We’re planning on re-opening the Dojo for in-person Aikido practice on Monday April 26th 2021. We’re finally seeing what appears to be a light at the end of the tunnel with respect to the COVID-19 pandemic. This has certainly been a challenging year for everyone. We’ve mostly been supporting online classes for the last 8-10 months, and it has been difficult. In retrospect, I don’t regret shutting down in person classes over the longer term. Unfortunately, we’ve probably lost a few prospective new students, but I genuinely feel like the extended shutdown was both necessary and representative of the most responsible course of action we could take.
All of our students remain healthy. All of our teachers remain healthy and able to continue practicing. I can’t think, off hand, of a single CAA Division 1 member that came down with COVID. Some dojos had to either shut down entirely, or locate a new space, but as far as I’m aware, we all live to “fight another day”. All of our students are either vaccinated or have appointments to be vaccinated. We’re both grateful that almost everyone we know has managed to avoid getting sick.
We Ain’t Been Slack Cap’n Walker…
There have been some really great aspects of training throughout the pandemic. Liz and I (and our students) have had a wonderful opportunity to focus on direct training with Patricia Hendricks Shihan. In addition to attending class during the week with Hendricks Sensei, we’ve been regularly attending monthly weapons intensives. We’ve also had multiple instructional opportunities with Mark Larson Shihan. It’s safe to say, though, that we’re eager to return to in-person Aikido practice.
Our students have been focused on weapons training for the last 10-12 months. The forced focus on weapons training has made a difference in everyone’s Aikido. We’ve also been working hard on formalizing our curriculum. We’re ready to start regular classes back up with both structured Beginner and Intermediate Aikido courses. The Beginner and Intermediate curriculum will carry students to 3rd Kyu. We’ve also been working on organizing our Advanced curriculum, representing the path to Yudansha ranks. We will complete development of our Advanced curriculum in the June/July timeframe. Our curriculum design includes increased emphasis on functional ukemi, in addition to teaching effective atemi (striking) in the context of Aikido. We’ll also be teaching “extensions” to cover organizing and dealing with non-traditional attacks and improving our “ground work”. Jiyu-waza and randori training will be more frequent. We’ll continue holding laboratory classes at least once a month using a longer mini-seminar format.
Opening Back up for Regular Practice
We’re re-opening the dojo for in-person Aikido practice on April 26th. Students will be required to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination before they will be allowed to actively practice. We will simulcast online classes until mid-May. Until local COVID-19 statistics fall below the orange “CONCERN” level, we will continue to require masks. New students please review our “Starting Aikido” page and our Class Schedule.
- Until further notice, a mask will be required during practice.
- The changing areas will remain closed.
- Use of personal weapons will continue to be required. Personal weapons can be stored at the dojo between classes.
- Body temperature will continue to be recorded prior to practice. Anyone with a body temperature greater than 100.4F will not be allowed to practice.
- As always… If you’re not feeling well, or exhibiting symptoms of illness, please self-isolate.
Domo Arigato Gozaimasu!
We’d like to take a moment to thank our teachers for their support over the last 12 months. Special thanks go out to Patricia Hendricks Sensei, Yvonne Thelwell Sensei, and Mark Larson Sensei. All three have worked hard to keep both their dojos and the organizations they lead moving forward over the last 12 months. Their efforts, along with the efforts of many others, have been inspirational to all of us as we struggle to keep moving forward. We look forward to seeing all of you in person in 2021!
I’d also like to thank our students for their support over the last 12 months. To the folks that weren’t able to continue with us. Please understand that you are absolutely welcome back. Everyone has faced some difficult challenges over the last year. We completely understand, and hope to see everyone return to the mat in 2021.
