Learning To Be Silent

The May 2010 newsletter has been published.

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Kid's Class at the Aikido Center of Jacksonville

Photo taken after class on Saturday, May 29.

Editors Note: This is the eighth in an eight part series discussing past seminars at our school. The videos can be found in our multimedia archive. The series can be found under the video tag.

And so we come to it - the final installment of our video series.  Fret not, however; the dojo vault is teeming with memory cards chock full of videos of seminars past. (To pique your interest, how does technique performed by Nobu Arakawa sound? Or Penny Bernath? We thought so.)

Today, however, we have two videos of Ed Di Marco Sensei, chief instructor of Lake County Aikikai. For those who may not know, Di Marco Sensei is an alumnus of the storied New York Aikikai, where he trained for twenty years under the leading lights in the American Aikido community. He brings a host of real world experience to his technique, which he is fond of sharing on the mat. (And no, I’ve never asked Sensei the particulars about these experiences. These things, I think, are way above my pay grade.)

The first video shows Sensei executing kokyu-nage from a shomen strike. And uke? Well, that’s Joel Miller, one of our past instructors. Nowadays you can find him on the mat at Austin Aikikai, under Damir Jamsek Sensei.

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The second video shows a variation on the same technique. Dee Sensei is uke.

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The seminar itself took place in April 2007 at the UNF dojo.

By Maggie Schill

On Saturday May 15, Aikido of Orlando held a friendship seminar at the MMAT Academy in Winter Springs, Florida. The event was hosted by Aikido of Orlando’s Ian Phillips Sensei, and consisted of four classes and a fabulous meet and greet luncheon. 

Participating in the seminar were various Aikido schools in Central Florida. The instructors shared their Aikido, and the participants discovered new variations to take home and practice.

The first class was taught by Sand Drift Aikido’s Alan Newton. Newton Sensei taught a great warm-up class that focused on proper extension and balance, from an ushiro opening. He demonstrated fundamental technique, which I’m sure was helpful for the many beginning students visiting that day.

The second class was taught by Aikido of Sarasota’s Barry Tuchfeld Sensei. Tuchfeld Sensei spoke engagingly about Aikido as “a martial art.” He demonstrated and explained in great detail about the complexities of shomenuchi ikkyo. It was a class where you felt a lot of room to practice slowly to work on your own form.

After a two hour lunch break, the seminar resumed. Tom Huffman Sensei from Aikido of Gainesville led the third class. Huffman Sensei spoke about his training in the United States and overseas throughout the class. He also allowed the students to suggest techniques they wished to work on. I enjoyed his lessons on shomenuchi ikkyo ura and sankyo.

The seminar was closed by Grady Lane Shidoin of Brevard Aikikai. Lane Sensei demonstrated techniques from ushiro and morote-tori. He emphasized the importance of fluidity, as well as good extension and balance. I saw in his class expansive movement and centered technique. It was a joy to work on these aspects of my own Aikido.

The seminar was filled with variety and friendship. It was a nurturing experience for all Aikidoka present, and I am thankful to Ian Phillips, Aikido of Orlando, and all the instructors present for helping make it happen.

Lately, a group of students have begun interval training at the dojo, during Friday open mat. It’s a solid workout, and an excellent way to build strength as well as improve cardiovascular fitness. The group is very supportive of each other–the workout itself, for example, can be tailored for each individual.

Here’s the basic regimen (each exercise consists of four sets, for twenty seconds):

Ukemi
Medicine Ball
Crunches
Lunges
Push-Ups
Leg Lifts
Bokken
Squat Thrusts
Dips
Arm Lifts
Back Arches

The workout is designed to tone muscle in the following areas:

Shoulders (Bokken)
Chest (Push-Ups)
Back (Planks, Leg Lifts, Back Arches)
Biceps (Bokken)
Triceps (Bokken, Dips)
Stomach (Medicine Ball, Crunches, Leg Lifts, Squats, Thrusts, Planks)
Thighs (Lunges)
Hamstrings (Lunges, Back Arches)
Calves

We encourage your participation. It’s a great way to stay in shape.

And since we feel so strongly about proper physical conditioning, we are also inviting our parents and spouses to join us, at no charge. Think of this as a no cost way to get in shape.

So, to our regular students, their spouses, and parents in our kids program, join us Friday nights at 5:30 p.m.

Questions? Interested? Let us know!