SPECIAL EVENTS
March 11 – 13, 2016 at Aikido’Ka.
Don’t miss this rare visit to Northern California by Richardson Sensei. She is rightly a renowned instructor. Her aikido is breathtakingly beautiful. Everyone who gets to know Kimberly Sensei even a little bit adores her — she is a delightful person. .
Don’t miss the Aikido’Ka 9th Anniversary potluck-party Saturday night. Please come train and celebrate. This will be an absolutely wonderful weekend. We’d love to have you here with us.
Click here to learn more and to register!
Friedl Shihan is an incredible instructor and aikidoist. He is always tremendous fun.
Michael Friedl Shihan is founder and chief instructor of Aikido of Ashland. He is the most recent former President of the California Aikido Association. Friedl Sensei began his Aikido training in 1972 under Clyde Takeguchi Shihan in Madison, Wisconsin. Friedl Sensei became a live-in student (also known as a uchi deshi) for Takeguchi Sensei from 1975-1977 in Charleston, South Carolina. In 1978 Friedl Sensei established a dojo in Burlington, Vermont. He moved to Ashland, Oregon in 1979 and started a small aikido club. Friedl Sensei affiliated with Frank Doran Shihan in 1979 and has been a student of his since that time. Friedl Sensei was uchi deshi for Saito Shihan in Iwama, Japan from 1981-1983. There he studied weapons intensely and the Iwama style of weapons remains a strong influence in his weapons style to this day
Friedl Sensei is Frank Bloksberg Sensei’s direct teacher and is known for his extraordinary skill, joyful attitude and the fun he brings to training.
Saturday morning Frank Bloksberg Sensei will do his 4th Degree Black Belt Demonstration. Saturday evening, we’ll have a potluck and party.
Please come train and celebrate. This will be an absolutely wonderful weekend. We’d love to have you here with us.
Past Events
We are having a special seminar on Saturday, October 4 that we’re calling Attack – Blend – Resolve. It will be a total blast!
The amazing Adam Fong will be showing how to bring powerful, realistic attacks. Mark Zwagerman will be showing how to continue those attacks and blending as both uke and nage. I will show how to resolve the attacks by applying real-world aikido principles.
The three of us are really excited about this seminar!
In other words, we’re going to have a great time!
Michael Friedl Sensei Seminar
7th Dan
March 7 – 9, 2014
7th Dan
Michael Friedl Sensei is founder and chief instructor of Aikido of Ashland. He is President of the California Aikido Association. Friedl Sensei began his Aikido training in 1972 under Clyde Takeguchi Shihan in Madison, Wisconsin. Friedl Sensei became a live-in student (also known as a uchi deshi) for Takeguchi Sensei from 1975-1977 in Charleston, South Carolina. In 1978 Friedl Sensei established a dojo in Burlington, Vermont. He moved to Ashland, Oregon in 1979 and started a small aikido club. Friedl Sensei affiliated with Frank Doran Shihan in 1979 and has been a student of his since that time. Friedl Sensei was uchi deshi for Saito Shihan in Iwama, Japan from 1981-1983. There he studied weapons intensely and the Iwama style of weapons remains a strong influence in his weapons style to this day
Friedl Sensei is Frank Bloksberg Sensei’s direct teacher and is known for his extraordinary skill, joyful attitude and the fun he brings to training.
This will be an amazing seminar. Don’t miss it!
Friday, 7:00 – 8:30 pm —
This class will be very family and beginner friendly!
Saturday, 10:00 am – noon and 2:30 – 4:30 pm
Sunday, 10:00 am – noon
All Classes are Open to All Ages and Skill Levels (Ages 7+)
$120 for the entire seminar
$45 Friday only
$75 Saturday only
$55 Sunday only
Youth under 16 attend for 50% off. To get the youth discount, use the promo code “Youth” (without the quotes) when you register online.
Register and pay by February 16 and get 10% off. To get the early bird discount, use the promo code “Early” (without the quotes) when you register online. Sorry, you can’t use both promo codes.
With prior arrangements, attendees can stay at the dojo.
Click the button to register now (just remove the sessions you don’t want) . . .
Holiday Seminar
Saturday, December 14, 2013
Please join us for our Holiday Seminar on Saturday, December 14, 2013 at Aikido’Ka.
We’ll have a blast training and then having kyu demonstrations. Here’s the schedule:
10:00 Asia Currie
10:45 Mark Zwagerman
11:30 Frank Bloksberg
12:15 Lunch
1:30 Asia Currie
2:00 Mark Zwagerman
2:30 Frank Bloksberg
3:00 Kyu Demonstrations
After the demonstrations are completed, we’ll have a potluck/get together.
So . . . train, laugh, smile, practice, visit, laugh, train, sweat, smile, demonstrate, eat, drink, watch demonstrations, and generally just have a good time with friends.
Mark Zwagerman joined Aikido’Ka this summer, when he moved to Grass Valley from Santa Cruz. Mark was awarded his sandan (third degree black belt) by Linda Holiday Sensei. Linda Holiday Sensei is Chief Instructor of Aikido of Santa Cruz. Mark is a remarkable aikidoist with exceptional ukemi skills. (He’s also a great guy!) In his classes, Mark will teach how to dramatically improve your understanding of ukemi. We are absolutely thrilled that Mark has joined Aikido’Ka and is teaching during our Holiday Seminar.
We really look forwarding to seeing you.
The picture of Mark Zwagerman is taken by Beau Sanders. The photo is used with Beau’s permission.
Aiki Summer Retreat 2013
June 23 – 29, 2013
In Quincy California
Aiki Summer Retreat is, by far, the most exciting and important event we’ve ever held. If you have any chance to attend, you need to!
The instructors are: Frank Doran Shihan (7th Dan), Robert Nadeau Shihan (7th Dan and direct student of O’Sensei), Michael Friedl Sensei (6th Dan), Kimberly Richardson Sensei (6th Dan), Craig Fife Sensei (6th Dan), Greg O’Connor Sensei (6th Dan).
Click Here for More Information.
Frank Doran Shihan
7th Degree Aikido Black Belt
Saturday, March 31, 2012 Aikido Seminar
10:00 – 11:30 $30.00
1:00 – 2:30 $30.00
All Ages and Experience Levels (7 years+)
Danielle Smith Sensei
6th Degree Aikido Black Belt
4th Degree Jujutsu Black Belt
“Model Mugging”Founder
Aikido & Women’s Self-Defense Seminars
Asia Currie Nidan (2nd Degree Black Belt) Demonstration
November 11 & 12, 2001
Friday Evening Women’s Self-Defense Seminar (Ages 14+)
6:00 – 8:00 pm $35.00
(Class limited to 30 participants)
Saturday Aikido Seminar
10:00 – 11:30 $30.00
1:00 – 2:30 $30.00
All Ages and Experience Levels (7 years+)
Asia Currie will demonstrate for her Nidan (2nd degree black belt) during the morning class.
We’ll have a potluck lunch at the dojo from 11:30 am – 12:30 pm.
Smith Sensei is chief instructor at Aikido of Monterey, where she is dedicated to continuing to build a dojo community that is committed to and inspired by studying the “Art of Peace.” She began her training in 1973, when the Aikido of Monterey dojo was first established, and has trained in the United States and Japan. She holds the rank of Rokudan (6th degree black belt) in Aikido. She is also a certified Pilates instructor and brings the “power of alignment” to her teaching of Aikido. Smith Sensei has also studied Tai Chi Chuan, is a Sandan (3rd dan) in Hakko Ryu Jujutsu, a Yondan (4th dan) in Seibukan Jujutsu and a Shodan (1st dan) in Iaido (the art of the Japanese Sword). She is one of five martial artists who developed the widely acclaimed and internationally taught women’s self-defense system known as “Model Mugging.” She has taught Aikido and self-defense nationally and internationally. Danielle Smith Sensei served as president of the California Aikido Association from 2002 to 2010. She continues as a member of the Examination Committee of the CAA.
Michael Friedl Sensei Seminar
May 6 – 8, 2011
Frank Bloksberg Sensei
San Dan Demonstration
May 6, 2011
Friday, 6:00 – 8:00 pm —
This class will be very family and beginner friendly! During this class, Frank Bloksberg Sensei will perform his 3rd degree black belt demonstration.
Saturday, 10:00 am – noon and 2:30 – 4:30 pm
Sunday, 10:00 am – noon
All Classes are Open to All Ages and Skill Levels (Ages 7+)
Friedl Sensei is Frank Bloksberg Sensei’s direct teacher and is known for his extraordinary skill, joyful attitude and the fun he brings to training.
This will be an amazing seminar. Don’t miss it!
We will turn away no one because of cost. With prior arrangements, attendees can stay at the dojo.
Free Self-Defense Day
Saturday, September 4, 2010
For the forseeable future, this will our last free self-defense day for all ages. After September 4, all of our youth self-defense seminars will be school fundraisers. For more information about our fun, healthy school fundraisers, please call Frank Sensei at 273-2727.
Learn real, effective, age-appropriate self-defense techniques for free. Simply register for the seminars you want. Register and invite your friends right away, because these free seminar are limited to 30 participants each. Registration is required.
10:00 – 11:30 am — 7 – 10 year old
1:00 – 3:00 pm — 11 – 15 year old
6:00 – 9:00 pm — Women’s Self-Defense (16+ years)
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Aikido’Ka Non-Potluck for the Food Bank
February 4, 2010
The Nevada County Food Bank is in dire straits. They are so low on food that they’re rationing distributions to the hungry. If we do not help out, the Food Bank will probably soon have to start turning people away.
In response, Aikido’Ka is holding its First Non-Potluck for the Food Bank. On Thursday, February 4, gather together all the fixings for a potluck, but don’t make anything. Bring the food to the dojo and we’ll donate it to the Food Bank. We’re having a Non-Potluck, so please make sure your food donations are non-perishable. You can, of course, donate money if you’d like.
We’ll get together from 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm. Make lots of new friends, enjoy one another’s company, play, dance, do some simple aikido and not eat together. If you can’t make it to the Non-Potluck, drop off your donations anytime after 10:00 am, February 4, at the dojo. Here’s a map.
Please help the Food Bank by sharing this message with all of your friends. This is a family event and everyone is invited!
Frank Sensei
P.S. If you or a member of your family are considering training in aikido, February 4 will be the day to join. We’ll donate to the Food Bank 10% of all new membership payments that day.
Teja Bell Sensei
Qigong – Dharma – Meditation
January 23 & 24 from 9:30 – 4:00 each day.
Click here for the flyer.
Cyndy Hayashi Sensei Seminars
Cyndy Hayashi Sensei Seminars
Friday, November 13, 6:30 – 9:30 pm — Women’s Only Self-Defense. $60.
Saturday, November 14 — Aikido Seminar, Open to All
Class Schedule: 10:00 – 11:30 am and 12:30 – 2:00 pm;
11:30 am – 12:30 pm Potluck at the dojo
$40.
Click here for the poster for Cyndy Sensei’s seminars.
Here’s what participants from Cyndy Sensei’s Women’s Self-Defense seminar had to say:
“This seminar changed my life.” “I didn’t know I could be so powerful.” “Cyndy Sensei’s seminar was so empowering. We had a great time.” “Cyndy Sensei is wonderful.” “I thought martial arts would be icky! This was upbeat and fun.”
Last year, we sold out the 30 places. So RSVP early to get your spot. Just reply to this email that you want to attend. Be sure to give me your cotact information when you RSVP.
This seminar is open to women only, ages 15 and up. Speak with me if you think your younger daughter might want to attend.
Cyndy Sensei’s Aikido seminar is open to all ages and all levels. Cyndy Sensei holds the highest rank of any female aikidoist in the country — 6th degree black belt (others hold the same rank, but no one holds a higher rank). Cyndy Sensei is tremendous fun and you will learn an immense about aikido. Don’t miss this seminar!
$40. This seminar is open to all ages and skill levels.
For both of these seminars: We will turn away no one because of money. Please speak with Sensei if cost is an issue.
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We Can . . . Drive Through 3
November 7, 2009 from 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Drive Through was a tremendous success. We raised over $2,800 in cash and approximately 1,600 pounds of food! Thank you everyone!
On Saturday, November 7, from 11 am – 6 pm, at the corner of Broad and Union Streets in Nevada City, Aikido’Ka held its third annual can drive for the Nevada County Food Bank.
Aikido’Ka held its first drive in 2007 – dubbed We Can . . . Drive Through – in response to the Food Bank’s dire food shortage. On October 27, 2007, at the bottom of Broad Street in Nevada City the community raised approximately $2,500 in cash and over 1,600 pounds of non-perishable food. Last year, Aikido’Ka held We Can . . . Drive Through 2 and the community raised over $2,800 in cash and 2,200 pounds of food! This year, the problem of hunger in our community continues to grow and the Food Bank is busier than ever.
We Can . . . Drive Through 3 is simple: Drive to the bottom of Broad Street where volunteers will be accepting donations (rain or shine). Donations the Food Bank wants include cans or bags of food, money and personal hygiene products. For a more complete list of the Food Bank’s needs, please check our We Can . . . Drive Through 3 web page at JoinAikido.com/special_events.html.
Aikido’Ka is training peaceful warriors and community leaders through its Project Based Leadership programs. At Aikido’Ka students perform community service as part of their martial arts and leadership training.
Aikido is unique among martial arts by striving for twin goals – practicing effective self-defense while hurting no one. Aikido’Ka holds classes for all ages and physical condition. To volunteer or for more information about We Can . . . Drive Through 3, please call Aikido’Ka Chief Instructor Frank Bloksberg at (530) 273-2727 or send him an email.
The Samurai Game
Saturday, May 23, 2009 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Sunday, May 24, 2009 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
The Samurai Game® is a challenging and life-affirming game in which you become a medieval Japanese samurai. Fully engage in competitions demanding honor, dignity and integrity. Manifest bold, dignified and decisive action in the face of uncertainty. Listen deeply to and be clearly heard by others. Evoke respectful and honorable behavior from yourself and others. Maintain your commitment with no certainty of success. The Game involves no significant physical contact. Ages 8+. Ask for our family discount.
With Lance Giroux. Since 1990, Lance has facilitated the Samurai Game in public seminars, at academic conferences, for universities, schools and at corporate retreats – throughout the US, Asia, Europe and Mexico. Some of the many organizations that Lance has provided the Game are: The United Nations Secretariat, Verizon Wireless, Nokia, University of Nevada Las Vegas, University of San Francisco, Oklahoma State University, Texas A&M University and many others.
This event will be the first time the Samurai Game has ever been offered in NevadaCounty.
Tuition for the entire seminar is $150.00. Ask about our amazing family discount. Youth 8 years old and up are welcome. Please keep in mind that the Samurai Game is challenging. For that reason, young people should only attend if they are very motivated to do so.
Check out the official Samurai Game website for more information.
Aikido’Ka 2nd Anniversary and
Free Self-Defense Day
April 4, 2009
Free Self-Defense Day was a huge success! The events were free to all. As you probably know by now, a key aspect of our training at Aikido’Ka is community service. As aikidoists, we are peaceful warriors for ourselves, our families and communities. As such, we have a duty to serve. At Aikido’Ka, we put our duty to serve into action through Project Based Leadership Training (PBLT). When our students, individually or as a class, plan and carry out service projects, they grow their character and become real leaders in the community.
Everyone at Aikido’Ka performs community service projects. Frank Bloksberg Sensei, as part of his 18-month-long Ultimate Black Belt test (for his next level black belt), is performing 5 to 10 community-based projects. Each project must involve more than 10 people.
On April 4, Frank Sensei provided three self-defense classes, free of charge. The classes will be split up by age: 7 – 11, 12 – 16, 17+.
We had belt testing, aikido demonstrations and Grass Valley Taiko performed fantastically.
We Can . . . Drive Through 2
October 25, 2008
11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Last year, we learned that the Food Bank was experiencing a tremendous increase in demand and had been running out of food. In fact, the Food Bank inventory was down to one case of cans. When the Food Bank runs out of food, children go hungry.
In emergency response, Aikido’Ka held We Can . . . Drive Through. On October 27, 2007, at the bottom of Broad Street in Nevada City the community raised approximately $2,500 in cash and over 1,600 pounds of non-perishable food. This year, the problem of hunger in our community continues to grow and the Food Bank is busier than ever.
In response, we are holding We Can . . . Drive Through 2 on Saturday, October 25 from 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. – rain or shine. Our goal is to double last year’s results. In other words, we intend to raise $5,000 in cash and over 3,000 pounds of non-perishable food.
The Food Bank does necessary work in our community and needs our support. The Food Bank provides food to senior citizens, single parents, working poor, families and homeless in our county. They are serving more families than ever before, on a budget made up of 80% donations. While our Food Bank is one of the smallest food banks in California, it is one of the few that provides food 7 days a week.
Consider Project H.O.P.E. (Helping Other People Eat), for example. In 2005, the Food Bank received a letter from Melissa Fowlkes, a 3rd grade teacher at Hennessy School. Ms. Fowlkes shared that many of her students come to school hungry. Even though the school provided some breakfast and lunches daily, these kids were still hungry. They simply did not get enough food at home and the school was not giving them enough food, either. Teachers throughout our community were buying food for hungry students so that they would at least have a nutritious snacks. The Food Bank responded with Project H.O.P.E., providing over 4,000 snacks every week to 15 community schools. The Food Bank continues Project H.O.P.E. through the summer when none of the school food programs operate. “With Project H.O.P.E. and our Nutrition Education program, we try to give out fresh fruits and vegetables to the kids. Project H.O.P.E. has pretty much tripled each new year and this year it is only 1/3 funded,” Cassy Benuzzi of the Food Bank says.
We Can . . . Drive Through 2 is an easy and effective way for you to support the Food Bank and our community. Clean out your pantry and drop off your extra non-perishable food items at the corner of Broad and Union Streets in Nevada City. Just pull in on either side of the street, drop off your cash and/or food donation and drive away. We will be there rain or shine. It’s that easy!
Here is a list of the food items that the Food Bank needs (the items with an * are those that the Food Bank needs the most):
Granola bars and cereal
Apple sauce and fruit cups
Dried fruit and nuts
*100% juice – individual juice boxes and bulk juice containers
*Cans of fruit, *vegetables, soups, *fish and *meat
Tomato products – spaghetti sauce, tomato paste
Dried beans and enriched rice
Peanut butter – plastic containers only
If you have any questions, want to make donations or would like to volunteer, please contact Frank Bloksberg at (530) 273-2727.
Many Acts of Kindness Journals
AIKIDO’KA “WE CAN DRIVE-THROUGH” FOR FOOD BANK
A ROUSING SUCCESS!
On Saturday, October 27, 2007 Aikido’Ka held its first We Can Drive-Through for the Nevada County Food Bank. Drive-Through was a rousing success. The community donated approximately $2,500 and over 1,700 separate packages of food.
“Drive-Through’s success is further evidence that our community cares. While the holidays and cold weather will be here soon, the Food Bank has been empty. Aikido’Ka is proud to help solve this terrible problem,” said Frank Bloksberg Co-Chief Instructor of Aikido’Ka.
Being involved in Drive-Through was an extraordinary experience. “I was simply amazed at how generous people can be. A person would drive up and open her car trunk. It would be full of bags and cases of food she was donating. This didn’t happen once or twice – it happened over and over throughout the day,” said Mr. Bloksberg.
An Aikido’Ka student was approached by a young man, who donated a handful of change. He said that the Food Bank fed him when he was a hungry child and he wanted to help. Another man, who identified himself as homeless, gave $2 because he knows how important the Food Bank’s work is. A teenager, coming from work, donated his tips.
On man said he could not make a donation because had no money. In fact, he said he had no food and was hungry. The Food Bank representative, Sonny LaCross, immediately gave the man a large bag of food.
Aikido’Ka trains peaceful warriors and community leaders through its Acts of Kindness program. In this project-based leadership program, Aikido’Ka students perform community service as part of their martial arts and leadership training. Aikido is unique among martial arts by striving for twin goals – practicing effective self-defense while hurting no one. Aikido’Ka holds classes for all ages and physical condition.
For more information about Drive-Through or our programs, please contact us.
Aikido’Ka
142 E. McKnight Way
Grass Valley, CA 95945
(530) 273-2727