Aikido'Ka

Grass Valley's Family Martial Arts School -- Focus, Fitness & Fun

aikido

Conversation with Aikido Teacher Michael Friedl, 7th Dan

Michael Friedl Sensei and I were co-hosts of the Aiki Summer Retreat last year. It was an incredible success. The Retreat is absolutely one of my greatest aikido achievements, not the least of which because I did it with Friedl Sensei.

Michael Sensei will be giving an aikido seminar at Aikido’Ka March 7 – 9.  The seminar will be great!

Click here for more information and to register.

Last year, before the Retreat, Michael Sensei and I did a webinar to discuss aikido, the Aiki Retreat and other things. I thought I’d re-post the webinar so that you can enjoy it. Other aikido instructors called in to enjoy the fun.

Video: Bokken Yokomenuchi Practice at Aikido’Ka in Grass Valley

Here’s a brief video of weapons practice. The technique is yokomenuchi with a bokken. Yokomenuchi is a strike which lands anywhere from the temple to the side of the neck.

Aikido is largely based upon sword movement. Our weapons practice helps us understand open-hand aikido much better than just practicing without weapons. Oh, and weapons practice is a ton of fun!

Click here for the instructional video for the bokken practice.

Webinar with Dr. Johnny Newsome Sensei

Webinar with Dr. Johnny Newsome Sensei

On Sunday, June 9, Johnny Newsome Sensei and I recorded this webinar. Johnny Sensei is Chief Instructor of Morehead State University Aikido Club and is Associate Professor of Health and Physical Education at Morehead State University in Kentucky. He has been attending Aiki Summer Retreat for many years. Johnny Sensei and Frank Bloksberg Sensei will be talking about aikido, summer camp, and fun aikido stories. Johnny Sensei is a very smart, funny and nice guy. You’ll enjoy listening to him.

Click here to watch Dr. Johnny Newsome Sensei’s webinar.

Molly Hale’s Webinar is Online

Molly Hale and I recorded the webinar on Monday, May 20, 2013. We discussed all manner of things, including Molly’s love for aikido, her terrible accident which placed in her a wheelchair (and injured no one else) and why she loves attending the Summer Retreat. I hope you enjoy listening.

Click here to listen to the webinar with Molly Hale.

Aiki Summer Retreat is Back!

Michael Friedl Sensei and I are co-hosting the Aiki Summer Retreat from June 23 – June 29.

We’ll have special guests:

Frank Doran Shihan, 7th Dan
Robert Nadeau Shihan, 7th Dan

We’ll have featured instructors:

Michael Friedl Sensei, 6th Dan
Kimberly Richardson Sensei, 6th Dan
Craig Fife Sensei, 6th Dan
Greg O’Connor Sensei, 6th Dan

Registration will open soon.

For all of the information, click here.