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The Dojo
West
Seattle Aikikai is associated with Aikikai
Hombu Dojo in Tokyo, Japan,
through Aikido Schools of
Ueshiba (ASU), under
Mitsugi Saotome Shihan.
Regular classes are
conducted
six days a week (weekday evenings and
Saturday mornings).
The
Chief Instructor is Darren McKee Sensei, who began his Aikido training in 1980. He has
been teaching
Aikido since 1982, when he was asked to take over responsibility for
the Cal Poly Pomona Aikido Club. Subsequently, he has taught
regular classes at many dojo around the country (including Los Angeles,
Boulder, Mill Valley,
Kirkland, and even Kalamazoo). He is currently Godan (fifth degree
black belt) in Aikido, and Nidan (second degree black belt) in
Iaido. He has trained directly under
Hiroshi Ikeda
Shihan and Mitsugi Saotome Shihan for
many years, in
addition to many other Shihan and Sensei from
around the world, most notably, Shoji Nishio Shihan.
Training is
conducted in the best tradition of a traditional Japanese
dojo and therefore becomes an excellent
introduction
to Japanese culture.
How to join
Come to the dojo and fill out a registration and release form.
With that, and your membership fee, you're ready to go.
If you do not yet have a dogi (training
uniform), be sure to wear loose fitting clothes, like sweat pants and a
t-shirt. No shorts though; your knees need to be covered.
The Beginners' Classes are ongoing, so you
can start right now. They cover the basic exercises and
techniques, rolling and falling, etc. These will get you prepared
to move up to the Open Classes.
Later, the student should acquire a Bokken
(wooden sword), Tanto (wooden knife), and a Jo (wooden staff) for
weapons training, along with a
Hakama (heavily pleated pants).
You are always welcome to stop by the dojo
to watch class, or have any questions answered.
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