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About Aikido
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Aikido is a modern Japanese martial art founded by Morihei Ueshiba, and is based primarily on Daito Ryu Aiki
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Jujutsu. Aikido is a martial art designed to cultivate integrity of body, mind, and spirit. Practiced with sincerity,
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aikido acts as a vehicle that brings the practitioner towards the ideal of loving protection for all things.
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Our aikido affiliation is with the
Aikido Schools of Ueshiba
(ASU), and through the ASU with Worldwide Aikikai
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Headquarters.
The ASU is headed by Mitsugi Saotome Sensei, 8th Dan Aikikai Shihan. Saotome Sensei was a
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direct student of, and instructor under, the founder of aikido, Morihei Ueshiba.
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Our chief instructor is Mike Pollak. Mike began his martial arts training in 1970, studying Shotokan karate
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while an undergraduate student at Carnegie-Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. After moving to
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Oklahoma City in 1973 to attend graduate school, he continued his karate training for several years prior
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to beginning his study of jujutsu. He holds the ranks of shodan in karate under the American Martial Arts
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Society and shodan in Aibujutsu-Ryu Jujutsu. Mike began his aikido training in 1978 in Raleigh, North
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Carolina. Mike moved to Tulsa in 1981 where he co-founded the Tulsa Aikido Club. Mike currently holds
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the rank of sandan in aikido under the ASU.
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About Iaido
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Iaido is the art of drawing the Japanese sword. Its primary focus is the ability to draw and cut in one motion,
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with complete efficiency of movement. The style of iaido we practice, Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu (MJER), is over
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450 years old, and was originally designed to dispatch an attacker from the initial moment of drawing of the
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sword. Today, the art focuses on developing mindful control over body, mind, spirit, and sword. In addition
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to the ability to wield a Japanese sword, the practice develops posture, focus, and martial awareness.
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Our iaido affiliation is with the MJER Seitokai (mainline) organization, headed by Takashi Ikeda Soke, under the
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| Copyright © 2016 Tulsa Aikido Club |
guidance of John Ray Sensei, 8th dan kyoshi.
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Iaido classes are led by Chris Guzik. Chris began his martial arts training in 1997, studying aikido under
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Jack Wada, in San Jose, California. Since returning to Tulsa in 1999, Chris has continued his study of aikido
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with the Tulsa Aikido Club. Chris began studying iaido under Susan Burke Sensei in 2004 and holds the ranks
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of rokudan in iaido under the Seitokai, and shodan in aikido under the ASU. Chris also practices and teaches
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Ashtanga Yoga.
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