Blue Heron Aikido

Middlebury, Vermont


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Upcoming Events

Syposium Group 2

From the home page of Mary Heiny Sensei’s website: “The techniques of Aikido are intended for us to use in examining the nature of power, to engage in uncompromising self-scrutiny, and to realize our potential as powerful, compassionate, self-aware human beings.”

Welcome to the web site of Blue Heron Aikido. We are a young dojo located in Middlebury, Vermont—the center of beautiful Champlain Valley. We are a non-affiliated dojo but we are closely tied to Two Cranes Aikido in Seattle Washington due to the fact that our Sensei, Jonathan Miller-Lane studied with Kimberly Richardson Sensei, sixth dan, for eight years before moving to Middlebury. Kimberly Sensei is a student of Mary Heiny Sensei and has also studied for several decades under Saotome Sensei, Ikeda Sensei and Tom Read Sensei. Motomichi Anno Sensei, Chief Instructor of Kumano Juku dojo in Shingu Japan also continues to shape Kimberly Sensei’s practice. Hence, at Blue Heron Aikido we attempt to honor the practice and spirit of these extraordinary Aikido Shihan in our daily practice. The above photograph was taken at the end of our all-day seminar on Saturday April 21, 2007 with Kimberly Richardson Sensei and includes the following dojo-cho; Pierre Bohemiere from Yamabikodo dojo in Montreal, Don Hebert from River Valley Aikido in Brattleboro and Aaron Ward from Vermont Aikido in Burlington. Dan McAbee Sensei also from Two Cranes Aikido in Seattle is standing in the back row next to Don Hebert Sensei. We are deeply grateful for their support.


04
Feb

Special Bokken Class with Aaron Sensei March 11 & Spring Seminar

Dear all,

Please mark your calendars for the events below:

Thursday March 11, Aaron Sensei will be coming from Burlington to lead a special bokken class from 6-7:30pm.  Please try and be there.  A $10 donation would be welcomed.

In the weeks leading up to Aaron Sensei’s class, we will be practicing with bokken.  If you are able, feel free to order your own  wooden sword.  A good website is Aikidobokken.com or for beautiful versions bujindesign.com.  Bujin has lovely versions for $100 or aikidobokken.com has some reasonable options for under $40.  You want to get a hardwood bokken if you can. The red ones with “veneer” tend to shatter in practice… White oak or hickory are much better.  We have several in the dojo for folks to use.  If anyone has extra, please feel free to bring them to class beginning on Monday February 22 when we will start adding bokken exercises to the beginning of class.

Wednesday March 31, 12noon-1pm. Linda White and I will be leading a discussion entitled: “Takin’ It Like A Man: Troubling Gender in a Japanese Martial Art.”  Middllebury College Campus, Chellis House, behind Old Chapel.  Linda will be talking about her experience training in Japan with a male sensei and I will talk about learning from an American woman sensei in the US. All are welcome. BYO.

Thursday, April 1, 7:30pm at Mr. John Filan’s house.  If you are able, I would like to gather us all together after training to talk about the upcoming seminar with Kimberly and Dan Sensei the weekend of April 9-11.  John has kindly opened his house.  In the post training analysis tradition, it is BYO for food and beverages.

FYI and per previous email: The focus and schedule for the April 9-11 weekend is

Women in The Martial Arts: How Gender Matters.
The experience of women martial arts teachers and their students provides a unique framework in which to examine the complex challenges of cracking gender stereotypes. In particular, women instructors have had to negotiate the rich tension between being stewards of an ancient, albeit male dominated, practice while simultaneously challenging attitudes that have served to limit both women’s and men’s opportunities to understand the deep teachings of these arts. This two-day event will consist of a series of presentations, demonstrations, open classes and facilitated discussions regarding the unique experience of women martial arts instructors and their students.

This event is co-sponsored by the Education Studies Program, Japanese Department, Program in Women and Gender Studies and the Middlebury College Aikido Club.

SCHEDULE

Friday April 9

12noon-1pm: Roundtable discussion about Aikido, Culture & Gender: Yuki Yoshida, Holly Weir and Greg Selover. Middlebury College Campus. Exact location TBA.

4:30-5:45pm: Kimberly Sensei demo and discussion: “Willows bend, but they do not break: On being a female chief instructor.”

6-7:45pm: Open training class led by Kimberly Sensei. All welcome.

Saturday April 10

10:30-12:30: Open Class led by Kimberly Sensei. All welcome. Discussion of Aikido Principles and Philosophy

2:30-5:00pm: Class led by Kimberly Sensei, Shodan Demonstration.  Dojo members only.

6pmish onward Potluck at Sarah and Adam’s house.

Sunday April 11

Morning: Sleep. R&R.

Afternoon: 2-5pm. Aikibojitsu with Dan Macabee Sense. Blue Heron members only. Middlebury Municipal Gymnasium.

COSTS: Full weekend: $100.  Friday only: $25.  Saturday only: $75.  Sunday only: $50.

Thank you all. See you on the mat.

Jonathan Sensei.

18
Jan

April Seminar Reminder & Need for Housing

Dear all,

Remember, please reserve the weekend of April 9, 10 & 11 for our Kimberly and Dan Senseis seminar. Training will be Friday evening, Saturday morning and afternoon and aikibojitsu Sunday afternoon.  Fee for the weekend seminar is $100.00. Shodan demo on Saturday afternoon during the 2:30-5pm session. There will be college events related to this weekend. Details TBA.

ALSO: There are two marvelous sandans coming from Two Cranes Aikido in Seattle: Sara Snell (F) and Kris Allot (F). They are coming to VT for the weekend seminar.  They are in need of housing.  If anyone has two bedrooms so they could be together (not a couple, just friends) that would be marvelous. If not, one extra bedroom would be most welcome.

If anyone is willing to host the evening gathering on Saturday 4/10/10 that too would be a fine thing.

Thank you all, see you on the mat,

Jonathan

03
Jan

2010 Aikido classes starting

Dear all,

Happy New Year!  Classes restart Monday, January 4 on our regular M, T & Th schedule.  The new winter series begins on Monday, January 11 which means there is a week to get the rust off before we welcome some new folks.  Dues are due.  If and when you get a chance, please do register with the Parks and Rec office.  Many thanks.

Jonathan

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