Six Week Aikido Intro Fall 2022 for women

Koshinage
Koshinage
Standing pin
Standing pin
Atsuko Sensei
Kokyuho exercise
Iriminage
Atsuko Sensei performs iriminage
Come and try the amazing martial art of Aikido! In these women-only nine hours of introduction, you will learn how to move your body in a way that emphasises self-defence by blending with an attacker’s motion, resolving aggression in a way that creates harmony. Aikido, the “Art of Peace,” is non-competitive and welcomes all who are interested.Aikido has roots in the ancient Daito Ryu Jujutsu methods of the samurai, but the founder, Morihei Ueshiba, provided a mindset and method for dealing with everyday conflicts. In this course, you will learn the fundamental principles and techniques in this fascinating defensive system of throws, joint locks and pressure-point manipulations. As well, the course will introduce you to the concept of ukemi, the skill of receiving the technique and blending with the motion, including ways of falling and rolling to avoid injury.

Our Beginners’ Course for women takes place on a separate mat and is overseen by our own 2nd degree black belt, Atsuko Boyd.

Atsuko Enomoto Boyd started her aikido training in 1998, and, after taking a break to raise children, received her black belt in 2015 and nidan (second degree) in 2017. For her, aikido is a way to stay connected to her Japanese roots. One of her favourite aikido memories is when a large group from Calgary Aikikai traveled to Japan in 2018 for Igarashi Sensei’s 35th Anniversary celebration. She enjoys woodcut printmaking and crochet in between regular aikido training and her career as an interior designer. Atsuko is also one of Calgary Aikikai’s children’s instructors and looks forward to sharing her enthusiasm for everything aikido has to offer.

Calgary Aikikai is the longest-running Aikido club in Calgary, established in 1980, by the late Y. Inaba Shihan (6th degree black belt).

    • 6 Mondays, 7 to 8:30pm
    • Nov. 7 – Dec. 12
    • 16 years of age and older
    • $75 Fee
    • Limited to 16 students
    • 2nd degree black belt teacher

In this course you will learn:

  • dojo etiquette, greetings and bows
  • essential body movement (tai sabaki) and footwork
  • various aikido techniques, including joint locks, immobilizations and throws
  • ukemi: the art of falling and receiving the technique
  • weapons training using the staff (jo), wooden sword (bokken), and wooden knife (tanto)
  • defence against various strikes and grips, including against multiple attackers
Aikido Glossary for Beginners Some useful terms, as used at Calgary Aikikai (* denotes important-to-know)
*When bowing to a person at start: Onegaishimasu (on a GUY sheh MAS) “Thank you for teaching me.”
*When bowing to a person at end: Domo Arigato Gozaimashita (DOmo ari GA toe go ZAI mas) “Thank you very much.”
When arriving at the dojo in the morning: Ohayogozaimasu “Good morning”
When arriving at the the dojo in the daytime: Konichiwa “Good day”
When arriving at the dojo in the evening: Kumbanwa “Good evening”
When leaving in the daytime: Sayonara “Good-bye”
When leaving after dark: Oyasuminasai “Good night”
Ki Universal energy/ life force/ spirit/ intention
Aiki The concept of being in harmony with Ki
*Aikido The Way of Aiki
Aikikai Aikido organization
*O Sensei Founder of Aikido, Morihei Ueshiba
*Sensei Teacher
*Dojo School
Hombu Home dojo of the Aikikai Foundation, located in Tokyo, Japan
Kamiza Head place at the dojo (with photo of founder)
Awase Blending movement
Ma-ai Harmonious distance between partners
Tai Sabaki Footwork and body movement, literally: “Body management”
Ukemi Receiving the technique, falling
Zanshin Remaining spirit, focus at the finish of a technique
*Nage The person applying the technique, the “defender”
*Uke The person receiving the technique, the “attacker”

Register today