General News: Society of Aikido Centers is Formed

[Please visit our sponsor:]

[AikiWeb System]

11/07/2002 3:32pm [from Lynn Fabia (lfabia6@earthlink.net)]
Website: http://www.societyaikidocenters.com

Lynn Fabia Sensei is the founder and director of the Society of Aikido Centers. Fabia Sensei began her study of Aikido in 1982 under the instruction of Bill Sosa Sensei in Dallas, Texas. In 2002, after twenty years in the art, Lynn Fabia Sensei formed the Society of Aikido Centers, which has affiliated dojos in the United States and Mexico. She is the first female chief instructor in the United States to establish and direct an international affiliation of Aikido schools. Website: www.societyaikidocenters.com (http://www.societyaikidocenters.com).
For more information, call toll free 877 277-9369.

[JMCavazos]

Out dojo is one of the affiliate charter members. We all studied under the watchful eye of Bill Sosa Sensei before his death in June. Sosa Sensei was very proud of Lynn Fabia Sensei & her son, David who is a senior instructor for the new organization with just over 20 years of aikido instruction under Sosa Sensei.

Lynn Fabia Sensei is soooo smooth. David has the best ukemi I have ever seen. Sosa Sensei would tell us that David's ukemi was the best that he had ever seen - that was in over 35 years.

Fabia Sensei has done a lot of work in the creation of the new organization. The affiliated dojos have undergone our 1st of 3 instructor/asst. instructor seminars to be sure that we are teaching the same curriculum. There has been a lot of advancement in the curriculum that Fabia Sensei is introducing.

[Williamross77]

I agree that this is a good thing and it is a testament to the firm and steady teaching of Bill Sosa. Lynn is advancing the art in dramatic ways.

I am sorry that my current finanial situations caused my absence in Mission. I hope to make it soon?

Some say that the $25 month dues I charge is not enough, maybe this is why?

Congradulations Sensei Fabia on a great formation of a new association and with a distinctive style!

[Andy]

Bill, according to the Search engine on this site, it looks like you're 3rd kyu. You're running a dojo and considered a chief instructor at that rank in your organization?

http://www.aikiweb.com/search/dojo.html?id=3322

[Williamross77]

Yes it does seam strange, but we as a group are retesting in our new system. I am a Nidan in an Art that has very simular technique and stressed evolution. I have over six years of instructing experience, but i have not been testing as quickly as my instructors want me to.

[Williamross77]

Sorry I forgot to mention that I have been in Marial Arts for ten years (no not TaeKwonDo), studied in Kajukenbo, Aikikai, and tomiki Schools before we joined as a Satelite of the Dallas IAA school.

The Ikkyu Instuctor here in shreveport LA moved back to Sweden, so it was up to me to keep it going or just quit.

what would you have done?

Bill Sosa did compliment me on my last test (almost two years ago) commenting on my strong technique, I am not great, but I try. I have been stuck bringing absolute beginners up to rokkyu and gokyu levels I do not get to work on my testing requirement because of their limited Ukemi. But I do get to practice quite hard when the Tomiki Shodans come to class and take ukemi, we just come to have fun and make progress.

But Fabia Sensei is the Focus of this thread, and She deserves the spotlight.

[aikigreg]

So did she disband Sosa's organization????

[mike lee]

Is the Society of Aikido Centers affiliated with Aikikai, IAF, or any other recognized, Japan-based aikido organizations?

[MikeE]

Lynn struck out on her own.

There is no affiliation with any Japanese organization.

[JMCavazos]

Socitey of Aikido Centers is NOT affiliated with any Japanese Organization or any other recognized - but neither was or is International Aikido Association.

Bill Sosa Sensei felt that he was limited under aikiai & finally seidokan. He was ready to "move on" with aikido so he formed IAA in 1995.

After Sosa Sensei's passing, Lynn feels the same way and feels that she needs to "move on" with her aikido. She has formed SAC.

This thread was started just to let people know that she IS the first woman to have an international organization with affiliated dojos in Texas, Louisiana, Mexico, and pretty soon - some other states. We chose to affiliate with her & her organization.

Bill was good enough for Sosa Sensei to take him as an affiliate school - that is good enough for me to recognize his aikido!

Bill Sosa Sensei was a great man and I will always consider him to be my first instructor - and so does Lynn Fabia Sensei. But, the fact is that he is no longer with us and Sosa Sensei considered Lynn Fabia Sensei's aikido to be the most up-to-date with what he was teaching. He told us so himself. I think that if he had known what was going to happen to IAA in his absence, he would have named her the Chief Instructor - just to keep her in the organization.

This is my opinion.

[Williamross77]

Thanks Joe, I really appreciate that compliment. But I can't take all the credit, there were three of us that started it here in SHreveport: Brian, Nikyu Aikikai, Nancy, Nikyu Jyushinkai, myself Shodan KSDI (kodokan judo and danzan ryu jujitsu).

I stand behind you and acknowledge that Sosa Sensei, After Seidokan had no direct links to any Japanese organization. In my personal opinon this was a true testament to the Art as O'Sensei would have hoped it to truly become something for all of humanity. By the way all of Sosa Sensei's teachers were Japanese, under which he became a RokkyuDan, to those who did not know him and are cureous.

Fabia Sensei is truly living up to her lineage by taking the art further.

Domo...

[Williamross77]

Oh, IAA still exhists too, and will grow as well.

[MikeE]

Thanks Bill. I was about to say that :)

[aikigreg]

I'm not trying to demean Fabia sensei at all - I have met her a couple times and Sosa sensei as well before his passing, even though I declined to train with him here in DFW. I'm just surprised at the change in organization. Does the IAA still exist?

[MikeE]

Greg,

The IAA is fine. Randy Bonifay is the Senior Instructor for us. He received his godan the same night as Lynn, and has a wider repertoire than Lynn. Randy travels extensively and trains with other groups on a regular basis so his Aikido reflects these influences. Sosa Sensei told me this was wonderful and that he had fantastic Aikido.

The IAA is governed by a board of directors, as Sosa Sensei wanted it to be. He didn't think that any single person was developed enough to be the single "Chief Instructor".

In Aiki,

[JMCavazos]

Society of Aikido Centers not only offers the teachings of Lynn Fabia Sensei, but also those of her son David Fabia Sensei.

Lynn follows as Bill Sosa Sensei taught aikido. Sosa Sensei was very adamant to us who he thought offered aikido the closest to how he taught it.

David's aikido offers something for those who prefer a different style of aikido than what Lynn offers.

Together, both Fabia Senseis offer a unique blend that I believe is available only at SAC. Sosa Sensei told me (and everybody else in South Texas & Mexico) what he thought of his black belts at headquarters. We made our choice.

I also think that Sosa Sensei formed the board for reasons other than that he didn't think that any single person was developed enough. Despite what he tried, (the board), it still didn't quite work out as I am sure he would have liked.

I am still proud of my affilation that I had with IAA. I am very proud of my new affiliation with SAC. I beleive that both will prosper. I have chosen to follow Fabia Sensei.

You know, Seidokan still continues despite Sosa Sensei leaving that organization. I would think that IAA will continue despite Fabia Sensei leaving.

This thread was to let people know that SAC exists and who the founder is. It has never mentioned a demise of IAA.

[cguzik]

Bill,

I just wanted to say that I had the pleasure of training with your Brian for the period of time he spent here in Oklahoma. Such an energetic training partner! I think it's very admirable, the dedication and effort that you all have put into getting and maintaining your dojo in Shreveport.

Good luck moving forward!

Chris

[mike lee]

If a student is promoted in IAA or Society of Aikido Centers, will their rank be accepted in Aikikai-affiliated dojos in the US or overseas?

[mike lee]

Didn't Bill Sosa have a son? What's he doing now?

[MikeE]

Mike,

I've been told that my rank would be recognized by many different organizations that are Aikikai affiliated. It just depends on the organization.

Sosa Sensei's son, Rick is a Rokudan under Suenaka Sensei. They have very different styles. Rick also has shifted his studies to kickboxing and escrima (from what I've been told).

Rick did hold a seminar at the IAA headquarters at the beginning of December, more or less, as a show of support.

In Aiki,

[JMCavazos]

Society of Aikido Center rank is acknowledged by SAC. IAA rank is acknowledged by IAA. Seidokan is acknowledged by Seidokan. Suenaka Sensei (Suenaka-ha aikido) is recognized by Suenaka-ha aikido. etc...

The aforementioned, and many, many more, don't have any affiliation with aikikai. It probably depends on who the instructor is. The aikido world knew who Bill Sosa Sensei was. By that virtue, aikido organizations would recognize that we had a rank in his organization. Sosa Sensei always told us to wear our white belt, out of respect, for an organization if we had the opportunity to work out with one. He told me that our ranks were recognized by the strength of our organization & that we didn't have any rank in aikikai, or any other organization!

I have had a few aikikai, ASU, USAF, Seidokan, Tomiki-ryu students attend our seminars and classes. Every single one of them left impressed by the aikido that was being done by IAA and now SAC. These are shodan and above students who did not know what to expect with our organization. We have also attended seminars by other organizations that were impressed enough to ask who our instructor was!

Aikido in the USA is very good due to the instruction that our instructors were fortunate to have received. Their legacy is being passed down by their students. Don't believe that Aikido in the Americas is not good just because we don't affiliate with Japan!

[JMCavazos]

Oh, by the way, Sosa Sensei has two sons. As far as I know, Rick is a Rokudan in IAA, and a yondan in Seidokan. I understand that his technique is very good. I have not had the pleasure of ever meeting him. I have spoken to him on the phone, and he sounds almost exactly like his dad!

I also understand that Rick is very good in Muay Thai (i hope i spelled it right).

[Williamross77]

any one know where or if jiyushin kai or karl geis tomiki has any recognition under tomiki ryu.

of course this is like american baseball players assuming that japanese teams should fall under american juridiction? there are still good player who cross over from the different organizations, does it REALLY matter to you who are in ASU, Aikikai or others, if the person that shows up to your seminar( and is profficiant in the exicution and you find out that the one who in structed that person was taught by Takahashi Sensei and Koichi Tohei Sensei) and you also find out that they are not under aikikai's jurisdiction. of course this is contengent on them being proficient. isn't it?

I believe in the power of the bond between Aikidoka in general when it comes down to it. And even if now days people are still feeling political waves from the first split in Aikido (Tohei's), that the future of Aikido is in the art, not the organizations. The future is what is important, being true to the virtuous ideas of O'Sensei's art and reason for the search for our...AI, KI, DO...

i am sorry i cannot spell, sumimaisen

[Dean H.]

Congratulations to Sensei Lynn Fabia and to Sensei David Fabia. I had the honor of attending their seminar at Bill's dojo just before Sensei Sosa's passing. They were very helpful to me, very good teachers willing to share and give personal attention. Also, they were very obviously dedicated to Sensei Sosa. Thank you Bill for being such a gracious host to an out-of-towner from a different style!

[Bruce Baker]

I don't want to seem like the whining posts of Mr. A. Russo, but isn't there a bit too much of self recognition for different groups of Aikido pracititioners, and not enough Aikido discussion? Aren't the organizations for the betterment and practice of Aikido, not the other way 'round?

Maybe it is because I totally hated the caste system, or because the recognition of this self prostration is a detriment to your clear understanding of what Aikido is, how to make it your own, and not to dwell upon the less important tasks of oraganization which are just the means and ways to get together to practice Aikido, not he means and ways to create empty power positions in which we prostrate ourselves like servants before the king?

Just an observation in the way the conversations have gone in this thread.

No disrespect, but it more like the false face society than the reality of learning Aikido, and giving respect because our friends are helping us to learn, not some mystical teacher who is treated like a false god?

Maybe it is the result of growing old, but our teachers are human beings as we are, just trying to do the best they can with what little brains they have ... just like us.

What would you do if people prostrated themselves at your feet to greet you in the street? Most of us would raise them up and shake their hands as friends or fellow human beings, wouldn't we.

So .... although I don't deny the dojo its functioning order of acknowledgements, aren't we going a bit far in carrying it into what seems to be, to me, an extreme?

Oh well.

Just some thoughts that came to me upon reading this thread.

Best regards. Good things come to you in your journey.

[tedehara]

...there are still good player who cross over from the different organizations, does it REALLY matter to you who are in ASU, Aikikai or others, if the person that shows up to your seminar( and is profficiant in the exicution and you find out that the one who in structed that person was taught by Takahashi Sensei and Koichi Tohei Sensei) and you also find out that they are not under aikikai's jurisdiction. of course this is contengent on them being proficient. isn't it?...
I consider myself very lucky. My instructor was not only taught by Isao Takahashi and Koich Tohei, but I discovered that when Sosa Sensei became a black belt at the old Illinois Aikido Club, my Sensei was on the judging committee.

If any of you are in-town or just passing through, drop by, say "Hi" and bring your gi.

:)