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GULFSIDE AIKIDO CENTER
Sensei Robert Holt
Location: WE HAVE MOVED!!!!
Buccaneer Plaza
6700 49th Street North
Pinellas Park, Florida
Please call (727) 866-8621 for more information
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Class Schedule
Wednesday 6:45pm to 8:15pm
Saturday 9:45am to 11:15am
Adults and Children 6 years and older are invited to join.
Gulfside Aikido Center is a member of the United States Aikido Federation, Eastern Region
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Dojo Fees
$70/month for unlimited classes weekly
$40/month for one class per week
$15 mat fee
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The Art of Aikido
A History of Aikido
Morihei Ueshiba, now called O-Sensei ("Great Teacher"), founded the martial art known today as Aikido. Born in 1883 in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan, he dedicated himself to becoming strong after seeing his father assaulted. He sought out and studied under masters in many traditional martial arts, eventually becoming expert at a number of styles. Dissatisfied with mere strength and technical mastery, he also immersed himself in religious and philosophical studies.
O-Sensei later wrote: "Budo (the Martial Way) is not felling the opponent by our force; nor is it a tool to lead the world into destruction with arms. True Budo is to accept the spirit of the universe, keep the peace of the world, correctly produce, protect, and cultivate all things in nature."
O-Sensei continued to practice and teach Aikido into his old age. Observers would marvel at his martial abilities, vitality, and good humor; he was still giving public demonstrations of Aikido at age 86, four months before his death.
What is Aikido?
The name Aikido is composed of three Japanese words: ai, meaning harmony; ki, spirit or energy; and do, the path, the system, or the way. Aikido is the way of the spirit of harmony.
Martial arts are studied for self-defense and self-improvement, but Aikido is different from other martial arts in that the practitioner seeks to achieve self-defense without injury to attackers.
The basic movements of Aikido are circular in nature; most attacks are linear. The Aikidoist harmonizes with, rather than confronts, an aggressive line and converts it into a circular motion that renders attackers helpless.
Then, instead of using potentially crippling kicks or punches, the Aikidoist betters his or her self without belittling others, and because Aikido seeks not to cause harm, techniques can be practiced at full power without fear of injury.
Aikido is the newest of the traditional Asian martial arts, holds the most modern outlook, and is proud of its high ideals.
The Practice of Aikido
Why study Aikido? Aikido offers practical self-defense, but more importantly, it teaches self-improvement. Aikido is more than the study of physical techniques: proper etiquette, attitude, and behavior are also emphasized. Throwing and falling are stressed equally--your partner is not an opponent, but an assistant: you acquire the technique by being thrown, and practice the technique by throwing. Aikido improves not only your physical conditioning--stamina, balance, flexibility, coordination, strength and resilience, but your mental conditioning as well: self-confidence, concentration, alertness and concern for others.
Also, Aikido has an ethic: to defend yourself without vengeance, to forgive your enemies, and to harmonize with any attack of any description. Aikido technique is a metaphor for a way to lead your life: avoid confrontations, harmonize with unavoidable ones, and maintain grace under pressure through good times and bad.
Because Aikido does not depend on physical strength, it is especially attractive to women, children, and older people; meanwhile, the young, healthy and strong can continue to practice and improve well into old age.
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Contact us at AikidoBob1@aol.com
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Recommended Links
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Site last updated Jan 10, 2006
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