Info - Aikido of San Leandro

For those of you who are new to this website, Pat Hendricks and her dojo have a 30-year history with Iwama and Saito Sensei. Hendricks Sensei has been Uchi-deshi to Saito Sensei 25 times and continues to carry on his teachings. In the spirit of Aikido, all styles and affiliations are welcome at Aikido of San Leandro.

The San Leandro Aikido dojo has a very interesting history. Since the 1950’s it’s been a Judo dojo, a Kajukempo dojo, a Tae Kwon Do dojo, and, finally, since June of 1984 it’s been our Aikido dojo.

The first sensei ever to teach martial arts in this location, a Judo sensei, was coincidentally named Saito sensei.

The night that Bruce Lee passed away, his brother came here, which was then a Kajukenbo dojo, to find solace and support. He sat right where our Shomen stands today and talked late into the night with a number of martial arts teachers.

In 1983, Bruce Klicktein sensei (of the Oakland Aikido Institute dojo) recommended me to August O’Neil Sifu. August hired me to teach Aikido here. At that time, we laid the mat that we still use today. August O’Neil sifu moved on in early 1984. I signed the lease to run the dojo in June of 1984. We went for 6 months with no water, no toilet, and no electricity. We built the dojo from scratch. 20 years later, with a newly laid mat cover, we estimate that 10,000 people have practiced here,100 seminars have been held, 2 million tai no henko’s have been performed, and 6, 000 fire ceremonies.

In the end, a lot of blood, sweat, tears, and energy have gone into this now special place where people from all over the world come to train and experience O’Sensei’s spirit.

As a traditional school, all students are welcomed and expected to personally develop a teacher-student relationship with Sensei and the Dojo community. Registering students (and beginners) may come and train in an unlimited number of classes and are never excluded from training sessions. Sensei commits herself to cultivating each student's development, personally. It is through this relationship that the deeper understandings of Aikido are transmitted.

Becoming a student is made easy through three options, depending on your needs and abilities:

* Month-to-Month relationship: Pay a $140 registration and monthly dues (1st and ending months of a given training session)
* 6-month relationship: Pay a reduced $40 registration. The uniform fee is waved ($100 savings)
* 1-year relationship: Pay a reduced $40 registration. You recieve a free weapons set plus 1 free month of training ($300 savings).

TERMINATION POLICY FOR AUTOMATIC/RECURRING PAYMENTS (PRI)
We are not responsible for students who do not actively inform us about removal from PRI. The customer is solely responsible to contact us in writing via U.S. Mail with a valid signature of the primary contact of the account, account name and a reason for cancellation. This must be received two weeks before the next charge is made. Charges are made on the first of every month. The customer shall receive confirmation in writing that we have cancelled their PRI.

Kenkyusei/Sotodeshi/Uchi-deshi program.
This is a special research program for those interested in intensifying your understanding, training and teaching of Aikido

Opportunity to live at Sensei’s house and train intensively while having the flexibility to work or study outside of the dojo. Soto Deshi would be expected to attend the majority of classes and help out when needed at the dojo and home. In return, they receive a reduced rent and training fee.

For Nidan and above, an opportunity to deepen your understanding of Aikido principles and techniques. This is ideal for Deshi that have a limited amount of time to devote to training. The stay would be approximately 1 month with special attention from Sensei directed at the areas that need improvement.

Dan Test Requirements

SHODAN (Minimum of 1 year consistent training [5 days a week] since obtaining ikkyu)

SUWARIWAZA

Ikkyo-Yonkyo Shomenuchi/Yokomenuchi

Gokyo Yokomenuchi

Kokyu Dosa 3 variations

HANMI HANDACHI

Shihonage: Katatedori Iriminage: Tsuki

Ryotedori Shomenuchi

Kaitennage: Katatedori Ushiro: Ryotedori (2)

Tsuki Katadori (2)

Shomenuchi Hijidori (1)

Kotegaeshi: Tsuki

Shomenuchi

TACHIWAZA

Ikkyu-Yonkyo: any attack Kaitennage: Katatedori

Tsuki

Kotegaeshi: Tsuki Shomenuchi

Shomenuchi

Yokomenuchi Iriminage: Shomenuchi (5)

Ushiro Katatedori (3)

Gyakutedori Katamenuchi (3)

Tsuki

Yokomenuchi

Ushiro

Shihonage: Katatedori

Ryotedori

Yokomenuchi Jujigarami: Munadori

Shomenuchi Ushiro

Tsuki Katamenuchi

Katamenuchi

Ushiro Tenshinage: Ryotedori

4 directions

Koshinage: Katatedori

Ushiro: Ushiro Katatedori (3) Katadori

Ushiro Katadori (3+ variations) Morotedori (3)

Kubishime Tsuki

Any Ushiro Kata (te) in motion Shomenuchi

Ryokatatedori

Kubishime

Morotedori: variations

BUKIWAZA

Bokken: 5 Tachidori Jo: 5 Jodori 5 Ken Tai Jo

5 Kumitachi 5 Kumijo

Tanto: Tsuki-any Shomenuchi-any

Yokomenuchi-any Slash/Front/Back-any

Kubishimi-any

JIYUWAZA/RANDORI

One person free style/3 person attack

NIDAN (Minimum of 2 year consistent training [5 days a week] since obtaining shodan)

SUWARIWAZA

Ikkyo-Gokkyo: any grab or attack

HANMI HANDDACHI (ki no nagare possible)

Shihonage: Katatedori Iriminage: Tsuki

Ryotedori Shomenuchi

Kaitennage: Katatedori Ushiro: Ryotedori (2)

Tsuki Katadori (2)

Shomenuchi Hijidori (1)

Kotegaeshi: Tsuki variations (5)

Shomenuchi

TACHIWAZA

basic techniques (demonstrate a variety)

techniques from any requested attack

demonstrate both kihon and ki no nagare

KAESHIWAZA

4 counters from: Ikkyo

Nikkyo

Kotegaeshi

Shihonage

Iriminage

BUKIWAZA

Tachidori: demonstrate 5 techniques

Jodori demonstrate 5 techniques

Tanto: demonstrate 5 techniques

Partnerpractices: Kumitachi-all

Kumijo-all

Ken Tai Jo-all

FREE CHOICE

Opportunity for examinee to demonstrate additional weapons work, body arts...

JIYUWAZA

One person free style

RANDORI

3 person multiple attack-directed by examiners

Note: Examinee may choose primary uke to begin, and can expect the examiners to change ukes during the course of the examination.

SANDAN (Minimum of 3 year consistent training [5 days a week] since obtaining nidan)

SUWARIWAZA

Ikkyo-Gokkyo any grab or attack-all ki no nagare

HANMI HANDACHI

all previous basic techniques-ki no nagare and jiyuwaza

TACHIWAZA

progressions from all basic techniques

be able to show 5 ki no nagare techniques from any grab or attack

HENKAWAZA

any henka from any basic technique

KAESHIWAZA

5 counters from: Ikkyo

Nikkyo

Kotegaeshi

Shihonage

Iriminage

Kaitennage

Koshinage

BUKIWAZA

Tachidori: 5 from tsuki and 5 from shomen (live sword)

Jodori: 5 techniques-alternate tsukikamae and

kenkamae as well as left and right hanmi

Tanto: variations with live blade-any attack

Partnerpractices: Kumitachi-all with variations

Kumijo-all with variations

Ken Tai Jo-all with variations

FREE CHOICE

Pick any area to show creativity

JIYUWAZA

One person-demonstrate two-three defenses from each of two-four attacks

RANDORI

4 person multiple attack-weapons included

ESSAY

Prior to the test, submit a short writing about an Aikido-related subject from your personal perspective

Uchideshi Dues