Schedule next week

Schedule for next week is changed. Please check it.

12/27(Mon) Adult class 6pm~
12/28(Tue) Adult class 9:30am~/ 6pm~
12/29(Wed) Kids class 5pm~/Adult class 6pm~
12/31(Fri) Adult class 9:30am~/ 5pm~


Class in next year will start from Jan 2nd (Sun) as regular schedule.


Have a happy christmas holiday!

Kyu testing in Kids class

 We had Kyu testing in Youth class last Sunday. Everyone did great job. Congratulations!

Dojo closed in Christmas holiday

Dojo will be officially closed from December 24th (Friday) to 26th(Sunday).

Excellent seminar by Clyde Tekeguchi shihan

  Annual seminar by Tekeguchi shihan was so much fun. Everyone enjoyed training at Bob's dojo together. Over 50 people attended at the seminar and many people stayed 2 days. In second day, Sensei focused on Tenchi nage in various perspective. At the end of the day, we trained applied technique agianst Jo and it impressed me a lot.

Web album is updated. Visit :

TakeguchiSenseiSeminar2010Dec

Clyde Takeguchi Sensei's annual seminar

Join Seminar by Clyde Takeguchi Shihan 7th dan, Capital Aikikai

• When: December 4th and 5th, 2010
• Where: Capital Aikikai of Syracuse, NY 

The dojo will be closed the week-end of the Takaguchi Shihan seminar. Both
adult and youth classes cancelled Sunday Dec 5th.

Seminar details can be found here:
    http://www.aikido-syracuse.com/sem-clyde.shtml

Date Changed: Bob Poresky Sensei's class on November 2010

Note: Date of Poresky sensei's class has changed


Bob Poresky sensei will be back Sunday, 21th on November.

Instructor: Bob Poresky Sensei, 4th dan, Chief Instructor of Capital Aikikai of Syracuse
When: November 21th, 2010, Class will start 11:00AM till 1:00PM
Where: Rochester Phoenix Aikido Club

Anyone is welcome to attend the class

Hotel information for Seminar in Syracuse (Clyde Takeguchi Shihan)

Hotel information for Seminar in Syracuse(Clyde Takeguchi Shihan) is follows:
 
Hampton Inn & Suites
3017 Erie Boulevard East
Syracuse, NY 13224
Web site: www.hampton.com (type in Syracuse, New York)
The rate is $109/night plus tax and service (13%) – total = $123.17/night
Includes: the usual fitness / pool and free breakfast

Call 315 – 373 – 0333 for reservations and reference AIKIDO or Capital AIKIKAI special room rate (they are reserving 10 rooms at that rate – standard rate is $139 to $159 plus)

The hotel is about 3 miles from the Capital Aikikai of Syracuse Dojo (Dojo Location is here) –

Any questions:
Bob Poresky, Chief instructor of Capital Aikikai of Syracuse

Sunday class (Poresky sensei's class / Kids class)

  Over 20 people attended Bob Poresky Sensei's class. He mainly focused on off-balancing by subtle movement of Hanmi posture. The most interest and difficult technique was Katadori iriminage with the off-balancing movement.  Once you get this technique, it can be applied any techniques. The movement was subtle, but affect a lot.

  In youth class, all kids attended. In half of the class, they all trained together and split two groups in the other half of the class. At the end of the class, they played sward game.

  Pictures are updated here.

Children were enjoying Ukemi(rolling, a pic above), Kokyuho, Ikkyo and games. Their Ukemi is getting improved a lot.

Bob Poresky sensei's class next Sunday

Bob Poresky sensei will be in regular Class next Sunday.

Class will start at 11:00 am till 1:00pm
 at Rochester Phoenix Aikido Club

Anyone is welcome to join the class!

 (Pics from recent Poresky sensei's class)

Sunday kids class

Today, we did some new exercises and techniques in kids class. All students did back roll Ukemi exercise very well. Balancing, centering, controlling space give good idea to develop techniques. We all enjoyed.

Get idea from Kaeshi waza

  Practicing particular technique is not good enough to understand the principle of the technique. Sometimes  training Kaeshi-waza (Reversed technique) gives you a good clue. We trained Sankyo and Sankyo kaeshiwaza in today's class.You will find what is missing in your technique by training the reversed technique.

Seminar by Dave Millar sensei 5th dan

We will have Aikido Seminar by Dave Miller sensei next weekend. It will be held at Syracuse.

Seminar by Dave Millar sensei 5th dan

September 18th, 19th, 2010

• where: Capital Aikikai of Syracuse, NY
• more information click here

Tesing in youth class

Two children passed testings for orange and yellow+ belts at last Sunday class. Both did good job. Congratulations!

Beginner/Intro to Aikido courses:

Join us: Beginner class of Aikido

Saturday, Sep 4th and 11th from 10am - 1pm, at Rochester Phoenix Aikido Club.

This course is aimed at beginners and people interested in trying aikido for the first time so, bring your friends. Graded students are invited along to assist.

Fall Aikido Seminar: Seishiro Endo Shihan, Oct 30-31

Capital Aikikai is privileged to be hosting Endo Shihan once again this
fall. The seminar will be 30-31 October, with classes on Saturday and
Sunday morning at the same venue we used for the 2007 seminar -
...Georgetown Prep. The fee for both days will be $100, with daily rates
available. For more info, we invite you to visit our website link:
http://www.capitalaikikai.org/seminar. (The registration page is not
yet available, but will be shortly!)

Fall Aikido Seminar: Seishiro Endo Shihan, Oct 30-31

Endo Sensei: Seishiro Endo Sensei is an 8th degree shihan from Aikikai Hombu Dojo. He also is the founder and dojo cho of Aikido Saku Dojo in Nagano, Japan. Endo Shihan started studying Aikido under O Sensei, Morihei Ueshiba, at Hombu Dojo in 1967 as one of his last uchi deshi. Endo Shihan is dedicated to promoting Aikido worldwide and he has taught in more than 30 different countries.

Endo Shihan is well known for his gentle, dynamic yet powerful Aikido. Students often describe his classes as joyful and inspiring. Please come join us for Seishiro Endo Shihan's second visit to Washington, DC, at Capital Aikikai!

Location: 

• Georgetown Preparatory School; 10900 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD [area map]

	Seminar Sessions Saturday: 10:00a - 12:00p 2:00p - 4:30p 7:00p seminar party Sunday: 10:00a - 1:00p Seminar Fees Saturday Only: $75 Sunday Only: $45 Both Days: $100

New aikido classes from September:

New aikido classes from September:
Tuesday:  

Weapons class 5:30pm to 6:30pm, 

Aikido from 6:30pm to 8pm.

Friday:  

Aikido class 6pm - 7pm and 7pm - 8pm.

Saturday:

Open mat 10am - 11:30am

Beginner/Intro to Aikido courses:

Saturday, Sep 4 and 11 from 10am - 1pm.
This course is aimed at beginners and people interested in trying aikido for the first time so, bring your friends. Graded students are invited along to assist.

New incentives:

New students (beginners) that attend 30 days in first 3 months will get one month free.

Anyone attending 75 days between September 1 and New year will get free Capital Aikido Federation membership for 2011.

Outside Weapon Training at Lake and BBQ, Aug 21th

  We had outside training outside at Lake on Aug 21th. we trained at beautiful land on the hill. We all enjoyed swinging weapons in such a beautiful atmosphere. Luckily, it was beautiful weather. BBQ and swimming in Lake was also fun.

 

Check more photos on Gallery

Kids' Aikido Summer Camp 2010, 4th day, Aug 20th

What a week! Practice. Practice. Practice. The mat sessions are 50 minutes of refining techniques we know and then stretching ourselves into new ones. Sword practice continues to be a favorite along with freetime games of Battlefield and 5,000. What now?
Paula

Kids' Aikido Summer Camp 2010, 3rd day, Aug 19th

It is refreshing to experience aikido in kid's time and space. We are refining our focus and learning there is always more. Thanks to Sensei Vic and all the parents who make this possible.
Paula

Training inside Dojo. 3rd day

Weapon training outside. Atmosphere is beautiful. 2nd day.

Kids' Aikido Summer Camp 2010, 1st and 2nd day, Aug 17th, 18th

We are two days into kid's camp. Everyone is training hard and playing hard. Sword practice and lunch are the favorite activities. More tomorrow.
Paula

Training Jo (wooden stick weapon) outside, 1st day

Inside Training 2nd day

Official Dojo web page modified

  Official dojo website has been modified. Some part of the site is still in progress. If you find any problem or if you have any suggestion, we are more than welcome.

Link from official page

  We have now link from our official page to this Blog! yea!

Saturday August 21th, Outside weapon training and BBQ

We will have outside weapon training and BBQ this coming Saturday. Map is provided by Tom. Please check the desk in Dojo.

Saturday August 21th, Outside weapon training and BBQ at lake (Check in with Tom if you are interested in attending.). 

Weapon training will start at 1PM till 3PM (Check location on map).
BBQ will start at 4 PM

 (Pictures from Weapon training in 2009)

Testing and BBQ on Sunday was fun

  We had Sensei Bob's class yesterday. Over 20 people attended the class. At the end of the class, we had testing. In total, 7 student had testing. 2 for 5th kyu, 2 had 4th kyu and 1 had 3rd kyu. Another 2 had 1st kyu testing. Everyone did good job and it was awesome testing. Congratulations for all of them!

  In Afternoon, we got all together at Vic's place to have BBQ party. His new place is so beautiful and we enjoyed talking and eating a lot. Thanks Vic for organize the party.  

Check other pictures in Gallery

Upcoming event in this Summer

We have Three upcoming events in this summer.

• August 17th-20th, Youth class Aikido Summer Camp (More information will be provided by Vic).          

• If you are interested in attending, contact aikido@rochester.rr.com by August 4th.
• Camp will take place in Pittsford.                
• Those attending should arrive after 8am and be picked up by 5pm. 
• Children should bring Lunch and snacks.
• Activities will include Aikido, Japanese sword, yoga and games.
• Children will be supervised by Vic Williams and Two other instructors.
• Cost $120 for all four days or $35 per day.

 

 (Pictures from Youth class in 2010)

• Sunday August 15th, Kyu Testing and BBQ at Rochester Phoenix Aikido Club. Bob Poresky sensei will be in Class. (More information will be provided by Vic).   

•  Saturday August 21th, Outside weapon training and BBQ at lake (Check in with Tom if you are interested in attending.).  

 (Pictures from Weapon training in 2009)

Intent?

Keeping the mind like a tied-up cat and not allowing it to wander, when you keep it in check within yourself, within yourself it will be detained. Forsaking it within your body, it will go nowhere.

In tonight's class I had the time to notice (while I wiggled Bob Poresky sensei's arm in futility) that I was actively feeling my hips tug one way, then the other, constantly expecting to find the sweet spot in my uke's balance. Growing tired, I commented on what I was perceiving, and I was then invited to think roughly a foot behind my hips. And uke became unbalanced!

I had way too much invested in trying to make my hips affect uke. Hips basically replaced arms, and shoulders in the sense that I was relying on muscle, even if they were new muscles made aware by my practice in aikido. I was relying and putting so much thought into the action, that I was closed to feeling everything else. My cat was all tied up!

So, I wonder if this idea of contemplating space outside the body is the "projection of intent" that is at times referred to here and there.

Obviously, if I began to over-focus on the intent of filling this or that empty space, my cat and I would be tied up at the next point along The Way.

Even in moving the mind outside the body, if it is sent in one direction, it will be lacking in nine others. If the mind is not restricted to just one direction, it will be in all ten.

Even the immovable has to keep the center line. If you move or control that line, (n.b. Not if you can, but if you do) my hunch is that you trade places with the immovable, if only for a moment.


excerpts from- Takuan Soho, from his essay: The Mysterious Record of Immovable Wisdom.

International Friendship Seminar in NJ, 10/1-10/3

 10/1-10/3: International Friendship Seminar in East Hanover, NJ

This is a link to the IFS web site. Sensei "Ed" was at the CAF gasshuku in July and gave out flyers for this Seminar. He mentioned that several top Shihan from South America and Europe as well as the US will be providing the instruction. If anyone in the Dojo is interested in going please post your name and information on the bulletin board in the Dojo.

Check also http://www.aikidocenters.com/Seminar.htm

Aikido International Friendship Seminar
October 1-3, 2010
featuring
Jorge Rojo - Chile
Nelson Requena - Venezuela
Wilko Vriesman - Netherlands
Daniel Lance - France
along with
Greg O'Connor - USA

to be held at and hosted by
Aikido Centers of New Jersey
at its headquarters dojo located at 55 Eagle Rock Ave. East Hanover, NJ 07869 

Click below for PDFs with Seminar Info -
Ai Seminar Flyer
Featured Instructors
Class Schedule
Registration Application
Registration Procedure
Hotels & Local Map

Open to all Aikidoka of levels, organizations and affiliations

Gallery is updated

Gallery of First CAF Summer camp "Gassyuku" is updated. Check it out!
Check also Capital Aikikai Federation Web album of CAF to find more pictures!

Home again, home again, giggity gig...

Well, the first ever CAF Gasshuku is over and this is the last entry from your intrepid aiki blogger. For those who were unable to attend this weekend you were sorely missed but the Rochester Dojo was well represented. Everyone complemented the new logo (thanks Jen) and the atmosphere of friendship and camraderie was awesome! It really felt like we were all family. Special thanks to Sensei Goldsmith for his hospitality and to his uchi-dechi for cleaning up after all of us. TTFN ya'll...Coyote.

Gasshuku ends like it began...

Takaguchi Shihan managed to tie everything together in a wonderful way...just learn to connect to...yourself.

Take the slack out of the chain...and connect.

Bob...need I say more?

First we hit...then we hugged...then we flicked!

Sensei Mike when interviewed said, "Techniques are like putting on your clothes...in the right order...looks good. Put your clothes on in the wrong order...looks wierd." He credits his Aiki influences to Senseis: Kamura, Takaguchi,  Chiba and Ken Cottier of the Hong Kong Aikido Association. He explained that his intent is to use his experience and put his own spin on their techniques. During his lesson he tried to show his current understanding of the Aikido that Takaguchi Shihan teaches and the qualities of his style. In Takaguchi Shihan he sees similarities with that late Tamura Sensei. His parting thought to the class was, "Not only should Aikido be fun in training, but there needs to be a conveyance of joy between uke and nage. He explained that this can be done without sacrificing the martial effect. So...smile more when you train!!!

Sensei Colin's Aikido codes to practice by...

When I asked Sensei Colin what her theme was she said, " Hanmi, posture, and extension." We delved into this primarily through ushiro techniques.

1st thought of the day...connection.

Sensei Obrecht focused on the hips and connection...he said that all practice is "research"...so slow down and do you homework.