Children and Adults are welcome
Unlike most other martial arts, physical strength, size and age have a relatively small impact on one's ability to effectively practice Aikido since Aikido relies on the redirection of your opponent's momentum instead of the strength and impact of a punch or kick. Aikido is non-competitive, we do not have tournaments - a desire to win, or prove that you are better than your partner, are contrary to the martial philosophy of Aikido. While in potential every Aikido technique is immensely powerful, injuries are extremely rare in Aikido practice; we follow the principle taught by the Founder: "Injuring your opponent, you are injuring yourself".
Learn to avoid Injuries: Aikido training improves awareness, balance, safe falling and reflexes reducing risk of injuries and falls
Improve you health and fitness: Aikido can turn back the clock of aging. Research supports that movement without stress has greater effect on health
Learn self-defense: Aikido training prepares first by teaching how to avoid the conflict and then use techniques if needed.
Improve Relationships: In Aikido training, peaceful resolution of conflicts is central to the practice.
Florida "Inyo" Aiki Shuren Dojo is a Japanese Budo Dojo where Traditional Aikido is taught and trained in the Spirit of Morihiro Saito Shihan. Saito Shihan was the longest direct-disciple of the Founder of Aikido. We are one of many Aiki Shuren Dojos throughout the United States under the Chief Instructor Mark Larson Shihan, who founded Minnesota Aiki Shuren Dojo at the request of Morihiro Saito Shihan before his passing,
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Here you can see how we train, what the Art of Aikido looks like, as well as here what kids and adults think about training.
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I am excited to open this Dojo in partnership with Port Charlotte YMCA! With many years of martial arts in my background, and over two decades of hard aikido training, I look forward to sharing with you what my teachers have taught me - and I have learned from the best of the best! Call us.
In Aikido, we do not compete. Nobody is trying to prove he is better than others. More advanced students help beginners, everybody is friendly and respectful. We are not concerned with "winning" or "losing". As O'Sensei taught, "Masakatsu Agatsu" - “True victory is victory over oneself.” We all are students learning the Art of Peace. And we thoroughly enjoy the process, practicing Aikido with a smile.
1. Aikido can determine life or death with a single blow; therefore, when training, observe the directions of the instructor and do not engage in contests of strength.
2. Aikido is a Way that makes one person the equivalent of thousands; therefore, when training, always be mindful not only of the space in front of you, but also what is happening in all directions.
3. Training should always be an enjoyable experience.
4. An instructor can only impart a portion of the teachings. To be able to use a technique, you must learn it through diligent and ceaseless training. Only then will you begin to remember with your body. It is pointless to desire to learn many techniques. To master a technique, you must make it your own.
5. Daily training begins with Tai no Henko. Gradually increase the intensity of your training. Make sure not to overexert your body. Even older persons should not injure themselves. Continue to train enjoyably and strive to realize the purpose of training.
6. Aikido is training of the mind and body. Its purpose is to produce sincere people. Since all techniques are entirely secret, you should not reveal them indiscriminately to the public. The improper use of any technique by ill-mannered persons is to be avoided.
An excerpt from the 1938 Training Manual, “Budo”, by the Founder of Aikido, Morihei Ueshiba. Translated by Mark L. Larson.
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WE ARE THE YOUNG WARRIORS.
OUR LIVES ARE A GIFT.
OUR MINDS AND BODIES ARE TOOLS - WE WILL STRENGTHEN TO CONTRIBUTE TO SOCIETY.
WITH COURAGE AND HONOR, WE WILL LOVE AND APPRECIATE OUR FAMILIES.
WE WILL RESPECT OUR ELDERS AND TEACHERS, AND PROTECT NATURE.
WE WILL NOT FIGHT OR MISUSE WHAT WE LEARN.
WE WILL BE A GOOD FRIEND AND LIVE A GOOD LIFE.
WE, THE CHILDREN OF TODAY, ARE THE LEADERS OF TOMORROW
Copyright 2002 ~ Mark L. Larson
In Iwama Takemusu Aikido, weapons practice is an integral part of the training as it is an indispensable part of the system. The three weapons used are the wooden sword (Bokken) the wooden staff (Jo) and the wooden knife (Tanken/ Tanto). Morihiro Saito Sensei was no exception in his regarding weapons practice as being at the root of the technical system.
Advantages of weapon training:
Body use. In Aikido we strive to develop a body fully connected to the ground, connected intrinsically in all its parts and organized from the center, both at rest and in movement. The first level of weapon training is solo training and at this level one can train slowly and with attention on the above dynamics without the distraction of an attacking partner.
Power. The development of power in Aikido (kokyu) is an extension of the above dynamics of body use and movement. Power is accessed from the ground, directed through the tissues of the body through the center and executed through the periphery at the point of contact to our partner. The dynamic in the development of power - ground-center-periphery - is exactly the dynamic we search out with weapon training where it is much more accessible than in empty handed practice.
Everything is bigger. In making the weapon an extension of one’s body, weapon training increases one’s sense of reach. Furthermore the distances, angles and timings are more clearly perceived and therefore studied in the basic partner work.
Control and precision. In Aikido, since there is no protective armour worn, control, precision and unflagging attention are a must.
Riai. This refers to the harmony of principles underlying empty handed technique and weapon technique. Saito Sensei would say that Riai was to be understood and embodied at the level of body use and movement and that one should not depend either on having a weapon or on not having one.
It’s beautiful! Without a doubt, Aikido is one of the most aesthetically satisfying martial arts to witness and practice. The weapon forms as left by O'Sensei and developed further buy Morihiro Saito Sensei are beautiful to practice in their own right.
Aikido has 6 basic and 20 crucial techniques, which in various combinations comprise at least 10,000 techniques, or waza (the Japanese term for technique, skill, or art).
As the student’s skills advance, their training begins to include more advanced combinations, including henka waza - technique change, jyu waza - “free technique”, where the attacker continuously attacks in any way, randori – dealing with multiple attackers, and kaeshi waza –technique reversal. Mastering those advanced techniques requires understanding certain physical, mental, spiritual and philosophical concepts. Obviously, one cannot reach this level of proficiency in a couple of months.
Lineage is a time tested method to insure quality control in instruction. You start with one of the great martial artists of all time. That highly realized practitioner certifies his students to go out and teach. The knowledge is passed from one generation to another with teachers standing behind the instruction given by their students. If a student has a serious problem and is considered unqualified to teach, their teacher withdraws support.
Saito Shihan was the longest direct-disciple of the Founder of Aikido, Morihei Ueshiba, from 1946-1969. In 1969, prior to the Founder’s passing, Morihiro Saito was asked by the Ueshiba Family to serve as Chief-Instructor at the Founder’s Senmon (Specialty) Dojo, Aiki-jinja Fuzoku Dojo,and Guardian of the Aiki Shrine, both located in Iwama, Ibaraki, Japan – the Birthplace of Aikido. Saito Shihan devoted the next 33 years, and nearly 60 years of his life, systemizing and preserving the Aikido he learned directly from the Founder as well as caring for the Aiki Shrine, Iwama Dojo, and their surroundings.
In the spring of 1993, Minnesota Aiki Shuren Dojo founder and chief-instructor Mark Larson Sensei was formally introduced to Morihiro Saito Shihan, in Iwama, by Larson’s first teacher, Shigeru Kawabe Shihan of Akita Aiki Shuren Dojo. At Kawabe’s recommendation, Mark Larson would go on to learn under Saito’s tutelage for the next nine-plus years until Saito Shihan passed away on May 13, 2002. Before Saito Shihan’s passing, at the request of Morihiro Saito Shihan, Mark Larson Sensei founded Minnesota Aiki Shuren Dojo – a name Saito Shihan placed on his dojo. Today, Minnesota Aiki Shuren Dojo is part of a large international organization (Aikikai) that encompasses the majority of Aikido schools in the world, and is the Hombu Dojo (Headquarters) for a many Aiki Shuren Dojos throughout the United States. Mark Larson Sensei received the highest certificate in weapons from Saito Sensei. Saito Sensei gave him the name Takuto, meaning preeminent leader of a tradition.
Steve Kanney Sensei, 6th Dan, is the Dojo Cho and chief instructor of the New York "Still Mind" Aiki Shuren Dojo located in Westchester NY. He began wrestling in 1972, Aikido in 1978 and Tai Chi in 1999. He had the rare opportunity of attending 30 days of seminars with Morihiro Saito Sensei. Steve simultaneously spent 20 years studying day to day with Seiichi Sugano, a direct student (6 years) of the founder in Tokyo before being dispatched to Australia and eventually to the US. Steve Kanney supplemented his practice with the study of Chinese Zen in 1996 with one of the more advanced teachers in the world.
Gregory Temkin, 3rd Dan, has trained for over two decades under Steve Kanney Sensei studying Takemusu Aikido as taught by Larson Shihan, Kanney Sensei and many other outstanding masters of Iwama Takemusu Aikido. Since 2014, Gregory has as well been taking instruction from Mark Larson Sensei. Upon moving to Florida, and at the suggestion of his teachers, Gregory has opened Florida "Inyo" Aiki Shuren Dojo. Gregory's focus is on building up Aiki - harmony of mind and body. "Inyo" is a Japanese concept similar to the Chinese Yin-Yang, which represents harmony of opposites
Gregory's past related training includes boxing, Sambo (black belt), and Raja Yoga. He has taken seminar classes with M. Larson, S. Sugano, M. Saotome, H. Shiohira, H. Goto, B. Witt, H. Newens, M. Saotome, Y Yamada, S. Imaizumi, H. Ikeda and many other outstanding masters of Aikido.
Gregory has a Master Degree in the English Language and Literature; he also writes poetry and science fiction.
Monthly Cost: Trial Class Free. $70 Member 