| 5-5-2008: |
Shindai will hold a Mudansha testing on May 17th.
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| 5-5-2008: |
The dojo hosted Saotome Shihan the weekend of April 25th for his annual seminar at Shindai. The attendance was made up of close to 90 Aikidoka each day from Florida, as well as several from both the east and west coast. Sensei’s teaching was profound as usual. Working on connection and timing principles geared for the higher ranks, Sensei worked everyone into a position of intense consideration, and exhaustion. We will all spend a great deal of time in trying to process the points he made, and if we actually come to some level of understanding… I am sure we will realize what he offered that we could not begin to grasp. We will all be back next year in the hopes that Sensei will explain further. Until then, we train and train some more with the jewels we were able to take away.
Sensei was so inspired by the dynamics of the weekend that he has expressed a desire that the format change for next year. Hooker Sensei has subsequently announced that we will severely limit the number of participants for next year to create a more exclusive and concentrated training environment. Sensei’s teaching will focus specifically on teaching the teachers, intentionally letting the communication of basics to the teachers his decades of effort has already produced. This higher level of instruction is sure to produce demand. We suggest that when the notices go out, dojo instructors, yudansha and dojo cho register immediately. It will be first come first serve. Rank and position will not guarantee participation.
The BBQ Saturday evening was a rousing success. Besides the good food and Aiki interaction… we used it in part as a fund raiser to assist Mary Heiny Sensei with the expenses of her upcoming hip surgery. The combination of contributions and input from Shindai Dojo resulted in Shindai sending Heiny Sensei a check for $4500.00. In addition to the money went all of our heartfelt best wishes for a successful outcome to the surgery and a rapid rehabilitation.
Our sincere thanks to all our Aikido brothers and sisters who trained with us.
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| 10-3-2007: |
We would like to congratulate Tim Peters on an outstanding performance of the principles required to attain his Shodan rank. Attended by close to 30 of his sempai and cohai, Tim honored his instructors with his conversancy of technique, awareness of his Uke and spirit of performance. Dennis Hooker and David Jones Sensei, along with the rest of the testing board, happily and unnaimously agreed to award the rank of Shodan. Tim is part of the heart of Shindai dojo and a great addition to its Yudansha.
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| 8-24-2007: |
We have some great fall seminars lined up. See the events section.
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4-27-2007: |
Saotome Shihan
Everyone at Shindai, and I am sure those who attended, are still basking in the after glow of a great seminar with Saotome Shihan. Sensei has the almost mystical ability to provide a training experience crafted to bring everyone to a heightened level of awareness, even if it is of our own deficiencies. This seminar was no different. Working almost exclusively on concepts of connection and blending… he confounded even the most skilled in attendance. Everyone was challenged with a focused view of Aiki principles that will occupy us well beyond his visit next year.
It was held at the dojo this year for a number of reasons, not the least of which was the 20th anniversary of Saotome Shihan conducting seminars at Shindai. That fact was largely overshadowed however, by an ASU family celebration of Saotome Shihan's 70th birthday. The flame he ignited in all who trained almost rose to the same levels as the conflagration on top of his birthday cake. While Sensei worked on connection and Kokyuho on the training floor, his breath power was ill equipped to blow out the 70 candles on his cake. Of course, we cheated a little and put a dozen candles on the cake that could not be blown out by mortal man. Even though Sensei proved himself to be of mortal ilk, we sincerely hope that we see him at Shindai for another 20 years to come.
Take a look at the celebration pictures.
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Recommended training DVD by Dennis Hooker Sensei (Rokudan)
www.createspace.com/238049 |
M. Saotome Shihan Intensive Winter Camp
www.winterintensive.com |
An update on Sparkman Sensei
Kevin Sparkman Sensei is waging a remarkable battle against the ravages of his cancer. We are in awe of the efforts of the medical community that has surrounded him, and the tenacity with which Kevin meets every day. Each time we think he is slipping he stands up to prove us wrong.
Kevin is still teaching and training! Despite the challenges he faces in dealing with his illness, he does what he can to set an example for his students to follow. "Quit training when you no longer can, sit only if you can not stand, stop learning when there is nothing you don't know…until then shut up and train", seems to be his attitude. He embodies a training ethic and a path for all of us to follow.
Kevin traveled in the care of his students form Nashville to Orlando in April to participate in the recent seminar with Saotome Sensei. While he could not participate at the physical level of most of those in attendance, participate he did. His determination is inspirational and his Ki un-diminished.
We will conitmue to support Kevin on his journey regardless of where it takes him
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ARTICLES
AND COMMENTARY |
| 06-16-2005: |
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| 10-11-2004: |
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| 7-13-2004: |
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| 6-20-2003: |
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| 6-18-2003: |
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| 6-17-2003: |
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| 5-31-2003: |
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| 5-31-2003: |
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| 5-31-2003: |
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| 5-31-2003: |
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| 5-22-2003: |
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| 5-16-2003: |
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| 5-08-2003: |
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| 4-27-2003: |
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| 1-4-2002: |
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| 7-31-2001: |
Training:
Polishing the Mirror and Grinding the Stone
by Hooker Sensei |
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