Dojo News
Multnomah Aikikai, Portland, Oregon publishes Dojo News, including thoughtful articles by students and teachers along with dojo updates, events, and news.
Dennis practicing kaiten-nage at Multnomah Aikikai
What I wish I knew when I started aikido… by Dennis Velasquez: I found myself reflecting on what I wish I had known when I first stepped onto the mat. What would have helped me feel more at ease? What might have made those early days a little less confusing and a lot more encouraging? Here’s what I came up with; advice and insights I’d share with anyone who’s just beginning, or even thinking about beginning, their journey in Aikido.
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Spiros Koyanis, Lynn Marshall, Teri Pierson, Michael Boeder: Leaders of Two Rivers Aikikai
Hello Portland Aikido Community. As you may know, our friends at Two Rivers Aikikai are making a leadership transition with Spiros Sensei and Lynn Sensei retiring from their long and dedicated devotion to the dojo and handing the reins to Teri Sensei and Michael Sensei.
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Multnomah Aikikai hosts a weekend of intensive training in aikido and iaido led by D. Bluhm Shihan & R. Savoca Shihan, September 27-29, 2024. This seminar will include Aikido black belt level testing!
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Starting a new practice can be daunting. I want to encourage you to take the first step and visit the dojo! Not sure what to expect during your dojo visit? Let’s demystify aikido class and walk you through what you need to know.
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Monica practicing at the Flynn Shihan Seminar in Tacoma, March 2024. Photo: Nathan Young
The March 2024 seminar with M. Flynn Shihan in Tacoma was my first Aikido seminar - my first big one.
Read MoreDennis V. speaks of his experience practicing aikido.
In his professional life, Dennis navigates the typical stresses common for a leader. … The dynamic movement of aikido practice allows him to access that elusive experience known as “mushin” - the empty mind, undistracted, and fully present. He finds regular practice to be centering. It keeps him coming back! Click to view video
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Beginning aikido student with instructor Jon Paul Oliva Sensei
Will you “Fall for Aikido” this Fall? Aikido class series for adult and teens runs October 11-28. “New Student 3-month Intro to Aikido starts Nov. 1.” Challenge yourself in a safe environment while having fun learning a new skill at Multnomah Aikikai.
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6415 South Macadam Ave., home to Multnomah Aikikai and Pacific Renbukai, offering traditional Japanese martial arts
Start your journey with traditional Japanese martial arts at our open house event presented by Multnomah Aikikai and Pacific Renbukai. Saturday Oct. 7, 2023. Admission is FREE! Join us…
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Rob Forkner, iaido student of Multnomah Aikikai
I decided to start in Iaido after developing experience with meditation practice over the past 4-5 years.
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Darrell Bluhm Shihan will be teaching a seminar at Multnomah Aikikai April 28-30, 2023. Seminar classes will include aikido (body arts and weapons), a bokken class designed for both iaido and aikido practitioners, and iaido classes.
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Sammy (left), Boyet Sensei (right).
I found it took me a fair amount of time to digest the recent—and my first— iaido seminar with Didier Boyet Sensei. Being fortunate enough to have this learning experience early in my Iaidō training was a blessing but there was a vast amount of information to take away.
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Boyet Sensei teaching at Multnomah Aikikai, 2018.
The following article was written by Rob Darmour in 2018 after we last hosted Didier Boyet Shihan at Multnomah Aikikai. Rob is a member of Multnomah Aikikai and a designer by profession. The principles of design are an apt lens to view our maturation in martial arts practice. Continue reading…
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We are excited to announce Didier Boyet Shihan will be teaching a seminar at Multnomah Aikikai Oct. 14-16, 2022. Classes will include aikido body arts, bokken classes designed for both iaido and aikido practitioners, and iaido classes. One special iaido class session will be reserved for a small number of iaido practitioners carrying over 5 years experience.
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2018 seminar with Didier Boyet Shihan at Multnomah Aikikai
"Within a regular training schedule, work and family priorities tend to creep in and steal the remaining time that has already been marginalized. Setting one’s calendar towards a seminar... forces one to dismiss these time pirates and refocus, even if briefly, one’s attention to training…. Seminars for me stimulate excitement towards the art and motivate me to want to train more. “ - Jody Eastman
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Thanks to Sanders Anderson for designing our dojo’s milestone anniversary logo!
Multnomah Aikikai's 30/40/50 anniversary year, 2022, marks the dojo's 30th birthday, Suzane Van Amburgh Sensei's 40 years in aikido, and Aki Fleshler Sensei's 50 years in aikido! We are celebrating all year long.
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This year the Juneteenth holiday, June 19, falls on a Sunday. The federal holiday is observed on Monday June 20. Our dojo will close in honor of Juneteenth on Monday June 20.
Take time to learn about the history of Juneteenth…
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T.K. Chiba Shihan
By Suzane Van Amburgh, June 5, 2022
At this time I encourage my students to read Sensei’s writings, watch videos of his teaching, reflect on what he has given us, and renew your commitment to come practice regularly in the dojo.
“shoshin” - beginners mind. Calligraphy by Steven Gould
As a child in my Aikido classes, my instructors would remind us on occasion to treat every example of a technique shown, as if it was the first time we were seeing it. While I have no doubt this was a way to combat the short attention spans of elementary school children, the meaning of shoshin, or “beginner's mind” is a concept at the heart of martial arts, and one which we revisit on a greater level over and over again.
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Volunteers feed refugees who just crossed the Polish-Ukrainian border in Medyka, Poland, on February 25.
Maciej Luczniewski/NurPhoto via Getty Images. Image found on Vox.com
Birankai Poland has organized fundraising efforts to effectively collect donations and transfer the money to Polish Humanitarian Action (PHA) who can get the right help and supplies efficiently to the Ukrainian refugees pouring into Poland at this time. We may be far away but we can help.
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John Hunt (center) practicing at the Forest Grove dojo
I have spent eight years studying Aikido with Multnomah Aikikai, primarily in the Forest Grove dojo. The practice and community there have been life changing. Their practice integrates principles of mind and body that gave me a sense of centered, gentle strength that I deeply needed when I started practicing and will cherish forever.
Read MoreMultnomah Aikikai, Portland Oregon, provides a method of personal development for people of all ages through traditional, practical and sincere training in the martial art of Aikido and Iaido.
Aikido Multnomah Aikikai | 6415 S Macadam Avenue, Portland, OR, 97239, United States