Free Shotokan Karate Seminar – March 9, from 11:30am to 1:00pm

On March 9th, from 11:30am to 1:00pm we will be hosting a free seminar. The workshop will share the basics of Shotokan Style Karate. It will include practice of both basics and kata. Roger Hamilton is a master teacher of Shotokan with decades of experience in several martial arts, a tournmanet champion and promoter. He is also the author of an autobiography called Never Quit.

The web site address is http://www.hamiltonkarate.com/.

His school, Hamilton Martial Arts Academy is located at 1441 E. Leland Rd. Pittsburgh, CA

Please come join us!

Sensei Robert Noha promoted to 6th dan

Aikido of Petaluma is very happy to announce the promotion of Sensei Robert Noha to 6th (roku) dan.  Sensei Noha was promoted based on the recommendation of Robert Frager Shihan (7th dan) and the late Hiroshi Kato Shihan (8th dan).

This promotion reflects 47 years of involvement in the art of Aikido.  Sensei received his 5th dan in the year 2000 awarded by Robert Nadeau Shihan.  In addition to Aikido, Sensei teaches the yang style short form T’ai Chi and has a background in Judo, Kenpo Karate, Pa Kua Chang, Hsing-I and western boxing.

You can read more about Sensei Noha on our web page here:

Our Sensei

Please join us in our congratulations of Sensei Noha!

Pictures posted of our Grand Reopening

We had a very successful celebration today of Aikido of Petaluma’s Grand Reopening in our new facilities. Sensei gave an introduction in the energy class, discussing how this is a practice derived from work that Robert Nadeau Shihan has developed.

In T’ai Chi, he gave a very thorough explanation of the Yang style short form, including some of the origins of the art and how Professer Cheng Man Ch’ing evolved it into the short form that we practice and went over some of the basic movements.

Finally, in Aikido we had several returning students and an Aikido practitioner new to our school. Since there was no one new to Aikido, we conducted a regular class and then broke early to watch movies of O Sensei, outlining how his practice changed and evolved from the early 1940s, to the 50s and finally the late 60s shortly before he passed.

We’ve posted pictures here: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.204348766279635.47420.187887877925724

Seminar with Bob Nadeau Shihan in Sebastopol 4/30/2011

Kuma Kai dojo in Sebastopol, CA will be hosting a seminar with Bob Nadeau Shihan on Sunday, April 30, 2011 from 10:30 to 4:30.  Admission is $70.00

From the Kuma Kai Website:
Nadeau Sensei studied directly with O’Sensei. This is a great opportunity to study with a master teacher who has studied with the master himself!

For more information, please go to the Kuma Kai Website or contact Denise Barry at 707-829-9550

Beginners / Alumni day – Saturday, September 18th 2010

We will be having a Beginners/Alumni day at Aikido of Petaluma on Saturday, September 18th.  Bob Noha Sensei (5th Degree black belt) will host 3 different sessions:

To those that have ever trained with us, we would like to see you.  We are extending this invite to our Alumni who have been involved with us throughout the years.  We are looking forward to seeing you here!  Come back and say hello to Sensei and the school.

Beginners are always welcome at the dojo but this day is specifically designed for new comers to the art.  Please wear comfortable clothing and feel free to come to any or all of our sessions.

9:30 – 10:15 – Energy Processing class.  This is based on the work of Bob Nadeau, a direct student of Aikido founder Morehei Ueshiba.

10:15 – 11:15 – Yang Style T’ai Chi.  We study the Yang style 37 posture short form as was taught by Professor Cheng Man-Ching.  Professor Cheng derived the short form out of the 108 posture long form.  His purpose was to derive the essentials of T’ai Chi so that everyone could benefit from the art.  We will be showing some videos near the end of this session of Professor Cheng.

11:30 – 1:00 – Aikido.  Sensei Noha will demonstrate his unique style of teaching as it applies to Aikido.  He offers a unique blend of both practical application as well as mind, body and spirit integration.  He does this so that we train ourselves for conflict resolution as well as spiritual, physical and emotional growth in our lives.  In addition to some hands on work, we will also be showing some videos of the founder of Aikido, Morehei Ueshiba.