Dojo News: Lewis Young Sensei (Yondan, Glendale Aikikai) passed away
Posted 12/18/2009 1:53pm [from Kin Lam]
Mark Adachi and Glendale Aikikai are sad to report the death of our beloved friend and teacher Lewis Young, who died suddenly on Tuesday, December 15, 2009 from complications due to heart surgery. He was 70 years old. Uncle Lew started aikido in 1983 and trained continuously for the next 26 years right up until October of this year. He was a co-founder of Musubi Dojo in Claremont, CA, and was a founding member and senior instructor for Glendale Aikikai. He attained the rank of Yondan. Uncle Lew will be deeply missed by the members of Glendale Aikikai, family and friends.

Andrew Tsubaki Sensei (5th Dan, Joudan Ki) passed away
Posted 12/18/2009 11:41am [from Craig Hocker]
Sad news from the Kansas Ki Society. Prof. Andrew T. Tsubaki Sensei (5th Dan, Joudan Ki) has passed away (Nov. 29, 1931- Dec. 16, 2009). He was professor of Japanese drama at Kansas University (in Lawrence, KS) since the early 70's. He is credited with teaching and bringing Japanese Noh theatre to North America. In 2007, he was awarded the prestigious 'Order of Japan' in recognition of his promotion of Japanese culture abroad. He began learning Aikido in 1979 at 48. Anyone beginning Aikido later in life should find a wonderful example of inspiration in his story. Aikido wasn't available in Lawrence until in 1979 when Barbara Bloom sensei came from Philadelphia to work at Kansas University. She was a student of Ki-Aikido and started offering classes under the auspices of the Lawrence City Parks and Recreation Department. When she returned to Philadelphia, a group of students, under the leadership of Mary Ann Stewart, resolved to keep the Lawrence training group alive. The Lawrence group received support from Koichi Kashiwaya Sensei, who was at that time in Boulder, Colorado. With his support the Lawrence Ki-Aikido group reformed itself as the Kansas Ki Society and continued training themselves and offering classes. After Mary Ann Stewart completed her college degree and moved away from Lawrence, leadership of KKS came to one of the founding members, Andrew Tsubaki Sensei, who had recently earned the rank of shodan (1st degree black-belt). In 1987 Tsubaki sensei began offering a credit class at KU in the department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation (HPER) and the KU class and KU Ki-Aikido Sports Club became the center of Ki-Aikido activity in Lawrence. Literally hundreds of students have experienced Ki-Aikido training through these organized activities. In 1990's the program expanded and he made many trips to Japan with his students to train with Koichi Tohei Sensei at Ki Society HQ in Japan. He was a delightful instructor and through him, Kansas Ki Society became one of the largest schools in the Midland Ki Federation. KKS expanded to an off-campus program overseen by his student Andrew Lebar Sensei. A lot of work went into renovating and old building into a wonderful traditional dojo which I was lucky enough to attend the seminar celebrating it's opening. It's been a while since I have seen him and I am saddened and shocked that he has passed. He left a huge legacy to all his students (Andrew Lebar Sensei Yondan, Owen Livingston Sensei Yondan, Bob Lavendusky Sensei Sandan and numerous others), his former undergraduate and graduate students at Kansas University, and his family. He is survived by his wife, Lily, brother Yoshihiro, and sons, Peter and Arthur and their grandchildren (more details in the Lawrence Journal obiturary link).

Online Video: YouTube: Aikido Schools of New Jersey TV Commercial
Posted 12/18/2009 11:00am [from Jun Akiyama]
Here is a 30-second YouTube video of a TV commercial for the Aikido Schools of New Jersey featuring Rick Stickles sensei, 7th dan.

Article: Martial-arts trained 'lady guards' latest security craze (Egypt)
Posted 12/18/2009 10:58am [from Jun Akiyama]
This article on CNN entitled "Martial-arts trained 'lady guards' latest security craze in Egypt" describes women in Egypt who are training to become "lady guards". The article includes a video segment showing them practicing aikido. From the article: "In a slightly musty gym in the Cairo suburb of Heliopolis, three young women in head scarves are learning how to defend themselves. "Their teacher, a huge man in loose black trousers and a white tunic, is instructing them in the finer points of Aikido, a Japanese martial art."

Seminar: 2010 Winter Term Seminar with Kayla Feder sensei
Posted 12/18/2009 10:58am [from Andrzej Siwkiewicz]
Kayla Feder Sensei, 6th dan, is one of the top instructors in Aikido and a vibrant inspiration to many. She began Aikido training in 1974 with Bruce Klickstein in the children's class at the Aikido Institute in Oakland, California. She later studied under Bill Witt Sensei, Frank Doran Sensei and Robert Nadeau Sensei. She went to Japan to study with Saito Sensei when she was sixteen. After her return from Japan, she began teaching Aikido in Benicia, California. In 1995 Feder sensei started the Aikido Of Berkeley, www.aikidoofberkeley.com.. She has a great in-depth experience in Aikido, Yoga and meditation, and teaches full-time adults and kids. She has taught seminars to students throughout the US, Europe, and Israel. This will be her second visit to Oberlin with a three-day seminar. Oberlin Aikido Club welcomes all affiliations. The seminar will be held in Oberlin College Aikido Club Hales Gym, 180 West Lorain Street, Oberlin, OH 44074-1016. The cost of the seminar is $100 for all three days, or $30 per class. Send the pre-registration information to aikido@oberlin.edu or call 440-725-9494. See you on the mat. Andrzej Siwkiewicz, Oberlin Aikido Club

Article: "British Aikido - Full Circle" by Henry Ellis
Posted 12/16/2009 2:36pm [from Jun Akiyama]
This article entitled "British Aikido - Full Circle" by Henry Ellis provides an account of T.K. Chiba shihan's visit back to the U.K. in 2009 to meet again with the three "pioneers" of the Hut Dojo in Hillingdon, London from back in the 1960's. From the article: In 2008, TK Chiba Shihan, technical director of the International Birankai, requested a meeting with Sensei’s ~ Haydn Foster ~ Henry Ellis ~ Derek Eastman, for a re-union at the “Hut Dojo“. A meeting with the 'old pioneers'. Chiba Shihan cordially invited them all to join as associate members of the 'British Birankai'."

Blog Article: 5th Kyu Shihans
Posted 12/15/2009 3:52pm [from Jerry Akel]
I am plagued by 5th Kyu Shihans. Or rather, was plagued, before receiving my yudansha. And like Dr. Bennell, I still see them, these pod people, everywhere, at seminars, at other dojo, and sometimes, close to home. They are a contagion.