Aikido World

Aiki Sur with host Rehrauer Sensei this December 6th and 7th in Madrid, Spain.  For more information, please contact:  aikisur@aikisur.es

An informative flyer will be forth coming.

Later this month, a group from the AAA will be traveling to Japan to celebrate and honor the 40th anniversary of Aikido Kobayashi Dojo, headed by Yasuo Kobayashi. AAA/AAI Executive Director Stephen Toyoda previously studied at Kobayashi Dojo, as an uchideshi for Kobayashi Sensei.

The Aikido Journal conducted an interview with Yasuo Kobayashi in 1992, available online.

The Aikido International Foundation (AIF) is currently holding its annual raffle. The AIF is an independently run 501(c)3 charity that works closely with the AAA/AAI to help out Aikido groups in need and promote Aikido principles.

This year’s raffle prizes include:

• Brand new Nintendo Wii system
• Aikido Snoopy with Hakama and set of belts (pictured above)
• Scholarships to the AAA Kenshusei program (2)
• Gift certificate to any AAA/AAI seminar
• AAA weapons bag (2)

Tickets can be purchased online at the AIF web site or through mail (see site for details.) Winners will be drawn on September 6th.

Please help support the AIF by buying tickets. 100% of funds raised by the AIF go to support its purpose of:

• Strengthen and preserve the successful transmission of Aikido to future generations
• Become the premier coordinating body for the development and practice of Aikido worldwide
• Promote Aikido to Aikido related and non-related individuals, groups and organizations in a non-discriminatory manner
• Promote the principles of Aikido to local, national, and international communities

All donations are tax deductible in the U.S. as allowed by law.

In November, Kengo Hatayama Shihan from Japan will be traveling to the United States to instruct seminars in Rhode Island and Chicago.

The Chicago seminar will be held at Ryoshinkan Dojo in Palatine, IL from November 13-16, with instruction provided by Hatayama Shihan and AAA Teaching Committee members. It is open to students of any martial art, organization, and rank.

Hatayama Shihan began his Aikido training at the Akita Branch dojo in 1968. He spent from 1978 to early 1981 teaching in West Germany as an assistant to Katsuaki Asai Sensei. He holds the rank of nanadan (7th degree black belt), the title of Shihan, and is the head instructor for Aiki Kenshinkai.

More information for the Chicago seminar, along with a registration form, are available here.

Details on the seminar in Rhode Island are forthcoming.

Stephen Toyoda Sensei was recently in Puerto Rico to instruct a seminar at Shushinkan Dojo in Mayaguez. Here are some pictures from the seminar.

Maite Sensei provided these pictures from a demonstration at Argonne National Laboratory outside Chicago, IL on July 12th.

On July 5, 2008, the Aikido Dojo del Norte held its annual Toyoda Shihan Memorial at its dojo in Arecibo, Puerto Rico. Present were students and teachers from Aikido Dojo del Norte and Shushinkan Dojo, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. The instructors invited to teach were Bolivar Ramirez Sensei, Dojo-Cho of Shushinkan Dojo and Oliver Ramos Sensei. The event consisted of Aikido demonstration and practice. Also invited was Sifu Raymond Hernandez, who gave a demonstration of Yang Style Tai Chi and who spoke about the similarities between Tai Chi and Aikido. Several photos of the event are included below.

Thank you,

Juan Torres Dojo-Cho
Aikido Dojo del Norte
Arecibo, Puerto Rico

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