Updates & Blog

Enjoying Practice!

Practice in our new space at Shaolin Studios is going well. We’re having fun–serious fun! It is fun to see yourself making progress over time: staying more centered as you execute technique and also amid life’s trials; improving posture, balance and flexibility; learning to fall safely and comfortably; redirecting negative attitudes to more positive ones, finding opportunities in what seem to present as misfortunes.

We had to cancel one class, on April 29, 2025 for a power outage from the straight-line windstorm that devastated many places in SW Pennsylvania, including the neighborhood of Regent Square, where the dojo is located. It is possible to practice Aikido without electricity, but the storm brought chaos, making it hard to even get to the dojo. We were lucky that power returned to the dojo less than two days later. One of our members didn’t get power back for 6 days! The storm took only 5 minutes to pass through and cause such trouble. There are many aspects to self defense. Having a stable dwelling with power is something many take for granted.

After I got the word that there was no power at the dojo, I walked around my neighborhood to survey the damage. Many trees down, some roads blocked, some parked cars crushed, power out as far as I could walk. I forgot that I was wearing my gi pants and a t-shirt that said "Aikido Kokikai" on it. Some large man stopped me, with a friendly challenge, "Hey. You do Aikido. Wanna fight?" I smiled, said "no!" decisively, and then we had a reasonable, friendly conversation. 

May 13, 2025

New Location for the New Year (2024)!

After more than a quarter century at the Wilkins School Community Center (WSCC), it's time to change things up! As of January 1, 2024, we have moved nearby, to the storefront dojo that is Shaolin Studios, at 1115 S. Braddock Avenue, a few doors south of Hutchinson Street. We are grateful to Shaolin Studios for allowing us to use their space, which includes plenty of permanent mat space. I will post photos from the new space soon. Our first practice there is January 2, 2024, at 8 pm.

Here we are, cleaning the mats before moving out. I am deeply grateful to the WSCC for hosting us for the past 26 years. I won't miss setting up and putting away the mats each class! And I won't miss the glitter that recently stuck on our mats (in small concentrations), remaining on the floor long after whatever event brought it into the room, defying our purification attempts! But I will miss the community spirit of the place. It was a privilege to use this non-profit space, and I wish them well with their new programming directions. We're not moving far. I expect you'll still be able to find me helping out at the annual WSCC Book Sale.

December 31, 2023

Masking is Now Optional

In keeping with the low level of spread of Covid-19 in Allegheny County, as of April 1, 2023, masking is optional. To be protective of those with compromised immune systems, being up-to-date on your Covid-19 vaccinations is strongly recommended.

May 23, 2023

We Are Open!

We are fully open for in-person practice. To be protective of those with compromised immune systems, Covid vaccination and masking are still required, and we practice with the windows open.

March 22, 2022

Reopening for In-Person Practice!

Our reopening of in-person indoor practice took place despite a major band of thunderstorms. Luckily, we could still have a few windows open and the wind provided cooling and ventilation. It sure felt great to throw and be thrown again! For now, masks and vaccinations are required and you need to reserve your spot, that is, no walk-ins.

August 13, 2021

Positive Mind during Covid:  on Adapting Aikido Practice

One of our four basic principles is "Develop your positive mind." The pandemic has brought misery, hardship and stress for many. It has also brought countless opportunities to develop our positive minds. Rather than focus on the serious impacts on our physical practice and our dojo finances (which compared with loss of life and livelihood seem like minor problems), those who teach Aikido and those who continue to practice in pandemic time have been given an opportunity to adapt creatively, to try new things, to support each other in new ways, and to keep on learning together.

Our home, the Wilkins School Community Center, closed indefinitely in mid-March due to Covid social distancing protocols. Of course we grieve the fact that we can't meet in person and throw each other. Some of us joyfully meet on Zoom to practice together, alone. Instructors are experimenting and learning how to teach virtual classes. It's an opportunity to focus on the basics, which in Aikido are deep: calmness, focus, breathing, posture, balance, movement, ki exercises, new ways to do your own ki test, ukemi practice, weapons fundamentals and kata. We also do what you might call "air Aikido." Zoom classes are not accessible for everyone, but they can be good for many. People who retired from Aikido due to moving away from their dojos or because of a physical condition preventing full participation are finding virtual practice enables them to reconnect with their practice and with our community. A different format can appeal to a brand new student.

If you have a laptop or tablet with a webcam and a screen big enough to see from a distance, a decent internet connection, and even a small space in which to move, virtual class can work for you. I've been able to study with some senior instructors for the first time, thanks to the pandemic. I've been able to guest instruct in other dojos. And there have been four 1-day Zoom seminars since the lockdowns began in the spring, 

Since Allegheny County was designated “green” (a misnomer, since green implies “go ahead, everything’s fine, which it wasn’t!) in June 2020, we’ve been able to have outdoor, socially distanced weapons class once a week in a local public space. In the summer we were in various locations around Schenley Plaza, and since the students returned to Pitt we’ve been in Schenley Park. We spend most of the hour on bokken and jo kata, and no-touch distanced partner exercises. For the last 10 minutes we practice jo tori and jo waza, all but the actual throw at the end of the technique. Just this little bit of touch mediated by a wooden staff allows us to remember what Aikido technique is all about and keep up this practice until we can resume normal practice, someday. 

A Zoom class aimed at absolute beginners (one-on-one or small group) could be a good way for someone new to Aikido to receive a basic introduction to warm-ups, ki exercises, breathing, how to fall safely at home--everything but actual partner work. It could be a great way to start to gain the benefits of practicing Aikido, as well as good stress relief. If you are interested in such an experience, please contact me!

December 17, 2020