Our History

Chishin Dojo was formed in June 2007 and Hiroshi Ikeda sensei, 7th Dan Shihan of Boulder Aikikai kindly gave us our name. Ikeda sensei translated this as 'know one's self, one's heart; to (get to) know another persons' heart - to connect heart-to-heart.' Our teachers have over 45 years experience between them and have all either came through the ranks with, or trained with, a sadly missed local teacher - our common Aikido bond came from Tom Moss (6th Dan) who passed away in 2003. At the time Tom was still alive his club still had an inviting friendly atmosphere where everyone was welcomed with open arms and the training was always spirited. Things must move on and progress in Aikido and so ultimately I found myself in a position whereby I was being drawn in a direction and left with no option but to start my own Aikido Dojo in order to try and maintain the atmosphere we all felt when we first joined but which changed once Tom died.

       

Our Style

The style of Aikido we teach would be classed as traditional with emphasis on the flowing movements and balance breaking of certain Aikido teachers, our main influences in the Dojo are Hiroshi Ikeda sensei, Christian Tissier sensei, Osamu Obata sensei and Tom Moss sensei.

       

What is Aikido?

Aikido is a Japanese martial art developed by Morihei Ueshiba as a synthesis of his martial studies, philosophy, and religious beliefs. Aikido can be translated as meaning "the way of unifying (with) life energy" or as "the way of harmonious spirit." Ueshiba's goal was to create an art that practitioners could use to defend themselves while also protecting their attacker from injury. Aikido is performed by blending with the motion of the attacker and redirecting the force of the attack rather than opposing it head-on. The aikidoka (aikido practitioner) leads the attacker's momentum using entering and turning movements. The techniques are completed with various throws or joint locks. Aikido is a Japanese Budo and comes under the general umbrella of Jujutsu.

Aikido derives mainly from the martial art of Daito-ryu Aiki-jujutsu, but began to diverge from it in the late 1920s, partly due to Ueshiba's involvement with the Omoto-Kyo religion. Many of Ueshiba's senior students have different approaches to aikido, depending on when they studied with him. Today aikido is found all over the world in a number of styles, with broad ranges of interpretation and emphasis. However, they all share techniques learned from Ueshiba and most have concern for the well-being of the attacker.

       

Training

In aikido, as in virtually all Japanese martial arts, there are both physical and mental aspects of training. The physical training in aikido is diverse, covering general physical fitness and conditioning, as well as specific techniques. Because a substantial portion of any aikido curriculum consists of throws, the first thing most students learn is how to safely fall or roll. The specific techniques for attack include both strikes and grabs; the techniques for defence consist of throws and pins.

Roles of Uke and Nage

Aikido training is based primarily on two partners practicing pre-arranged forms (kata) rather than freestyle practice. The basic pattern is for the receiver of the technique (uke) to initiate an attack against the thrower (nage), who neutralises this attack with an aikido technique. Both halves of the technique, that of uke and that of nage, are considered essential to aikido training. Both are studying aikido principles of blending and adaptation. Nage learns to blend with and control attacking force, while uke learns to become calm and flexible in the disadvantageous, off-balance positions in which nage places them. This "receiving" of the technique is called ukemi.

Ukemi refers to the art of receiving a technique. Good ukemi involves blending or breakfalls that are used to avoid pain or injury, such as joint dislocations or atemi (strikes) - although Aikido is not an aggressive art it is necessary to sometimes lead the mind of your partner or potential aggressor - a well placed strike at the right time may well help this.

       

Fitness

Physical training goals pursued in conjunction with aikido include controlled relaxation, flexibility, and endurance, with less emphasis on strength training. In aikido pushing or extending movements are much more common than pulling or contracting movements. In aikido specific muscles or muscle groups are not isolated and worked to improve tone, mass, and power. Aikido related training emphasises the use of coordinated whole body movement and balance similar to yoga or pilates. Most classes start with warm-up exercises including stretching and break falls or rolling.

Etiquette

Most of our etiquette is fairly relaxed, if you're unsure of something then please ask or follow the other students.

* When entering or leaving the dojo, it is proper etiquette to bow in the direction of 
  O-Sensei's picture. You should also bow when entering or leaving the mat.

* If you arrive late for a class then simply sit on the edge of the mat until the 
  instructor is aware you're there.

* If you need to leave the lesson for any reason then please let the instructor know.

* Remove watches, rings and other jewellery before practice as they may catch your 
  partner's hair, skin, or clothing and cause injury to yourself or your partner.

* Please keep your fingernails (and especially your toenails) clean and cut short.

* Keep your training uniform clean, pressed, in good condition and free from offensive 
  odours.

* Please keep talking during class to a minimum. What conversation there is should be 
  restricted to Aikido. It is impolite to talk whilst the instructor is addressing the 
  class.

* It is usually considered polite to sit in seiza (knelt down) and to bow upon receiving 
  assistance or correction from the instructor.
  
* Whoever is teaching is referred to as sensei but only whilst they are teaching, if 
  you're asked to show a technique then you become sensei for the duration of your 
  technique. Off the mat, everyone is on first name terms, it's only if you are speaking to
  a Japanese teacher off the mat that you should still use the term sensei when addressing 
  them.