Be prepared to practice barefoot. Before stepping onto the mat we’ll ask you to clean your feet and remove any jewelry. </div>
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First Course participants are eligible to take the following classes :</div>
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<strong>Schedule:</strong><br /><br />Two <em>fundamentals</em> classes per week: </div>
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Wednesdays 6:15pm-7:15pm and Saturdays 10:30am - 11:30am </div>
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Series runs Wednesday April 12th through Saturday May 6th.</div>
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How to register: Download and fill out the <a href="http://www.multnomahaikikai.com/register-now" style="color: #0e7dd8; text-decoration: none;">application form</a>; you can bring it in with you on your first day. Make your payment for "First Course" through <a href="https://squareup.com/market/multnomah-aikikai" style="color: #0e7dd8; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">our online payment portal.</a></div>
Suzane V.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16612645391191555947noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330118640898637189.post-21480687645147855962017-03-30T21:31:00.003-07:002017-03-30T21:31:44.182-07:00A free taste of Aikido at the Aikido Appetizer Open House April 8<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "cambria"; line-height: 1.2; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We invite our South Portland neighbors, our extended dojo community and anyone curious about the art of Aikido.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.multnomahaikikai.com/first-steps/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "cambria"; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Aikido Appetizer</span></a></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: "cambria"; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.multnomahaikikai.com/first-steps/" style="text-decoration: none;">Saturday </a> April 8, 2017</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "cambria"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: x-large;"><i>Free!</i></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "cambria"; line-height: 1.2; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Enjoy a taste of what the practice of Aikido is all about. </span><span style="font-family: "cambria"; line-height: 1.2; white-space: pre-wrap;">Get ready for fun! </span><span style="font-family: "cambria"; line-height: 1.2; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is an ideal opportunity to experience Aikido firsthand. This free</span><span style="font-family: "cambria"; line-height: 1.2; white-space: pre-wrap;"> event is open to both adults and children</span><span style="font-family: "cambria"; line-height: 1.2; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.2; white-space: pre-wrap;">You are invited to our Open House - the Aikido Appetizer! Family, friends, neighbors are welcome! This is a great opportunity to try something new. Here's the schedule:</span></div>
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<li><b style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.2; white-space: pre-wrap;">10am:</b><span style="font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.2; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Doors open. Enjoy a cup of tea or coffee and get oriented to the space. </span></li>
<li><b style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.2; white-space: pre-wrap;">10:30am:</b><span style="font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.2; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Step onto the mat for a sensory experience and introduction to the art of aikido. Whet your appetite for for martial practice and get your body moving. Everyone can participate at their own pace. </span></li>
<li><b style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.2; white-space: pre-wrap;">After class: </b><span style="font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.2; white-space: pre-wrap;"> We will have tea and sushi. Socialize and ask questions of members. </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "cambria"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="line-height: 19px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Learn more:</b></span> </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.multnomahaikikai.com/first-steps/" style="font-family: tahoma; text-decoration: none; white-space: normal;">http://www.multnomahaikikai.com/first-steps/</a></span></span><br />
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Suzane V.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16612645391191555947noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330118640898637189.post-59276246287746796572017-01-26T16:34:00.002-08:002017-01-26T16:34:43.051-08:00Video: Katadori ikkyo, opening movement, G. Lyons Sensei <br />
Here George Lyons sensei demonstrates katadori ikkyo from suwari waza. Note that his initial movement is out to the side (not backward). First he extends uke, challenging balance, then he places weight on uke's elbow to upset balance. This applies to standing technique as well.<br />
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link to view on youtube: https://youtu.be/7tfW2XiGoFc<br />
<br />Suzane V.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16612645391191555947noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330118640898637189.post-61828687654737492632017-01-11T18:30:00.000-08:002017-01-11T18:30:13.435-08:00Video selections demonstrating jodan, chudan and gedanWeek 2 of our Winter Intensive focuses on iriminage and kotegaeshi; jodan, chudan and gedan variations from katatedori gyaku hanmi and ai hanmi. Here are a few helpful videos for your study.<br />
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In this video Didier Boyet Sensei demonstrates katatedori gyaku hanmi iriminage <b>jodan</b><br />
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If you have trouble viewing the embedded video you can view it on youTube via this link:<br />
https://youtu.be/JLx1GV4rGiY<br />
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Here, Patti Lyons sensei demonstrates katatedori ai hanmi kotegaeshi <b>chudan</b>:<br />
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Link to view the video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/4lcO0JMV0BY<br />
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In this video Boyet sensei clearly shows the <b>chudan</b> opening motion. The attack is ryotedori however it applies just as well to katatedori gyaku hanmi.<br />
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Link to view on YouTube: https://youtu.be/5ygTcp6hy3o<br />
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Kate Savoca demonstrates katatedori gyaku hanmi kotegaeshi <b>gedan</b>. Note her opening motion. For testing at our dojo I'd like to see you do a tenkan as you apply the kotegaeshi.<br />
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Link to view on YouTube: https://youtu.be/BlAIS_tBu98<br />
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<br />Suzane V.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16612645391191555947noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330118640898637189.post-85027689676618802912017-01-09T18:30:00.000-08:002017-01-09T18:30:00.838-08:00shomenuchi ikkyo from suwari waza : video selections<br />
In this video from 1988 Chiba sensei offers instruction on suwari waza shomenuchi ikkyo.<br />
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Here is Chiba Sensei again in 2011 demonstrating suwari waza shomenuchi ikkyo. As he slows down to show the initial contact, note that both hands make contact together at uke's elbow:</div>
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link to view on Youtube:: https://youtu.be/tgOYPIPOn30</div>
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Phillip Vargas Sensei demonstrates suwari waza shomenuchi ikkyo and clearly shows the placement of hands together at uke's elbow. Note how his entrance is compact, elbows down and close to his body. Which knee moves in as he performs the cut down?</div>
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link to view on YouTube: https://youtu.be/YazjeLAOKgw</div>
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<br />Suzane V.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16612645391191555947noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330118640898637189.post-86946374976402199532017-01-08T07:00:00.000-08:002017-01-08T07:00:06.791-08:00Shihonage omote demonstration from katatedori gyaku hanmi - suitable for 5th kyu testWhy we do the opening footwork the way we do for shihonage omote (from katatedori gyaku hanmi).<br />
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Note Chiba Sensei is attentive to where he steps relative to uke's foot. Note his use of the shikaku angle in taking uke's balance.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">I</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">n this video Chiba Sensei relays a story about how the Shihonage technique of O'Sensei evolved after an encounter with a Judoka at a seminar. Video shared by <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/aikipath/videos">aikipath</a> on YouTube.</span><br />
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Recorded 2008. Uke in this video is Robert Savoca Sensei.<br />
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If you have trouble seeing the embedded video you can watch it on YouTube via this link:<br />
<a href="https://youtu.be/eC_Uctj1CyE">https://youtu.be/eC_Uctj1CyE</a><br />
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<br />Suzane V.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16612645391191555947noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330118640898637189.post-39596165485325338682017-01-07T18:30:00.000-08:002017-01-07T18:30:00.170-08:00Lorraine Dianne Sensei demonstrates ryotedori tenshinageIn this video Lorranie DiAnne Sensei demonstrates ryotedori tenshinage, also known as "heaven and earth throw." Note how her initial motion effectively takes uke's balance. As she takes the final step in, she comments "come in low!" She makes the point that many people step in without sufficiently lowering their center and their attempt to throw is ineffective.<br />
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If you have trouble viewing the embedded video you can watch it on YouTube here: <a href="https://youtu.be/cm0a6ViU9l4">https://youtu.be/cm0a6ViU9l4</a><br />
<br />Suzane V.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16612645391191555947noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330118640898637189.post-25033427455627974482017-01-06T08:00:00.000-08:002017-01-06T08:00:00.908-08:00Kagami Biraki - New Year training<br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Happy New Year!</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 15.399999618530273px;"></span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><b>Kagami Biraki</b> is a traditional Japanese New Year celebration. It literally translates to "Opening the Mirror" (from an abstinence) or, also, "Breaking of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mochi" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;" title="Mochi">Mochi</a>. In martial arts dojos a special Kagami Biraki practice marks the beginning of the year. It is both a celebration and a time to reflect. </span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 15.399999618530273px;"></span><span style="color: #990000;"><b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">Multnomah Aikikai celebrates Kagami Biraki </span><br style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15.399999618530273px;" /><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">on Tue January 10, 2017. Join us for class at 6:15pm.</span></b></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 15.399999618530273px;">excerpt from Aikido Today Article*:</span><br />
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The symbolism of the mirror, which is central to <em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Kagami Biraki</em>, dates back to the original trilogy myth (along with the sword and the jewel) of the creation of Japan. By the 15th century Shinto had interpreted the mirror and sword to be important symbols of the virtues that the nation should venerate. They also symbolized creation, legitimacy and authority of the Emperor and by extension the <em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Samurai</strong></em> class itself as part of the feudal system.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.319999694824219px;">Amaterasu, the Sun Goddess, emerging from the cave**</span></td></tr>
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<b><span style="color: #073763;">The mirror enabled people to see things as they are (good or bad) and thus represented fairness or justice. The mirror was also a symbol of the Sun Goddess — a fierce spirit (the light face of god).</span></b></div>
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Swords had long been given spiritual qualities among the <em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Samurai</strong></em>. And their possession contributed to a sense of purpose and destiny inherent within the <em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Samurai</strong></em> culture. So legendary were some swords that they were thought to posses their own spirit (<em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">kami</em>).</div>
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Considered as one of the <strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Samurai’s</em></strong> most important possessions, the sword (and other weapons) symbolized their status and position. Firm, sharp and decisive, the sword was seen as a source of wisdom and venerated for its power and lightning-like swiftness, but it was also seen as a mild spirit (the dark face of god).</div>
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Taken together, the mirror and sword represent the Japanese<em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> In</em> and <em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Yo</em>, or two forms of energy permeating everything — the primeval forces of the universe from which everything springs — the source of spirit empowering the Emperor by extension <strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Samurai</em> </strong>class who was in his service.</div>
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It was from this time (15th century), it is said, that the tradition of<em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> Kagami Biraki</em> began. It developed as a folk Shinto observation with a particular class (<em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Samurai</strong></em>) bent.</div>
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*Read the entire article on Aikido Today:</div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://aikidotoday.com/kagami-biraki-aikido-dojo-samurai-tradition/">http://aikidotoday.com/kagami-biraki-aikido-dojo-samurai-tradition/</a></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333;">**image of Amaterasu: </span><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Amaterasu_cave_edit2.jpg" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Amaterasu_cave_edit2.jpg</a><br />
<span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">date: 1857,安政4年, artist: </span><span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">三代豊国,</span><a class="extiw" href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%AD%8C%E5%B7%9D%E5%9B%BD%E8%B2%9E" style="background-image: none; color: #663366; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none;" title="ja:歌川国貞">歌川国貞</a><span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">(Utagawa Toyokuni III,</span><a class="extiw" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kunisada" style="background-image: none; color: #663366; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none;" title="w:Kunisada">Kunisada</a><span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">)</span></div>
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Suzane V.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16612645391191555947noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330118640898637189.post-3920708131234003182017-01-02T18:30:00.000-08:002017-01-02T18:30:21.109-08:00Fold a Crane for the New Year! Origami event for Children and Adults<br />
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Jan. 4, 2017 - Origami crane folding activity</h3>
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Fold a Crane for the New Year!</h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVgIEDezoLigILPtmvqlJm2Cwn-lhyphenhyphenLxS2KOA2LO0_Ph6pJ4W1gr0pC5owwVedOLgwquHLKJ48-4gfr9wWpc7w4-sfFwQApccxDOSaaKzFMdvpZxJ9lshMFmjevvIqtWjQuXd8m13ukIQY/s1600/Origami_-_Crane256px.svg.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; color: black; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVgIEDezoLigILPtmvqlJm2Cwn-lhyphenhyphenLxS2KOA2LO0_Ph6pJ4W1gr0pC5owwVedOLgwquHLKJ48-4gfr9wWpc7w4-sfFwQApccxDOSaaKzFMdvpZxJ9lshMFmjevvIqtWjQuXd8m13ukIQY/s1600/Origami_-_Crane256px.svg.png" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Fold a crane for the new year!</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">Origami crane folding activity </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">for adults and children at </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">Aikido Multnomah Aikikai.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">Paper and instructions provided.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Hosted by Suzane Sensei.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Wednesday </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">January 4th, 2017</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">4:45pm- 6:15pm</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">FREE!</span></span></div>
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Suzane V.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16612645391191555947noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330118640898637189.post-13262211003942899872016-12-30T15:29:00.000-08:002016-12-30T17:12:27.089-08:00January 2017 Winter Intensive Training<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgewM5T7QYORJ91Rl0t9-Ah7ycyA-bnBua9u93SFc8oU4rKuqW-1aK7K2DeIn1PRag4o_H8wZwv7r3Blm6qzRL1-IcJ3bLqdoS_J1B2I01VDg_W2Rwxrb_D8Ts4Y0tFmA1il0pHcMlG_LrT/s1600/images.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgewM5T7QYORJ91Rl0t9-Ah7ycyA-bnBua9u93SFc8oU4rKuqW-1aK7K2DeIn1PRag4o_H8wZwv7r3Blm6qzRL1-IcJ3bLqdoS_J1B2I01VDg_W2Rwxrb_D8Ts4Y0tFmA1il0pHcMlG_LrT/s1600/images.jpeg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">There is a tradition in the Japanese martial arts of training intensively for a period of time in the coldest part of the winter (winter keiko).</span></span></i></span> </blockquote>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">What’s “intensive” about the January “Winter Intensive?”</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444;">At the dojo, we like to cultivate a sense of training seasons throughout the year. Winter Intensive is a time to focus in on a training theme, experiment with a teaching approach or try out a new class on the schedule. This year we are poised for all three.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #444444; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The theme this January is proficiency with the 5th and 4th kyu curriculum.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444;"> This month, teachers will focus classes on the techniques found on the 5th and 4th kyu </span><span style="color: blue;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B430gEINcl_VamhRT1M3VmJKMkU/edit?usp=docslist_api">Birankai test guidelines</a>.</span><span style="color: #444444;"> We are working together to give you a focused experience of these techniques week by week. One of our goals is to cover all the techniques on the 5th and 4th kyu curriculum over the course of the month. Attend classes consistently in January and you will have the opportunity to build your confidence with performing these techniques well. At the end of the month we will conduct kyu testing. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444;">If you are not yet 5th kyu, we encourage you to bring your mettle to training this month and set a goal to test at the end of the month. If you are 5th kyu and already preparing for 4th kyu, train diligently 3-4 times per week and you will be ready to test at the end of the month. You can do it! We will equip you. Sign up for either Jan 31 or Feb 1 and make the commitment to test on that date. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444;">If you are currently above 4th kyu, then this is your chance to take your art to the next level by infusing familiar forms with a whole new level of centeredness, connectedness, wholeness, liveliness and openness (Chiba Sensei’s five pillars of training). Work the forms, embody the principles.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #444444;">Bokken and Jo training will be offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7:30pm, respectively. The relationship between body arts and weapons work is germane to our art. In January we will focus on the fundamental weapons forms as outlined on the </span><span style="color: blue;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B430gEINcl_VamhRT1M3VmJKMkU/edit?usp=docslist_api">kyu guidelines</a>.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><u><span style="color: #444444;">This January we’re also trying out new, added practice sessions:</span></u></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444;">Wednesdays, 12:30pm, Greg Corbin will host a practice session with a focus on test preparation help. </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444;">Wednesdays, 7:30pm, Oliva Sensei will lead zazen sitting practice. </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444;">Saturdays, 11:45am, Van Amburgh Sensei will host a practice session where you can bring test prep questions, get feedback on your technique and practice your ukemi. </span></span></li>
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444;">Will the new practices sessions continue past January? It will largely depend upon the level of member support and enthusiasm through January. On reflection, in a previous year we tried out a new monday evening class during winter intensive - it was well received and we’ve continued the class as a regular part of our weekly schedule. Similarly, last January we tried out a new 12:30pm class and it too has continued with enthusiastic support. Your participation shapes our future class schedule.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444;">This January we have several special events lined up for you.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444;">Special events in January:</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444;">Jan. 2, Mon, first class of the new year. Resolve to Train!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444;">Jan. 3, Tue, Overview for the month’s intensive (First Tuesday open to all levels this month, all members encouraged to attend)</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444;">Jan. 4, Wed, 4:30pm: Fold a Crane for the New Year (public event for adults and children - concurrent with children’s class)</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444;">Jan. 8, Sunday, 1pm-4pm, intensive training session</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial"; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jan. 10, Tue, Kagami Biraki</span></div>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial"; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jan. 31, Tue Kyu tests part 1</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial"; white-space: pre-wrap;">Feb 1, Wed, Kyu tests part 2</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial"; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dojo party (date to be announced)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial"; white-space: pre-wrap;">Note: Children's program has special practice sessions scheduled on Sundays in January 10:30am- noon.</span><br />
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<span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial";"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">The new year is an excellent time to renew our commitment to training, look in the mirror (kagami), break our old habits (biraki) and resolve to improve ourselves. </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; white-space: pre-wrap;">We invite you and challenge you to step up your training, focus in on a defined set of techniques and hone them.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial";"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Sincerely,</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial";"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Aki Fleshler, Suzane Van Amburgh, Jon Paul Oliva and Sean Sheedy</span></span><br />
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Suzane V.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16612645391191555947noreply@blogger.com06415 SW Macadam Ave, Portland, OR 97239, USA45.4776789 -122.672517445.4775049 -122.6728324 45.4778529 -122.6722024tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330118640898637189.post-40823163233283689252016-12-21T20:00:00.000-08:002016-12-21T20:00:15.606-08:00Shodan reflections on the questions: “Where am I? Who am I? What am I doing?”<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjccp58OTClxQwagmes8pev2DlsBmNhNOIHReX70DYAo_WCXv1X_AIjh5XnDbrAJeyIQ6mtpq7KdrAvm7WlSMIguYy2irQM9sDiOpNL45xKGwYYUt_RuqKnpNbr2hOCfSCBD6dowaCn7SJg/s1600/DSC05413.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjccp58OTClxQwagmes8pev2DlsBmNhNOIHReX70DYAo_WCXv1X_AIjh5XnDbrAJeyIQ6mtpq7KdrAvm7WlSMIguYy2irQM9sDiOpNL45xKGwYYUt_RuqKnpNbr2hOCfSCBD6dowaCn7SJg/s320/DSC05413.JPG" width="213" /></a>Congratulations to Dan Reid who passed his shodan test over the weekend of December 2-4, 2016; the Northwest Regional Seminar held at Multnomah Aikikai. Part of the requirements for his test included a written essay. This essay is published with his permission below.<br />
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">Shodan Essay<br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">The warm June air inside the university gym was thick with sweat, so the
announcement that Chiba Sensei’s weapons class would be held outside was a welcome
treat. We were in the thick of 2007 Summer Camp, and we all filed eagerly into the fresh
air with bokken in hand. After a vigorous session of suburi and kirigaeshi among the
broadleaf trees, we sat in seiza on the cool grass and Chiba Sensei gave a lecture. During
his talk he said that whenever he trains in any form, he asks himself three simple
questions that have stayed with me ever since:
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">“Where am I? Who am I? What am I doing?”<br /><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">These questions may seem innocuous on the surface, but when I begin to parse their
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">implications they reveal hidden depths of meaning. The effort to internalize them and
keep them at the forefront of my mind has been a core element of my Aikido and Zazen
practice for nearly a decade.
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">The first question is the most straightforward and accessible, but the answer to
“Where am I?” is not a street address or set of coordinates. Instead, the answer presents
itself when I open all my senses completely to my surroundings. I try to widen and soften
my field of vision in all directions, open my ears to small and distant sounds, smell and
taste the air around me, feel the light breeze drying the damp spots in my gi, feel the
smooth oak of my bokken, feel gravity pulling my body downward and pressing my feet
into the earth. The sensation of gravity, which is actually a relativistic distortion of space-
time, opens the door to perceiving existence in all four spatial dimensions of “where.”
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">The second question, “Who am I?”, seems to be the most deceptive of the three to
Westerners. The answer is not my name; it can perhaps be best understood through other
questions. How do I see myself when I’m not looking in a mirror? What does my inner
voice sound like? What do I feel like inside my skin? Eventually, I begin to understand
that this is not actually separate from the first question. This realization feels similar to
the Hindu maxim “that art thou,” which reminds us that the outer universe we perceive is
not different from our inner universe. The spatial boundary of my skin is a convenient
external reference for my individual identity, but it is permeable and temporary. There is
a constant exchange across the boundary of air, food, water, waste, sweat, light, thought,
and speech. Continuous streams of cosmic rays and neutrinos from the far corners of our
galaxy zip through my body without slowing down or noticing that I’m here. After my
consciousness dissipates in death, my body will likewise disperse into the local
ecosystem. Ultimately, “I” am a finite occurrence in time; understanding the second
question effectively extends the first into the temporal dimension.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">Finally, “What am I doing?” can be considered an intersection of the first two
questions. When I do something, the “who” of the second question projects agency to
affect or alter the “where” of the first. This “doing” includes but is not limited to what we
perceive as direct action; it is uke’s committed strike, but it is also nage’s receiving and
blending with the energy of that strike. The interaction between partners in Aikido
training reveals the fuzziness of the boundary between self and other. When uke and nage
both fully commit to a technique, we become like a binary star system, each orbiting a
geometric point in space between us that is our common center of gravity. In the martial
tension of each encounter, the center of the technique can move anywhere within or
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">between our bodies depending on our ma’ai, momentum, balance and weight distribution,
points of contact, and intentions. When we can perceive the center’s movement, the
possibilities for reversals, kaeshiwaza, and freestyle practice begin to present themselves,
until the distinction between nage and uke is simply one of convenience.
</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitIfBE-kuMclesByZRKAaKhWz6gao3zaxXJE66qFCc3Bxx65P3I1G4fpwyiknNCwAo2pH5lqMIjNE188XZhDOcogTJVZ_wWpop_4CRoBS7OnW6oLyB0vQ6wgnifPpoQVt_ewCwZHGiD2-w/s1600/Dan+Reid+2016+cropped.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitIfBE-kuMclesByZRKAaKhWz6gao3zaxXJE66qFCc3Bxx65P3I1G4fpwyiknNCwAo2pH5lqMIjNE188XZhDOcogTJVZ_wWpop_4CRoBS7OnW6oLyB0vQ6wgnifPpoQVt_ewCwZHGiD2-w/s1600/Dan+Reid+2016+cropped.JPG" /></a><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;">Of course, I am by no means a master of any sort, and a visceral understanding of
these ideas is difficult to maintain in my daily life and practice. Indeed, they often elude
me altogether. However, these three simple questions have been enormously valuable to
me as I remember and return to them again and again. I will always be grateful to Chiba
Sensei for giving us this gift in that lecture on the grass. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; font-size: 16px;">Daniel Reid, November 2016</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 12.000000pt;"><br /></span>
Dan Reid has contributed an article to Dojo News previously. Enjoy his September article "The River of Aikido":<br />
<a href="http://multnomahaikikai.blogspot.com/2016/09/the-river-of-aikido-by-dan-reid.html">http://multnomahaikikai.blogspot.com/2016/09/the-river-of-aikido-by-dan-reid.html</a><br />
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Suzane V.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13994632336280116271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330118640898637189.post-87269819394870377592016-12-14T21:00:00.000-08:002016-12-14T21:00:02.339-08:00Two new Shodans! Northwest Regional Seminar December 2-4, 2016 Congratulations to Dan Reid and Greg Corbin. They passed their shodan test over the weekend of Dec 2-4, 2016 on the occasion of the Northwest Regional Seminar. More than ten Birankai North America certified instructors were in attendance.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXTueUpZNSLdiAiRgGl6i6BkyYV3XpzzAU4jDN3cdSFnc7qLZPsH9ShXJtupeQDcTGOA3WUuFF0q1FZRu0hyWK4josH1mD6sBCEdl-Jfdet83A__S51eAYNFCjXXIKTgcMkhxwL_qVQcYg/s1600/GregnDan2016shodantest_DSC05396.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXTueUpZNSLdiAiRgGl6i6BkyYV3XpzzAU4jDN3cdSFnc7qLZPsH9ShXJtupeQDcTGOA3WUuFF0q1FZRu0hyWK4josH1mD6sBCEdl-Jfdet83A__S51eAYNFCjXXIKTgcMkhxwL_qVQcYg/s320/GregnDan2016shodantest_DSC05396.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Greg left, Dan right; testing for shodan Dec 3, 2016</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
Part of their requirements included writing an essay.<br />
Here below is Greg Corbin's essay. The next post will feature Dan Reid's essay.<br />
<br />
Greg Corbin, December 2016:<br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Shodan</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My daughter asked me – why Aikido? I explained it like this. I was first exposed to a martial art (Taekwondo) at an early age, around 6 years old, taking lessons with my father. I liked it but as with so many things at that age it didn’t stick. Still, the seed had been planted and I kept coming back to martial arts, formally and informally. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Toward the end of high school and the first years of college I starting training in Taekwondo regularly and was close to taking my black belt test when school and the rest of my life became too much of a distraction. I loved the training, and was disappointed not to continue and reach black belt, but my priorities were elsewhere at the time. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fast forward a few years and I found myself living alone in Boulder, Colorado. Looking for something to fill my time, keep in shape, and meet new folks, I gravitated to martial arts again. This time Shotokan Karate. I was instantly addicted and knew right away that Karate was an even better fit for me than had been Taekwondo. I don’t have the impossibly long legs the most successful Taekwondo practitioners all seem to have, I always struggled with the high and flying kicks, and the direct, seemingly simple approach of Karate just made sense to me. Plus, the style mirrored my personality. I loved it. Couldn’t get enough. Went to the dojo every chance I could and even travelled to the home dojo in Denver for special trainings. I progressed quickly, but less than a year after I started I was on the move again.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It was more than a few years before I made it back to martial arts. A couple years floating, a couple years in graduate school, a couple more passing through LA, then law school, a new job, a son, another new job, a daughter, pushing to make partner at my law firm, the years stacked up. But the seed had been planted. And as it happened, a good friend and law school classmate had his shodan in Aikido. He had trained in Japan, but I didn’t know enough, and was too focused on school and being newly married, to learn much about his path. What I do remember is that one evening during our first year of school he and I went to check out a local Aikido dojo. He and I had been playing around with basic Aikido techniques at the gym and he seemed interested in getting back to formal training. So I went along. I remember visiting Multnomah Aikikai and talking with Suzane Van Amburgh Sensei, and yearning to train. I just wasn’t in a place to add another obsession to my life. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A decade passed, my kids were older, I had made partner, my wife’s veterinary clinic was on solid ground, and every day I drove home past Multnomah Aikikai. I had been doing so for years, but one day, and I have no clue why, I decided it was time to start training again. That was eight years ago.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So, I told my daughter, I never got my black belt. When you do, will you be done, she asked? Now that’s a good question. Yes, and no. I will have achieved a goal that’s been stuck in my mind since at least high school. So I’ll be done with that. But will I be done with Aikido? No. Here is how I explained it to my daughter.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It’s like your soccer. You know the basics. You can pass, dribble, trap, shoot, and play different positions. You are starting to have a feel for the field and anticipate plays. And now that you have those skills, you can see how much more you have to learn, and that you can be even better. Learning the basics has opened your eyes to a deeper level of play, and you know that if you keep training you will improve and understand the game in ways you can’t even imagine now. It’s the same for me with Aikido.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirSu4q1tlpawXBrFKYC8EHdKTt-P32mhL_J5jXZeCFFWhAOJvtaGptjAo6DdbobCpo3ZqYEmy7zFeGEjS-hTX50RpFMlvZFGsH2q9Cp4Qyn6RxGKlg8l3kHkhTW-xwen43A14DB4wixr_R/s1600/DSC05427.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirSu4q1tlpawXBrFKYC8EHdKTt-P32mhL_J5jXZeCFFWhAOJvtaGptjAo6DdbobCpo3ZqYEmy7zFeGEjS-hTX50RpFMlvZFGsH2q9Cp4Qyn6RxGKlg8l3kHkhTW-xwen43A14DB4wixr_R/s320/DSC05427.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I know many of the techniques, and I’m even reasonably competent with some of them. I know the things to watch for when Sensei is demonstrating (foot work first!), and I see connections I couldn’t have imagined when I started. I can’t do everything, and I only do a few things well, but it’s different than when I first started. Yes, I still need to practice katate dori ikkyo, and all the others, but it isn’t just choreography. I know I need to use my hips more and my arms less. I need to relax, and breath. I need to think about the angles, and I need to be aware of where uke’s foot is. I need to make a center to center connection, and not lose it. I need to be light, and heavy, at the right times. I need to look up. I need to move, get low, and stay there. And I know all of that leads to something more complex, more subtle, and more satisfying, and I know I’m just starting to glimpse it.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But is that enough? It’s hard, I get bruised and sore, I’ve been hurt, and I may never need to use these techniques to defend myself. Is getting better at a physical skill worth all that? Maybe. I do like being good at something, and I love the idea that the more I practice the better I will become. It feels like the ability to improve is infinite. It isn’t boring, and it’s nice to move after a full day at the office. The physicality is exhilarating. But it’s more than that.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’m better because of Aikido. I’m a better husband, father, lawyer, friend, and person. I work on staying centered. I try not to let the circumstances around me take my balance. I recover more quickly. I let go more easily. I breath more often. I used to get stress headaches all the time, but haven’t had one in years. I think about my connection to others, and I think about how to respond to the energy (positive and negative) sent my way by them. I try not to react out of emotion, especially anger or a desire to win. I value community and service to others, and I do my best to accept and respect differences. I try to be aware of my surroundings. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I didn’t learn all of these things from Aikido, but the practice brings them to the front of my mind. I find parallels between on and off the mat all the time, and I think about how to apply the five pillars in my daily life. I have a long way to go, both in and outside the dojo, but without training I won’t improve as quickly. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6fVG8iwJhnWE1YWAeWJ9tXKgw5mfxA3xT0iNnfIR-JbtiGGjIWm1V4PUitPYGkafLLcNo75irO1iI7g6izPxk5PlAY5YsOOuA1BZstivw1ZGLygRVJZNafOM0MbOTv826h6Q2QkQ8Iedk/s1600/Greg+sankyo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6fVG8iwJhnWE1YWAeWJ9tXKgw5mfxA3xT0iNnfIR-JbtiGGjIWm1V4PUitPYGkafLLcNo75irO1iI7g6izPxk5PlAY5YsOOuA1BZstivw1ZGLygRVJZNafOM0MbOTv826h6Q2QkQ8Iedk/s320/Greg+sankyo.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So, why is because I want to be better. I want to keep exploring, I want to be better at my art, I want to be a better person, and I know Aikido is the way for me to do that. It isn’t about rank, though the recognition will feel good and put a very old goal to bed. It’s the path I’m on that I want to continue.</span></div>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-b5fb9129-00af-c604-3713-17af5746bd37"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Greg Corbin</span></span><br />
<br />Suzane V.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13994632336280116271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330118640898637189.post-80910972645096400872016-11-27T17:21:00.001-08:002016-11-28T09:09:28.689-08:00Six weeks after the flood<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Dear Northwest </span><span style="font-size: 17.33333396911621px;">aikidoka, Yes, w</span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">e’re hosting a </span></span><a href="http://multnomahaikikai.blogspot.com/p/mark-your-calendar-for-these-upcoming.html" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: blue;">seminar this weekend, Dec 2-4, 2016</span>.</a><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"> It has been quite a journey to bring us to this point.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Usually when we start
preparing for a seminar, we begin with a set of “givens” in the basic
infrastructure and then plan hosting activities on top of those fundamental
components. For example we usually have a floor, a mat to train on, a roof overhead, a
place to take off your shoes, a registration desk, dressing rooms, working
restrooms. All of these basic accommodations were disrupted by our flood of
October 14th.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At this writing, six weeks
after the flood, one week before seminar begins, this basic infrastructure has
been restored and we are just now putting the dojo back together. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Here’s what happened.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Friday night Oct. 14,
2016 a storm hit the Portland area. Tremendous wind and rain beat down upon our
dojo and overwhelmed the drainage system. The gutter overflowed. The downspout
could not drain effectively. The water came flowing down the wall to meet a
ground already saturated. The water flowed in. Like an uninvited guest, the
water came in and took over the place, demanding our attention. It took out the
floor from under us. About 70% of our floor was impacted. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1wk_BCLJybpy3Ij2DyV56opv0BRn3NEFiFH8MpJ0o5jGCQe4lIyC1vchyphenhyphen2-Wh-M5wtKgsAT23utysHlMC1V7FlacObIs4a_6r9GgrGgSDHmICG8tze8UMhsNs9qfAMGwIUrmynvhrDmVP/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-11-27+at+4.25.38+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1wk_BCLJybpy3Ij2DyV56opv0BRn3NEFiFH8MpJ0o5jGCQe4lIyC1vchyphenhyphen2-Wh-M5wtKgsAT23utysHlMC1V7FlacObIs4a_6r9GgrGgSDHmICG8tze8UMhsNs9qfAMGwIUrmynvhrDmVP/s200/Screen+Shot+2016-11-27+at+4.25.38+PM.png" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 13.0pt;">The morning after the big
storm I came into the dojo and discovered the damage. I contacted senior
members and asked them to come in if they could. Class that day was just the
fourth session of a new beginners series. I had to ask participants to help
move wet items before we started class. Everyone pitched in. I am grateful to
all our students and teachers for their efforts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 13.0pt;">How did we respond to
this flood?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 13.0pt;">First order of business
was to move stuff out of harms way. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpwabyXS-J9yFx5G-P1Pmh0kzOVgG2AbDEVVasCQbYM9raaHZUsVP_XPsOgy5dj3aY8kw1zvGgh9TUhTx9qwTu5yjmMg-miC5tZ-u5r93y510F8tKT6TuRp8NAtznR8TJzUcnyu9RpuSS8/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-11-27+at+4.29.06+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpwabyXS-J9yFx5G-P1Pmh0kzOVgG2AbDEVVasCQbYM9raaHZUsVP_XPsOgy5dj3aY8kw1zvGgh9TUhTx9qwTu5yjmMg-miC5tZ-u5r93y510F8tKT6TuRp8NAtznR8TJzUcnyu9RpuSS8/s200/Screen+Shot+2016-11-27+at+4.29.06+PM.png" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 13.0pt;">As in many disaster
situations, a certain practicality kicks in. Emotional response is set aside to deal with later. We set right to work and moved stuff off the wet floor. We separated
wet items from dry ones to minimize further damage. Members and the new
beginners pitched in to help. We got wet vacuums in and fans set up to start
drying the place out. These tasks helped us assess the damage.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Next step was to consider
our options.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 13.0pt;">We communicated with the
landlady, we reached out to professionals and we gathered information. From
there we generated options and decided what our best outcome might be. From
there we defined actions to take and set into motion steps to take us in the
right direction.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGQJyvYqsMwnJtXqVu1f5xbz9sobDWSTB-EUbTrYqBQmc2snksGudtBn_0pX5pVt0DQBxb-DPL2X59ATGnEaUrFelDQN8ppnDBvUF_T83txIFze1-tts2tGUZ89-tPaI2ArAC-2Pb6DJJd/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-11-27+at+4.33.10+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGQJyvYqsMwnJtXqVu1f5xbz9sobDWSTB-EUbTrYqBQmc2snksGudtBn_0pX5pVt0DQBxb-DPL2X59ATGnEaUrFelDQN8ppnDBvUF_T83txIFze1-tts2tGUZ89-tPaI2ArAC-2Pb6DJJd/s200/Screen+Shot+2016-11-27+at+4.33.10+PM.png" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 13.0pt;">We decided a concrete
floor would be the best solution for our dojo interior. </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 13pt;">This solution required
significant preparation. We would need to move everything off of the floor in
order to remove all the carpet and laminate flooring and make space for the
concrete professional to come in and install the new floor. With 70% of the
floor affected, that left only 30% to receive and store all the items. Most of
that area is our mat space!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 13.0pt;">We stacked up part of the
mats to make more floor space. We trained in a smaller area and trained with
the visual distraction of all our stuff piled up just adjacent to the mat. </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 17.33333396911621px;">Our habitual ways were disrupted and our training changed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPAeAw3MQAVTyUMDC8I7dQtiel_5fhsid7bO6MTy3Pu2F3vSNWOeGU8Z_T370ulLMHQTu4ikD0m4Mxp1ADbfwIff4bU1IA1gC7OK0_8kHUFGaPAQy-N0mi2xyVCtLAGE6wSsg4xDVoIeGc/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-11-27+at+4.45.04+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPAeAw3MQAVTyUMDC8I7dQtiel_5fhsid7bO6MTy3Pu2F3vSNWOeGU8Z_T370ulLMHQTu4ikD0m4Mxp1ADbfwIff4bU1IA1gC7OK0_8kHUFGaPAQy-N0mi2xyVCtLAGE6wSsg4xDVoIeGc/s200/Screen+Shot+2016-11-27+at+4.45.04+PM.png" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo provided by J.P. Oliva</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 17.33333396911621px;">We had to check our habits at the door and keep our shoes on. </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 13pt;">We had moved the shoe racks and the flooring was ripped up to expose the old, uneven concrete underneath. </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 13pt;">It felt strange to walk around the dojo with shoes on, but in extreme
times safety is a higher priority than observing our customs. The edge of the
mat was jagged and unsecured. We had to be attentive to that and adjust our
training to take care of each other during class. It served as a metaphor and
reminder of a martial principle; we’ve got to adapt and be present to what is
actually happening.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 13.0pt;">In
the fourth week after the flood came, our new concrete floor was installed. For
three days we had to close the dojo. These three days corresponded with the
days following the presidential election. Personally, in those three days I observed myself
fluctuating through the various stages of grief. I was grateful for the space of time to be at home and absorb the
impact of the election results. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVFedrbTXZ0MpOyRbrn8EXAyDd_8I1AGY2GBjxJRMrAy8B4HuEKCTaV4g87IkAPFuvSgkwAtBDwvo_E6YtEH3o-VFLDt0jRV5uuy83mWPvnQP-rCcOQeiReecopZXPdZY3nHLyemJrf7tn/s1600/new+concrete+floor+Nov+2016.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVFedrbTXZ0MpOyRbrn8EXAyDd_8I1AGY2GBjxJRMrAy8B4HuEKCTaV4g87IkAPFuvSgkwAtBDwvo_E6YtEH3o-VFLDt0jRV5uuy83mWPvnQP-rCcOQeiReecopZXPdZY3nHLyemJrf7tn/s200/new+concrete+floor+Nov+2016.jpeg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 13.0pt;">By
the fourth day, I needed to come back to the dojo, teach class and be with
people again. I found a certain comfort and meaning in our concrete floor.
There it was, pristine, fresh, cool and not yet ready to support weight. We
entered the dojo from the back door instead of the usual front entrance. We
trained on the mats next to the floor but did not walk on it. The old floor is
gone and the dojo will never quite be the same again. We have a new floor now.
That was Saturday November 12<sup>th</sup>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Our
new floor needed a few days to dry completely before it could be sealed and
finished. During this time it was essential to keep the floor clean. Any speck
of dirt, even oils from walking barefoot would compromise the finish. It was during
this period that the city worked on the sewer system just down the street for
the dojo and, on November 14, disaster struck again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMKUUfu-9yu6bGkYhK_-hgTwgShK54VEhlnovCQpeyE6JAsWLOSLFEyXw0P1dQuFKlmbOyMrZRDfGpHaApYMq33HbMmHI6Wh6UAy6ib4xvZW82f-wLTqpuMLKgKtoNNtazKXNAWGvfIa8W/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-11-27+at+4.16.04+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMKUUfu-9yu6bGkYhK_-hgTwgShK54VEhlnovCQpeyE6JAsWLOSLFEyXw0P1dQuFKlmbOyMrZRDfGpHaApYMq33HbMmHI6Wh6UAy6ib4xvZW82f-wLTqpuMLKgKtoNNtazKXNAWGvfIa8W/s200/Screen+Shot+2016-11-27+at+4.16.04+PM.png" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 13.0pt;">I
was locking up the dojo for the night when I noticed the toilet didn’t look
right. The bowl was so full it looked like it might overflow. A plunger did no
good. I noticed the shower pan was full of water too – dirty water. Then I
noticed a sound from the other room. The other toilet was overflowing and the
water was rushing out from under the base and flowing all over our new floor.
At the rate it was flowing the whole dojo would be flooded with dirty water in
a matter of minutes.</span></div>
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<o:p></o:p><br />
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called the landlady who called Rotorooter and I waited for them to show up.
“Thank the gods” the flooding slowed down on its own and the water receded from
the toilets. At the time I did not know that the city was working on the sewer
system, which caused the sewer back up. I called the concrete vendor to let him know
our new floor had been compromised with dirty water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He agreed to come in, clean the floor and put
down another thin layer of concrete. After more drying time, the sealant was
applied. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Monday
November 21 was the first day we could start putting furniture back on the
floor. Attendance was thin in the days before Thanksgiving but on Saturday
November 26<sup>th</sup> we put in a robust workday. By end of day all heavy
pieces were put back in place and the mat perimeter was set back in place. Now </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 13.0pt;">we
are attending to an issue with the mat frame; a result of another concurrent
floor repair project. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 13.0pt;">This week, the final days
before the seminar begins, our focus in “seminar hosting” is to make a supreme
effort just to provide a reasonable space to train. Our dojo teachers and
members have met the challenge and put in the time and sweat to restore the
dojo to basic minimum functionality. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ve had to make that our priority. The usual set of seminar hosting activities you have come to expect from
Multnomah Aikikai will not be prepared. I hope we can </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 17.33333396911621px;">enjoy coming together</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 17.33333396911621px;"> and </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 13pt;">find gratitude in our opportunity to train. For us, your
presence will be a welcome reward for all our efforts. We are looking forward to
training with you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 13pt;">Seminar schedule and information on our "Seminars" page of this site:</span></div>
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<a href="http://multnomahaikikai.blogspot.com/p/mark-your-calendar-for-these-upcoming.html"><span style="color: blue;">http://multnomahaikikai.blogspot.com/p/mark-your-calendar-for-these-upcoming.html</span></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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-Suzane Van Amburgh</div>
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Suzane V.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13994632336280116271noreply@blogger.com0Portland, OR 97239, USA45.4874111 -122.687554145.4428836 -122.7682351 45.531938600000004 -122.6068731tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330118640898637189.post-12560254968925759422016-10-31T22:18:00.002-07:002016-10-31T22:18:38.889-07:00Children say aikido is awesome!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTpuh_ojnAGPHAuuogF7m8pZ_jX4Fw5ErvIFbKL_mIK7Y8i8WipDLdddqODp0AQ7LSAdrs7_26gMjnypRJwzLO5j4AgWpURbtmyRXM_GFxjC2A868pNlj6nKCuU2b-LxGQlIBqUiar_zBv/s1600/aikido+is+awesome+IMG_2320.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTpuh_ojnAGPHAuuogF7m8pZ_jX4Fw5ErvIFbKL_mIK7Y8i8WipDLdddqODp0AQ7LSAdrs7_26gMjnypRJwzLO5j4AgWpURbtmyRXM_GFxjC2A868pNlj6nKCuU2b-LxGQlIBqUiar_zBv/s400/aikido+is+awesome+IMG_2320.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">aikido is awesome</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Our Children's Program Director, Rudy Puente, asked students what they like about aikido.<br />
<br />
Here are a few of the responses...<br />
<br />
<br />
I like Sensei, the animal exercises and the aikido moves.<br />
~Orion <br />
<br />
<br />
It's fun.<br />
It's discipline.<br />
It teaches you respect.<br />
~Katie<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Aikido. I don't even know how to start. This program has changed my life from the very beginning! Before I started doing this martial art, I would randomly have these weird anxiety attacks at night, when it just started to get dark. It didn't happen just once a week; it would happen every single night. One day my Dad found aikido online. He said it sounded perfect for what I was dealing with. When I went to go watch what it was like, I instantly knew that I wanted to participate in this program. After a few sessions, my anxiety was almost gone evey time I got to bed. I couldn't believe that this program was helping me get through my life without anxiety! I totally recommend this dojo to anyone at all, especially if you are going through the same thing I was.<br />
~Ali (age 12)<br />
<br />
<br />
Multnomah Aikikai's children's classes are held Wednesdays and Fridays 5pm to 6pm. We're located at 6415 SW Macadam Ave, Portland OR 97239. You are welcome to drop by and observe a class without prior appointment.<br />
<br />
Learn more about the children's program:<br />
http://www.multnomahaikikai.com/childrens-aikido/<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
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Suzane V.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13994632336280116271noreply@blogger.com0