Rich gets promoted to Shodan!

Well, after 9 years of hard work, practice and training, we are please to announce Richard’s promotion to Shodan at the USAF Regional Aikido Seminar hosted by Aikido Center of Atlanta and Peachtree Aikikai. USAF Technical Committee, Andy Demko, 7th Dan, Shihan presided over the test and his remarks were, “Pretty Solid…good conditioning…I thought he was well prepared”

Here are some highlights from the test!

We had 12 Members of our dojo attend the seminar and support Rich, it was a great time! Classes were taught by Yamada Shihan, Demko Shihan, and Elson Sensei, there was a great energy and our students of all levels enjoyed themselves thoroughly on and off the mat. USAF Black Belt testing is a rite of passage that is done at one of a handful major seminars in the country in front of anywhere from 80-400 people, Rich was extremely focused, poised and performed exceptionally well.

Aikido Charlotte
Aikido Charlotte
Rank Testing Bowing Reiho - Advanced - Charlotte NC

Rank Testing Bowing Reiho – Advanced

By Jonathan Weiner | December 25, 2023

Rank Testing Bowing Reiho – Advanced Andy Demko Shihan likes to say, “The little things don’t mean a lot, they mean everything”.  Everyone who has practiced in our dojo or visited has seen that we take Reiho (Etiquette) pretty seriously.  In all that we do, practice.  Bowing.  Addressing each other & more.  I learned a…

Sensei 先生 - Charlotte NC

Sensei

By Jonathan Weiner | November 30, 2023

Sensei 先生 The two characters that make up the term can be directly translated as “born before,” and imply one who teaches based on wisdom gained from age and experience. In general usage, it is used, with proper form, after a person’s name and means “teacher.” In Japan, the word is also used as a…

5 Questions with our Chief Instructor

5 Questions with our Chief Instructor

By Jack Freund | October 31, 2023

5 Questions with our Chief Instructor Jack Freund: Why is attending seminars so valuable? Weiner Sensei: Seminars are valuable because so many things can take place in that style of training. Whether the seminar is one day or an entire weekend, it is an opportunity for all your focus to be on Aikido training. It…