Aikido of Monterey

Survey: GETTING BACK ON THE MAT

https://aikidojournal.com//a-world-prayer-from-the-aikido/ AIKIDO JOURNAL article just posted: "A World Prayer from the Aikido Community" A contributed article authored by Patricia Hendricks, Danielle Smith, Michael Friedl, and Michael Smith.

Tickets to the 3 day online convention are $6 and you can attend any or all session as you choose. If you can't afford one, I have a limited number of FREE passes. Just email me.

Just posted: "Spotlight On..." Kisshomaru Ueshiba, Nidai Doshu http://www.ai-ki-do.org/spotlight-on/

https://aikidojournal.com//a-world-prayer-from-the-aikido/ AIKIDO JOURNAL article just posted: "A World Prayer from the Aikido Community" A contributed article authored by Patricia Hendricks, Danielle Smith, Michael Friedl, and Michael Smith.

Just posted: "Spotlight On..." Michele Simone, Aikido Central Coast, San Luis Obispo, California, Division 2 http://www.ai-ki-do.org/spotlight-on/

Danielle Smith sensei receiving her certificate awarding her the title of SHIHAN.

Congratulations! to Danielle Smith, 7th Dan, on her receiving the title of "SHIHAN", as announced by Moriteru Ueshiba, Doshu, at this year's Kagami Biraki ceremony.

37th Annual Mt. Baldy Retreat - Memorial Day Weekend - with instructors: Frank McGouirk, 7th Dan, Shihan Cyndy Hayashi, 7th Dan, Shihan Danielle Smith, 7th Dan Michael Smith, 6th Dan... Teja Bell, 6th Dan See more

Michael Smith Sensei taught yesterday’s Saturday morning class. Sensei’s Danielle and Michael Smith are visiting Monterey for a few days.

Congratulations to Helma Mair on her promotion to 5th dan - announced at the recent Kagami Biraki ceremony by Moriteru Ueshiba, Doshu. Helma trained at AOM for several years and earned her shodan as a member of our dojo.

Congratulations to Nancy Krogseng-Adams, Aikibojitsu of Monterey, on her recent promotion to 2nd degree black belt!

Just posted: "Spotlight On..." MORIHEI UESHIBA, O Sensei, Aikido Founder http://www.ai-ki-do.org/spotlight-on/

Erik Haag Sensei taking (typical) awesome ukemi.

Just posted: "Spotlight On..." Kisshomaru Ueshiba, Nidai Doshu http://www.ai-ki-do.org/spotlight-on/

Michael Smith Sensei at Macolin, Switzerland

Danielle Smith Sensei in Macolin, Switzerland

Olivia after morning misogi practice at Natural Bridges, and with Summer Retreat Senseis Mary Heiny, Linda Holiday, Danielle Smith, and Kimberly Richardson

Here is the poster for this summer's training retreat. It will be at Burnt Ranch this year. Look forward to seeing you all there!

Aikido of Monterey at the Obon Festival

All One Family... AOM members helping prepare teriyaki beef for the Obon Festival at the Monterey Buddhist Temple. Come join us on Sunday, noon to 5pm. The youth and adults will give a demonstration of Aikido at 1pm

In addition to all the good food, youth and adult members of the Dojo will participate in a demonstration of Aikido from 1-1:30pm.

Thank you Central Coast Kids And Families (next door to the former dojo location)! CCKF let us use their space to finish out the school year for the Big Sur Charter School Aiki Mites class. Domo arigato!

Registrations to the Aikido of Santa Cruz Summer Retreat are still open and tomorrow is the last day to request financial aid. Featured below, are two of our guest instructors this year! Come join us. Find out more at: http://www.aikidosantacruz.org/Sretreat/Retreat_Main.html

More photos from this wonderful seminar

Internationales Aikido Seminar in Magglingen Centre Kumano Jürg Steiner Sensei - 6th Dan mit Danielle Smith Sensei, USA - 7th Dan Jean-Pierre Kunzi Sensei, Gen...eva - 5th Dan Rein Ausmees Sensei, Estonia - 5th Dan We had a fantastic weekend with wonderful teachers and good vibesWe thank you all from the heart See more

Day 3: Michael Smith Sensei: Juerg Steiner Sensei requested that Michael Smith Sensei teach a short class on the final day of this wonderful seminar.

Day 3: Rein Ausmees Sensei

Day 3: Jean-Pierre Kunzi Sensei

Day 3: Danielle Smith Sensei

Danielle Smith Sensei

Jean-Pierre Kunzi Sensei

Rein Ausmees Sensei

Juerg Steiner Sensei

Danielle Smith Sensei is guest instructor this year at this annual seminar host by Juerg Steiner Sensei. Also teaching will be Rein Ausmees Sensei from Tallinn, Estonia and Jean-Pierre Kenzie Sensei from Geneva.

Danielle Smith Sensei and Michael Smith Sensei are co-instructors along with Frank Mc Gouirk Sensei, Cyndy Hayashi Sensei, and Teja Bell Sensei. Join us for a very special and unique weekend of training and experiencing.

Sunday morning (7am!) instructors at Aiki Horizons: Yvonne Thelwell Sensei and Michael Smith Sensei.

Saturday afternoon instructors at Aiki Horizons: Louis Jumonville Sensei and Michael Friedl Shihan.

Saturday morning instructors at Aiki Horizons: Pat Hendricks Shihan and Dennis Evans Sensei.

Saturday morning at Aiki Horizons

Friday night: Danielle Smith Sensei and James Friedman Sensei

Wonderful first night of seminar!

Mats are down! Aiki Horizons Seminar at the Monterey Buddhist Temple. www.onepointcenter.com/horizons.

9th Annual Aiki Horizons next weekend in Monterey! Information and registration: http://www.onepointcenter.com/horizons/

Aiki Horizons is a collaboration of Aikido friends who, collectively, have trained for over 300 years. These teachers, all of whom train and teach extensively,... have come together to share unique perspectives, reflecting a colorful and exciting mosaic of training -all inspired and informed by the teachings of O Sensei. They bring their talent, experience, and knowledge from all directions, to play off each other, and to broaden our vision of the ever-expanding, inspiring horizon of Aikido. Come join us at Aikido of Monterey and in the parks around the beautiful Monterey Peninsula for this special weekend. Information and registration: http://www.onepointcenter.com/horizons/ See more

Today we had our first classes in our new, temporary home at the Monterey Peninsula Buddhist Temple. The kami blessed the occasion with a double rainbow over the temple!

1251 10th Street is no longer a Dojo. For the past 26 years it has been a place of the Way for the Aikido of Monterey community. Today we held our final class here, which included a 1st degree black belt test, followed by the removal of the mats and the remaining elements of the training space, and closed the door for the final time. In the first 19 years of Aikido of Monterey we trained in seven places. 1251 10th Street was the eighth and the longest. More deep training... in the mysteries of the Art of Peace. More children touched, grown, and bringing their own children to train. My own grandchildren calling me Grandma Sensei. More black belts, more people on the mat for long and short introductions to the wondrous path. Whether for months or decades, the ripples go out; the world is touched; we are touched. I am deeply grateful to have been the leader of this community during our stay at 1251. I wish to acknowledge the hard work by our community, while continuing to train, in helping to make such a large move in such a short period of time. We are grateful to the Monterey Peninsula Buddhist Temple for inviting us to train within their beautiful halls while we find our next place of love, light, and growth. Goodbye 1251 10th St. - Danielle Smith Sensei Setting a new course Journeying together with love Leave art in our wake - Michael Smith Sensei

Monterey County Weekly interview with Danielle Smith, Sensei

More photos from yesterday’s Celebration! Seminar. Thanks, Christina

Celebration seminar

Danielle Smith Sensei at Aikido of Berkeley.

Danielle Smith sensei, with students from Aikido of Monterey,at Aikido West on Saturday February 24th

Danielle Smith, Sensei, receives her nanadan (7th degree black belt) certificate from her teacher Frank Doran, 8th Dan, Shihan and Michael Friedl, 7th Dan , Shihan, CAA Division 1 Head, as awarded by Moriteru Ueshiba, Aikido Doshu.

The flyer is here!

Danielle Smith sensei will be co-teaching at the International Aikido Seminar in Switzerland in May.

From Danielle Smith, Sensei: I am deeply honored to be awarded the rank of 7th Dan. My heart is filled with feelings of gratitude to all the people that have been part of my 45 years of training. My gratitude begins with O Sensei, whose written teachings first inspired me with visions of a brighter future, and who taught those who eventually became my teachers. To my first sensei, the late Stan Pranin: thank you for bringing excitement to the possibilities of Aikido. To Frank... Doran, Sensei, 8th Dan: thank you for the more than 35 years as a your student. Your guidance has profoundly influenced my training as a student and as a teacher, and I am honored to have had your recommendation for this level. To Michael Friedl, Sensei, 7th Dan: as a friend and as a leader in our Aikido community, thank you for supporting me in realizing my own leadership. To Anno Sensei: thank you for inspiring me with your example and your dedication to O Sensei's teachings. To my dear friends, Pat Hendricks, Sensei, 7th Dan and Linda Holiday, Sensei, 6th Dan: thank you for illuminating the path and for accompanying me on this journey. I treasure your friendship and your sisterhood. To my husband, Michael Smith, Sensei, 6th Dan: thank you for your love and support for the many ways we bring the heart of Aikido into our own relationship and our community. Thank you to senseis Dennis Evans, Mary Heiny, Frank McGouirk, Cyndy Hayashi, Bob Nadeau, Hiroshi Ikeda and to the many Aikido friends, students, and teachers who have stayed with this mission to make the world a better place by training in OSensei's art. Finally I want to thank Moriteru Ueshiba, Doshu, for promoting me and expressing the hope that I will "... further devote myself to day-to-day guidance and practice of Aikido and contribute to the bright future of Aikido around the world." See more

Today, as part of the Kagami-biraki ceremony at Hombu Dojo, Moriteru Ueshiba, Doshu, announced the promotion of Danielle Smith to the rank of 7th Dan. Congratulations, Sensei!

Mitch Johnson Sensei is featured in this month's "Spotlight On..." article on the CAA website. http://www.ai-ki-do.org/spotlight-on/

Love, light, and abundant peace now and throughout the coming year. Happy Holidays from Aikido of Monterey