Aikido World

The Aikido International Foundation is pleased to announce the re-release of Aikido by Toyoda. This DVD was filmed in the early 1980s at Tenshinkan Dojo in Chicago. The film features footage of Fumio Toyoda Shihan during his early years.

Aikido by Toyoda is available for a donation of $30 or more to the Aikido International Foundation (AIF). The AIF is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization whose purpose is to promote training in the art of Aikido, to foster quality, professional Aikido instruction, and ensure the survival of Aikido for coming generations.

To order, fill out this donation form and mail it along with a check or money order for your donation to the address on the form.

For questions, please contact the AIF directly at AikidoAIF@gmail.com.

Congratulations to the following people who were promoted at the National Instructor Seminar:

Shodan
Kim Johnston, Aikido of New York City, New York, NY
Michael Kennedy, Tenshinkan Dojo, Chicago, IL

Yondan
Kevin Kelleher, Aikido of Escondido, CA

AAA National Teaching Committee
Leslie Parks-Casey, Tenshinkan Dojo, Chicago, IL
Ken Yamazaki, Aikido of New York City, New York, NY

This September and October, the AAA/AAI will be sponsoring a trip to Japan, in celebration of Aikido Kobayashi Dojo’s 40th Anniversary.

The trip will be approximately two weeks long, with the option to attend for one week or both. We would like to get a head count as soon as possible of how many people are planning to participate in the trip. If you plan to attend, e-mail AAA.Aikido.World@gmail.com with your name, dojo, and which dates you plan on attending.

Below, we have provided details and approximate costs (in U.S. dollars) for all of the planned events. Please keep in mind that the schedule is still tentative and the days we depart and return from the U.S. may change.

Feel free to contact us with any questions.
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The Aikido International Foundation (AIF), the charitable arm of the AAA/AAI, will be hosting a 4-hour workshop this Sunday at Tenshinkan dojo in Chicago, IL.

The workshop is called “90 Degrees to Save Time” and will focus on the techniques of Shihonage, Iriminage, and Tenchinage, and their relationship to each other, as well as the role of yoko ukemi (side fall).

Instruction is provided by Leslie Parks-Casey, yondan. All proceeds from the workshop will go to the AIF, a 501(c)3 not-for-profit educational organization whose purpose is to promote the principles of aikido to local communities.

For more information, see the flier above or contact the AIF at AikidoAIF (at) gmail.com.

The Aikido Journal recently posted an article recalling Koichi Tohei’s 10th dan promotion, which includes a group picture with Fumio Toyoda Shihan (second from left).

Click the link above to read the article.

The AAA is hosting seminars the next two weekends, in Chicago and San Diego.

This weekend, February 22-24, Western Region Director James Nakayama Sensei is instructing the Kangeiko winter training seminar at Ryoshinkan Dojo in Palatine, IL (outside Chicago). Kangeiko is open to all martial arts students of any rank and affiliation.

If you are attending, please take note that Ryoshinkan Dojo has moved. See the AAA web site or seminar flyer for directions to the new location.

The following weekend, February 29 - March 2 is the Western Region Instructor Seminar at Ryushinkan Dojo in San Diego, CA. Instruction will be by the Western Regional Teaching Committee, including Sensei James Nakayama, Martin Katz, Ken MacBeth, and Christine Dyer. This seminar is for 3rd kyu and above Aikidoka only.

The seminar fliers have more information on both seminars.

Here is more information regarding the seminar by Stephen Rehrauer Sensei in Madrid. The seminar will be March 15-16, 2008 in Villa del Prado, Madrid, Spain.

The seminar is hosted by Aikisur, online at www.aikisur.es.

A seminar flyer is also available here.

In September, the AAA/AAI is headed back to Japan, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Aikido Kobayashi Dojo, along with more sightseeing and training! The flyer below contains some of the planned events; more details are forthcoming.

Aikido Kobayashi Dojo 40th Anniversary Flyer/Schedule