Aikicommunications ...

Bill Witt Making 15th Visit to Virginia Dec. 5-6

SPOTSYLVANIA, Va. (7-17-09)  - William Witt Shihan, 7th Dan and Saito Sensei's senior student in the U.S., will be making his 15th visit to Virginia Dec. 5-6, 2009. The site will be Aikido of Fredericksburg's newly-constructed Shin Dojo in Spotsylvania.

The fee is $80 for the entire seminar, $60 for Saturday or Sunday only. For further information, call Bryan Park Aikido Chief Instructor Tim Sheldon at 804-477-4533 or email him at timsheldon99@yahoo.com. Information is also available from Aviv Goldsmith, Chief Instructor of Aikido in Fredericksburg, at aviv@aikidoinn.com, telephone 540.582.9600.

The Seminar address is 6147 Hickory Ridge Rd, Spotsylvania, VA 22551. See map.

(Photos: At left, William Witt Shihan, 7th Dan, demonstrates technique with Aviv Goldsmith at 2000 seminar in Richmond. At right, sketch of new Shin Dojo.)

Witt Shihan has visited Richmond 14 times as the guest of Bryan Park Aikido, but will be making a special visit to Spotsylvania this year to help celebrate the opening of the new Shin dojo.

He is primarily responsible for bringing the teaching of Saito Sensei to the United States. This is extremely important in the history of Aikido in the U.S., because Saito Sensei had the best understanding of O Sensei's weapons system.

O Sensei did not teach weapons to any great extent at the Hombu Dojo in Tokyo. He kept this training almost exclusively in Iwama. Weapons and Taijutsu go together in Aikido, as we've read, and if Bill Witt had not connected Saito Sensei with U.S. Aikido students, we might never have gained this understanding. See: The Man Who Built the Bridge to Iwama.

Schedule:

Friday: 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Brock Center, Court three, Randolph-Macon College. Fee is $30 for Friday only. Click here for directions to the college, and here for a campus map.

Saturday: 10 a.m. to 12 noon and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Taijutsu, Jo and Bokken.
                 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., Dan Tests.

Saturday: 6:30 p.m., party at Shin Dojo.

Sunday: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Taijutsu, Jo and Bokken at the Shin Dojo. 

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Bill Witt Aikido Seminar Registration

Name: ____________________________________________________________

Birthdate: _________________________________________________________

Street:____________________________________________________________

City:______________________________________State:________Zip:__________________

E-Mail:_______________________________

Previous Aikido Experience - Years _________Dojo _________________________________ Rank_______________

Telephone Number ________________

Other martial art _______________________________ Rank ______________

Amount enclosed: $________________ ($80 for all three days, $60 for Saturday or Sunday only.)

Make checks payable to Tim Sheldon.

Mailing address:

Tim Sheldon
Bryan Park Aikido
7602 N. Pinehill Dr.
Richmond, VA 23228

Waiver

Aikido is a martial art similar to Judo or Karate. Aikido teaches self-defense and requires practicing with partners to learn Aikido techniques.  Due to the strenuous nature of the practice, the participant is advised to consult with a physician concerning his/her fitness to participate. All Aikido activities involve an element of risk, which the participant is urged to consider and which the participant assumes. If the participant feels unsure of his/her ability to take part in any of the Aikido activities, it is recommended that he/she not participate in these specific activities.  As a condition to being admitted to the Bill Witt Shihan Seminar and related events, I assume the risk of all injury and do hereby hold Tim Sheldon, Bryan Park Aikido, Aikido in Fredericksburg, their lessors, volunteers, and agents, harmless from any and all liability (including attorney’s fees and costs) for all claims, actions, or damages due to injuries suffered by me or caused to third parties by me, arising out of activities involving Aikido, any variation thereof, or associated therewith, whether occurring on the premises of the Seminar or elsewhere.

I have read the above waiver, understand its contents, and agree to the provisions.

Signed:__________________________________________ Date:_____________________

Signature of Parent

or Guardian:______________________________ Date_____________________