2024 Midwest Aikido Bridge Seminar
Please join us for the 2024 Midwest Aikido Bridge Seminar, March 22-24, marking the 12th year of this event. We welcome everyone, from all affiliations and lineages. The seminar will be held at the Milwaukee Shobukan, 9333 N 49th St, Brown Deer, WI 53223.
Our Main Instructors are Hiroshi Ikeda Shihan, Lee Crawford Sensei, Lisa Tomoleoni Shihan, and Roberto “Bob” Garza Sensei. Additional classes will be taught by our Supporting Instructors, Kathy Aguilar-Downing Sensei, Jerry Cervantes Sensei, and Qin Coe Sensei. There will be 14 classes over the 3 days.
In addition to in-person attendance options the seminar will also be available virtually. Participate with your dojo mates from your dojo, or train on your own from any location.
The training schedule is (all Central Times): Friday March 22— 5:00-7:30 pm, Saturday March 23— 9:30 am-12:30 pm & 2:30-6:00 pm, Sunday March 24— 9:30 am-1:00 pmThere will be a Pizza Party (such fun!!!) at the dojo Saturday after training, please register to attend.
Registration fees are:All Days $185 / Saturday and Sunday $160 / Saturday Only $135 / Friday OR Sunday $65 / Virtual $50 / Saturday Party $20 Please use the PayPal link below to register. For those with financial constraints, a limited number of scholarships are available. If you are in that position, please contact us regarding this.
Please feel free to contact us with any questions at Shimbokukai.Events@gmail.com.
We look forward to seeing you on the mat!
Registration Open Now
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Registration Open Now 〰️
Main Instructors
Hiroshi Ikeda Shihan, 7 Dan, Boulder Aikikai, Colorado, USA
Hiroshi Ikeda Shihan began Aikido at Kokugakuin University Aikido Club, of which Mitsugi Saotome Shihan was the chief instructor. After graduation he trained regularly at Aikido World Headquarters and in Saotome Shihan’s Reimeijuku Dojo in Tokyo. He established Boulder Aikikai in 1980 for the study of the Japanese martial art of Aikido.The dojo is affiliated with the Aikido World Headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, through the Aikido Shimbokukai. Ikeda Shihan is well-known for his effective technique, and travels extensively around the world teaching. He is a member of the Grading Committee and Vice-President of Aikido Shimbokukai.
Lee Crawford Sensei, 6 Dan, Aikido Northshore, ASU
Lee Crawford Sensei, 6th Dan, is Chief Instructor at Aikido Northshore. Crawford Sensei began her Aikido training in 1980 under the direction of Akira Tohei Shihan at the University of Wisconsin Aikido Club. After relocating to Seattle in 1988, she became the Assistant Chief Instructor for George Ledyard Sensei at Aikido Eastside in Bellevue, WA. In 1995 Crawford Sensei opened Aikido Northshore in Kirkland, WA.In 2014 Crawford Sensei was awarded the Ueshiba Juku designation by Saotome Shihan.
Lisa Tomoleoni Shihan, 6 Dan, Aikido Shimbokukai Director
Lisa Tomoleoni Shihan holds the rank of Roku Dan (6th dan), received from Moriteru Ueshiba, Aikido Doshu. She spent over 14 years in Japan training at the Aikido World Headquarters and teaching Aikido professionally at a dojo in Tokyo. Tomoleoni Shihan is Director of Aikido Shimbokukai, an organization Officially Recognized by the Aikikai Foundation and Aikido World Headquarters in Tokyo, Japan. She also has yudansha ranking in Judo and Iaido and is a coauthor of the book "Along the Way", a collection of writings about training.
Roberto (Bob) Garza, 6th Dan, A Center for the Martial Arts, Sosei Aikido Kyokai Garza Sensei was introduced to the martial arts while serving in the United States Marine Corp in 1977. While in the USMC he studied Hwa Rang Do, a Korean art and was also introduced to Aikido by a fellow member of the USMC. Garza Sensei has continued his studies since those days. Garza Sensei spent many years under Fumio Toyoda Shihan and his senior Yudansha. After leaving that organization Garza Sensei was contacted by other former members and formed Sosei Aikido Kyokai. A small but unified Aikido community keeping the traditions of Fumio Toyoda Shihan while still advancing our study of Aikido.
Supporting Instructors
Kathy Aguilar-Downing Sensei, 4 Dan, Denver Aikikai, California Aikido Association
Kathy Aguilar-Downing, Yondan began her training in the USAF at Aikido of Morris County, NJ in 1989 with O’Connor Sensei and Stickles Sensei. Her job took her to the Chicago area where she tested for Shodan with Akira Tohei Sensei. She trained for 20 years with Twin Cities Aikido Center. Her seminar influences there were with Waite Sensei and Konigsberg Sensei. Since moving to Colorado, she has been training with Denver Aikikai, as well as with Ikeda Sensei in Boulder. She has also attended Bridge Seminars with Tomoleoni Sensei, Kinoshita Sensei in Kyoto, Japan, Sakabe Sensei in Kumamoto, Japan, and more recently, Saotome Sensei, also in Kumamoto. She took her yondan test with Friedl Sensei.
Jerry Cervantes Sensei, 4 Dan, Midwest Aikido Center, United States Aikido Federation
Cervantes Sensei began his Aikido training in the Yoshinkan tradition. In 1992 he began training in Aikikai style at the Glen Ellyn Aikido Club and then at the Midwest Aikido Center under Akira Tohei Shihan. He holds a 4 Dan and is a Fukushidoin of the USAF at the Midwest Aikido Center. He also holds dan ranking in Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu and Tae Kwon Do.
Qin Coe Sensei, 2 Dan, Chicago Aikikai, Aikido Schools of Ueshiba
Coe Sensei began training in Aikido at the University of Chicago under Don Levine Sensei starting 2002. She now trains at Chicago Aikikai under Marsha Turner Sensei.
Qin’s aikido training has been greatly influenced by Turner Sensei. She’s a member of the Diversity Inclusion Advisory Group for The ASU. As a leadership and life coach, Qin incorporates Aikido principles in her coaching and workshops.