Helpful Information for Seminar Registrants

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!

This page offers helpful information to seminar registrants. Please note, as of August, registration for this seminar is closed. We are full!

Questions about your registration? Contact Chris at Macadamdojo@gmail.com

Instructor Biographies:

Darrell Bluhm, 7th dan, Shihan, began his study of Aikido at U.C. Santa Cruz in 1970. In 1981 he became a student of Kazuo Chiba, Shihan, and a founding member of San Diego Aikikai. Bluhm also studied Iai Batto-ho (Iaido) with Chiba Sensei and had several opportunities to study with his teacher’s teacher, T. Mitsuzuka. Bluhm Sensei founded Siskiyou Aikikai in 1983 and serves as Chief Instructor. He is the longest-serving member of the Birankai North America Senior Council and he serves as the Chair of the BNA Technical Team.

Ryūgan Robert D. Savoca, 6th dan, Shihan, began studying judo and aikido at age 13 in San Diego County. He continued to study aikido in Los Angeles and New York and then became uchideshi for T.K. Chiba Shihan.  He founded Brooklyn Aikikai in 2001. Savoca serves as the Chair of the Birankai North America Senior Council and as a member of the BNA Technical Team. 

Training Location:

Multnomah Aikikai is located in the John's Landing neighborhood, just south of the central downtown Portland area. Free street parking is available near the dojo on S Dakota Street and S Virginia Ave. The dojo entrance is on Macadam Ave. Address:  6415 S Macadam Ave, Portland OR 97239. For more information about our dojo please visit our website: https://www.multnomahaikikai.com/

Schedule:

FRIDAY 9/27

6 - 8:00 pm: Iaido class

8 - 9:30 pm: Gathering after class at Community Wine Bar PDX around the corner from the dojo. Beverage purchase required (wine, beer, non-alcoholic options available). Details were sent by email to registrants on Sep. 6th.

SATURDAY 9/28

9:30 am - 12:20 pm: Aikido classes (three 50 minute segments)

2:30 - 4:30 pm: Weapons class for iaidoka and aikidoka

4:45 pm: Exams

7 - 10:00 pm: Dinner. Pre-registration for dinner required. All are welcome to celebrate with us. Beverage purchase required. Details were sent by email to registrants.

SUNDAY 9/29

10 - 12:15 pm: Aikido classes

*Training Info: 

Please bring your own bokken, jyo, and iaito (if registered for Friday night Iaido). We have limited bokken and jyo available to borrow at the dojo. Note the Saturday afternoon segment will focus on kumi-tachi variations for doto-gaeshi and  raito-gaeshi. Please brush up on these iaido forms. If time allows  Sensei will draw connections to Sansho 3 part 1. Your familiarity with the  material will directly affect whether we have time for this exploration.

If you have any objections to being photographed please let the photographer know before class begins.

Breakfast options near the dojo

• Jen's Pastries - adjacent to dojo, pastries

• St Honoré Bakery Macadam - one block south on Macadam Ave., coffee and French pastries

• Jola Cafe - SW Corbett near Pendelton St., coffee, full breakfast

• Note: We don’t recommend Cafe Dewberry only because the service is slow.

Lunch options for Saturday

• Saturday lunch, 12:30pm - 2:30pm: Nearby in Sellwood there is a strip of restaurant options all in close proximity. You are “on your own” for lunch and we recommend you check out Grand Central Bakery, Jade Bistro, Portland Bottle Shop,or Nama Ramen. On Macadam Avenue, the grocery store Zupan's offers deli sandwiches and salads as well. We don’t recommend Fulton Pub or Cafe Dewberry for lunch on Saturday because they are slow. If you’ve brought your own lunch, you may eat in the dojo during the break.

Other

• A gas station and a liquor store can be found one block north of the dojo on Macadam Ave.

• Please park on the side streets near the dojo. Parking lots belong to our neighbors.

We look forward to seeing you!