Aikido; Fall Offerings

Multnomah Aikikai 

Aikido training for all abilities and ages.

1. Orientation to Practice
2. FREE Introduction to Aikido
3. Aikido 101; Principles of Balance
4. How We Roll; improve rolling skills

1. Tuesdays 5:30pm - 6:00 pm
Orientation to Practice learn more...
Drop in any Tuesday, $10, starts September 10

2. Saturday  September 28, 9-10am Children, 10:15am - 11:15am adults.
FREE Introduction to Aikido
Safe, gentle movements, free and fun!

3. October- December
Aikido 101; Principles of Balance
Flexible start dates* -  runs through December 18.

Aikido 101 program description:

This course for adults will introduce the fundamentals of the Japanese martial art of Aikido, “The Way of Harmony.”  In a hands-on approach, teachers will provide instruction in the principles of balance, efficiency of movement, falling safely, and practical self-protection techniques.  In a low-stress, supportive atmosphere infused with the joy of practice, students will develop focus and “practice with attention” as a strategy for self-directed learning. Students will learn at their own pace, working with teachers and partners and progressing from static to more dynamic encounters.  No prerequisites.

The program schedule includes Orientation, Fundamentals and Applications. The 30 minute Orientation session precedes the 60 minute Applications class for both section 1 and section 2 participants. All students (section 1 and 2) participate in the Wednesday Fundamentals class.

Aikido 101; Principles of Balance,  Section 1: Wed/ Sat

Fundamentals: Wednesdays 6:15pm - 7:15pm;

Orientation: Saturdays 10am-10:30am; Applications: Saturdays 10:30am- 11:30am
Primary instructors for section 1: Senseis Van Amburgh and Scollard.

Aikido 101; Principles of Balance,  Section 2: Tue/ Wed

Orientation: Tuesdays 5:30pm- 6:00pm; Applications: Tuesdays 6:15pm-7:15pm;

Fundamentals: Wednesdays 6:15pm - 7:15pm
Primary instructors for section 2: Senseis Fleshler and Van Amburgh

Fee: $192

*Flexible start dates:

Tue Oct 1, Wed Oct 2, Sat Oct 5, Tue Oct 8, Wed Oct 9.

Fall Term ends Wed Dec 18 (regardless of start date).

View the schedule as it lays out on the dojo's October Calendar

4. Saturday,  11:45am, October 26
"How We Roll" 
workshop to improve rolling skills (details forthcoming).

Register for any of the above by email: 
dojo@multnomahaikikai.com

Questions? Contact us or visit the dojo. You are welcome to observe a class any time during regular class hours. Click here for class schedule.

Need a flexible training schedule? Just Start! You may join as a regular member any time.

Contact us: dojo@multnomahaikikai.com
Aikido Multnomah Aikikai  |  503-246-8120
6415 SW Macadam Ave, Portland OR 97239

Full-immersion

Full-immersion
Keep Going, Keep your Center, Keep your Balance


by Greg Corbin, Multnomah Aikikai

Summer Camp was held in San Francisco this year, and I couldn’t attend.  Ever since my first, and so far only, summer camp two years ago in Forest Grove near Portland Oregon, I’ve wanted to go again.  The full-immersion in Aikido, the level of instruction, the intensity of training, and the diversity of aikidoka with which to train is something one can only experience at summer camp.  I left that summer camp exhausted and invigorated at the same time, and recommitted to my practice.  So I have been sad to miss summer camp each year since.

But this year our dojo did something new.  Our instructors brought summer camp back to those of us who couldn’t attend.  Over the course of a week each of our instructors held special classes at which they presented some of what they had seen and learned at summer camp.  Examples include:

a) Fleshler Sensei’s classes on morotedori variations from Miyamoto Sensei’s class at summer camp, and on katadori shomenuchi variations from Naini Sensei’s class at summer camp (see video links below).

b) Van Amburg Sensei’s classes on katadori and katatedori ikkyo to kokyuho from Miyamoto Sensei’s class at summer camp (video link below).

c) Scollard Sensei’s class that included a demonstration of sutemi waza. Alonzo Sensei demonstrated sutemi waza at summer camp (video link below).

 Each of the six classes I attended was a mix of familiar and new.  Familiar were the faces on the mat, and the foundations of the techniques.  New were the presentations of the techniques, because they were emulating the approach of the teachers at summer camp, and in some cases the techniques themselves.  There also was a “feeling” of summer camp in the air.  The classes each vibrated at a higher frequency.  The energy was evident and the tanning intense.  And it was this aspect of these classes that left the greatest impression on me, even more so that the technical presentations and new techniques, though those were great too.

It was that sense of full-immersion that felt most like summer camp to me.  And in that full-immersion, and the exhaustion and fatigue that comes from that type of training, I caught a glimpse of a new, and a very martial, lesson.  How do you keep going, keep your center, and keep your balance, when your body is telling you it can’t keep going?  The lesson is no longer physical.  I think it’s about your spirit and how you approach each encounter.  It’s about making the experience on the mat as real as possible.  And I think that is something we can bring to our practice every day.

Summer camp is unique, no doubt, but these days of training at our dojo also demonstrated that we don’t need to leave the lesson of summer camp behind.  We can bring them home and practice them every day.  I can’t wait for the next summer camp, but I also can’t wait for my next class here at home. 

Greg D. Corbin, Multnomah Aikikai

Video and photo links below...

Biran blog: http://birankai.org/blog/

Miyamoto Sensei video: http://birankai.org/blog/?p=303
Naini Sensei video: http://birankai.org/blog/?p=323
Alonzo Sensei video: http://birankai.org/blog/?p=303

Biran YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/biranonline.

Photos of Birankai North America 2013 Summer Training Camp:
http://birankai.smugmug.com/Seminars/2013-Summer-Camp/30366536_7Lnbpr#!i=2630042318&k=226Jkq6

Regular adult aikido class schedule

Note our Children's classes are held Wednesdays and Fridays 5 pm-6 pm.

Regular schedule of adult aikido classes:

Tuesdays
5:30 - 6:00pm, Center Yourself/Orientation to Practice (open to the public) click for more info.
6:15pm, body arts
7:30pm, weapons

Wednesdays
6:15pm,  body arts/ fundamentals
7:30pm, Iaido (click for more info)

Thursdays
6:15pm - 7:45pm, body arts and weapons
Note: On the first Thursday of the month the 6:15pm class ends at 7:15. Yudansha class begins 7:30pm.

Fridays
6:15pm - 7:15pm, body arts

Saturdays (starting Oct. 5)
10:00am - 10:30am, Orientation
10:30am - 11:15am, body arts

For special events, periodic weapons intensives and other dated events please check upcoming dates from the main navigation.

Aikido Multnomah Aikikai is located at 6415 SW Macadam Ave Portland OR

If you are closer to Forest Grove OR, visit the Forest Grove Aikido dojo for training on Mondays and Wednesdays: http://www.fgaikido.com/home/schedule

 

Post Summer Camp Intensive Aikido Training

We just got back from Birankai Aikido Summer Camp and we are  bringing it home!

Four of us from the dojo attended Camp this year and the classes were inspiring. You can see video clips of the classes at: http://birankai.org/blog/

Be sure to catch Sean's classes Thursday July 11 at 6:15pm and Saturday July 13 at 10:15am.  Then the week of July 16 we will have a special class schedule with Senseis Fleshler, Van Amburgh and Scollard. Come train as we bring the gems of Summer Camp home to the dojo!



Tuesday July 16:
6:15pm, Scollard Sensei, body arts
7:30pm, Fleshler Sensei, weapons

Wednesday July 17:
6:15pm, Van Amburgh Sensei, body arts
7:30pm, Fleshler Sensei, body arts

Thursday July 18:
6:15pm, Scollard Sensei, body arts
7:30 pm, Fleshler Sensei, weapons

Friday July 19:
Regular 6:15pm class

Saturday July 20:
10:15am, Van Amburgh Sensei, body arts
11:30am, Van Amburgh Sensei, body arts/ weapons

Tuesdays 5:30 pm - 6:00 pm: Bokken Basics

Tuesdays 5:30-6:00 pm (public welcome; $10 drop-in)

continuing through July by popular demand!

Bokken Basics

Come learn to center yourself with the wooden sword, balance and breath.

In this new Center Yourself Tuesday series we will study the fundamentals of sword work using the wooden bokken while practicing an eight part kata. No falling is required in this class. Footwork patterns include pivoting, sliding and stepping forward and backward. If you do not have your own bokken you may borrow one from the school during class time.

During this class we will:

    •    Raise the sword in line with the spine
    •    Execute sword motions relative to the center line of the body
    •    Move our upper body so it's supported by the motion of the lower body
    •    Develop footwork that supports movements of the sword

By learning these skills we will :

    •    make good use of the ground so that gravity becomes a friendly force
    •    enable our bones to transmit power cleanly so that our muscles can relax
    •    engage the left hand so that it knows what the right hand is doing
    •    educate the left and right half's of our bodies to coordinate around a central axis
    •    allow our ribs to expand and contract in sync with the sword motion and breathing    •    settle our eyes to align with our intention
    •    improve our balance so that dynamic stability is realized

"Being centered" and "moving from center" will shift from abstract concepts to tangible experiences.

Your instructor: Suzane Van Amburgh 
This class is open to the public for a $10 drop in fee.
Free to dojo members and private students.

Center Yourself, Tuesdays, 5:30-6:00pm
Aikido Multnomah Aikikai, 6415 SW Macadam Ave, Portland OR 97239

Quick updates for May!

Multnomah Aikikai is preparing to host Birankai Northwest Regional Seminar with Guest Instructor: Lorraine DiAnne Shihan on May 17-19, 2013
The fee and class schedule are now posted. Check our Seminar info page for regular updates.

Tuesdays 5:30-6pm, just before our regular 6:15pm class, come for Movement Q&A with Suzane. Free for members and "Aikido Starter Kit Participants." Public drop in fee is $10.

Our Monday early morning class has discontinued.

Upcoming Seminars to plan on (Click in the top nav bar to see all the Upcoming Dates):

May 3-5: Claude Berthiaume Sensei Seminar at Two Rivers Aikikai, Portland http://www.2rivers.org/

July 5-10: Birankai North America Summer Camp at San Francisco State University, California. Register now. Check for details and updates on these pages:

http://www.birankai.org/EventSchedule.php

http://birankai.org/blog/?p=163

https://www.facebook.com/Birankai?ref=ts&fref=ts

July 13-14: Didier Boyet Sensei Seminar at Seattle Aikikai (formerly known as Puget Sound Aikikai) Seminar details here: http://www.seattleaikikai.org 
Enjoy video of Boyet Sensei: http://www.youtube.com/user/BiranOnline

Itching to start Aikido?

ENGAGE YOURSELF

  Do you know someone itching to train Aikido?          

    

Aikido Starter Kit ! 

  Includes...

  - one month of group adult classes,
  - two private lessons with the Chief Instructor 
  - uniform ( gi )

  all for one tidy price: $179
  Hey, that's more than 30% off! *

*This is a $290 value, you save $111. The recipient of this offer must use it before April 30, 2013. Offer applies to the adult aikido program and is open to students new to aikido. Private lessons should be scheduled and completed within the first month of training. Appointment times subject to the Chief Instructor's availability. If recipient's uniform size is not currently in stock, one will be ordered for you.

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Multnomah Aikikai provides a method of personal development for people of all ages through traditional, practical and sincere training in the martial art of Aikido. Through dynamic martial engagement the body is awakened, the mind is sharpened and the spirit is nourished. We teach respect, patience and perseverance in an open encouraging environment.
Aikido Multnomah Aikikai, 6415 SW Macadam Ave, Portland OR 97239