Welcome to South Austin Aikido

Last Weekend Todd Kammerer and I went to Fremont, CA to visit Sunny Skys Sensei and the rest of our friends at Aiki Zenshin Dojo.  They were hosting their 10th annual Spring Seminar with Tres Hofmeister Sensei.  Though the weather was a little hot for this time of year in California, it was similar to the heat in Texas, so we felt right at home.

Tres Sensei worked on how to create a feeling of uke depending on nage for support without nage pulling.  The focus was also on uke’s roll of providing the energy and connection by continuing the attack throughout the exercise.  We spent a large amount of time working through the techniques and principles in both suwari waza and taichi waza.

We experimented with creating the feeling by having nage grab uke and move uke into position by lowering the center and slightly shifting forward from underneath.  This made it even more challenging not to use muscle to move your partner.

The Aiki Zenshin Dojo in Fremont is simply beautiful and the training surface is one of the best anywhere.  We trained hard and then had to find some food to maintain our seminar training process of “eat, train, eat!”

It was wonderful to hang out with Sunny Sensei, Tres Sensei and the many aikidoka that attended this awesome Seminar from around the Bay Area.  Thank you Sunny Sensei for making us feel so welcome in Fremont and congratulations on the 10th Annual Spring Seminar with Tres Hofmeister Sensei.  It was a huge success!

On Sunday we helped to celebrate Stephen Hughes’ 16th birthday by each rolling him around the mat.  Stephen rolled a total of 110 times and although he looked tired, I bet he had a few more in him.  We can never seem to wear him out during class.  In addition, Stephen was named section leader of the saxophones at Dripping Springs High School.  Congratulations Stephen and Happy Birthday!

Jay Sensei and I just returned from an incredible weekend with our friends at Aiki Zenshin Dojo in Fremont, CA.  Sunny Skys Sensei hosted his 10th Annual Spring Seminar with Tres Hofmeister Sensei of Boulder Aikikai.  It was truly an awesome weekend!

More information about this wonderful seminar will be available very soon...

Michael Young of Alamo City Aikido has started producing hand made fukuro shinai.  They are well made and have an excellent feel to them. Two of our members have the new Shinsei Products shinai, if you would like to see and feel this new shinai.

Contact Michael Young for more information at This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

Link:  Shinsei Products

Mark your calendars!  Our friends at Alamo City Aikido will be hosting a seminar May 18th - 20th with Kevin Choate Sensei of Chicago Aikikai.  This will be Choate Sensei’s second annual visit to Central Texas and one that aikidoka of levels will definitely enjoy!

See Alamo City Aikido’s website for more information.

Choate Sensei Seminar Flyer

The pictures from Craig Slack Sensei's visit on April 1st are now posted on our website.  Just check picture section of our website.  Enjoy.