 |
 |
||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|||
Journey to the Center workshop with Tom Crum
September 8-12, 2008
Tom Crum is inviting people to participate in his final "Journey to the Center" program, September 8-12, 2008 in Lyons, CO.
The purpose of the Journey to Center workshop is to find power and purpose using aiki principles.
Please visit http://www.aikiworks.com/journey.html for more information.
Tom Crum is President of Aiki Works and on the Aiki Extensions Advisory Council.
Aiki Works may be contacted via PO Box 251 Victor, NY 14564 or by phone +1.585.924.7302 Fax: +1.585.924.2799
Leicht presentation at Berkshire Dojo
June 25, 2008
Following the June 25 class of the Shobu Aikido of Berkshire Dojo Bill Leicht Ss. will offer a presentation about AE work, including the current Peace Dojos initiative. The presentation will feature a screening of the DVD, “Training Across Borders."
AE Executive Director chosen
June 16, 2008
The AE Board of Directors approved unanimously the appointment of Brandon WilliamsCraig as Executive Director. Supported in this new role by the non-profit Association Building Community, Brandon is also Assistant Instructor (4th dan) to Kayla Feder Sensei at Aikido of Berkeley. Find out more about him via his website http://bdwc.net
Training Across Borders - Zürich
June 12, 2008
Close to a dozen veterans of the historic Training Across Borders seminar in Cyprus assembled in Zürich as part of the "TAB-Z" Summer Camp, now in its third season under the direction of Sensei Kurt Bartholet. Original TAB participants also include Assi Moualem who teaches Salaam Shalom Aikido classes in Jerusalem, Tesfaye Tekelu who manages the Awassa Peace Dojo , and half a dozen aikidoka from four Arab countries..
Aikido based prep school getting started
The Crystal Farm initiative, first publicized at the 3rd International AE conference in 2001, has moved to an operational phase. This will be a college preparatory residential high school in Holyoke, MA, which uses aikido principles as the unifying theme of the school's liberal arts curriculum. Students will train aikido twice daily along with related practices. See http://www.crystalfarmschool .org/
Robert Kent wins PeaceCamp funds
May 28, 2008
AE member Robert Kent was just awarded $10,000 as a winner of the Peace Pioneer Contest sponsored by Ben and Jerry's. His winning submission was based on an essay, This I Believe. Rob will donate his award to The PeaceCamp Initiative, co-sponsored by Aiki Extensions, a program that brings future Israeli and Palestinian leaders to one of the oldest and finest summer camps in America. The award was featured at a press conference event in Times Square on Tuesday, May 27. For further info write rk@peacecampinitiative.org
Phillip Emminger announces infrastructure challenge grant
April 2008
In order to root AE's support structure for the long term, recently emeritus Board Member, Phillip Emminger, has called for the appointment of a half-time Executive Director and offered $10,000 U.S. if it is matched by another $30,000 from additional sources. Much gratitude to Phillip and to those working to match his generous challenge.
Awassa Peace Dojo celebrates two breakthroughs
Jan. 31, 2008
The AE mission in Ethiopia marked two leaps forward in January. Visiting AE President Don Levine inaugurated a new dojo built by students from bamboo and other local materials. He also spoke with
the Curriculum Director of Addis Ababa public schools, who wishes to introduce a requirement of aikido training for all high school seniors and asked AE to help provide intensive training for staff over the summer.
Peace Dojos Worldwide gets under way
Jan. 3, 2008
An AE task force has begun to explore next steps in organizing an international network consisting of martial arts dojos of any discipline that train explicitly for peace and involve a social outreach activity. Besides aikido, dojos teaching capoeira, karate, and taekwondo have joined the enterprise. The team consists of Bill Leicht, chair; Danny Hakim; Paul Linden; Steve Thomas; and David Weinstock. For more information, contact Bill Leicht.
Wendy Palmer Gift Challenge Met!
Dec. 10, 2007
In order to help Aiki Extensions keep on functioning during this time of diminished resources, Wendy Palmer offered a gift of $1,000 pending receipt of $10,000 in gifts from the AE Board and Advisory
Council. Thanks to a generous last-minute gift of $1400 from a member of the Advisory Council, this challenge was met. This has enabled AE to continue its activities without serious cutbacks. Checks are still welcome at Aiki Extensions, PO Box 397454, Chicago,IL 60637 or donate through this website.
Weinstock troupe completes rousing Aiki Corps stint
Dec. 17, 2007
David Weinstock's troupe of five has returned from a successful
6-week tour as Aiki Corps Volunteers at the Awassa Peace Dojo
in Ethiopia. In addition to fine-tuning the aikido training at the Awassa
Youth Campus, they delivered welcome inputs in the areas of tap dance,
music, art, theater, and cooking.
opening.
Iraqi Aikido Organization in exile celebrates first year
Dec. 16, 2007
The Iraqi Aikido Organization, a group inspired by the Training Across Borders Seminar in Cyprus, and for whom AE provided mats at three dojos, fell into hard times due to the conflagrations in Baghdad not long after they formed. Several of their members are now in exile in Amman, others in Damascus. The IAO Amman dojo recently celebrated their first anniversary and held their first kyu tests. Of their achievement, they wrote: "It is our delight to see that we were able to participate in spreading the Aikiway in our environment and affect positively . . ."
UKAE Holds Benefit Seminar in Slough, England
Sept. 20, 2007
UK's newest and largest permanent aikido dojo hosted an AE benefit seminar in Slough, just west of London, on September 8. Host Sensei William Timms, who uses aikido in corporate work, provided venue, luncheon, and a class featuring clear body movement and strong technique. Senseis Frank Burlingham and Piers Cooke taught other sessions. Seminar organizer Quentin Cooke Sensei delivered a piece of AE philosophy: "Aikido is not just about two hours a day on the mat, but the other 22 hours a day as well." Returned Aiki Corps volunteer Mark Walsh (Awassa, Sao Paolo) shared photos and stories from AE's diverse projects that the funds from the seminar would benefit.
New Book by Tim Warneka to Benefit AE
Sept. 17, 2007
The Way of Leading People: Unlocking Your Integral Leadership Skills with the Tao Te Ching, a new book by Tim Warneka and brother Patrick, with foreword by Richard Strozzi-Heckler, interprets Lao Tzu's classic to address today's global realities. For a limited time, Tim will donate to Aiki Extensions 100% of the proceeds of this book when purchased through the publisher's website, at this link. See more on the book at this link.
Three August Benefits for Awassa Dojo
Aug. 6, 2007
Three cities will hold fund-raising events this month in support of the Awassa Peace Dojo and related activities supported by the Awassa Children's Project. San Francisco (Aug 18) and Los Angeles (Aug 21, at Forbidden City, Hollywood & Vine) will feature "MYethiOPIA", a one-man touring show, written and performed by David Schein. Contact Krishna LeFan. On Monday, Aug 13 Chicago will hold a spectacular benefit at the Triad Sushi Bar featuring John McKay, director of the Awassa Youth Campus which houses the Peace Dojo. John is fresh from an Ethiopian tour of the One Love HIV/AIDS Awareness Theater and its related aikido demo program.
Five Senseis Lead Benefit Seminar for Mideast Aikido Project
Aug. 1, 2007
Kayla Feder's Aikido of Berkeley dojo will host a seminar to benefit AE's Mideast Aikido Project on September 29, 2007. In addition to Feder sensei, other senseis will include AE members Robert Frager (Institute for Transpersonal Psychology), Linda Holiday (Aikido of Santa Cruz), and Jamie Zimron (Mideast Aikido Project); and Pietro Yuji Maida (Northern California Ki Society).
First Aiki Corps Tour Completed
Aug. 1, 2007
AE's fledgling Aiki Corps program, a way for volunteers to help train young people in hardship situations, began in autumn 2005 when Neil Mick, sandan at Aikido of Santa Cruz, started a program for middle-school students at the Seven Tepees center in San Francisco. Since then, Neil provided semiweekly classes and collaborated with AE Members Kayla Feder and Robert Kent in sending his group to a weekend gasshuku for teenagers in Berkeley. Neil's kickoff was followed by Aiki Corps placements in Awassa, Ethiopia, and Sao Paolo, Brazil. Completing his tour this summer, Neil is recruiting someone to follow and keep the Seven Tepees program moving.
