New York Aikido Center - Aikido Training

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This is the cost of the war in Iraq

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Are there better things America could have done with that money?

Message from Shaun Ravens - Chief Instructor, September, 2007
Please check out our updated NYAC pictures page.

The end of Summer, 2006 is at hand. The past eight months have been filled with many interesting challenges for everyone in our Dojo. We unfortunately had to say goodbye to one of our students, Yasuhiko "Ash" Ogawa, as he was summoned back to Japan by his company to embark on the next stage of his employment. He has finally been able to settle in and has begun practicing Aikido with a well known 8th Dan from the Aiki-Kai. We wish him all of the best and hope to have the chance to train together again someday. Then there was the steep climb up the lonely hill which may be better known as the training for the brown belt test. What was expected was nothing short of training to go beyond one's own perceived limitations at every level, coupled with gaining an intimate understanding that one is responsible for their own training first and foremost, and that a teacher is only there to offer the occasional gentle hand of guidance to be used to direct the sincere student back to the path should they stray.

As instructor, I found it difficult at times to sit back and let each of the students at this level feel around in the dark as they sought out their own motivations for training under the most difficult of circumstances - an impending Black Sunday Kyuu test laying out there on some unknown weekend. With a few weeks notice, the test finally came to pass with the much-welcome assistance of senior student Mr. Sung Chong along with the added stress provided by Thai Sam who was visiting from his own dojo in California. It was truly an old-school test. No one was spared the opportunity to come back from a place from which they each thought they would truly perish.

In the end, despite one minor physical injury, I chose to promote Vinny Aponte, Gerson Agostini, Hank Glover and Mark Lugris to Nikyu. In obtaining their brown belt, my wish is that these students take with them the lessons of the past three years into the next aspect of our journey together - finding out what it really means to be Uke. The growth of each of these students over the past few months since the test is testament to their willingness to let go of what they have discovered not to work and an ability to seek out something new with which to create a new foundation upon which to build a greater understanding of Aikido and the integration of one's training back into one's own life.

Happy New Year to all! 2005 was a banner year for us at NY Aikido Center. It was a year marked by significant moments such as our group's venture to Aiki-Expo out in California back in May, gathering up an even dozen (thanks to Fred Little & Ron Tisdale) to attend the Abe Seiseki Sensei seminar out in Iowa, back in September and our group's very successful production of the 2nd Annual NYAC Fall Seminar featuring our teacher, Haruo Matsuoka Sensei which culminated with the promotion of four mudansha (Vinny Aponte, Gerson Agostini, Hank Glover & Mark Lugris) to the rank of San-Kyu and Sung Chong testing for, passing and being granted the rank of Shodan - a first for any student of NY Aikido Center. In terms of the training, it was a year of great challenges and seemingly insurmountable obstacles that the students met with grace, passion and sincerity. The results from where I sit have been great personal growth for each and every student. I am truly honored to serve as Dojo-Cho to such a group.

It is now 2006. Welcome to the new year. This year will see a dramatic increase in the level of training as we head towards the Ni-Kyu testing later in the year. We also have been granted the opportunity to go to Japan for our very own gasshuku at Abe Sensei's dojo in Osaka. I hope that each one of you who can take the time to go will choose to make this once in a lifetime trip a reality. I am sure that you will find that both you and your Aikido will never be the same. As the year opens, there is the opportunity for a few new members to join our ranks. Beginning with Kagami Baraki in January we will open enrollment for one month to potential students who would like to go through our quarter-year probation and interview process in hopes of becoming a permanent part of our group. This is the time to invite those individuals that have expressed an interest in training with us or those whom you feel would benefit from what we do at NY Aikido Center. In the mean time...let's all dust off our dogi, tighten our obi, and get back on the tatami - ganbattemasu!

NYAC is honored, once again to host the 2nd annual Fall Seminar with Haruo Matsuoka Sensei, December 10th, 2005. This rare opportunity comes just in time for the holidays and is the perfect gift for the serious student of Aikido.

I am happy to announce the addition of our Monday basics class. Training will be from 8:00 to 9:00 PM every Monday, commencing on June 27th. This class is for new students and will focus on the basic elements of aikido such as stance, posture, basic attacks and ukemi, of course. This class will also serve as a good way for intermediate and advanced students to review and work on their own basics as well as give them an opportunity to assist in introducing aikido to the next generation of NYAC students. We look forward to seeing you there!

NYAC would also like to let you know that beginning on Wednesday, June 27th and beginning on Monday July 11th, we will host weekly Yoga classes from 6:00 to 7:15 PM. No previous yoga training is needed, and you do not have to be a NYAC member to join in, so everyone is welcome to come and try Yoga.

Since we became a private training group back in 2004, we have been making steady progress. So far, 2005 has been a year focused on the transition from simple or basic, static techniques to an introduction of both more intermediate aikido concepts and more advanced levels of ukemi. Of course, we always keep an eye on our basics like hanmi posture, kokyu, menuchi and irimi-tenkan. Since the students have all moved ahead and the quality maintained, I decided to make some minor changes to our policy of accepting new students, with a goal of allowing sincere students, whether or not they are experienced in aikido or even martial arts at all to have an opportunity to apply for entry in and to train with our small but sincerely dedicated group.

However, it is important to state that as a group our goals have not changed. We still seek O-Sensei's Aikido through the interpretation of both Haruo Matsuoka Sensei and Seiseki Abe Sensei. As Dojo-Cho (chief instructor), my personal commitment is to create an environment where I can give something more than just techniques to each and every person who trains at NY Aikido Center. One of my extended goals is to enable each person to contribute something back to the group, beyond just attending classes, thereby raising the group as a whole. In my opinion, this provides for a constantly enriching environment that is based upon the contributions of each and every person, both student and teacher, alike.

I want to graciously thank Matsuoka Sensei's for his visit at the end of October, 2004. Inviting Matsuoka Sensei to NY for a private seminar with my group had been one of my personal goals for years. It served to solidify my stated goal of creating a heartfelt connection for each student back to Matsuoka Sensei and the other students of his Aikido Doshinokai group. The patience and encouragement he shared with us has kept us going in the months since his visit. We are excited at the prospect of having him back each and every year to share his wonderful spirit and boundless enthusiasm for the path of Aikido the we each seek to follow.

In an effort to greater realize our goals as martial artists, my group and I have chosen to alter the nature and level of our training. To better facilitate this new direction, we have moved from a public dojo model to a more formal, private study group. Our public Dojo in Lindenhurst has been closed in favor of our new private training facility. New students are welcome, but are only accepted via personal invitation of either the Chief Instructor or one of our current members. In either case, formal letters of recommendation from your current martial arts instructors are required. NYAC training sessions are not open for public participation or viewing. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions regarding our policy or process.

For those outside of our study group, there is the alternative of scheduling private, 60 or 90 minute one-on-one training sessions. Please note: before scheduling any training sessions, there a short interview at which time the specific needs as determined by the person interested in this type of training are discussed, along with the cost associated with this level of training.