the Komyozan in Boise

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[Jeff Tibbetts]

Hello, just wondering if anyone here trains or has ever trained at the Komyozan Dojo in Boise, Idaho under Kimbal Anderson. Or for that matter is anyone here affiliated with the Kannagara Jinja at all? I have a friend who is moving to Boise who wants to start taking Aikido, and I was just looking around to see if I could help him find a Dojo. I saw that there were two in Boise, however the other one is prohibitively expensive, he's a starving college student :) Anyway, any information at all would be very helpful. Thanks in advance...

[Greg Jennings]

Do some web research on "Koichi Barrish", "Larry Barrish", and "Ideta Ryu".

Regards,

[Jeff Tibbetts]

Greg, I had seen the webpage for the Kannagara Jinja, and was intrigued. However I was looking for info on the Dojo in Boise, and whether they had frequent visits from the Kannagara Jinja folks or not. Do you know if Koichi Barrish visits Dojo that are affiliated with the Kannagara Jinja? Or really, have you or anyone on these boards ever been to that particular Dojo in Boise?

[mathewjgano]

Greg, I had seen the webpage for the Kannagara Jinja, and was intrigued. However I was looking for info on the Dojo in Boise, and whether they had frequent visits from the Kannagara Jinja folks or not. Do you know if Koichi Barrish visits Dojo that are affiliated with the Kannagara Jinja? Or really, have you or anyone on these boards ever been to that particular Dojo in Boise?

Hello, I have never been to Anderson-sensei's dojo, but I have trained with several of his students as well as with himself and have nothing but nice things to say about them. I study with Barrish Sensei and often the Komyozan aikidoka will visit Kannagara Jinja. I'm not sure of the last time Barrish visited Boise though.
...so long story short, I don't know much except that Kimbal-san is a very good teacher, per my experiences with him. Give them a try if you get the chance!
Take care,
Matthew

[Michael Cardwell]

Jeff, I have never trained with Anderson sensei before, but I have trained with Anastasio sensei several times, he runs the Three Shapes Aikido dojo in Boise. I have never been to one of his regular classes, only to a seminar that he hosted, so I do not know how his prices are, but he is a very good sensei and easy to get along with. Oh, and tell your friend if he ever makes it down river to Idaho Falls to look up the dojo that I train at, it's Snake River Aikido, he can find us on the web.

[Tim Griffiths]

I trained there for a few days while I was in Boise on business. Sadly I had to leave suddenly, and didn't get as much as I wanted.

I thought the dojo, Kimbal and the senior students were all excellent, and I'd recommend training there. They were very welcoming, and next time I'm in Boise I'll certainly go back there.

My impression from a few practices: Kimbal also studies different sword arts, and it shows in the aikido (there are also several sword classes a week, which I didn't get to). The practice is quite soft, with an emphasis on the feel or principle of a technique, rather than which-foot-goes-where. A lot of the students studied somewhere else for some time before joining this dojo (which is a good sign, but may just be people moving to Bosie), and my impression was that the classes were tuned more to these people - I'm not sure how easy it would be for a raw recruit (OTOH, they may have beginner classes, or I may have got that impression since that was my situation). As for politics and affiliations, I have no idea (and care even less) - I didn't even ask.

In short, your friend should give them a try. Actually, he should give every dojo in a reasonable radius a try, and pick the one he likes.
For me, it was one of the best 'small' dojo's I've visited, in pretty much every way (and, incidently, very beautiful).

Tim