On Saturday, March 10, 2012, Aikido of Petaluma conducted testing for the rank of shodan (new black belt). Three candidates, Nancy Vayhinger, Aldo Quezada, and Mark De Souza successfully tested. We had a lot of support from family, members of visiting dojos and some great participation from the school.
Here is some footage of the event:
Mark De Souza
Aldo Quezada
Sensei Bob Noha, Chief Instructor at Aikido of Petaluma speaks about O Sensei’s notions of the manifest (physical), hidden (dream) and divine (primordial). He discusses how with some simple practices we can integrate and experience these realms in a sword practice called Sho Chiku, Bai.
“Study the teachings of the pine tree, the bamboo and the plum blossom.
The pine (sho) is evergreen, firmly rooted and venerable.
The Bamboo (chiku) is strong, resilient, unbreakable.
The plum blossom (bai) is hardy, fragrant and elegant.”
– Morihei Ueshiba
In this video, Sensei shares some insight on Professor Cheng Man Ch’ing regarding how he evolved his 37 posture short form from the traditional Yang Style Long Form. He also shares his thoughts on his first impressions of the Professor, and how his Aikido and T’ai Chi practice compliment each other.
In addition to Aikido, Bob Noha Sensei has been a T’ai Chi practitioner since the early 70s, and a direct student of Professor Cheng Man Ch’ing.
He teaches the Yang style short form T’ai Chi form as was transmitted to him by Professor Ch’ing on Saturdays from 10:15 to 11:15. Please join us!
One of Sensei’s students up in Klamath Falls, Oregon recently held kyu testing at his school.
Sensei demonstrates kata tori nikkyo omote. Notice at 1:14 Sensei’s mention of how uke can be a bit more comfortable while he is being pinned. This is a technique he learned from Watanabe Shihan.
Sensei demonstrates additional aspects of irimi nage: Alignment with uke and always moving forward, not backing up:
Sensei demonstrates the fundamental aspects of irimi nage:
Here is Bill Misson, our oldest Aikido student and Sensei’s second oldest student (Sensei has a t’ai chi student in his 90s). Bill is shown here doing some jiwa waza with Sasun Torikian.
4th Kyu tests from Reigendo Martial Arts Academy, Klamath Falls, Oregon, October 2010.