Please join us August 17, 2024, from 8:30 am-5:30 pm Central time for the 2024 Shimbokukai Instructors Intensive. This event will be held in person at Prairie Aikikai, 27499 E Five Points Rd, Sycamore, IL 60178, and also be live streamed.
This seminar will be for people who currently are instructors, and also anyone who has a wish to become an instructor in the future. Participation is open to not only Aikido Shimbokukai members and supporting members, but also to people of any affiliation and lineage. The purpose of this one day intensive is to help our community as a whole better develop for the future.
Rather than focus on how to do techniques, the content of the seminar will focus on improving the transmission of Aikido technique and philosophy, growing and maintaining a dojo, and other aspects of running a successful dojo. All participants will have the opportunity to interact with each other, share ideas, teaching methods and dojo management methods.
8:00 am Registration/Free Training
8:45 am Welcome
9:00-10:00 am Growing a Dojo (Tabor et al)
10:00-11:00 am Pedagogy for Aikido (Tomoleoni)
11:00-11:30 am Legalities/Liabilities (Rice)
11:30-12:30 pm Training
12:30-1:30 pm Lunch/Free Training/Discussion
1:30-2:00 pm Real Estate Considerations (Strada)
2:00-2:30 pm Branding/Social Media (Lee)
2:30-3:30 pm Preparing for Kyu Level Tests (Hechtx2)
3:30-4:30 pm Training
4:30-5:30 pm Future of Aikido (Tomoleoni)
After the training is finished, we will be having a dinner at Jamrah, a restaurant in the area (middle Eastern cuisine).
All affiliations, levels of experience, and styles of martial arts are welcome to attend!
There are a variety of options for participation-
- Participate live; in-person training at Prairie Aikikai, 27499 E Five Points Rd, Sycamore, IL 60178.
- Participate virtually with your dojo mates from your dojo. For those who can gather and train together, please plan to attend the seminar from your dojo! Set up a computer, stream the event, and train!
- Participate virtually on your own from your home, or any location of your choice.
Please register using the STORE link above in the header. We will also be accepting walk-in registrations. Registration for the seminar is US$60 (includes a box sandwich lunch, please order when you arrive at the dojo) for in person participation and US$25 for virtual participation. For those with financial constraints please let us know as we have some scholarship options available.
For those of you attending in person here is some information about Prairie Aikikai:
The Prairie Aikikai dojo is located at 27499 Five Points Road, Sycamore, IL 60178. We are not actually in downtown Sycamore but are instead in the countryside a few miles west and north of Sycamore. The dojo is on the west side of Five Points Road, approximately 2.2 miles north of Route 64.Please be aware that Five Points Road, even though it is only a two lane country road, is frequently driven at 55mph (or higher). We have plenty of parking at the dojo and there will be students there to assist. Do not park on Five Points Road. The dojo is a blue building visible from there road, and we will also have our “Great Green Monster” (one of those inflatable floppy arm people you see outside certain businesses) out that morning. If you have any questions or get lost please call the dojo (815-981-8998) and we’ll be happy to help!
We look forward to this event, and hope to see you on the mat, in person or virtually!