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Promotional Examinations

This month, Aikido Olympia will host promotional examinations. At our dojo, these are opportunities for all of us to get together and support those testing and to socialize afterwords. The approach we take to testing is that people will train hard to be able to successfully demonstrate their techniques and the instructors can typically tell when people have been training hard. Then those people who choose to test themselves by embracing vulnerability and entering into the experience with intentionality and ki. There will be some techniques that the sensei will want to see, and there will be some moments where things don’t come together exactly as planned. Regardless, when everyone has completed their demonstrations, we will all get together and share some food. (It’s a potluck but usually we keep the fare a bit lighter so we call it a “snackluck.”) If you have any questions, please ask one of the sensei or senior students.

Hope to see you all there!

By Nate Weed

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Aikido training and new puppies

Puppy
Naughty Puppy

In April, my family invited a new puppy to come and live with us. As expected, the cute, furry, little bundle of energy was basically just a wild animal who chewed things up and pretty much did whatever she wanted. The question was quickly raised, “How do we get her to behave?” This is a reaction that many of us have when faced with someone or something that doesn’t conform to our expectations. It’s also a reaction that practicing Aikido is intended to overcome. 

So what’s the alternative? The alternative to trying to change someone else’s behavior is to look at ourselves and change how we’re behaving. Those familiar with the youth classes at Aikido Olympia, may know that we’ve considered making their slogan: “You can’t change other people, you can only change yourself!” As we’ve been helping the puppy learn how to live in a home with people who have behavior expectations for dogs, it turns out that the most important changes we make are to our own behavior. Furthermore, we’ve all realized that the real learning lies in becoming consistent with those behaviors and with our expectations. 

By Nate Weed

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Aikido in Daily Life: May 2019

We come to our dojo to train so that we’re better able to apply the principles of aikido in our daily lives.

Aikido is often framed as a solely “defensive” martial art. This is largely do to the instructional approach of having one partner project energy toward the other in the form of a grab or strike, while the other partner responds, to that energy, with a technique. In parallel, many of us take a similar approach in much of our daily lives responding to the energy we are provided. This is normal and it’s something we all do, however our practice is to continually strive to live in harmony with the energy of the universe. This means that we must learn to feel the natural rhythms and find the right timing to intentionally enter and blend. This is not a defensive  approach but in many ways an offensive strategy.

In class this past month we experimented with kata-menuchi projections. For those who missed these classes, kata-menuchi techniques require the uke to grab the nage (katatori) and follow quickly with a head-level strike (shomenuchi). The “response” to this type of situation is to apply martial awareness prior to the uke’s movements and taking the initiative by extending energy, and proactively helping our uke find a lower energy state… like resting on the ground. 

Kata-menuchi variations are somewhat more “advanced” aikido techniques because they require a bit more awareness and connection before the technique is initiated. They are also considered more advanced techniques because they challenge the idea that aikidoka only respond to the energy provided by others. They also offer an important lesson for our daily lives – we are not just along for the ride and preparing to respond but rather active and mindful participants in our lives. Extending our awareness, trusting our natural intuition, and taking up the slack proactively.

By Nate Weed

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Youth class update

The youth Aikido instructors have been considering ways to evolve our classes to best serve the young people who come to Aikido Olympia. This month, we are going to maintain a high tempo with lots of game-like activities and an emphasis on mindfulness. Breathing exercise and sweeping up at the end of class will also be part of each class. 

Katatedori kokyunage

By Nate Weed

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Maruyama Sensei seminar 2020

 Aikido Olympia will host a seminar with Maruyama Sensei over next year’s memorial day weekend. Maruyama Sensei, the founder of Aikido Yuishinkai and his successor, Mr. Motegi are planning to come to Olympia Washington May 20 to May 27 2020. 

Maruyama Sensei, Founder of Aikido Yuishinkai

This is a rare and exceptional opportunity for all of us and we need to begin planning soon. Some of the tasks that need to be accomplished include fund raising, advertising, making travel arrangements, and a variety of logistical details. 

If you’re interested in helping with these efforts, there is a sign-up form at the front of the dojo and the Aikido Olympia Board of Directors (or at least some of them) will be convening the kick-off meeting near the end of may. 

By Nate Weed

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Please mark your calendars!

Maruyama Sensei, founder of Aikido Yuishinkai, our style of Aikido, will be coming to Olympia for a Seminar for all May 20-27, 2020. Save the date over this Memorial Day weekend for special training with Maruyama Sensei and his appointed successor, Mr. Motegi. 

By Jim West

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Aikido in Daily Life: April 2019

We come to our dojo to train so that we’re better able to apply the principles of aikido in our daily lives…

Spring appears to be springing in the northwest this month. As we extend our senses to the changing season, we can feel the expansion of nature as the rivers, trees, plants, and flowers all expand to fill more space in the world. This is not an aggressive or rude acquisition of space belonging to something else, but a harmonious and gentle opening up. 

In a class a couple of weeks ago, we were working on several ushirodori techniques (when uke bear hugs you from behind). These techniques are often really challenging to learn, because being grabbed from behind is really uncomfortable. And, for many of us, expanding to fill more space in the world is uncomfortable too, and a key feature of the techniques we were practicing. What may not be immediately obvious is that they are the same thing…

Our practice helps us bring our mind, body, and intentionality together, which helps us be more comfortable with the ways our body can take up space; moreover, we also learn to take up that space (take up the slack on our environment) in a way that is warm, welcoming, and in harmony with those around us. This ability is important for asserting ourselves without threatening and for extending our integrity to our intentions without being pushy or abrasive. 

As you all enjoy the spring, take some time to feel what gently and subtly expanding into the space around us and gently taking up the slack on the world around us feels like. Then see what you can do to incorporate that into your practice and your daily life. 

By Nate Weed

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Zen Training at Aikido Olympia

Zazen is a seated meditative practice that forms the foundation of Zen. As we move into the new Aikido Olympia schedule, Zazen will continue to be practiced on Monday evenings from 7:00 to 8:30. With some extra time, 45-90 minutes, activities will expand to include some additional forms of practice, including primarily taiji and okyo (chanting) and occasionally other fine and martial arts and discussion of Zen precepts. This schedule will also allow for a full complement of Aikido classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays and keep our Zen practice from running too late into the evening.

As a related prelude, Larisa, Will, and Erica plan to attend a seven-day intensive with Wong Roshi in California this coming July.  The additional time on Monday evening sessions will provide an opportunity to elevate this part of our training in preparation for the July intensive while continuing to increase the kiai of our dojo.   

Looking ahead, in June Larisa, Will, and Erica (and maybe some others) will again increase the intensity and cadence of the training to longer and daily practice for the final week of June and the first week of July. The forms and location of this practice is yet to be determined.  And beyond July, well, to offer a Zen take on the old Jewish proverb: humans plan, and Buddha laughs!

Please note that everyone at the dojo is invited to this practice, whether you are a new, occasional, or dedicated Zen practitioner.  It will be an act of compassion if you would kindly let Larisa know, in advance, if you or anyone you invite intends to join the Monday evening  Zen practice.

By Larissa Benson and Nate Weed

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Promotional Examinations

Aikido Olympia will host our spring testing on March 15th! A whole dojo class will begin at 5:30 with the test following. Even if you’re not testing, it’s great having everyone there sharing their kiai.

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Aikido Olympia Schedule Change Starts April 1

Aikido Olympia will change our schedule beginning April 1st, 2019. Our classes will move to a Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday class schedule to help us consolidate the kiai of our dojo and provide the best training we can. 

MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
No Class5:30-6:30 PM Youth AikidoSpecial classes TBD5:30-6:30 PM Youth AikidoNo Class7:00-8:00 Am MisogiNo Class
6:30-7:30 PM Basic Aikido6:30-7:30 PM Basic Aikido8:00-9:00 Am General Aikido
7:30-8:30 PM General Aikido7:30-8:30 PM General Aikido

By Nate Weed