Aikido starts next week

Beginning Wednesday, May 16, the Kapa‘a Ki-Aikido Club will offer a four-week introductory class for adults into the martial art of aikido.

The weekly class, on Wednesdays, is scheduled for 5 to 7 p.m., at 5331 A Haleilio Road in Wailua Houselots.

Dress in exercise pants and T-shirt. Those who already have an aikido or judo gi (training unform) can wear those. Cost of the class is $40.

Lloyd Miyashiro (5th dan), head instructor, will be teaching the class. Assistant instructors are Mary Frances Miyashiro (3rd dan) and Rene Relacion (2nd dan). 

The first half of the class will focus on the ki developement exercises. The purpose of these exercises is to unify mind and body in daily life. Students will also learn a ki breathing exercise and a massaging with ki technique.

The second half of the class is an introduction to physical self-defense and does require the student to learn basic rolling and falling. Aikido is non-competive and non-violent. The learning is not dependent on age, size, gender or ability.

Morihei Ueshiba (O-Sensei), the founder of aikido. defined “aikido” as the way to harmony with the ki of the universe. He also emphasized that aikido was the art of peace.

After O-Sensei’s death, a top student, Koichi Tohei, formed his own school which he named Shinshin Toitsu Aikido or “aikido with mind and body unified.”

The Kapa‘a Ki-Aikido Club is affliated with Tohei-sensei’s International Ki Society of Japan and the Hawai’i Ki Federation. Chief Instructor of the Hawai‘i Ki Federation is Christopher Curtis of Maui.

On Kaua‘i’s Westside, the Hanapepe Ki-Aikido Club is also affliated with the Hawai‘i Ki Federation. Head instructor at the Hanapepe club is Dean Mayer. Senior instructor on Kaua‘i is Richard Kuboyama of ‘Ele‘ele.

For more information, call Lloyd or Mary Frances Miyashiro, 822-4794 or Rene Relacion, 828-6865.