Aikido Kokikai of Rochester

Aikido Kokikai is a way to develop greater inner peace, unify your mind and body, help you to be more calm and relaxed, realize your full potential, and enjoy life to the fullest. It just happens to be disguised as a martial art. Even in the age of Covid, Aikido continues to offer us a path, even if it looks different than we are used to. Email us at [email protected] to find out how to take your first steps on a new path. #aikido #kokikai #calm #martialarts #newyears #re...solutions #selfdefense Photo by Kaique Rocha from Pexels

Happy New Year! - The Evil Bunny

I am seeing some potential issues with our Google Group email list. If you are (normally) on our mailing list and did not receive 2 emails today (12/17/20) including 1 with "Test Email" in the title, please pop me an email at [email protected]. Thanks, -b

As of 12/15/20 we are resuming in-person, socially distanced classes at the dojo. Class starts at 7pm Tuesdays and Thursdays (yes, 7pm, not 6pm). The Governor cited the extremely low incidences of transmission in the Gyms category in support of the decision to allow the resumption of classes at 25% occupancy. We are allowed up to 9 students, please reserve your spot here: http://www.aikidorochester.com/p/class-reservation.html

All, The writing has been on the wall the past week so it is not a huge surprise that moments ago NYS designated Rochester, Brighton, and Irondequoit as Orange Zones. This designation forces closures of many non-essential businesses, including the gyms category which we fall into. If we are lucky, this will only last a week or so. For now, there is definitely no class this week. Marcella and I will monitor the designation and make determinations about classes on a week by... week basis. We will leave the class reservation open for classes until they are determined to be impacted by a continuing Orange or worse designation. In the meantime, if the Orange zone continues into next week, I will make at least next Tuesday’s class online through Google Meet. Until then, try to have a Happy Thanksgiving. Wash your hands and heck behind your ears, too. Wear your masks and just be aware.

We are happy to announce our return to in-dojo classes as of October 2020. These classes will continue to maintain social distancing limitations until such time as NYS Guidance changes. We have plenty of ventilation given our 2 walls of 20' tall windows. For the time being, we will hold classes on Tuesday nights from 7pm-8pm and Thursday evenings from 6pm-7pm. Class is currently limited to 12 people to maintain a 6' radius around your one-point, so please email [email protected] if you plan to attend so we can make sure we have space. After October, we will evaluate adding additional class offerings.

Rolling for a good cause!

Our portable kamiza has found a new home in our entrance way. If conditions continue we may also offer some outdoor classes when Spring/Summer return. #aikido #aikidoroc #aikidokokikai #kokikai #selfdefense

Ukemi practice during our first class back inside the dojo Friday night. All went smoothly and there was plenty of room to maintain the new maai. Ukemi is easily practiced without a partner. We are forunately far more likely to suffer a fall in the oft winter wonderland we call Rochester than to be attacked. Falling correctly and safely is a critical life skill. We went on to practice shomen uchi kokyu nage. How do you do that without touching? You go back to the root m...ovements from sword practice. We did a mini kata, it has three steps, an offer, a parry based on shomen uchi ki exercise, and a counter shomen cut. The kata is practiced alone, but it helps to demonstrate with a partner for context. Luckily maai with sword (bokken) is naturally socially distant. We are also happy to welcome several new members to our family that have joined us over the past few weeks in our outdoor classes in local parks. They finally got to see to beautiful space we have been missing. #aikido #aikidoroc #aikidokokikai #kokikai #selfdefense

Tonight's (9/2) outdoor class is moved to Friday (9/4) due to rain.

Perfect timing tonight. We wrapped up class and were loading the mats when the first drops of rain started to fall! The portable mats are working out well We practiced jo waza nikyo, sankyo, and a kokyu nage. Next week we will begin starting at 6:30 to beat the diminishing daylight.... #aikido #aikidoroc #aikidokokikai #kokikai #selfdefense

Our portable mats have arrived and they are pretty nice to roll on. So, next Wednesday we will be able to add in rolling (ukemi) to our outdoor classes! Come on out and give them spin (roll)!

OK, this the Onion, but chuckles aside it does strike a chord. Sensei has often talked about what we imagine in our minds as being a distraction. We can both see ourselves as far better, and far worse than evidence would suggest. Actual practice is the only way to test our learning. We do find ourselves in an odd state of affairs with our present inability to practice in our normal way. So we must cultivate alternate ways to both develop and test that development. Our r...ecent turn to classes in the parks have provided an opportunity to just that. We must learn to use weapons practice to a much higher degree than we have in the past to supplement our social distancing induced technique drought. If you have ever been intimidated by the idea of joining a martial art, now is the time. We are all a good bit more of a student than we were just a few months ago so come out and join us as we explore and build on the foundations of movement, balance, awareness and focus in the beautiful settings of our county park system. Email us at [email protected] or message us through FB for more information. Learn more about us on our web page at www.aikidorochester.com #aikido #martialart #martial #kokikai #rochesterny #selfdefense https://youtu.be/fe3na9umxDA

Our second outdoor class was well attended despite it being a rain date. We are happy to welcome another new student, Dan for last night's practice. We continued our study of jo and its influence on open hand techniques and ability to help with ki exercises like tenkan and unbendable arm. Contact us at [email protected] to join in the fun and learning.