Schedule of Classes
Monday
- 12pm-1pm: All levels (Dojo opens 11:30 am)
- 6pm-7pm: Open practice (Dojo opens at 5:45pm)
- 7pm-8pm: Beginner/Basics
- 8:15pm-9:15pm: Intermediate (Empty-Hands/Weapons)
Tuesday
- 6pm-7pm: Open Practice
- 7pm-8pm: Intermediate (Empty-Hands/Weapons)
- 8:15pm-9:15pm: Open Practice/Private Lessons
Wednesday
- 12pm-1pm: All levels (Dojo opens 11:30 am)
- 6pm-7pm: Open practice (Dojo opens at 5:45pm)
- 7pm-8pm: Beginner/Basics
- 8:15pm-9:15pm: Black Belt
Thursday
- 6pm-7pm: Open Practice
- 7pm-8pm: Intermediate (Empty-Hands/Weapons)
- 8:15pm-9:15pm: Open Practice/Private Lessons
Friday
- 12pm-1pm: All levels (Dojo opens 11:30 am)
- 7pm-9pm: Open practice (Dojo opens at 6:45pm)
Saturday
- 8am-8:45am: Zen Meditation (Dojo opens at 7:45am)
- 9am-10am: Beginner/Basics
- 10:15am-11:15am: Intermediate (Empty-Hands / Weapons)
- 11:15am-12pm: Open Practice
Every other Sunday
- 10am-11:30 am: Women's Workshop (Dojo opens at 9:45am)
Download the schedule. (PDF, 41 KB)
Class descriptions
- Beginners/Basics: Specifically for new students. Focus on fundamentals and basics. One or two techniques taught with more time spent on each. Ranked students welcomed and encouraged to attend.
- All levels: Open to both ranked and non-ranked students. No prerequisites. All students practice together.
- Intermediate: For ranked students. Non-ranked students must have 25 classes and instructor permission to attend. More advanced empty-hand and weapon techniques taught. The full calendar lists whether an intermediate class will cover weapons or empty-hand technique that day.
- Black Belt Class: For students 1st Degree Black Belt and above. 1st Kyu students preparing for Black Belt examination may attend with instructor's permission.
- Zen mediation: No prerequisites. Open to all students. See below for more details.
Zen meditation
Seated Zen meditation, called "Zazen", is offered Saturday morning 8am-9am. The style of Zazen practiced is called "Soto Zen". A typical Zazen session starts with 10 minutes of seated meditation, followed by 5 to 8 minutes of walking meditation, then another 10 minutes of seated meditation. The session finishes with a brief discussion, or "Dharma Talk", on various subjects related to Zen, aikido, and Japanese culture. For more information on Soto Zen, please visit the official Soto Zen website.
The aikido Dharma group is affiliated with Mt. Equity Zendo under the direction of Reverend Dai-En Bennage. For more information on Rev. Bennage and Mt. Equity Zendo, please visit the Zendo website.
In keeping with Zen tradition, there is no required fee and the sitting group is open to the public--anyone is welcome to attend. It is customary, however, for students to express their gratitude by offering a donation. Typical donations range between $10 and $20 dollars. Also in keeping with the spirit of Zen, any proceeds from the sitting group will be applied as follows:
- Additional meditation cushions or other materials (such as, eventually, a larger bell and gong, a drum, books for shared readings, and chant books);
- To bring in outside guest speakers from time to time; and,
- Occasional modest offerings to the Mt. Equity Zendo to which our Dharma group affiliates.
Okinawa Aikikai U.S. Dojos
2639
Connecticut Ave, NW, Suite C-104,
Washington, D.C. 20008
Telephone: 202.338.8690
Email: mveltri@dcaikido.com
A direct affiliate of the Aikikai Foundation,
Aikido World Headquarters, Tokyo, Japan.
©
2007 Okinawa Aikikai, U.S. Dojos. All rights reserved.