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Old 05-06-2004, 09:45 AM   #1
PeaceHeather
Dojo: hopefully Purdue Aikido Club
Location: Indiana
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Question Info on Inaka Dojo, Beecher Illinois

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
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Old 05-06-2004, 12:24 PM   #2
Don_Modesto
Dojo: Messores Sensei (Largo, Fl.)
Location: Florida
Join Date: Mar 2001
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Re: Info on Inaka Dojo, Beecher Illinois

Quote:
PeaceHeather wrote:
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.

Don J. Modesto
St. Petersburg, Florida
------------------------
http://www.theaikidodojo.com/
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Old 05-06-2004, 12:28 PM   #3
PeaceHeather
Dojo: hopefully Purdue Aikido Club
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Re: Info on Inaka Dojo, Beecher Illinois

Thanks, Don. Do you happen to know what branch of aikido she teaches? Assuming that question makes sense...

Heather
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Old 05-06-2004, 12:35 PM   #4
Don_Modesto
Dojo: Messores Sensei (Largo, Fl.)
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Re: Info on Inaka Dojo, Beecher Illinois

Quote:
PeaceHeather wrote:
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...

Don J. Modesto
St. Petersburg, Florida
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http://www.theaikidodojo.com/
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Old 05-06-2004, 12:39 PM   #5
PeaceHeather
Dojo: hopefully Purdue Aikido Club
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Re: Info on Inaka Dojo, Beecher Illinois

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
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Old 05-06-2004, 12:44 PM   #6
Don_Modesto
Dojo: Messores Sensei (Largo, Fl.)
Location: Florida
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Re: Info on Inaka Dojo, Beecher Illinois

Quote:
PeaceHeather wrote:
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.

Don J. Modesto
St. Petersburg, Florida
------------------------
http://www.theaikidodojo.com/
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Old 05-06-2004, 01:00 PM   #7
Fred Little
Dojo: NJIT Budokai
Location: State Line NJ/NY
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Re: Info on Inaka Dojo, Beecher Illinois

Quote:
PeaceHeather wrote:
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
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Old 05-06-2004, 01:40 PM   #8
Ron Tisdale
Dojo: Doshinkan dojo in Roxborough, Pa
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Re: Info on Inaka Dojo, Beecher Illinois

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/Conte...ef=information)

Ron Tisdale
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"The higher a monkey climbs, the more you see of his behind."
St. Bonaventure (ca. 1221-1274)
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Old 05-06-2004, 01:54 PM   #9
Bronson
 
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Re: Info on Inaka Dojo, Beecher Illinois

She is also a professional eduactor, she's a school principal.

Bronson

"A pacifist is not really a pacifist if he is unable to make a choice between violence and non-violence. A true pacifist is able to kill or maim in the blink of an eye, but at the moment of impending destruction of the enemy he chooses non-violence."
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Old 05-06-2004, 02:01 PM   #10
Chad Sloman
 
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Re: Info on Inaka Dojo, Beecher Illinois

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)

A real man does not think of victory or defeat. He plunges recklessly towards an irrational death. By doing this, you will awaken from your dreams.
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Old 05-06-2004, 02:40 PM   #11
Ron Tisdale
Dojo: Doshinkan dojo in Roxborough, Pa
Location: Phila. Pa
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Re: Info on Inaka Dojo, Beecher Illinois

I got to partner with Choate Sensei last year at a seminar; wonderful guy and really good...

Ron

Ron Tisdale
-----------------------
"The higher a monkey climbs, the more you see of his behind."
St. Bonaventure (ca. 1221-1274)
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Old 05-06-2004, 03:46 PM   #12
Fred Little
Dojo: NJIT Budokai
Location: State Line NJ/NY
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Re: Info on Inaka Dojo, Beecher Illinois

Quote:
Chad Sloman wrote:
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
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