San Diego area dojo's.

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[Steven]

Hi Folks,

I'm looking for a dojo and/or a recommendation for a dojo in the Temecual/Murrieta, CA area. I noted several schools listed in San Diego, but do not know how far they are from these two cities. There is one school listed in Murrieta, "The Greenwood Center Aikido", but I'm looking for other options as well for a friend of mine.

Thanks ...

[DarkShodan]

I would highly recommend Gallo Sensei in San Marcos.

http://www.kanshinkandojo.com

It's a little drive from your area, about 40 miles, but well worth it.

[aikidoc]

Temecula/Murietta is one of those areas that nothing else will be close by. If you don't mind driving 45 minutes to an hour, then you have options in Riverside and Moreno Valley and San Marcos and Oceanside/Vista. However, I can highly recommend Dr. Phil Greenwood. I trained with him for several years when I lived in California (I used to make the 45 minute drive to his dojo to train with him). He has very solid Aikido. I don't know what the dojo "feels" like since I have not trained there since 1995. However, he has a good background: Francis Takahashi, ASU and now I believe he is currently affiliated with Nishio sensei. Anyway, you'll get a good training quality with him.

[Michael Hackett]

Have him come by and visit us in Vista, just down the road from Temecula. Kenshinkan Dojo is located at 1310 N. Melrose Drive, Suite E, Vista. Ken MacBeth Sensei is yondan and is a member of the AAA Teaching Committee. Most folks have been his students for years and it is a great place to train. We have one student who drives down from Temecula all the time. A straight freeway drive of about 30 minutes. Invite him to drop in and meet us.

Michael

[aikidoc]

Ken's a good instructor too. I don't know if I'd call Vista just down the road-except maybe in California terms :).

[Michael Hackett]

John, the trip takes about 30 minutes with the two freeways. Of course it depends where one is in Temecula though. As I recall it's 17 miles from Temecula to the Highway 78 junction and then about 5 or six miles from there. I only live about 5 miles from the dojo, but after training here, I wouldn't think twice about the drive from Temecula.

There are any number of good dojo in the area and I guess it all depends on how each one feels to the potential student and how he relates to the Sensei. We welcome visitors and maybe Kenshinkan Dojo is the right ticket. There are some terrific sensei in the area and we have just one flavor - but one worth looking at.

Hell John, I thought you folks in Texas would drive three days for a cold longneck! What's 30 minutes?

Michael

[James Young]

I can second Phil Greenwood-sensei as well. I've never been to his dojo in Murrieta, but when I use to live in Pasadena and trained there he came by to teach as a guest instructor as he was one of the "alumni" of the dojo. Good aikido and all-around nice guy. As mentioned though, if you don't mind driving a little bit there are all kinds of aikido or aiki-related dojos to choose from.

[Jordan Steele]

I can't believe nobody mentioned Chiba Sensei. San Diego Aikikai. It's one of the best aikido schools in the world.

[csinca]

Right now I live in San Marcos and I would highly recommend Aikido of North County. I've only worked with students of MacBeth Sensei and seen him a couple of times but I liked what I saw.

As for a 30 minute drive, I do it all the time for Aikido as I drive to Leucadia. All the dojos mentioned so far are very different and you shouldn't let an extra 10-15 minutes make your decision for you. Visit them all and pick the one that wil give you what you are looking for.

Chris

[James Young]

I think the only reason why nobody mentioned Chiba-sensei's dojo is because it's like 60 miles away from Murrieta. Of course if Steven is willing to drive that far I'm sure it would be excellent. If memory serves that dojo is not too far of I-15 so it would be a straight-shot down I-15 sourth from Murrieta.

[Steven]

Thanks everyone for the information. As for me, as I'm in Sacramento, I won't be driving to Chiba Sensei's dojo for practice any time soon. Something like 450+ miles ... :-)

I'll pass this information on to my friend.

Thanks again

[aikidoc]

Michael:

Hey, I'm not a Californian. I lived in Vista for a bit and in Murrieta/Temecula and Riverside/Moreno Valley as well. I know the drive quite well as I used to drive from Moreno Valley to Phil's dojo 3 times a week and then to Oceanside to visit my daughter on Sundays. Have you been to Temecula lately? It's become quite a crowded place. It may take 30 minutes at California freeway speeds to get to Vista but getting out of Temecular may be more of a challenge:). I had not been there in years and went to visit a friend last Christmas-real crowded.

[aikidoc]

P.S. I know Ken and have been to seminars at his dojo (I'm in AAA).

[Michael Hackett]

Mornin' John,

Yeah, Temecula has really grown in the past five years in particular. It has become a bedroom community for San Diego and it very crowded. Interstate 15 is now a major commuter route to San Diego; southbound in the AM, and northbound in the PM. Next time you're in the area, be sure to stop in and train with us or just say hello or join us in beerwaza after class.

Michael

[disabledaccount]

There are two Aikido dojo's in Temecula:

AIKIDO Greenwood Center
41555 Cherry, Temecula, CA 92590
(951) 600-0550

Aikido Kodokai
42143 Avenida Alvarado, Temecula, CA 92590
(951) 296-0333

Good luck.