Welcome to South Austin Aikido

Ella Mayfair Chennault was born on February 18th at 11:50PM.  Check out their website for pictures (link below).

Kevin Choate Sensei is Chief Instructor at Chicago Aikikai. Choate Sensei began studying Aikido in Chicago in 1976 with Shigeru Suzuki Sensei, a student of Mitsugi Saotome Sensei.  When Suzuki Sensei returned to Japan in 1980, Choate Sensei took over responsibility for Chicago Aikikai. Choate Sensei continued to train under Saotome Sensei and Hiroshi Ikeda Sensei. Choate Sensei has accompanied Saotome Sensei to Japan and Europe. 

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Tres Hofmeister Sensei's third annual seminar at our dojo was a great success!  The energy in the dojo was amazing; training was fast paced and fun. Many aikidoka were gladly pushed to their limits.  Tres Hofmeister Sensei often shares new and interesting ways of relaxing to better connect with uke that can be challenging for all practitioners.  We were not to be let down.  This year we focused on releasing the tension that often builds in our shoulders when we try to force a technique.

The Saturday evening potluck was fantastic and the food was delicious.  There was great conversation and it is safe to say a good time was had by all.  Those under the weather were greatly missed.  Thank you to the Kammerer family for hosting the potluck. 

Special thanks to Tres Hofmeister Sensei, Ron, Ian, and Jack all from Boulder, our friends from San Antonio, Craig, Silvia, Michael, Shawn, Jurgen and Neal, and to Francisco for traveling all the way from Mission, Texas to attend.  A big special thanks to Jurgen for recording the seminar and creating DVD's.  We cannot wait to see the DVD.  Last but not least, thank you to all the members of Hill Country Aikido for helping make the seminar a great success!

Click here to see the seminar pictures

Over the weekend of January 29-30th a group from Austin traveled to San Antonio for a seminar hosted by Alamo City Aikido.  The group consisted of  Kaye, Chad, Pamela, Tommy, Todd, Brian, Brenda, Hiroaiki, and myself.  We were treated to a blast with our friends from San Antonio!

The seminar was incredibly insightful with Trimmer Sensei explaining many ideas in terms of understanding and technique rather than as magic.  While we all got a little tired, it was a very rewarding experience.  The weekend was truly exhilarating and we would like to thank Mike and Shawn for putting most of us up in their home.

Click here to see the seminar pictures

Chad tested for yonkyu on Sunday.  WOW!! What a test.  Leslie Sensei threw him as many curves as she could think of but couldn't shake him.  Chad had a good sense of what the techniques were and performed them very well indeed.  Yokomenuchi jujinage, No Problem.  Not bad for a 4th kyu test.  Way to go Chad!!

Thanks to Brian, Todd, Hiroaiki, Hiro, Christopher, and Mark for providing ukemi during the test.  Thanks to everyone who stayed to support Chad's test.