A highlight of Leah’s visit out here was to do some training at different dojos.  As I tend to try to make an event out of everything, it changed from visiting “a couple” to 7 schools, and I officially named this “Aiki Tour”.  I may even need to give it a more grandiose name like…

Our first dojo we intended to visit was Centerfield Aikido, headed by Mary Mclean Sensei. Centerfield Aikido is in the hills of western Sonoma County approximately 10 minutes from the beach. The dojo is on Mary Sensei’s property and is one of the most unique schools I’ve visited. The actual facility is a tent like…

On Tuesday afternoon We visited City Aikido in San Francisco, to be instructed by Robert Nadeau Shihan. We drove down from Rohnert Park and actually got there a half hour early, even after parking and walking several city blocks. We were both giddy with anticipation. I’ve attended a seminar under Nadeau Sensei and have seen…

One of the first books I read about Aikido, many years ago was “Aikido and the New Warrior”. This was a series of essays on Aikido that included such titles as “Aikido on the Basketball Court”, “A Kind Word Turneth Away Wrath”, and “On Getting a Black Belt at Age Fifty Two” (at 1st kyu,…

When I first noted on Google+ about my intention to take Leah to different dojos, Sensei Feileacan commented, inviting us to train with him. I am really glad he did. We trained on Thursday morning after we dropped my son off for school. Traditional Aikido of Sonoma is located in Northwest Santa Rosa in the…

It is apparent that in the Sonoma County area we have a lot of choices for Aikido.  Through all the dojos in the area, I resonate the most here, at my home dojo in Petaluma California under Bob Noha Sensei.  Sensei Noha has a very unique style and approach to teaching.  I remember one of…

I first started Aikido in 1988, taking a beginning class at San Francisco State University.  My teacher’s name was Cress Forrester.  Cress had amazingly beautiful Aikido and I really enjoyed my introduction to the art through her. The teacher who taught me the most about the physical nature and movement of Aikido with all the…

The last dojo we visited was Aikido of Cotati, the school of Senseis Ginny and Pete  Breeland.  Ginny and Pete are students of Hans Goto.  Sensei Goto recently attained the rank of Shihan, having been awarded his hichi (7th) dan in 2010.  Aikido of Cotati belongs to the Takemusu Aikido Association as does Traditional Aikido…

I feel very enriched through the experience that Leah and I had this past week.  I got to visit a wide variety of schools with my best friend and partner.  We both received top notch instruction from the different schools and we both got a chance to train with an array of different students, some…