Aikido Northshore

Just under 2 weeks out! There is still time to register for the Friendship seminar Sept 11 - 13 at Two Cranes Aikido with Hiroshi Ikeda Shihan, Lee Crawford Sensei, 6th Dan, and Dave Hurley Sensei, 6th Dan. More information and link to registration at https://www.aikidonorthshore.org/events. This will be sure to be a weekend full of great learning, teaching, and community.

All smiles from the Soshinkan Karate kid's summer camp hosted at the dojo a few weeks ago! 🥰 Thank you to everyone who attended and supported to make it a success.

"Most people think about promotions and ranking in terms of rungs on a ladder. In fact, it's more like the expansion of a sphere."

Saotome Sensei, as recalled by Julie "Jet" Tollen

In our summer newsletter, Julie Tollen, one of the instructors at Tampa Aikido, wrote about what an Aikido promotion actually means. Not the technical checklist, but the inner work that leads up to a test, what the kanji on your certificate really say, and the traditional etiquette of receiving one.

Julie has penned thousands of names on ASU kyu certificates since 2015, and the essay includes a full translation and transliteration of a sandan certificate, something most of us have never seen written down.

The complete article is on the Tampa Aikido site:
https://tampaaikido.com/articles/a-deeper-meaning-for-promotions-in-aikido/

Tampa Aikido

Just one month away! Come join the Friendship seminar on Sept 11 - 13 at Two Cranes Aikido with Hiroshi Ikeda Shihan, Lee Crawford Sensei, 6th Dan, and Dave Hurley Sensei, 6th Dan. More information and link to registration at https://www.aikidonorthshore.org/events. We hope to see you on the mat!

Registration is open! Come join the Friendship seminar on Sept 11 - 13 at Two Cranes Aikido with Hiroshi Ikeda Shihan, Lee Crawford Sensei, 6th Dan, and Dave Hurley Sensei, 6th Dan. More information and link to registration at https://www.aikidonorthshore.org/events.

We are so, so proud of Lee Crawford Sensei on her appointment of Shihan by the examination Committee for the Appointment of Shihan at Aikikai Hombu Dojo! Congratulations to all ASU members who have recently been appointed Shihan.

2026 Shihan Appointments

We are pleased to announce that the following ASU members have been appointed Shihan by the Examination Committee for the Appointment of Shihan at Aikikai Hombu Dojo. Congratulations to all!

Jim Alvarez, Aikido of Livermore
Lee Crawford, Bond Street Dojo
Robert Deppe, Aikido Shobukan Dojo
Eugene Lee, Aikido Shobukan Dojo
Chetan Prakash, Redlands Aikikai
Gary Small, Aikido of Maine
Marsha Turner, Chicago Aikikai

This honor reflects their deep experience, technical mastery, and long-standing dedication to the transmission of Aikido and its values through their leadership, engagement, and support of ASU.

We extend our heartfelt appreciation to Saotome Sensei, whose vision and lifelong commitment to Aikido continue to guide and inspire our community. We also offer our sincere thanks to Doshu and the Aikikai Foundation for this recognition.

Please join us in congratulating these outstanding leaders in our community.

We’re live! Our 2026 Fundraising Campaign has begun!
100% of all donations help us support:
✔️ More Dojos
✔️ More Students
✔️ More Teachers
Every gift large or small—helps carry Saotome Sensei’s dream into the future.

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Mark your calendars!! Hiroshi Ikeda Shihan, along with Lee Crawford Sensei, 6th Dan, and Dave Hurley Sensei, 6th Dan, will be teaching at Two Cranes Aikido Sept 11-13 for the annual Friendship seminar. More details on our website! https://www.aikidonorthshore.org/events

We are cancelling the Ryoichi Kinosh*ta Shihan Seminar scheduled for April 17-19 due to health reasons for Sensei. We apologize for any inconvenience for those who have already registered, but support the decision for the well-being of Kinosh*ta Shihan. If the seminar is rescheduled, we will send an update. Thank you for your understanding.