On Saturday, April 21 Saotome Sensei promoted Meredith to the rank of nidan (2nd degree black belt). Meredith performed a phenomenal test and set a high standard for our Dojo. Be sure to congratulate her when you see her, we are all very proud!
The following clip is from Meredith’s weapons randori (courtesy of Leslie Salas). Ukes are Ian Pinkerton (Shindai), Phil Ott (Shindai) and Scott Ellis (Sarasota).
Saotome Shihan will be teaching his annual seminar at Shindai Aikikai, Orlando, this April 20-22 2012. One of our members – Meredith Abel – is scheduled to test for nidan at this seminar, and we will be coordinating carpooling and hotels for all interested students to come and show support. Sensei’s April seminars is always one of the best seminars in Florida, and should not be missed!
A poster, map, and schedule are available at the Shindai website:
Our sister dojo, Shindai Aikikai in Orlando will be again hosting Hiroshi Ikeda Shihan this November 11-13 2011.
Hiroshi Ikeda is the founder and chief instructor of Boulder Aikikai, a non-profit school of aikido in Boulder, Colorado, USA. He currently holds the rank of 7th dan through Mitsugi Saotome Shihan and the Aikido World Federation (Honbu Dojo).
Ikeda Sensei began his study of aikido in 1968, as a college student at Kokugakuin University in Tokyo. In 1978, he followed Saotome Sensei to Sarasota, Florida. In 1980, he moved to Boulder to establish Boulder Aikikai, an associate of Saotome Sensei’s Aikido Schools of Ueshiba.
Ikeda Sensei lives with his family in Boulder, where he teaches at Boulder Aikikai. He also travels extensively as a guest instructor, conducting aikido seminars at dojo around the country and abroad.
You can download the flyer below. USF Aikido will be coordinating carpooling, and shared hotels to attend the seminar as a group.
Our sister dojo, Shindai Aikikai in Orlando will be again hosting Kevin Choate Sensei this September 23-25. Fees are $85 pre-registered, $95 at the door.
Kevin Choate Sensei has thirty years’ of Aikido experience. He began training in 1976 with Shigeru Suzuki Sensei, where he learned the fundamentals of vigorous training and rarely missed a class. He became chief instructor at Chicago Aikikai in 1981 and has earned a reputation for high-quality instruction, always demanding the best from his students as well as himself in his own personal training. Choate Sensei has trained thousands of Aikido students in the Chicago area, including classes for senior citizens, youth, actors, and dancers.
In 1998, Mitsugi Saotome Shihan awarded Choate Sensei his 6th degree black belt as recognition of his skill and dedication to Aikido. Today, Choate Sensei continues to train as a student of Saotome Shihan and Hiroshi Ikeda Shihan. Choate Sensei teaches as a senior instructor for the Aikido Schools of Ueshiba and travels frequently to conduct Aikido seminars across the country and overseas.
You can download the flyer below. USF Aikido will be coordinating carpooling, and shared hotels to attend the seminar as a group.
