Class Summaries / Times

To lay a little groundwork … we are a martial arts club sharing instruction and practice in the disciplines of zazen, aikido, the Japanese wooden sword (bokken) … (see more)

To lay a little groundwork … we are a martial arts club sharing instruction and practice in the disciplines of aikido, zazen, the Japanese wooden sword (bokken) and the Japanese short staff (jo). To focus our instruction (and help you get the most out of your time), we group our practices into well-defined class sessions, each session about 12 weeks long. And so that all classes progress steadily, we only allow you to start into a class within the first two weeks of its start date.

Whew! … with all that said … we do indeed enjoy sharing these arts, and invite you to join us.

We offer instruction or practice in 6 areas -

Classes for these different areas are sprinkled about in 4 different time slots -

  • weekday mornings
  • weekday lunch hour
  • weekday evenings
  • Sunday evenings.

Here’s a short summary of classes and times …

(see less)

Zazen

Traditional zen seated meditation. Click here for more info.

Sitting Days / Times:
Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday Mornings: 6:15 – 7:15

Unarmed Aikido

Unarmed aikido classes are for members of all levels. The classes teach the more basic (but still traditional) aikido attacks and defenses. If you are a new member, you will be introduced to basic warm-ups, rolling and falling. You will learn and practice both attacks and defenses.

A class session is typically divided into ‘thirds’. That is, a 12 week class would be divided into 3 – 4 week blocks. The first block will be basic instruction, the middle block will be more advanced techniques and the last block will entail unscripted and defenses. This may sound a little intimidating to a beginner – but we do want you to learn to see clearly and move freely! Click here more info.

Class Days / Times:
Monday and Wednesday Mornings: 6:15 – 7:15
Monday and Wednesday Lunch: 11:15 – 12:15
Tuesday and Thursday Evenings: 6 – 7

Aikido Weapons

Most traditional aikido schools study the wooden sword and the short staff. We are no exception. Weapons training allows you to reinforce fundamental principles (timing, balance, footwork) from a new perspective. In addition, with paired weapons practice, you get to better appreciate the concepts of proper sequencing and proper spacing. With unarmed techniques, poor sequencing means I move before it’s appropriate, poor spacing means I stretch out a bit more or collide with  my attacker. Click here for more info.

Class Days / Times:

Thursday Evenings: 6 – 7
Friday Mornings: 6:15 – 7:15
Friday Lunch: 11:15 – 12:15

Advanced Aikido

Again, like most traditional aikido schools, we offer advanced aikido practice. Advanced practice allows you to study attacks that would be too dangerous or simply unproductive for new members, for instance, an  armed attacker. Also, you will learn how to do advanced throws and falls. These classes are open to members who have been practicing about a year and a half. Click here for more info.

Class Days / Times:
Tuesday Evenings: 7 – 8

Traditional Sword

In Aikido Weapons classes, we study the sword primarily to enhance our understanding of aikido (timing, balance, footwork). In Traditional Sword classes, however, we study the sword as it is. Classes focus on sword stances, sword cuts, sword footwork, sword handling skills and finally, sword forms.

We study forms from two sources – the more modern Nihon Kendo Association (the early 1900s), and the more traditional Shinkage Ryu (the early 1600s). Click here for more info.

Class Days / Times:
Sunday Evenings: 5:30 – 6:50

Traditional Short Staff:

Like the Traditional Sword, in Traditional Short Staff classes, we study the short staff as it is. Specifically, we study the short staff as it was originally developed – as a defense against the classic samurai sword. This tradition parallels the tradition of the sword, dating back to the early 1600s. Click here fore more info.

Class Days / Times:
Sunday Evenings: 7 – 8:20

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