Aikido-Ai

Congratulations to Boossaba Sirakajaidech, Joyce Fujimaki and Danny Valle on their advancement to 3 rd kyu in Taichi today, 9/14/24. They demonstrated their forms confidently and wonderfully and have worked diligently with integrity over the last few months. We are excited to see their ongoing Tai chi journey.🈴☯️🪷 So proud of them.

Celebrating Sensei Frank McGouirk’s 91st birthday with classes in Tai chi and Aikido and a delicious potluck.

Potluck Party at Aikido Ai
Saturday, August 24

Sensei Frank McGourik will be teaching the morning classes. Students, families, and dojo friends are all welcome! Come when you can. Bring a dish for the potluck and help us celebrate Sensei’s 91st birthday.

Everyone is welcome.

9 AM: Tai Chi
10 AM: Aikido

11:30-ish Pot Luck Party.

Taichi Seminar today 5/25/24. Keeping Suzette safe, we wore our masks and came to experience and review Taichi fundamentals and principles. Many thanks to Sensei, Suzette and Linda who taught and to all who participated.

Aikido Ai has three new green belts! Congratulations to this trio: Ariel Wu, Sharon Anderson and Adhitya Soemardy who did a great job today on their test. ☯️🈴

Residents of Whittier’s Oakmont senior living facility were treated to a Tai chi demonstration and music on the guzheng performed by one of the dojo members, Beth Sirakajaidech for the Lunar New Year of the wood dragon. Thanks to Jie Cheng for snapping some shots. Thanks to Linda and Jim Hill, Pat Heneike, Sharon Anderson, Beth Sirakajaidech and Jie Cheng for sharing their time and energy with these residents.

Today was a big day for kyu testing at AikidoAi in both Tai chi and Aikido. Congratulations to Delane Davidson, Danny Valle, Jie Cheng and Joyce Fujimaki for their diligent and mindful practice together in the last 3 months to culminate in today’s advancement to 4 th kyu blue sash. ☯️ In Aikido, Kimberley Brown and Joyce Fujimaki , ( yes, she did back to back tests) advanced to 3rd kyu blue belt. They both gave their ALL and did a wonderful job demonstrating their understanding of the required techniques and then some. 🈴

Today our dojo did a thing. We welcomed Suzette, our assistant chief tai chi instructor back for her 70 th birthday after enduring her most recent grueling medical journey. She is an amazing walking miraculous inspiration and we are truly grateful for her presence and wisdom. Thank you to all who made the effort to celebrate her this morning.

Congratulations to Sharon Anderson who demonstrated the Yang Short Form for her yellow sash. Sharon is one of a handful of members who trains in both Tai Chi and Aikido. Way to go Sharon!!

AikidoAi is so honored and privileged to have hosted the phenomenal and venerable Sifu Teja Bell last weekend He spoke and shared his amazing knowledge, insights and practices in Aikido, Qigong and other internal martial arts. Some highlights he emphasized included listening, connection and “underdoing” in his practices. Here are a few snapshots of those of us who were able to participate. Grateful thanks to Sensei Frank McGouirk for this seminar.

Congratulations to Richard Diaz on his impressive 4 th kyu demonstration on Saturday, September 9, 2023. Way to go Richard!!

Sensei Frank’s 90th birthday classes in Taichi and Aikido

Sensei Frank’s 90th birthday potluck 8/19/2023

Slight change of dates for Sensei McGouirk's Saturday 12:30 workshops. The next Saturday afternoon classes will be on July 29 and August 12, from 12:30 to 2:00 p.m. Beginners are welcome. Learn the connections between meditation and martial arts such as Tai Chi, Qigong, Neigong, Aikido, Daoist Tai Chi, and more. Dress for movement and meditation. Drop-in fee is $5 per class. Arrive a bit early -- attendance is limited to the first 15 participants.

https://conta.cc/445AGxn

Save the date for Sensei's 90th B-Day Event Help celebrate this amazing milestone on Sat, 8/19!   Save Saturday, August 19 for Sensei's 90th Birthday Event Aikido, Tai Chi, Potluck and More We will be celebrating Sensei Frank McGouirk's 90th bi

On Saturday, June 3, 2023, Allan Cohen and Kazue Hamada demonstrated for their 2nd kyu in Taichi. ☯️Congratulations as they work on their individual journeys.🈴

Congratulations to Wendy Sung for her beautiful demonstration of the Yang family short form. Wishing her a harmonious journey. Here is Jim Hill showing her how to tie her sash.

Congratulations to Jamaica Baccus—Crawford on her shodan , Spencer Green and Horacio Soto on their nidan exams today. It was an amazing, energetic and inspiring demonstration of their dedication and passion for Aikido. You made the Aikido Ai family proud. May your journeys continue to be enriched. Thank you to the wonderful ukes : Chris Johnson, Kimberley Brown and Richard Diaz.

New Tai Chi Class on Sat. 4/1

New Tai Chi Class Starts Saturday, April 1 (not an April Fools joke) Features the Original 13 Forms Includes Discussion, Seated Meditation, and Qigong Sensei Frank McGouirk will Lead the Class. 1st & 3rd Saturday Each month 12:30 to 2:00 p.m. Drop-in fee is only $5 per class

It was a wonderful morning for these members to demonstrate their forms. Mary Maclean, Joyce Fujimaki, Ricardo Melendrez and Danny Valle did a fantastic job staying in harmony and exhibiting their understanding of some of the Tai Chi principles. Congratulations on your advancement to green sash 5 th kyu. Congratulations also To Paul Minassian on his journey and advancing to blue sash 4 th kyu. Paul did a great job staying in the moment. Thank you to everyone who came to support, observe and share their energy.

Meet our very own dojo mascot, sweet Layla. She comes to watch her dad teach and train, receive loving attention, chi and treats.

For the Lunar New Year celebrations at the Oakmont of Whittier, we were invited to share the benefits of Taichi and demonstrate the Yang short form and the Sun Fan. About 30 residents were in attendance. They listened intently, asked questions and participated in a few seated 8 Treasures. It was great to have this opportunity to participate in an outreach. ( with Suzette Hodnett, Cynthia Krause, Spencer Green, Beth Sirakajaidech and Ricardo Melendrez

Congratulations to Richard Diaz who tested for his 5 th kyu, Kimberley Brown and Joyce Fujimaki for 4 th kyu in Aikido yesterday 12/3/2022. Excellent job everyone!

Sensei Frank McGouirk and his Tai chi teaching staff : Suzette Hodnett (5th Dan) Linda Hill and (missing)Jennifer Higa (4th Dan), Jim Hill and Cynthia Krause, (3rd Dan), Meg Rottman, Spencer Green, Marc Gregory, (2nd Dan) Photo credit: Kathryn Metz