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Aikido Martial Art Classes -Newark-Fremont-Union City

 

Welcome to Tri City Aikido martial arts academy, founded in 1996 and located in Newark CA (Tri City Area).  Tri City Aikido is a dojo (school) where you can study the traditional Japanese martial art of Aikido.  We "Specialize" in the art of Aikido.  Tri City Aikido has been doing business in the Tri City area for over 15 years and has good reason for it's success; Solid, effective training results.  During those years, people of all ages and ability have been coming to us to be educated in the martial art of Aikido.  What's is most interesting is that many people come for many different reasons.  Martial arts offers more than just self defense and as you read on, you will come to understand this.    

 

Martial Arts Instruction-Martial Arts Schools

 

Simply put, all martial art schools including Aikido schools are not the same.  There is always going to be commonalities that will appear to be like in characteristics, but only on a superficial level.  Each school has a feel or tone that resonates through the students set forth by the head instructor.  Each instructor will have their own interpretation or flavor of how they perceive their martial art should be projected to the public, taught and practiced. 

 

I think it is important to differentiate sport martial arts and martial arts like Aikido.  Sport martial arts like Judo, karate, wushu and MMA are mostly competitive arts that stress rules and regulations.  Contest and tournaments are held pitting one person against the next for some kind of award or trophy.  If this is what you are pursuing, then Aikido is not for you.  

 

Aikido is not a sport, so competition is not the basis for training.  The true opponent in Aikido is yourself.  During the course of training, you will come to find problems and errors in your performance.  The goal is to first come to realize the issue(s) and then make a conscious act to make a difference in yourself.  Taking action is vital and there is no substitute.  Acting upon these changes takes time and little by little we shape ourselves into stronger individuals through the training process.  Like everything else in life, the more you put into it, the more you get out of it.       

 

Aikido martial arts vs. Dojo Aikido

 

Even Aikido schools can be very different.  At Tri City Aikido, we have narrowed the field down by identifying two types: Aikido & Dojo Aikido.  "Dojo aikido" is a bi-product of the original art that can only function under perfect conditions practiced in the dojo or school.  Practice is limited to training methods that have not stood up to the test of time and should not be expected to be applicable in street type self defense situations.  Believe it or not, some people enjoy this type of training and we believe that each individual should train with the methods that are best suited for them and their likings. 

 

Tri City Aikido on the other hand offers authentic Aikido training, which has no boundaries of effectiveness.  In otherwords it is applicable everywhere, including the street.  One of the main components is developing a martial mindset, not based on instensity, but hightening the minds awareness through specific types of training.  This training stems from weapons and incase you didn't know, Aikido empty hand movements come from sword, staff and knife applicaitons.    Tri City Aikido offers both classical training and an updated modern approach to the system.  The alternative strategies and avenues practiced at Tri City Aikido vs. that of the standard Aikido repertoire being taught today are obvious once compared.  Classical Aikido/martial arts have their place, but can be problematic when a person cannot take the traditional movements and convert those techniques into a more modern approach for every day type situations that occur in a non-traditional society.

 

Here at Tri City Aikido, we offer a "Full Curriculum" to the art of Aikido.   

           Which Martial Art Classes we offer at Tri City Aikido.

 

         At Tri City Aikido you will study four arts bound by the same principles.

• Taijitsu (empty hand applications) that involve various strikes, kicks, grabs, grappling, joint locks, pressure points, throws and controls
• Kenjitsu (Japanese sword training) which also includes sword taking and controls
• Jojitsu & Bojitsu (Short and long staff) which also includes various attacks, forms, controls and projections
• Tantojitsu (knife) defense, attacks, controls and projections or throws

 

      While all of the practices listed above appear to be different in method, it is the principles of the Aikido system that binds all of these practices together as one.  When you learn one facet, you learn another indirectly.  Practice is always peaceful in a traditional environment. 

 

What is Martial arts?

 

Martial arts means different things to different people.  In general, martial arts nowadays are looked at primarily as a competitve arena where you can fight to the top.  At Tri City Aikido, martial arts is a vehicle used primarily for the transformation of ones self.  The body can be made more flexible and stronger with martial arts.  The mind can be sharpened and enlightened with martial arts.  Ones character becomes calmer and poised.  Martial arts can teach you how to attack, defend but it can also teach you how to see it before it begins.  When you have this kind of sight, your next step would and should be wiser.      

 

With all these potentially dangerous types of practices listed above, one might conclude that training in Aikido is too extreme for the average person.  On the contrary, since Aikido is not a sport martial art, one of the practices that is constantly on the fore-front is that of mutual respect for your training partners.  Mutual respect being you treating all individuals with the same consideration as you wish to be treated with yourself.  Without mutual respect, it is difficult for peace to persevere and peace goes hand in hand with the art of Aikido. 

 

At no time should you think that intentional harm is coming your way during the training.  The execution of true power is not displayed by a violent act, but the potential to act instead.  There are two basic mindsets in Aikido; The "Training mindset" and the "Anything goes mindset."  In the dojo, it is always a training mindset that is being exercised.  The search for peace through martial arts is the goal here at Tri City Aikido. It is a place where you can find a balance of spiritual awareness training while maintaining a sharp martial edge that creates a wonderful and dynamic learning environment.  We invite you.

Japanese culture and tradition in Aikido

 

At Tri City Aikido dojo (school) practice always begins and ends with a bow which signals respect towards your training partner.  The values of the Japanese culture are obvious once the training begins.  Not only does Tri City Aikido emphasize these practices, but also utilizes the Japanese terminology used in traditional Aikido facilities.  These things are not unique to the art because they offer a connection to Japan and or any authentic training facility around the world.  The practice of Aikido is of a non-competitive nature. One of the main focuses of practice is self control.  Without self control, you cannot control your opponent.  We also focus on training, not fighting. Actual fighting is only done as a last resort in martial arts and never something that happens in the training hall.  Training at Tri City Aikido involves the forging of the body, educating the mind and the enlightening of the spirit.  It is said, "You cannot truly understand Aikido until you understand yourself first".

 

 

Starting your Martial arts training at our dojo

 

The first step is to get up, come in and meet the teacher and members.  Becoming a person of action is critical for success.  We have a maxim at the dojo:  "If you want something to happen, make it happen".  It's easy to think that  you can learn from a book or watch a dvd, but the simple fact is, there is no substitute for hands-on hard work. 

 

Getting your feet wet is what it's all about.  If you come in for a trial, you will get on the mat with the regular class and be exposed to the same training as a seasoned practitioner.  You can expect slow and controlled practice until you become proficient at Ukemi (The art of falling)  Once you achieve this skill, you will have the option of speeding things up at your discretion.

 

Patience is always tested in martial arts, but I will tell you this in advance;  If you learn "One" thing every time you come to class, it was a good class.  If you train twice a week, at the end of the year you will have learned 100 plus things about martial arts that you didn't know the year before.  If you are a person who expects more from themselves each and every year from their training, Tri City Aikido can help  you fulfill this obligation to yourself.

 

You will see that our facility is spacious and clean. The teacher to student ratio averages 1 to 6, which insures you will get the attention you deserve. Our school has been successful for a few reasons; quality instruction combined with a superior curriculum and a positive learning environment.

 

The benefits of training in Aikido

• Discipline
• Self-control
• Body strengthening
• Improved health through fitness,
• Stress reduction & weight loss,
• Improved concentration and awareness,
• Improved coordination and flexibility,
• Positive environment to develop a stronger mindset
• Unification of the mind, body, & spirit,
• Empty hand & weapons training of course,

 

 

 

What is Aikido-Aikido is Budo (Martial arts) 

In recent past, the art of Aikido has been branded by some as a dance of some sort and not a true "Budo" or martial art.  There are many books and videos on the web to back that statement. We are here to say that this is the farthest thing from the truth.  In the video above, the founder of Aikido O Sensei, is demonstrating some Aikido techniques in a non-violent manner.  This exhibition is mostly demonstrating one's ability to lead and project an attackers intent to harm.  In actual application, O Sensei was known to have seriously harmed and even crippled people who have challenged him in the past.  What Aikido does, that most martial arts don't, is give the choice of being non-violent or otherwise.  Tri City Aikido was founded to give practitioners the choice of developing and maintaining a martial edge in their Aikido training.  A dojo devoted to preserving the martial applications and Aikido's principles that were once taught & practiced years ago by the founder himself.  Aikido's physical movements are based on non-resistance. You might say it's a lot like bull fighting. If you challenge the force of the charging bull, you're finished.  So like a Matador, we will teach you to move with the force of the bulls horns without running away from the situation.  This is obviously an advanced approach and an incredibly intelligent way of dealing force. 

 

The parameters of Aikido

Striking in Aikido-Aikido Strikes 

A. Campagna Sensei makes it a point to open the eyes of his students to the nonphysical approach to martial arts through awareness training. This may encompass certain types of awareness practices and strategies that are not commonly known by those seeking instant gratification in sport martial arts. Unlike most Aikido dojo's, A. Campagna Sensei teaches that Aikido is over 90% striking in actual combat (Hands, feet, knees, etc..) and makes his students well aware of the fact through demonstration of what could be if the moment presented itself. Contrary to this statement, the majority of  the training  is dedicated to the non-striking 10%. Why? Simple, because the classic non-striking approach is the fastest way to a deeper understanding of the art of Aikido. 

 

 

Short History of Aikido

 

Modern Aikido was founded in Japan by Morihei Ueshiba, ("Ōsensei). Aikido is relatively new, just being introduced after World War II. The physical roots comes from Aikijujutsu (Japanese Jujutsu), this would be evident by the throws and joints locks that are common in Aikido's practice. If one could get past the physical practice, you would be able to experience a Spiritual dimension to the art supported by ethical principals to build and maintain a strong and respectable character as you would have found in the ancient Samurai of Japan centuries ago.

 

Martial Aikido principles

Aikido and Mixed Martial Arts-MMA