Dan's Study of Aikido

Last Updated: ~~2002-07-17~~ 2004-03-06

[Table added 2004-03-06]
Test	Date	Location	Instructor
Fifth Kyu gokyuu	1996-12-01	Tokyo, Japan Aikido Shindo Dojo	Moriteru Uesshiba
Fourth Kyu yonkyuu	1999-10-17	New York, NY New York Aikikai	Yoshimitsu Yamada
Third Kyu sankyuu	2000-05-14	New York, NY New York Aikikai	Yoshimitsu Yamada
Second Kyu nikyuu	2002-02-23	Seattle, WA Puget Sound Aikikai	Yoko Okamoto
First Kyu ikkyuu	2003-06-21	Seattle, WA Puget Sound Aikikai	Malory Graham
Black Belt 1st Degree shodan	2004-01-24	San Francisco, CA San Francisco Aikikai	Yoshimitsu Yamada

I started studying Aikido in 1996, in Tokyo. I'd been meaning to do so for many years, but never managed to make time -- to give it high enough priority. Luckily, while living and working just outside of Tokyo, I found a small Aikikai-style dojo, Shindo Aikido Dojo (Google map TBD), where I could pour my heart into it. I went to Hombu Dojo twice -- not yet even a 5th Kyu -- in the company of my primary sensei from Shindo Dojo, Lisa Tomoleoni. It was daunting, but well worth it!

I earned my 5th Kyu ("gokyuu") on 1996-Dec-01; I had the extreme honor and pleasure of having the current Doshu, Ueshiba Moriteru (the grandson of founder, O Sensei Ueshiba Morihei) be present at my test. In essence, it was he who adjudicated.

From early 1999 through November 2000, I studied six days a week at New York Aikikai, ultimately under Shihan Yamada Yoshimitsu. It was fantastic! My last test there was for 3rd Kyuu, which I earned 14 May 2000.

On Saturday, 23 February 2002, I passed my 2nd Kyu ("nikyuu") Test. I study at the most excellent Puget Sound Aikikai, a small, community-run dojo affiliated with Aikikai (on the grand scale), and locally, with Portland Aikikai.

Actually, I am now on its Board of Directors, and teach roughly half of the Children's Class (on Saturdays) -- I'm also the webmaster. I am deeply satisfied and grateful to be serving my community in this volunteer capacity.

[2003-03-06]
On Saturday, 2003-06-21, I passed my 1st Kyu ("ikkyu") exam. I did sufficiently well that I was directed to test for my black belt ("shodan" aka 1st degree) as soon as possible (rather than practicing the customary 400 days). Most excellent -- and quite the honor!

Finally -- in the sense of having striven with great effort and discipline -- I have left the foothills, and now am at the base of the mountain itself: I passed my Shodan exam in San Francisco on Saturday, January 24, 2004, pretty much exactly seven months after my 1st Kyu (and about five months after my first child, my daughter, Miriam, was born!). I am so happy, humbled, and excited to have made it. And what's more, it was during a combined Yamada and Shibata seminar, so Yamada Yoshimitsu, Shihan and head of the USAF, presided. Truly a great privilege!

So now I can really start studying (^_^)

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