SMAA Aikido, Judo, and Iaido Seminar!

2010 SMAA UTAH SEMINAR

We’re happy to announce the first SMAA event of 2010. An extraordinary SMAA seminar in Utah will take place on April 2, 3, and 4, 2010. Special discounts will be available for SMAA members, who are up to date on their annual dues.

The seminar host is Max Roach Sensei, an SMAA certified teacher of iaido and aikido. Roach Sensei hosted the first SMAA Seminar & Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah back in 2005, and it was an outstanding success.

The featured instructors will be Cyndy Hayashi Sensei and Nicklaus Suino Sensei. Cyndy Hayashi Sensei, an SMAA member, will teach Aikikai aikido. Hayashi Sensei, sixth dan and an instructor at Aikido West in California, began training at Aikido of San Francisco in 1977. She trained there under Frank Doran Sensei, Robert Nadeau Sensei, and Bill Witt Sensei. She then traveled to Japan to practice with the legendary Saito Morihiro Sensei. After returning to the USA, she trained and taught at the Aikido Institute of Oakland and at Aikido West in Redwood City. She later became a dedicated student of Frank Doran Sensei. She has taught seminars in the U.S., Israel, and France.

Nicklaus Suino Sensei will be teaching Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu iaido, which he learned from the late Yamaguchi Katsuo Sensei, tenth dan, and classical Kodokan judo, which he learned from Sato Shizuya Sensei (ninth dan) and the late Walter Todd Sensei (eighth dan). Suino Sensei studied budo extensively in Japan for several years. He has received Shihan teaching certification and a seventh dan from the SMAA Iaido Division, and he holds the rank of Shihan/sixth dan in judo. He is also the SMAA General Manager and the Co-director of our iaido division. Moreover, Suino Sensei is the author of several popular books on budo and iaido.

For more information about lodging, transportation, class times, SMAA member discounts, and fees, contact Roach Sensei. Here’s all you need to start making plans to attend the SMAA Utah Seminar, which is partly sponsored by the Aiki Atlas Foundation:

When:

April 2, 3, 4

Where:

Yama Oroshi Dojo

115 North State St.

Mt. Pleasant, UT 84647

USA

Who:

Nicklaus Suino Sensei (Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu iaido and Kodokan judo)

Cyndy Hayashi Sensei (California Aikido Association)

Contact Information:

Max Roach Sensei

roach.max@gmail.com

801-577-0029

We’re looking forward to seeing many new faces, and old faces as well, in beautiful Mt. Pleasant, Utah. Attendance is limited and may sell out; so be sure to contact Mr. Roach soon to reserve a place. Don’t miss your chance to study with two of the top teachers of traditional Japanese martial arts living outside of Japan.

SMAA KAN GEIKO!

What:
Kan Geiko means “Winter Practice,” and it’s a long-established exercise in traditional Japanese budo. Often involving periods of extended and intensive training during the coldest time of the year, it’s designed to challenge, strengthen, and purify both mind and body. The SMAA Kan Geiko will offer high-level instruction in Kodokan judo, Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu iaido, and Sato Ryu Nihon jujutsu. You can experience all three arts or choose to focus on just one.

When:
Sato Ryu Nihon jujutsu training will be offered on December 16, 17, and 18. Practice will take place from 6:00 to 9:00 PM each day.

Kodokan judo training will be offered on December 21, 22, and 23. Practice will take place from 6:00 to 9:00 PM each day.

Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu iaido training will be offered on December 28, 29, and 30. Practice will take place from 6:00 to 9:00 PM each day.

Where:
The Japanese Martial Arts Center (JMAC) in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Who:
Nicklaus Suino Sensei will be the featured instructor for all three martial arts. Suino Sensei is a well-known budo author, the leader of JMAC, and the General Manger of the SMAA. He holds the following SMAA ranks: seventh dan iaido, sixth dan judo, and fourth dan jujutsu. He received extensive training in these three martial arts while living in Japan for several years.

How Much:
SMAA members will receive special discounted rates for this event. The SMAA member cost is $60 per subject. You can choose to practice all three arts, two arts, or just one art.

Registration:
You can get more information about the SMAA Kan Geiko by contacting Suino Sensei at (734) 645-6441 or via the SMAA website.

November SMAA California Seminar (6)

These are the final images from the SMAA California Seminar. It was one of the last events in the SMAA 15th Anniversary Seminar Series, a special series of seminars offered across the USA and Europe to commemorate the 15th birthday of the SMAA. It was very successful, and everyone that participated had a great time, while they learned more about traditional Japanese budo.

November SMAA California Seminar (5)

Kevin Heard Sensei, SMAA Senior Advisor, was presented with several awards at the SMAA California Seminar. First, he received a plaque and piece of Japanese calligraphy in honor of his 25 years of studying Saigo Ryu aiki-jujutsu and related weapons arts under H. E. Davey. Mr. Davey is the author of Brush Meditation and The Japanese Way of the Artist, and the brush writing he gave to Heard Sensei can be seen above. It is the character mu, "nothingness," painted in abstract sosho script on handmade Japanese paper. (You can click on any of the images in this blog to get a bigger picture.)

Second, Heard Sensei, SMAA Jujutsu Division fifth dan, received a special plaque from the SMAA honoring him for his many contributions to our association. Mr. Heard is the past webmaster for our home page, the former assistant editor of the SMAA Journal, a leader in our jujutsu division, a past instructor at various SMAA seminars, and he continues to help with the production of certificates and various administrative tasks within our group.

Kyle Kurpinski Sensei, SMAA Jujutsu Division third dan, was presented with a SMAA Jujutsu Shidoin teaching license. Kurpinski Sensei is a past contributor to the SMAA Journal.

November SMAA California Seminar (4)

H. E. Davey taught a Saigo Ryu technique called Katate Tori Aiki Nage. As students became more proficient in the technique, he showed how the size of the movement could be reduced to result in a more difficult, but much faster, throw. At an advanced level, aiki nage requires only minimal movement to knock an opponent to the ground. It is a sophisticated technique that allows the neutralization of an attack without the use of great strength and without producing severe injury to the attacker.

Want to learn more about traditional Japanese jujutsu as depicted above? Visit www.smaa-hq.com. The SMAA has a number of prominent teachers of authentic Japanese jujutsu in the SMAA Jujutsu Division, including Stephen Fabian Sensei (Hontai Yoshin Ryu), Kevin Heard Sensei (Saigo Ryu), Nicklaus Suino Sensei (Sato Ryu), Mr. Wayne Muromoto (Takeuchi Ryu), and others.

November SMAA California Seminar (3)

More images of the second SMAA California Seminar. Besides the chief instructor for the seminar, H. E. Davey, the following SMAA Senior Advisors were in attendance:

* Kevin Heard Sensei
* Ohsaki Jun Sensei
* Ann Kameoka Sensei

November SMAA California Seminar (2)

The photos above are from the second SMAA event held in California in 2009. Both SMAA California Seminars were part of the successful SMAA 15th Anniversary Seminar Series. The November seminar was held in conjunction with the 28th anniversary of H. E. Davey's Sennin Foundation Center for Japanese Cultural Arts in Albany.

In addition to the meditation instruction pictured above, students studied a Saigo Ryu technique called Katate Tori Aiki Nage. In aiki nage, the opponent's mind is lead in such a way that they lose their balance and fall. If done properly, this can be accomplished without the use of pain or leverage. Timing and momentum, however, are needed.