Welcome to our website. The Shudokan School of Aikido has it's history and beginnings in my own Aikido career which began in Corpus Christi, Texas. I started Aikido in August of 1995 at the Corpus Christi Aikikai. It was there in a small but closely knit dojo that I learned the art of Aikido from a very dedicated group of Aikidoists that I still remember with great fondness. The names of Jerry and Gail Thompson, Matt Crocker, Mike Rains, Gilbert Fuentes, Laura Stuckey, and Hector Chavez will forever be implanted in my mind. They were my sempais, my friends, and my role models. I learned the art from them. My teachers were Eddie Martinez and Larry Salazar. Eddie was a forever positive and encouraging teacher. Instinctive, fast and fun are words I think of when I think of Eddie Sensei. Larry Sensei was dramatic, explosive and powerful. These two men had the respect of the students and had a real and significant impact for Aikido in that city. Of course, there were hundreds of other students, maybe thousands that were a part of the dojo over a ten year period. Rick Ricard, Charlie Marks, Joel Molina and so many others that I cannot tell. They were there and the atmosphere was magical.
My family moved to Houston in June of 1998 and we initially joined a dojo called Tumbleweed here in Houston. I still remember that on my first visit, I saw a handsome young man wearing a brown belt and a hakama moving from person to person throwing them and being thrown. His name was Rick Laue. Again, he was a wonderful and confident human being that was a role model to me. His co teacher was Tom Oreck of the Oreck company who was also a good and dedicated Aikidoist. The dojo soon closed and I joined the Nations Aikikai in November of 1998. I was there briefly when I noticed an announcement for a seminar that was being held in town with a shihan from Japan named Hiroshi Kato. When I witnessed his Aikido, I realized I was looking at a different kind of Aikido. I knew then that I had found my new path.
That new path changed my life. On that path, I learned endurance, perseverance, and how to suffer in my Aikido training. I was taught a different way of looking at Aikido and how to make Aikido really work. I learned how to be patient and how to be who I was quietly and so many other things that there is not room to tell.
In December of 2003, I left being a student and I ventured out on my own. I did so because I needed to grow and I had my own ideas about how to do and be the lessons of Aikido. I started the Shudokan School of Aikido in January of 2004 at the YMCA and we begin strongly with 52 new students. There was a fire in the air and an excitement and things started up with a flare. We saw so many students go through there and we had huge classes and loads of fun and learning experiences. I started a second group at Highway 6 a year later and we soon had almost 70 students. We started holding large seminars and we got some what of a presence in West Houston as things progressed.
In 2008, we made the decision to combine the two groups. After doing so, we then made a move to Katy, Texas to a location on Fry Road but we were not there long before I began to feel that this location was not going to work for us. It was then that I came across a location on a heavily traveled street called Kieth Harrow. It was a crazy idea. I had no money, no resources, no way to do this but I decided to try. A few students quickly promised support. They were Russell Thomas and his wife Jennifer. Jorge Verar, an aiki kid parent and real estate agent also promised to advise us and soon, others also joined the advisory team. I told the rest of the members about it and they began forwarding advance dues and donations and between all of us, we were able to finance the build out of the new dojo and a new day came to the Shudokan School of Aikido.
That's our story. We are an old dojo and a new one. The old Corpus Christi Aikikai continued in the new Shudokan School of Aikido. We are an established presence in this area of west Houston and in a sense, we are still starting anew. I am now looking for people that want to seriously practice Aikido and make it a way of life. We now have the times, the place and the way to do it. It's a new day!
Would you consider joining us and becoming a part of this Aikido history? We need you and the energy and life you can bring to us as we train together and learn and grow in Aikido. Call me and let's talk. This is a life changing and incredible experience if you will give yourself to it. Do it today! Many new ones are joining us and we are experiencing incredible growth! Now is the time to join and learn with others who are also beginning. If you are an experienced Aikidoist, we also have higher ranking people who can provide you all the advanced training that you can handle! Come and join us today!
Shudokan Aikido Association Master Instructor - Hiroshi Kato, 8th Degree Black Belt
Born in Tokyo 1935, Kato-sensei began Aikido training in 1954 at Aikido World Headquarters under the instruction of the Founder of Aikido, Morihei Ueshiba, otherwise known as O’Sensei. Introduced to the Aikikai Hombu Dojo through his mother’s network of connections when he was 19, he trained there daily as well as spending long hours perfecting his personal practice. Working during the day as a printer, he attended classes at night. (For this reason he was unable to be an uchideshi, and does not appear in early photographs with them.) He has continued to train for over 55 years at the Aikikai Hombu Dojo; although in recent years, he primarily teaches at his Suginami Aikikai dojo, but he still attends special events at Aikido World Headquarters.
After his first 10 years at Hombu Dojo, Kato Sensei occasionally had chances to personally serve the Founder. He is grateful for those opportunities to have had personal interaction with O'Sensei. Even now he continues to realize new and very real implications of what the Founder told him many years ago. He is still pursuing Aikido through the Founder’s image, as according to Kato Sensei, “To me, the Founder is not dead. He is still alive in my mind and in my heart.”
Kato Sensei has been attending Doshu’s class for three generations: the Founder, the second Doshu, and the current third Doshu. He received his first 6 black belts from the Founder and his next 2 black belts from the second Doshu.
His self-training in Aikido has been ascetic. In his early years, he often used to practice weapons by himself through the night, greet sunrise the next morning, and then go to work again.
Kato Sensei's Aikido has a measure of personal spirituality to it. Before every class, Kato Sensei has the practice of coming early to the dojo to meditate. Since he was a youth he has visited mountain shrines and stayed up all night practicing weapons and meditating.
Kato Sensei regards O’Sensei with utmost respect and considers him to be his only teacher. He states that the Founder didn’t teach him directly, rather that he learned from the Founder. Kato Sensei believes that others cannot teach us Aikido, it is something we must learn ourselves from others. He sums this up by saying, "Aikido is not something to learn from others, but to learn by oneself. Ideally, the practice should be for oneself, and it should be rigorous and sternly self-disciplined, by one’s own choice."
In 1965, an informal practice group named Yagyu-kai was formed under his guidance and direction. Most of the members were black belt holders and he enjoyed teaching, hard training, and lively conversation after practice.
In 1987, he formally established Suginami Aikikai in Ogikubo, Suginamiku, as a branch dojo under Aikikai Hombu Dojo. The former Yagyu-kai was then incorporated into Suginami Aikikai. At this time, he continued to train at the Aikikai Hombu dojo.
Several years ago, he retired from his work as a printer and now teaches Aikido full time.
In 1994, he received 8th dan and in the same year, he began to teach Aikido in the US. Currently he travels to North America to teach Aikido at his branch dojos in California, Texas, Arizona, and Mexico twice a year. He also offers seminars at other Aikikai affiliated dojos as a guest instructor such as his recent visits to Brazil, Argentina, and Venezuela in South America. Recently, Kato Sensei has also been petitioned by dojos in other nations as well and he has received dojos in Mexico,Indonesia and Holland as his affiliates. Kato Sensei now has over 80 affiliate dojos throughout the world.
From 1999 through 2001, he received commendation for his contribution of promoting Aikido in Houston from the Mayor of Houston, Texas.
In 2001, “Suginami Aikikai” received commendation from the Governor of Tokyo as an Excellent Organization. This year, he also began to teach Aikido at the OASIS Sports Center in Tokyo. That program continues, and is expanding.
Reflecting its depth and maturity as a dojo, there are now quite a few high level yudansha (such as 6th, 7th, 8th dans) in Suginami Aikikai, and new members are steadily joining. As in his early days, he enjoys intense training with everyone. Members both in Tokyo and abroad have been enjoying brisk international exchanges, as visitors from various dojos come to train with him in Tokyo.
Truly “every person’s" aikidoist, Kato Sensei exemplifies one who has persevered in his own practice, was recognized, and rose to high rank on his own merit. Like most of us “normal people,” he is a person who worked a regular job and trained in what spare time was available, persevering by training hard and never giving up.
Kato Sensei is a living resource as an authentic link to modern Aikido's
origins. That is attested by the fact that his Aikido World Headquarters card number is the number 6.
Succinctly, Kato Sensei is a superb and creative guide for his students in establishing “Wa” (harmony), both in spirit, in daily life and in Aikido.
Note:
Kato Shihan lives in Tokyo, Japan and travels around the world teaching Aikido wherever he is invited and he also travels to teach in locations where he has personal students. Kato Shihan visits the Shudokan School of Aikido in Houston twice a year in Texas to teach and conduct Aikikai rank testing. When he is in the Houston area, he generally stays for a week teaching here and then will travel to the South Texas Rio Grande Valley or to Mexico to support the South Texas /Mexico branch of the Shudokan Aikido group.
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Shudokan Aikido Association Technical Advisor - Yasuhiro Sakahara, 4th Degree Black Belt
Yasuhiro Sakahara was born in 1979 in Kamogawa City in the Chiba prefecture in Japan. He graduated from Dokkyo University with a degree in German in the late 1990's. It was there that he first learned about Aikido and he joined the University Aikido Club led by Nobuyuki Watanabe Sensei, 8th dan. Sakahara Sensei later spent time in Germany to further his studies in the language and there met and trained under Shihan Katsuaki Asai. After returning to Japan, he continued his Aikido training at the Aikikai Hombu Dojo where he studied under Doshu and the other major teachers at Aikido World Headquarters. It was there that he met Hiroshi Kato Shihan and decided to train under Kato Sensei at the Suginami Aikikai in Ogikubo, Suginami-ku.
At Kato Shihan's direction, he has taken teaching duties serving as an instructor of Aikido at the Oasis Sports Center. Sakahara Sensei occasionally substitute teaches for Kato Shihan's classes when he is overseas doing seminars.
In the last five years, he has been privileged to accompany Kato Shihan on his visits to the U.S. having visited San Francisco, Palo Alto, and San Jose, California. In recent years, he has begun to accompany Kato Shihan to the Texas seminars where he has visited Houston and other Texas cities serving as the principal uke to receive Kato Shihan's techniques. Recently, he also traveled to Mexico accompanying Kato Sensei to his Seminars there.
In October 2006, Sakahara Sensei accepted the position of Technical Advisor for the Shudokan Aikido Association. He will be serving as a technical liaison between the Association and Kato Shihan in Japan and will keep us informed of the latest developments in Aikido from Japan.
In the first part of 2007, Shihan Hiroshi Kato promoted Sakahara to 4th degree black belt in Aikido. Sakahara Sensei has proven to be one of the bright lights among the young students at the Suginami Aikikai.
Sakahara Sensei is also a practitioner of Brazilian Jujitsu and he has trained in mixed martial arts as well. From 2007 until the present, Sakahara sensei has been successful in his training and competitons in Brazilian Jujitsu winning first place in a number of competitions in the light weight class and in open weight classes as well. In 2008 Sakahara san was promoted to brown belt in Brazilian Jujitsu. In late 2010, Sakahara demonstrated his contintuing improvement in Brazilian Jujitsu by winning the Dumau BJJ Japan Cup Brown belt open weight class division. In 2011, Sakahara san competed in the 2011 Dumau Tokyo Championship winning the Silver medal (brown-master-middle weight).
On November 5th of 2011, Sakahara san was awarded the black belt in Brazilian Jujitsu by Masakazu Imanari Sensei.
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Sakahara san's official BJJ record is as follows:
* 2008 Japan Open:Gold medal (purple-adult-light weight)
* Japan Open:Silver medal (purple-adult-open weight)
* 2010 Dumau BJJ Championship:Gold medal (brown-master-light weight)
* Dumau BJJ Championship:Gold medal (brown-master-medium heavy weight)
* Dumau Japan Cup:Gold medal(brown-master-open weight)
* 2011 Dumau Tokyo Championship:Silver medal (brown-master-middle weight)
* PAN BJJ Championship:Bronze medal (brown-master-light weight)
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Sakahara Sensei has worked very hard in order to reach these levels in these difficult martial arts and we in Shudokan are very proud of his efforts and accomplishments in both martial arts that he trains in.
Sakahara Sensei visits Texas twice a year advising and updating the Shudokan Aikido instructors and acting as a special guest instructor teaching Aikido in the dojos of the Shudokan Aikido statewide Group.
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Shudokan School of Aikido Chief Instructor - Jorge Garcia, 4th Degree Black Belt
Jorge Garcia began his practice of Aikido in 1995 at the Corpus Christi Aikikai under Sensei Eddie Martinez in the Midwest Aikido Federation led by Akira Tohei Shihan, 8th Dan. Jorge was privileged to train in seminars under Tohei Sensei and was received his early kyu rankings directly from him. In 1998, the Garcia's moved to Houston,Texas where Jorge first attended a seminar taught by Hiroshi Kato Shihan. After experiencing Kato Sensei's powerful Aikido, Jorge decided to dedicate himself to Kato Shihan's teachings and he continued to train under Kato Shihan's supervision since.
In January of 2004, Jorge received permission from Kato Shihan to establish the Shudokan School of Aikido and Kato Shihan personally approved the name "Shudokan" for our dojo.
In February of 2005, at the invitation of Dojo-cho Michael Wise, Jorge began teaching Aikido at the Shindokan dojo in west Houston. This dojo became a satellite dojo of the Shudokan School of Aikido and it eventually merged with the Shudokan School of Aikido to make one dojo out of the two.
In the spring of 2005, Jorge also began studying Muso Shinden Ryu Iaido in the Houston San Shin Kai with Craig Hocker Sensei and has continued doing so until the current date. The Houston San Shin Kai is under the auspices of the North American San Shin Kai directed by Shihan Roger Wehrhahn who was under the guidance of the late Grandmaster Takeshi Mitsuzuka of the San Shin Kai of Tokyo, Japan.
In May of 2007, Jorge resigned his "day job" and became a full time Aikido Instructor.
In November of 2008, Jorge found a new location in West Houston for the dojo and he moved his Aikido group to the current Kieth Harrow location. It is in this new location that the dojo began anew with a different class schedule, new Kids program and daily philosophy study along with vigorous training in Aikido thus ushering in a new day for the Shudokan School of Aikido in Houston. This Aikido group now has its own location, secure in its pursuit of Aikido in the future. In the first three years at the new location, the dojo has grown to 90 students and shows continued signs of growth and is on its way to becoming one of the premier dojos in the Houston area.
Since 1998, Jorge has been privileged to have studied in 37 seminars led by Kato Shihan, each ranging from 10 days and up to 29 days at a time. In total, Jorge has attended over 60 Aikido training seminars, all with master level instructors and in the last decade, he has trained in seminars with most of the leading instructors of the art in this country.
On March 19, 2009, the Shudokan Aikido Association met for their 5th Anniversary dinner in Houston, Texas. At that dinner, Jorge was presented a special black belt by Yasuhiro Sakahara that had the words "Shudokan" on one side and on the other side, the words "Garcia Kansho". Jorge was deeply honored by this special gift. That weekend, the Shudokan Aikido Association received Hiroshi Kato in seminar in Houston, Texas for the 8th time. At this seminar, Jorge was tested by Hiroshi Kato Shihan and was awarded the 4th degree black belt in Aikido. Jorge is has received his 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th degree black belts directly from Hiroshi Kato Shihan.
Jorge teaches every day of the week and he does his personal training in Aikido at the advanced classes and in private classes with his senior students.
Jorge has been married for 33 years to his lovely wife Patricia, who is the dojo secretary and she accompanies him every day to the dojo as he teaches and trains in Aikido at the Shudokan Dojo.
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Shudokan School of Aikido Assistant Instructor - Joe Cavazos, 3rd Degree Black Belt
Joe started Aikido in April of 1991 under Bill Sosa Sensei, 6th dan and trained under him for a number of years. For many years, he also was active in his study of Aikido by attending many seminars from other styles other than his own. After Sosa Sensei's death, Joe continued his training under Lynn Fabia Sensei in a new organization called the Society of Aikido Centers. In 2005, Joe was granted the 4th dan.
Eventually, after leaving that group, Joe sought the help of Jorge Garcia Sensei, and he was introduced to Shihan Hiroshi Kato and petitioned to become a personal student of his.
In 2007, Joe was able to join the Aikikai with the help of Hiroshi Kato Sensei and after some time passed, he was started off in his new home by being awarded the rank of 2nd dan directly by Doshu Moriteru Ueshiba as per Kato Shihan's recommendation.
In October of 2010, Joe received notice from Japan of the approval of Doshu Moriteru Ueshiba (upon Kato Sensei's special recommendation) that he was being advanced to the 3rd degree black belt.
Joe Sensei is the founder and Chief Instructor of the Aikido Center of Mission, Texas. He is also now one of the two Regional Directors of the South Texas-Mexico Region of the Shudokan Aikido Association which has 8 dojos in South Texas and Northern Mexico. He is also serving as an Assistant Instructor at the Shudokan School of Aikido in Houston.
Joe teaches adult classes in the dojo every other Monday and every Tuesday.
In February of 2011, Joe was elected Vice President of the Shudokan Aikdo Association by the Shudokan Aikido Association Board of Directors. As Vice President, Joe assists Garcia Sensei with his advice and support in the adminstration of Shudokan Aikido Association activities.
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Shudokan Assistant Instructor-John Stephen Garcia, 3rd Degree Black Belt 
John Stephen Garcia began practicing Aikido in July of 1995 in the Midwest Aikido Federation led by Akira Tohei Shihan, 8th Dan. He trained diligently at the Corpus Christi Aikikai under Eddie Martinez Sensei for four years and and as a teenager, he was given his first adult Aikido ranking directly by Akira Tohei Shihan. After moving to Houston in 1998, he continued his training under Senseis Tom Oreck and Rick Laue at the Tumbleweed Aikikai and then under Sensei Nelson Andujar, 7th Dan of the Nations Aikikai where he not only trained in Aikido but also in Miyama Ryu Jujitsu for a short time.
It was during this time period that he attended a seminar taught by Hiroshi Kato Shihan from Tokyo, Japan and he experienced the power of Kato Shihan's technique. For the next 5 years, he continued to train and practice the things he learned in that seminar and was able to train personally with Kato Shihan in many seminars throughout Texas and in California.
In March of 2001, Kato Shihan promoted John Stephen to first degree black belt. In October of 2004, Kato Sensei promoted John to second degree black belt.
Since 2002, John Stephen's employment has been working in various positions with companies specializing in internal security and has had many opportunities to test his martial arts skills in real life situations.
John Stephen also has traveled to many places to train under the foremost instructors of Aikido in the U.S. including such people as Jo Birdsong, Peter Bernath, Damon Apodoca, Pat Hendricks, Hiroshi Ikeda, Seiichi Sugano, T.K. Chiba and Yoshimitsu Yamada among others.
John Stephen also trains in Brazilian Jiujitsu under Travis Tooke. Coach Tooke is one of the best Jujitsu instructors in the U.S. and John Sensei enjoys learning this martial art along with his practice of Aikido.
On March 7, 2010, John Stephen was tested for 3rd degree black belt in Aikido by Hiroshi Kato Shihan. John Stephen had an excellent exam and the dojo leadership was very proud of his demonstration.
Since 1998, John Stephen, along side his father, has continued to personally serve Kato Shihan when he is in Texas.
John teaches every Tuesday night at the Shudokan School of Aikido.
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Shudokan School of Aikido Assistant Instructor - Russell Thomas, 3rd Degree Black Belt
Russ Thomas began studying Aikido at Koshinkan Dojo, in Morgantown, West Virginia as a student of Mark Allen in 1995. Allen Sensei was a student of Shihan Fumio Toyoda, 6th dan of the Aikido Association of America headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. Russell studied with Allen Sensei for three years.
Subsequently, Russell moved to southern Virginia for two years where he commuted to Chapel Hill, North Carolina to train at Choshinkan Dojo with Ned Daneily Sensei (yondan).
When Russell accepted a new job in Raleigh, North Carolina, he began training with Hiroshi Tajiri Sensei (godan) at Seibukan Dojo. Russ trained in Raleigh between July 1999 and September 2002. At that time, Russell and his family relocated to Houston, Texas.
Once in Houston, Russell began training with Zeljko Jericevic Sensei (sandan) at Tumbleweed Aikikai. It was under Jericevic Sensei's care that Russ earned his shodan in February 2004 through Andy Sato Sensei and the Aikido Association of America.
Russell first met Jorge Garcia Sensei while training at Tumbleweed Aikikai and was introduced to Shihan Hiroshi Kato's style of Aikido. In January of 2005, Jericevic Sensei gave permission for Russell to begin training with Garcia Sensei at Shudokan Dojo. Soon after, he became an official member of the Shudokan School of Aikido.
In October of 2006, Kato Shihan promoted Russell to Nidan in Aikido.
Russell also serves as an assistant instructor for the Shudokan School of Aikido where he teaches Mondays and Wednesday at 6pm.
Russell is a personal student of Garcia Sensei and he assists Garcia Sensei in all matters relating the Shudokan School of Aikido dojo and he is on the Board of Directors of the Shudokan Aikido Association.
In November of 2010, Russell tested for his 3rd degree black belt under Hiroshi Kato Shihan and performed a wonderful exhibition of his arts. He was powerful, competent and determined as he demonstrated the results of his training in Aikido. Russell Sensei is a valued member of the Shudokan School of Aikido teaching staff.
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Shudokan School of Aikido Auxiliary Instructor - Guillermo Almaguer, 3rd Degree Black Belt 
Guillermo Almaguer is from Mexico City, Mexico. He earned his Shodan in Shotokan Karate while living in Mexico. He started training in the art of Aikido while still living in Mexico and continued in Aikido after moving to Houston, Texas. He was an unranked student at the Tumbleweed Aikikai when Garcia Sensei met him there on a day he was visiting the dojo Sensei, Željko Jeričević, 3rd dan. Guillermo continued at Tumbleweed from 1998 until 2007 when Jeričević Sensei decided to return to Croatia and he left Guillermo in charge of the dojo. Since that time, Guillermo has faithfully discharged his duties taking care of the dojo and teaching all classes and making sure that the dojo had the leadership it needed to survive. In his time as the dojo cho, Guillermo has resigned from his former Aikido group and joined the Shudokan Aikido Association and he registered Tumbleweed as a Shudokan dojo.
Guillermo is a dedicated and consumate martial artist. He holds black belts in three martial arts, having a shodan in Shotokan Karate, a shodan in Muso Shinden ryu Iaido and a nidan in Aikikai Aikido. Guillermo is a talented and respected member of the Aikido community in Houston, Texas, and we are proud to have him as an Auxiliary Instructor in our dojo. Along with teaching every Wednesday night in his own dojo in Spring, Texas, Guillermo also teaches every Saturday afternoon at the 3pm class at the Shudokan School of Aikido.
On November 20 of 2011, Guillermo was examined for the 3rd degree black belt by Hiroshi Kato, 8th dan. Guillermo presented his arts in an excellent manner resulting in a standing applause of all who witnessed. the exam.
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Shudokan School of Aikido Assistant Instructor - Molly Mockler, 2nd Degree Black Belt
Molly Mockler began her practice of Aikido in January of 2004 when the Shudokan School of Aikido was founded. Being one of the first members, Molly has attended every seminar that has been held with Shihan Hiroshi Kato in Houston since 2004. She has also trained with other high ranking instructors and has traveled to other cities to assist in presenting Shudokan Aikido to groups in both Texas and Mexico. Molly is an avid Aikidoist and is known for her powerful technique and great ukemi.
On November the 11, 2007, Molly was promoted to 1st degree black belt by Shihan Hiroshi Kato, 8th dan and she was presented her black belt personally by Kato Shihan. Molly is the first student in the Shudokan Aikido Association to become a yudansha (black belt holder), only having trained within Shudokan.
On March 7, 2010, Molly Sensei tested and was promoted by Hiroshi Kato Shihan to 2nd degree black belt. Most of the people in that room agreed that Molly presented one of the most comprehensive and powerful exams they had ever seen as she went through uke after uke without tiring or showing any pause or hesitation. All those present were very impressed by her demonstration.
Molly is currently on a maternity leave and is not teaching at this time. She will return to active teaching in 2012.
1. What is Aikido?
Aikido is the practice and training in a secret principle called "Aiki". Aiki is a secret concept known only to certain ancient Japanese clan Samurai warriors. This concept, application, or principle was used in their fighting strategies when they engaged their opponents. As the clan style of civilization began to disappear and as the ways of waging war began to change, the concept of "Aiki" became even more secretive and was passed on only from one Headmaster to another within the groups that still possessed this knowledge.
2. How was this knowledge or concept passed on to us in this modern time?
When the time of the Japanese clan warriors had completely passed in the late 19th century, one of the last great warriors, Sokaku Takeda, was wandering around Japan, earning a living teaching secret Samurai techniques to people. He would charge them by the technique and he would travel in a circuit which grew larger and larger as he met more people that wanted to learn. Coming from a Samurai family and background, he was qualified to do nothing else. He knew nothing else except the ancient fighting techniques of the Aizu clan. He would enter a city, draw some attention by defeating local ruffians and thugs and then gather a small group of trainees for a meeting. He would teach them a few techniques and then tell them to practice these until he could return later in the year, then he would move on.
On one of these circuit journeys, he met a young man named Morihei Ueshiba. This young man was an exceptional student who paid to learn more and was good at what he was taught. Morihei was especially dedicated and he gained the approval of Sokaku Takeda to the point that Morihei was able to learn the secret of Aiki from Takeda over a 21-year period of training with him at certain times of the year. This secret of Aiki was an aspect Takeda didn't teach the average person. It was not to his advantage to do so as he kept his clients coming back for more and he also kept his mastery over them by hiding the secret.
With his knowledge and ability, Morihei developed a reputation in Japan as Japan's greatest martial artist. What helped him develop what is now called Aikido was when he met a religious leader who changed Morihei's worldview. The man was named Onisaburo Deguichi. Deguichi was an eccentric and odd man and had many far-fetched ideas, but his ideal of peace on earth was one of the main issues that deeply influenced the young Morihei.
Morihei Ueshiba then began to develop the idea of a superior martial art that would teach the ideal of non-fighting or the ideal of stopping an attack with "Aiki" with the view of peace in mind. This revelation came to him in an incident where he got into an argument with a sword fighter who grabbed a wooden practice sword and started attacking Morihei. Morihei used evasive movements until the sword fighter gave up the fight exhausted. It was then that the revelation of taking away the spirit of opposition and fighting from your attacker came to Morihei.
Morihei spent the rest of his life perfecting "Aikido", the art of peace. This would be an art that he hoped people would use the length of their lives to learn, in which they would learn the principles of non confrontation, peace with all and victory over our own aggressive fighting tendencies. Morihei believed that this secret concept of "Aiki" was what would give the exponents of Aikido the ability to defeat almost any opponent and that the art would be effective against a real attack and yet teach peace and good will toward all at the same time. His main concern though was always that this art not be taught to criminals or evil people who would use it for bad purposes.
3. Is "Aiki" easy to learn?
No, it's actually quite difficult. Everyone can learn Aikido but you must exercise patience, perseverance, determination, and you must have faith in yourself and in your own latent potential ability. Some exceptional people walk through the door with these qualities. Many others develop these qualities while in the pursuit of learning the art of Aikido.
4. How is "Aiki" taught?
"Aiki" is taught through the techniques of Aikido. The techniques are not "Aiki". Aiki is the governing principle in every technique that we teach. Aiki is a way of moving the energy in the body to meet or manipulate a physical attack in such a way as to defuse it. The principle of Aiki involves several concepts. These concepts are conditioned reflexes, coordinated breathing, timing, blending with the attack, joining yourself to the motion coming at you and then learning how to extend or propel the energy out from your body. Each technique we teach is designed to teach your body the feeling of these physical principles. So first, we learn the form of the techniques, then we come to understand the principles that are making the technique work. This process requires learning the steps and forms of 15 techniques which have hundreds of variations. The training to become a black belt involves learning the 15 basic forms and then about 150 variations of those 15 forms. There are really about 3000 variations of those 15 forms but most instructors use only about 150 variations that are practiced to get the person to the black belt level.
When you become a black belt, then you are no longer learning how to do techniques. At this time, you begin working with the governing principle of Aiki and you are allowed to gradually experiment with the form and to divert from the form. Eventually at the master level, the form disappears and the body is fully trained to move naturally, using the principle of Aiki, in natural, creative and innovative ways.
5. So then Aikido is not really learning to fight?
That's right.
6. What is Aikido then?
Aikido is learning to stop a fight using an ancient Samurai principle called Aiki. While the Samurai used Aiki to fight and to kill, it was Morihei Ueshiba that took the concept of Aiki and sought to use it to create peace, love and harmony. This was his innovation and contribution to modern society and this is why Aikido is so different than other martial arts. We don't want to fight. We don't care about competitions or tournaments or defeating other people. Our goal is to train together as friends, to develop a community of people training in the ideals of peaceful coexistence while defending against evil and harm but doing so in such a way so as not to permanently injure or harm the other person.
7. How can Aikido change my life?
More than a fighting strategy, Aikido is a way of life. The word Aikido means the "Way of Aiki". In the old style Japanese culture, the arts were considered paths to intuitive wisdom. Philosophically then , Aikido is a way of life that trains the body through the discipline of the training itself. Within the dojo environment, the study of Aikido becomes the place where the ego interacts with the discipline of the art and the individual then encounters new frontiers of their own spirituality as they struggle to conquer their own self will. Every aspect of the "self" is eventually challenged within the training and the new person emerges having been forged through constant daily training.
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"I want considerate people to listen to the voice of Aikido. It is not for correcting others; it is for correcting your own mind. This is Aikido. This is the mission of Aikido and should be your mission."
O Sensei - Morihei Ueshiba, the Founder of Aikido
Report on the statistics of the students of Jorge Garcia.
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Shudokan School of Aikido is located at Samurai Martial Arts, 17111 Kieth Harrow, Houston, Texas 77084. There is a map on this website to the location.
Saturday
11 am - 12:30 pm Adults (Regular Aikido)
Lunch
3 pm - 4:15 pm Children (Basic Aikido) *
3 pm - 4:15 pm Adults (Regular Aikido)
(Ages 14 and up are counted with the adults)
* Children and Adults train separately
** Beginners classes are optional. Any regular student may attend a beginners class and beginners may also attend any regular class.
Sunday
3 pm - 4:15 pm Adults (Regular Aikido)
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Current Shudokan School of Aikido Practice Log as of 2-3-2012
(Website will be updated tonight)
Name-Rank-Days practiced-(Minimum days/hours required for next exam)
Adults
1. Jorge Garcia, 4th dan - 1045 days - (6 years minimum from 4th dan)
2. John Stephen Garcia, 3rd dan - 328 days (5 years & 800 days)
3. Joe Cavazos - 3rd dan - 163 days (At the discretion of Doshu)
4. Russ Thomas - 3rd dan - 98 days (5 years & 800 days)
5. Weldon Mauney - 3rd dan - (5 years & 800 days)
6. Molly Mockler - 2nd dan - 441 days - (4 years & 600 days)
7. George Pollos - Shodan-Ho - 202 days - (Black belt Trainee)
8. Costa Pollos - Shodan-Ho - 194 days - (Black belt trainee)
9. Darius Dixon - Shodan-ho - 194.25 hours - (Black belt Trainee)
10. Bianca Verar - Shodan-ho - 123.5 hours - (Black belt Trainee)
11. Andrew Holdaway - 1st kyu - 145.25 hours - (300 hours)
12. Lee Kaplan - 1st kyu - 34.5 hours - (300 hours)
13. Jeff Evans - 1st kyu - 21.75 hours - (300 hours)
14. Emily Boyle - 2nd kyu - 281.5 hours - (200 hours)
15. Simina Roberts - 2nd kyu - 60.5 hours - (200 hours)
16. Raymond Villalba - 2nd kyu - no hours - (200 hours)
17. Christina Belandres - 2nd kyu - no hours - (200 hours)
18. Andy Croft - 3rd kyu - 92.25 hours - (150 hours)
19. Kori Croft - 3rd kyu - 61.75 hours - (150 hours)
20. Gary Ivy - 3rd kyu - 66.75 hours - (150 hours)
21. Hope Tang - 4th kyu - 47.5 hours - (100 hours)
22. Valerie Belandres - 4th kyu - 87.25 hours - (100 hours)
23. Fiona Nguyen - 4th kyu - 3 hours - (100 hours)
24. Tim Bowers - 5th kyu - 46.5 hours - (80 hours)
25. Betsy Bowers - 5th kyu - 32.5 hours - (80 hours)
26. Austin Smith - 5th kyu - 82 hours - (80 hours)
27. Joel Garcia - 5th kyu - 70.75 hours - (80 hours)
28. Kevin Sheriff - 6th kyu - 66.25 hours - (60 hours)
29. Adrian Maines - 6th kyu - 34 hours - (60 hours)
30. Nicole Smith - 6th kyu - 37.5 hours - (60 hours)
31. Nathan Smith - 6th kyu - 35.75 hours - (60 hours)
32. Manny Lopez - 6th kyu - 36.5 hours - (60 hours)
33. Patrick Smith - 6th kyu - 38.25 hours - (60 hours)
34. Danh Tang - 6th kyu - 18 hours - (60 hours)
35. Jose Boado - 6th kyu - 12 hours - (60 hours)
36. Andy Nguyen - 6th kyu - 45.25 hours - (60 hours)
37. Mario Lopez (dad) - 6th kyu - 25 hours - (60 hours)
38. Lazaro Rodriguez, Sr. - 6th kyu - 29.75 hours - (60 hours)
39. Vincent Dames - 6th kyu - 27 hours - (60 hours)
40. Danusa Alves - 6th kyu - 7 hours - (60 hours)
41. Robert Alvarez - 6th kyu - 46.25 hours - (60 hours)
42. Victor Lopez - 7th kyu - 26 hours - (40 hours)
43. Tan Tang - 7th kyu - 38.5 hours - (40 hours)
44. Rebecca Smith - 7th kyu - 45 hours - (40 hours)
45. Don Le - 7th kyu - 30 hours - (40 hours)
46. Lewis Simmonds - 7th kyu - 25 hours - (40 hours)
47. Oliver Boado - unranked - 23.25 hours - (20 hours)
48. Stephen Payne - unranked - 4.75 hours - (20 hours)
49. Helen Chapman - unranked - 15 hours - (20 hours)
50. Chris Mills - unranked - 5 hours - (20 hours)
Youth & Children
51. Kaivon Dixon - 7th kyu/C - 16.25 hours - (45 hours)
52. Brianna Verar - 7th kyu/B - 35.5 hours - (45 hours)
53. Cheri Tang - 8th kyu/C - 3 hours - (45 hours)
54. Carlos Lopez - 8th kyu/B - 3 hours - (45 hours)
55. Alex Nguyen - 8th kyu/A - 29 hours - (40 hours)
56. Lazaro Rodriguez, Jr. - 8th kyu/A - 7.5 hours - (40 hours)
57. Victoria Rodriguez - 8th kyu/A - 7.5 hours - (40 hours)
58. Ared Rodriguez - 8th kyu/A - 7.5 hours - (40 hours)
59. Gabrielle Boado - 8th kyu/A - 8.5 hours - (40 hours)
60. Michael Rousseau - 8th kyu/A - no hours - (40 hours)
61. Natalie Le - 9th kyu/B - 33.75 hours - (35 hours)
62. Aremy Garcia - 9th kyu/B - 11.25 hours - (35 hours)
63. Samuel Sheriff - 9th kyu/B - 2 hours - (30 hours)
64. Joseph Boado - 9th kyu/A - 27 hours - (30 hours)
65. Jolina Boado - 9th kyu/A - 27 hours - (30 hours)
66. Pablo Gurrola - 9th kyu/A - 36.75 hours - (30 hours)
67. Neel Pandey - 9th kyu/A - 16 hours - (30 hours)
68. Michael Lopez - 9th kyu/A - 9.25 hours - (30 hours)
69. Mario Lopez (son) - 9th kyu/A - 15.5 hours - (30 hours)
70. Eugenio Alves - 10th kyu/B - 15 hours - (30 hours)
71. Roger Romero, Jr. - 10th kyu/B - 6 hours - (30 hours)
72. Summer Nguyen - 10th kyu/B - 14.5 hours - (30 hours)
73. Caleb Thomas - 10th kyu/B - 1.0 hours - (30 hours)
74. Sara Beth Thomas - 10th kyu/A - 4.5 hours - (20 hours)
75. Keila Miles - 10th kyu/A - 11 hours - (20 hours)
76. Alex Baten - 10th kyu/A - 5 hours - (20 hours)
77. Jordan Payne - unranked - 23.75 hours - (20 hours)
78. Robert Payne - unranked - 22.75 hours - (20 hours)
79. Emma Villalba - unranked - 15 hours - (20 hours)
80. Blake Allen - unranked - 5 hours - (20 hours)
81. Matheo Hayek - unranked - 1.0 hours - (20 hours)
82. Miguel Lopez - unranked - 2 hours - (20 hours)
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Philosophy of Aikido Curriculum - This program is optional.
Aikido is an art that cannot be understood apart from its general philosophy. For those interested in the philosophy of the Art, we have available a curriculum that can guide the student from the beginning to advanced stages. An example of the curriculum and text books are listed below. These books do not represent articles of belief or affirmation but are historical records and opinions on the background and basis of the art. We are flexible and do make adjustments for individual preferences. If you study the philosophy of the art, you have obtain a complete martial arts education.
A website is in production now to house the complete program below online for users both within and outside our dojo.
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For those participating, the curriculum will be as follows:
7th kyu
The Book of Aikido Wisdom by Jorge Garcia
(Selected portions will be sent to you by email. This book is still in progress. The Study guide is not available now)
6th kyu
Budo Mind and Body by Nicklaus Suino
IBSN 0-8348-0568-5
(Study Guide is available by email from Garcia Sensei)
5th kyu
Bushido: The Warrior's Code by Inazo Nitobe
IBSN 0-89750-031-8
and
Code of the Warrior: Exploring Warrior Values: Past and Present
IBSN 0-6477-9756-8
4th kyu
Aikido for Self Discovery by Stan Waobel
IBSN 0-7387-0060-6
and
Aikido Shugyo by Gozo Shioda
(This book must be ordered from Shindokan books.)
www.shindokanbooks.com/shugyo.shtml
3rd kyu
Aikido, The Peaceful Martial Art by Stefan Stenudd
www.stenudd.com/aikido/aikidobook.htm
and
Kodo, Ancient Ways by Kensho Furuya
ISBN-10: 0897501365
2nd Kyu
The Art of Aikido: Principles and Essential Teachings by Kisshomaru Ueshiba
IBSN 4-7700-2945-4
and
Enlightenment in Aikido by Kancho Sunadomari
ISBN-10: 1556434871
1st Kyu
Invincible Warrior, a Pictorial Biography of Morihei Ueshiba by John Stephens
IBSN 1-57062-075-x
or
A Life in Aikido: The Biography of Founder Morihei Ueshiba by Kisshomaru Ueshiba
IBSN 4-77002617-X
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1st degree black belt
The Spirit of Aikido by Kisshomaru Ueshiba
IBSN 0870118501
2nd degree black belt
The Heart of Aikido by John Stephens
ISBN-10: 4770031149
3rd degree black belt
The Secret Teachings of Aikido by John Stephens
ISBN-10: 4770030304
4th degree black belt
Philosophy and Spirituality from 4 points of view (Select one)
1) A Psychiatric view
The Road Less Traveled by M. Scott Peck
IBSN - 13:978-0-7432-4315-5
also
Exploring the Road Less Traveled, A Study Guide for Small Groups
IBSN - 0-671-62054-1
2) A Psychological view
The Farther Reaches of Human Nature by Abraham Maslow
IBSN 0-14-019470-3
or
Religions, Values, and Peak Experiences by Abraham Maslow
IBSN0 0-14-019487-8
3) A New Age view
A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle
IBSN 978-0-452-28996--3
4) A Christian view
The Making of the New Spirituality by James A. Herrick
IBSN 0830832793
5) An Aikido view
Aikido and the Harmony of Nature by Mitsugi Saotome
IBSN 0-87773-655-6
or
The Spiritual Foundations of Aikido by William Gleason
IBSN 0-89281-508-6
6) A Japanese Budo view
Budo Perspectives edited by Andrew Bennett
IBSN 4-9901694-3-3
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Auxiliary list for additional study.
Ki and the Way of the Martial Arts by Kenji Tokitsu
IBSN 9781570629983
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Weekly Aikido Schedule
Monday
6:30am-7:30am Early Morning Aikido (Regular Aikido)
6 pm - 7 pm Children's class (Basic Aikido)
6 pm - 7 pm Adult Beginners class (Basic Aikido)
7 pm - 8 pm Adults (Regular Aikido)
8 pm - 8:45 pm Weapons Class
* Children and Adults train separately
** Beginners classes are optional. Any regular student may attend a beginners class and beginners may also attend any regular class.
(Ages 14 and up are counted with the adults)
Tuesday
12 noon - 1 pm Adults (Regular Aikido)
6 pm - 7 pm Adult Weapons
7 pm - 8 pm Adult Beginners (Basic Aikido) **
8 pm - 9 pm Adults (Regular Aikido)
** Beginners classes are optional. Any regular student may attend a beginners class and beginners may also attend any regular class.
(Ages 14 and up are counted with the adults)
Wednesday
6 pm - 7 pm Children's class (Basic Aikido)
6 pm - 7 pm Adult Beginners class (Basic Aikido)
7 pm - 8 pm Adults (Regular Aikido)
8 pm - 8:45 pm Weapons Class
* Children and Adults train separately
** Beginners classes are optional. Any regular student may attend a beginners class and beginners may also attend any regular class.
(Ages 14 and up are counted with the adults)
Thursday
12 noon - 1 pm Adults (Regular Aikido)
6 pm - 7 pm Adult Weapons
7 pm - 8 pm Adult Beginners Class (Basic Aikido) **
8 pm - 9 pm Adults (Regular Aikido)
Friday
5 pm - 6pm Children's class (Basic Aikido)
6 pm - 7:00pm Adults (Open Class)
Saturday
11 am - 12:30 pm Adults (Regular Aikido)
Lunch
3 pm - 4:15 pm Children (Basic Aikido) *
3 pm - 4:15 pm Adults (Regular Aikido)
(Ages 14 and up are counted with the adults)
* Children and Adults train separately
** Beginners classes are optional. Any regular student may attend a beginners class and beginners may also attend any regular class.
Sunday
3 pm - 4:15 pm Adults (Regular Aikido)
There is a new book being published in 2012 by Garcia Sensei that will be placed at this location on our website and on it's own website as well. The book will also be available in print through Amazon. com