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View Full Version : Info on Inaka Dojo, Beecher Illinois
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PeaceHeather
05-06-2004, 10:45 AM
Hi all,
Does anyone practice at or know of Inaka Dojo, in Beecher, Illinois, USA? It is headed by a Wendy Whited-sensei.
Looking for information... thanks!
Heather
Does anyone practice at or know of Inaka Dojo, in Beecher, Illinois, USA? It is headed by a Wendy Whited-sensei.
Looking for information... thanks!
Heather
Don_Modesto
05-06-2004, 01:24 PM
Hi all,
Does anyone practice at or know of Inaka Dojo, in Beecher, Illinois, USA? It is headed by a Wendy Whited-sensei.
Looking for information... thanks!
Heather
Don't know much myself. FWIW, have met and like Wendy. She spent a couple of years in Japan and has her rank from Saotome.
Does anyone practice at or know of Inaka Dojo, in Beecher, Illinois, USA? It is headed by a Wendy Whited-sensei.
Looking for information... thanks!
Heather
Don't know much myself. FWIW, have met and like Wendy. She spent a couple of years in Japan and has her rank from Saotome.
PeaceHeather
05-06-2004, 01:28 PM
Thanks, Don. Do you happen to know what branch of aikido she teaches? Assuming that question makes sense...
Heather
Heather
Don_Modesto
05-06-2004, 01:35 PM
Thanks, Don. Do you happen to know what branch of aikido she teaches? Assuming that question makes sense...
Heather
Sorry, "branch"? Saotome is ASU, if that's what you mean...
Heather
Sorry, "branch"? Saotome is ASU, if that's what you mean...
PeaceHeather
05-06-2004, 01:39 PM
I keep hearing about things like Aikikai, Ki Society, etc. and I'm not terribly educated in that arena. I'm hoping to learn more about the specific style of aikido taught at the dojo I'm hoping to join. It's a campus Aikido club; Whited-sensei is a sort of "satellite" teacher who performs rank tests for the club, but is not present for regular lessons as her dojo is about two hours away from us.
Heather
Heather
Don_Modesto
05-06-2004, 01:44 PM
I keep hearing about things like Aikikai, Ki Society, etc. and I'm not terribly educated in that arena. I'm hoping to learn more about the specific style of aikido taught at the dojo I'm hoping to join. It's a campus Aikido club; Whited-sensei is a sort of "satellite" teacher who performs rank tests for the club, but is not present for regular lessons as her dojo is about two hours away from us.
Heather
ASU is the organization started by Saotome Mitsugi. His "style" is similar to Osawa and Yamaguchi's (see videos of them as well as a short one of Saotome at aikidojournal.com; membership is about $30/year and the articles alone are worth it. The videos are a new, very welcomed feature.)
Saotome's aikido is generally regarded as pretty martial, although he has fabulous finesse. George Ledyard is a student of his (as am I); he posts on the boards regularly. Look through the members list here and follow the column down re: organization for more ASU individuals posting.
Heather
ASU is the organization started by Saotome Mitsugi. His "style" is similar to Osawa and Yamaguchi's (see videos of them as well as a short one of Saotome at aikidojournal.com; membership is about $30/year and the articles alone are worth it. The videos are a new, very welcomed feature.)
Saotome's aikido is generally regarded as pretty martial, although he has fabulous finesse. George Ledyard is a student of his (as am I); he posts on the boards regularly. Look through the members list here and follow the column down re: organization for more ASU individuals posting.
Fred Little
05-06-2004, 02:00 PM
Hi all,
Does anyone practice at or know of Inaka Dojo, in Beecher, Illinois, USA? It is headed by a Wendy Whited-sensei.
Looking for information... thanks!
Heather
Hi Heather,
I would say that it is headed by THE Wendy Whited-Sensei.
Wendy is a long-time student of Saotome Sensei and she has VERY solid aikido technique.
Her aikido is also informed by her sound understanding of basic karate technique. Though I've never experienced her instruction at her home dojo, I've had the good fortune of attending several classes at seminars where she gave some of the clearest presentations of the role of atemi in aikido practice (with reference to the use of atemi by nage to create openings, the management of ma-ai by nage to avoid providing uke with openings for atemi, and appropriate responses to atemi on the part of both nage and uke).
As if that weren't enough, her ability to express sophisticated principles in everyday movement and language with a good dose of humor is really quite something.
Her dojo may be Inaka, but her aikido is world-class.
In Zagat terms.....four stars, worth an out-of-the-way side trip.
Best,
Fred LIttle
Does anyone practice at or know of Inaka Dojo, in Beecher, Illinois, USA? It is headed by a Wendy Whited-sensei.
Looking for information... thanks!
Heather
Hi Heather,
I would say that it is headed by THE Wendy Whited-Sensei.
Wendy is a long-time student of Saotome Sensei and she has VERY solid aikido technique.
Her aikido is also informed by her sound understanding of basic karate technique. Though I've never experienced her instruction at her home dojo, I've had the good fortune of attending several classes at seminars where she gave some of the clearest presentations of the role of atemi in aikido practice (with reference to the use of atemi by nage to create openings, the management of ma-ai by nage to avoid providing uke with openings for atemi, and appropriate responses to atemi on the part of both nage and uke).
As if that weren't enough, her ability to express sophisticated principles in everyday movement and language with a good dose of humor is really quite something.
Her dojo may be Inaka, but her aikido is world-class.
In Zagat terms.....four stars, worth an out-of-the-way side trip.
Best,
Fred LIttle
Ron Tisdale
05-06-2004, 02:40 PM
Two of the people on this board who I believe are most qualified just gave high recommendations...I would go with that.
Ron (ASU is Aikido Schools of Ueshiba I believe, Under Saotome whose link is http://www.aikido-shobukan.org/Content.aspx?ref=information)
Ron (ASU is Aikido Schools of Ueshiba I believe, Under Saotome whose link is http://www.aikido-shobukan.org/Content.aspx?ref=information)
Bronson
05-06-2004, 02:54 PM
She is also a professional eduactor, she's a school principal.
Bronson
Bronson
Chad Sloman
05-06-2004, 03:01 PM
Hi Heather, my opinion is not as worth as much as those who have already posted. But I was lucky enough to have participated in a Wendy Whited Sensei seminar when I was in the aikido club at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. It was awesome; and probably her excellent ability to communicate comes from the fact that she was a junior high school teacher. I would definitely visit as much as possible. Also if you ever get a chance to train under Kevin Choate Sensei (Chicago), I can not recommend that enough as well. I have only trained in ASU dojos and I can not say enough good things about our organization (although I am biased) ;)
www.asu.org (they have a dojo/sensei listing there)
www.asu.org (they have a dojo/sensei listing there)
Ron Tisdale
05-06-2004, 03:40 PM
I got to partner with Choate Sensei last year at a seminar; wonderful guy and really good...
Ron
Ron
Fred Little
05-06-2004, 04:46 PM
Hi Heather, my opinion is not as worth as much as those who have already posted.
On the other hand, maybe it is worth quite as much.
We've all heard the phrase "a musician's musician." In some respects, it's a compliment, but in others, it indicates that there's a relatively narrow audience for what the musician is doing.
"Popular favorite" flips the other way; positive in its recognition of the wide audience, but implicitly dismissive of the quality of the work.
The question "Is this person's aikido any good?" is a very different question than "Is this a good aikido instructor for me?"
Having a large number of responses from a variety of practitioners may be the best way for someone to answer the latter question. So I'm glad you posted your view.
Best,
Fred Little
On the other hand, maybe it is worth quite as much.
We've all heard the phrase "a musician's musician." In some respects, it's a compliment, but in others, it indicates that there's a relatively narrow audience for what the musician is doing.
"Popular favorite" flips the other way; positive in its recognition of the wide audience, but implicitly dismissive of the quality of the work.
The question "Is this person's aikido any good?" is a very different question than "Is this a good aikido instructor for me?"
Having a large number of responses from a variety of practitioners may be the best way for someone to answer the latter question. So I'm glad you posted your view.
Best,
Fred Little
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