Claude Berthiaume at aikido of cincinnati

Claude Berthiaume 7th dan shihan from aikido de la montagne will be at aikido cincinnati jan.30 and 31 2010.everyone welcome.

I took a few of Claude's classes over the holidays (I was visiting family in Montreal). He was in top form, should be a good seminar. A little too far out of my way unfortunately. But to all those going, have a good one.

Jonathan Olson wrote: I took a few of Claude's classes over the holidays (I was visiting family in Montreal). He was in top form, should be a good seminar. A little too far out of my way unfortunately. But to all those going, have a good one.

What is his teaching style?how does he interact with beginners.

His beginner classes are what got me hooked on aikido more than 10 years ago, si I'd have to say he interacts well with beginners. His teaching style is very clear and straigthforward, as one might expect considering he is an elementary school physical education teacher.

If a photo is worth a 1000 words, a video may be worth even more, so here are a few Youtube clips (a search will find you some more):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Y73d3-CQx8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Db6IZvRNmA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYphorlRAXg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMcqukshyPo

I lived in Montreal a couple of years ago and Claude Sensei is the one who originally got me hooked on Aikido, too, with his beginner classes, and I still look forward to his classes at seminars. I found the classes large in his dojo but he has a very nice clear (to me) way of showing and explaining how to move for a technique. Mainly showing, but with a few choice sentences or mental images to draw your attention to important points. And he would walk around and try to get to each pair while people were practicing a technique, to check everyone was OK or if they needed some help, or occasionally to take ukemi for them so he could sort of walk them through what to do.

Of course with any given person you might happen not to like their teaching style, but for me, I've always looked forward to classes with him and feel like I learn something and enjoy it. Plus of course his technique shares a lot with that of my own teacher (both influenced strongly by Kanai Sensei), so for me there's an added benefit of seeing something familiar from a new point of view.

I have had the pleasure of taking several of Berthiaume Shihan's classes as well as training with him on a few occassions and his aikido is exemplary. His understanding of aiki-weapons is particularly inciteful. Run to any seminar where he is teaching. You will never be disappointed.