Aikido

Aikido

Morihei Ueshiba - the founder of Aikido (1883-1969)

Artie's new sport and passion

Artie started a new sport this March, and has been working out three mornings a week from 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. By year-end he had certified through two belt levels, and looks forward to continued progress in this martial art whose principle is non-resistance.

Aikido (eye-key-doe): The three Japanese symbols for Aikido, at the right, mean Harmony (Ai), Spirit (Ki) and The Way or Path (Do).

Gonzalo (at left), Artie's teacher, or "Sensei," and his wife, Katy, have been doing Aikido for several years. Instruction began with the basics, including how to wear the typical workout uniform (called a "gi") and how to be humble when being tossed to the ground by a delicate young lady!

Mat moving made easy

Artie designed and had built a simple tool for carrying the mats (tatamis) used for the morning workouts in the ground floor of our apartment building, next to the swimming pool. It's a great workout environment with outside gardens and fresh air.

An Aikido workout gym is called a Dojo, so ours is called "Dojo Carmencita," named after the street address for our apartment. The private lessons include two other students, Carlos and Germán. Gonzalo teaches us the techniques, then we practice on each other.

Fluid movements often look like gymnastic dance.

Dojo Carmencita's famous four: Artie, Gonzalo, Carlos and Germán. It's a fun group.

Aikido includes techniques with weapons. From late July through September, Cristián was back from Spain to enjoy his summer in Chile. He joined our Aikido sessions, and before heading back to Spain he had achieved his first level belt certification (6th Kyu).

Antonia joined some of the workouts too.

It didn't take Cristián long to learn the moves, including forward and back rolls (ukemi), and specific arm locks.

We each get our turn on top, executing the technique (the "nage"), and on the bottom (the "uke").

Adella visited in September, and got to attend our workouts. She even saw Cristián get his 6th Kyu certification.

7th Degree Black Belt experts teach students in Santiago.

During the year there are special Aikido seminars held in the city, with visiting experts from around the world. At the left was a seminar run by Yamada, from the USA, and above was one by Blaize, from France. Artie watched some of Yamada's and participated in Blaize's two-day, 10-hour, weekend workout. In the group photo above, Blaize is front center, and Artie is far right, row two.

Advanced participants wear the black overpants (hakama) which give a beautiful flowing look as the moves are executed.

Hugo, 3rd Degree Black Belt Sensei from the central Dojo in Santiago, watches over the participants after he's demonstrated a specific technique as shown at the right. Observers watch from the gallery above as their family members are engaged in the events below.

Artie, Cristián, Carlos and Germán do their certification testing at the central Dojo shown here. The test is given immediately after one of the routine Saturday morning practice sessions. All the other students line up along the side wall as the exam gets underway. The Sensei calls out specific moves to be demonstrated. At the end of the exam he and the other Senseis who are evaluating the student provide feedback to the participants. The certification decision is given immediately, but the paperwork waits till December. At year-end, there is a ceremonial workout (above) for all those who earned a new level of proficiency. Students and Senseis come to the central dojo from all the other dojos in Santiago. At the end of the workout each student comes forward to receive the certificate. This year Germán got 4th Kyu, Cristián 6th Kyu, and Carlos and Artie 6th and 5th Kyu. The levels progress from 6th Kyu (the lowest) to 1st Kyu, then advance to Black Belt, second degree Black belt, and up. Here are a couple of pictures of pre-test practice and then the actual certification tests in progress.

Photo at left shows Artie (left) and Carlos (right) during their 6th Kyu exam. Photo above has Cristián during his.

It's a continual learning process, and the joy of moving up the scale of proficiency is evident.

Certified!

Gonzalo, Cristián and Hugo enjoy the moment.

While in New Hampshire for our condo set-up in December, Artie went for a workout at Aikido Jinsei Dojo, in Chelmsford, MA. (www.aikidojinseidojo.com/), about 15 minutes south of the condo. He enjoyed the opportunity, and plans to return on future visits. The workout was at 6:30 in the morning, with Sensei Mark, and partner Steve.

This USA Dojo was a welcome part of the Nashua New Hampshire vacation trip, knowing that Aikido could continue when Artie is in the States. A lot has happened since March, when Artie first began the new sport in Santiago Chile, but the real beginning was over two decades ago in Southern Ohio.

Artie gives thanks for getting him started to his long-time friend, Ariff, currently a sixth degree black belt insructor. It all began with an Aikido demonstration he gave to Artie about 25 years ago, but it took till now to give it a try. This new hobby has captured Artie's interest and energy. Artie loves the excellent physical training from the workouts, plus the philosophy of peace: Aikido is non-aggressive. All the moves are defensive. Artie says it seems to him like Tai Chi, but instead of the techniques being done alone they are done with two or more people making contact. There is something new to learn at each class, and the discipline of technique reminds Artie of his 20 years in gymnastics where style, form, coordination, strength and flexibility combine through practice and conditioning to create the desired results. Aikido has the same attraction for Artie, and he looks forward to many more years of study and growth.

Ariff Mehter

6th Degree Black Belt Sensei

Check out these handy Aikido web sites!

http://www.aikidocincy.com
This Aikido of Cincinnati Ohio web site is where Artie's friend and Aikido mentor, Ariff, serves as a Sensei. You can look him up on their "Yudansha List" (Yudansha means black belt), as well as check out more about this dojo.

http://www.aikido.cl/
This is for the Santiago Central Dojo. Click on the Japanese symbol on this page to advance and then click on "continuar."

http://www.aikidofaq.com/multimedia.html
Aikido Faq has lots of good general information about the sport, its Senseis, and other topics of interest.

http://www.stenudd.com/aikido/video.htm
Aikido Video Clips allows you to see techniques, but be patient as the files download. They show file size for your reference.

http://www.aikidojournal.com/media.php?media=video
This thorough site has general information, book lists, events, product information and even an encyclopedia of terms plus the Japanese symbols.


		Gonzalo (at left), Artie's teacher, or "Sensei," and his wife, Katy, have been doing Aikido for several years. Instruction began with the basics, including how to wear the typical workout uniform (called a "gi") and how to be humble when being tossed to the ground by a delicate young lady!

		An Aikido workout gym is called a Dojo, so ours is called "Dojo Carmencita," named after the street address for our apartment. The private lessons include two other students, Carlos and Germán. Gonzalo teaches us the techniques, then we practice on each other.


Dojo Carmencita's famous four: Artie, Gonzalo, Carlos and Germán. It's a fun group.


		Aikido includes techniques with weapons. From late July through September, Cristián was back from Spain to enjoy his summer in Chile. He joined our Aikido sessions, and before heading back to Spain he had achieved his first level belt certification (6th Kyu).
Antonia joined some of the workouts too.


It didn't take Cristián long to learn the moves, including forward and back rolls (ukemi), and specific arm locks.


We each get our turn on top, executing the technique (the "nage"), and on the bottom (the "uke").

Adella visited in September, and got to attend our workouts. She even saw Cristián get his 6th Kyu certification.

Hugo, 3rd Degree Black Belt Sensei from the central Dojo in Santiago, watches over the participants after he's demonstrated a specific technique as shown at the right. Observers watch from the gallery above as their family members are engaged in the events below.

Artie, Cristián, Carlos and Germán do their certification testing at the central Dojo shown here. The test is given immediately after one of the routine Saturday morning practice sessions. All the other students line up along the side wall as the exam gets underway. The Sensei calls out specific moves to be demonstrated. At the end of the exam he and the other Senseis who are evaluating the student provide feedback to the participants. The certification decision is given immediately, but the paperwork waits till December. At year-end, there is a ceremonial workout (above) for all those who earned a new level of proficiency. Students and Senseis come to the central dojo from all the other dojos in Santiago. At the end of the workout each student comes forward to receive the certificate. This year Germán got 4th Kyu, Cristián 6th Kyu, and Carlos and Artie 6th and 5th Kyu. The levels progress from 6th Kyu (the lowest) to 1st Kyu, then advance to Black Belt, second degree Black belt, and up. Here are a couple of pictures of pre-test practice and then the actual certification tests in progress.


		Photo at left shows Artie (left) and Carlos (right) during their 6th Kyu exam. Photo above has Cristián during his. It's a continual learning process, and the joy of moving up the scale of proficiency is evident.


While in New Hampshire for our condo set-up in December, Artie went for a workout at Aikido Jinsei Dojo, in Chelmsford, MA. (www.aikidojinseidojo.com/), about 15 minutes south of the condo. He enjoyed the opportunity, and plans to return on future visits. The workout was at 6:30 in the morning, with Sensei Mark, and partner Steve.



This USA Dojo was a welcome part of the Nashua New Hampshire vacation trip, knowing that Aikido could continue when Artie is in the States. A lot has happened since March, when Artie first began the new sport in Santiago Chile, but the real beginning was over two decades ago in Southern Ohio.

Check out these handy Aikido web sites!
http://www.aikidocincy.com	This Aikido of Cincinnati Ohio web site is where Artie's friend and Aikido mentor, Ariff, serves as a Sensei. You can look him up on their "Yudansha List" (Yudansha means black belt), as well as check out more about this dojo.
http://www.aikido.cl/	This is for the Santiago Central Dojo. Click on the Japanese symbol on this page to advance and then click on "continuar."
http://www.aikidofaq.com/multimedia.html	Aikido Faq has lots of good general information about the sport, its Senseis, and other topics of interest.
http://www.stenudd.com/aikido/video.htm	Aikido Video Clips allows you to see techniques, but be patient as the files download. They show file size for your reference.
http://www.aikidojournal.com/media.php?media=video	This thorough site has general information, book lists, events, product information and even an encyclopedia of terms plus the Japanese symbols.