Welcome to South Austin Aikido

Matt and Chadwick test for Ikkyu.  Man, what a grueling test.  I have not completely forgotten the total exhaustion experienced from my ikkyu test but watching these two brought back memories.  I was spent just from watching.  The aikido displayed was a true celebration on what we work for every day with very focused and relaxed movement.  A lot of practice was also evident in the techniques and the way each blended with their partners.  Great job to both Chadwick and Matt!!

Special thanks to everyone for supporting this test and to Michael, Shawn, Tommy, David, Hiroaki, and Todd for providing ukeme.  It was also very special to have Shawn, Michael and Josh visit from San Antonio to support the testing as well. 

• Click here for kyu test pictures

Unfortunately we will have only two more classes with Matt prior to his move to Oregon.  Good luck to Matt and Gwen on their new home. You will be missed!

Tuesday 8/24/04 was Tom Giebink's 55th birthday.  Towards the end of the advance class, Tom reminded us that it was his birthday and so birthday rolls were in order.  Normally we perform the birthday rolls during the first class where we get to experience nages with various energy levels, but Tom waited for the advance class where he was guaranteed high energy for all of his rolls.  Tom did an excellent job, performing 160 rolls.  Happy birthday Tom!

Sunday 8/8/04 was Matt Lowes 32nd birthday.  At the end of the first class, Matt performed his birthday rolls, taking ukeme from everyone in the dojo.  When Matt was finished, he had completed 250 birthday rolls!  WOW!  This is a new dojo record, and one that may stand for some time.  Great job and Happy Birthday Matt....

On Saturday, Pamela, Jackie, Todd, Barbara, Tim, Chadwick and I went to San Antonio to visit our friends at Alamo City Aikido.  Jackie, Todd and I jumped into the kids class taught by Joe Rangel.  Jackie was a little hesitant to join in, however, once on the mat she began rolling like a pro. 

The second class was taught by Mike Young, where we worked on randori exercises developed by George Ledyard Sensei.  Mike attended the weapons/randori intensive last January and was kind enough to share what he learned in that seminar.  Thanks for the instruction and new ideas on how to practice randori.  What a fun time. 

Following training we forced ourselves to some Mexican cuisine at a nearby restaurant.  Fortunately for me Todd was driving, because I had some heavy eyelids on the trip home.

Click here for the pictures

On Sunday, Jeanne and Chad tested for Fifth Kyu.  Both of these aikidoka train on a very regular schedule, which was evident in both tests.  The tests were exemplary and show a lot of progress.  Leslie Sensei threw out many additional techniques, which were all handled with ease by both Chad and Jeanne.  Way to go Jeanne and Chad!! 

 Thanks to all of you who provided ukeme for the test as well as those who came to support this test effort.

Its hard to summarize what an overwhelming experience summer camp was for me this year.  I found it hard to leave. In fact I was holding back tears by the end of the last class.  Being surrounded by so many committed aikidoka who came and shared just incredible energy and ideas with me was, without a doubt, a moving experience.