Aikido Shugyo Dojo
2203 Gerrard Street East Toronto, ON, Canada

Tesabaki/hand movement practice anytime, anywhere If you don't have a wrist to borrow for practicing "tesabaki(hand movements)" of aikido wrist locks, check your house hold stuff or children's toys and you can always find something. Paper tubes and pool noodles can do for Nikyo and Yonkyo. Any other ideas? https://www.facebook.com/226724297348665/videos/1235909523096799

Tomorrow: Tuesday January 26 @ 6pm ET we are holding a virtual / free / introductory Aikido class. Please join us! For anyone new to Aikido, this is a great way to get acquainted with our practice and our dojo from the comfort of your own home. The focus of our virtual classes is on solo practice so no partner required. Register for this free class by contacting us at [email protected] #supportlocal #eastendtoronto #freeclass #martialartsclass #martialartstraining #aikido #aikidotoronto #introclass #zoomclasses #virtuallearning #virtualmartialarts

We are happy to announce that our dojo-cho, Gabriel DiMarco sensei was promoted to 5th degree (Go-dan) black belt at the Kagami Biraki ceremony at Hombu Dojo. Also, congratulations to Yumi Nakamura shihan, George Hewson shihan, Adrian Iliescu sensei, John-Patrick Foster sensei, Kim Riddick sensei, Ivan Booth sensei, Robert Fudge and everyone who was promoted at this New Year's event!

Happy Monday A reminder that we are holding a Free Virtual Introductory Aikido class on Tuesday January 26 @ 6pm ET. Open to all, please sign up by contacting us at [email protected]

MORNING CLASSES We recently re-instated weekday morning classes for the early riser in you! Virtually, of course. A bit of Aikido before work, before school or after work or after pulling an all-nighter, however this time slot fits in your day, please join us

Interested in #Aikido? Join us on Tuesday Jan 26 @ 6pm ET for a Free Virtual introductory Aikido class! Lead by our dojo-cho, Gabe DiMarco Sensei, the class held via Zoom will go over our current virtual class structure at an introductory level, with lots of room for questions! Contact us to register via e-mail at [email protected] ... #aikido #aikidointroductoryclass #freeclass #martialarts #martialartsbasedfitness #torontolife #covidsafeactivities #wayofthewarrior #newyearsresolution2021 See more

Ringing in the New Year, Aikido style We held our annual New Year’s Day tradition of 1000 bokken cuts at the park today. Face masks, extra layers, uneven icy grounds and gloves on our hands certainly made it a more challenging suburi this year. But in doing so, we hoped to send out into the world our collective forces for a good 2021! Post-suburi sake mandatory. As @blue_pompom says: Drinkingsake on the new year’s day is a ritual to drive away evil spirits (bad ki !) around you and to wish for a long healthy life. The new year’s sake is called Oh-toh-so = Slaying the demon.

Some clarity on what our holiday class schedule looks like these last few days of 2020! Regular schedule resumes Jan 2nd Hope everyone has a great week!

Aikido weapons training in the snowy Ted Reeves park near our dojo. It is not quite Kangeiko weather to us yet

Merry Christmas Everyone!!

*OCTOBER SCHEDULE OUT NOW* (http://shugyo.com//uplo/2020/10/OctoberSchedule_Aikido.pdf) Gabe Sensei sent through the October schedule, adding a couple of indoor dojo classes and we are continuing to offer a combination of indoor, outdoor and Zoom classes. Please check your e-mail for updates as we are monitoring closely the province’s health & safety requirements/protocols as the number of COVID cases increase. These photos were taken last Friday. The last of the balmy days, chasing daylight. Outdoor weapons classes will start at 6pm starting today! And we will likely change the time as we continue to lose daylight...stay tuned!

On Aiki-ken practice (set of Japanese sword techniques practiced according to the principles of Aikido):

Our September schedule is out! We are still holding outdoor All Levels weapons classes at Ted Reeve Park on Mondays & Fridays - 7pm - 8pm. The only contact is with one another’s weapons Face masks required. Dress in comfortable clothing, easy to move in. : @imagefatale

Toronto Women in Aikido Virtual Meet-Up: Saturday Aug 15 Anita from Shugyo and Yelitza Cuevas from Toronto Aikikai have organized a virtual meet-up for all women Aikido practitioners of the Toronto/GTA & nearby cities (details in poster below). It's this Saturday, August 15, from 4:30pm - 5:30pm, via Zoom. To receive the meeting link, you can register by e-mailing them at [email protected] or through the Eventbrite link below: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/toronto-women-in-aikido-virtual

Gabe sensei is happy to see his students taking more interest in weapons training that he added another OUTDOOR weapons class for youth and adults to the schedule on Mondays at 7pm. Let's enjoy while the weather is still great. (Online classes continue!)

It's great to see you in person and train together again (with keeping "maai" all the time ) ! Shugyo dojo's guidelines for reopening is now available on our website. Please read before coming to outdoor/indoor classes.

Long time Shugyo friend and favourite, Mary Heiny Sensei is teaching a virtual class this coming Thursday August 6th @ 2PM EST. A small fee is requested ($12.50 USD to be paid directly to her via Paypal, link below). Hope some of you can attend!

Please take this covid-19 self-assessment before coming to classes at Shugyo Dojo and read "requested actions." You can find the same documents in the "Dojo update- August" email and at the dojo entrance as well. **************** 1. Have you been in contact in the last 14 days with someone that is confirmed to have COVID-19?... 2. Have you been in a setting in the last 14 days that has been identified by public health as a risk for acquiring COVID-19, such as on a flight, in a workplace with a cluster of cases, or at an event? 3. Do you currently have any of these symptoms? - Fever (feeling hot to the touch, a temperature of 37.8 degrees Celsius or higher) - Chills - Cough that's new or worsening (continuous, more than usual) - Barking cough, making a whistling noise when breathing (croup) - Shortness of breath (out of breath, unable to breathe deeply) - Sore throat (not related to seasonal allergies or other known causes or conditions) - Difficulty swallowing - Runny nose (not related to seasonal allergies or other known causes or conditions) - Stuffy or congested nose (not related to seasonal allergies or other known causes or conditions) - Lost sense of taste or smell - Pink eye (conjunctivitis) - Headache that’s unusual or long lasting - Digestive issues like nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain (not related to other known causes or conditions) - Muscle aches that are unusual or long lasting - Extreme tiredness that is unusual (fatigue, lack of energy) - Falling down often (except when you are Uke ) - For young children: sluggishness or lack of appetite If you answered NO to all the above questions, you may participate the class today. 1. Wash or sanitize your hands upon arrival and after class in dojo. 2. Wear a mask in the dojo at all times 3. Keep two-meter physical distance 4. Only one person in change room at a time (come to dojo in your uniform if possible) 5. During the class (for both indoor and outdoor): Wear a face mask at all times Practice in a designated area No physical contact No sharing of weapons and other equipment. If anyone feels sick or trouble breathing during practice, report to the instructor 7. Wash hands with soap after using washroom 8. Take your uniform and weapons home 9. No loitering in front of dojo and the entrance area 10. Bring your own drinking water (not using dojo cups and water from the washroom sink)

Here’s the temporary class schedule starting Tuesday, August 4th. We have online Zoom classes, weapons in the park and classes in dojo* (no physical contact, and each student practices in a designated area. A limit of 4 or fewer students in one class). *Pre-booked indoor classes: please register with Gabe DiMarco sensei by emailing your choice of day/time that you would like to attend the classes in dojo.

Reopening of Dojo Hi Shugyo members, Please check your email. "Dojo Update-August 2020" has important information about reopening.Reopening of Dojo Hi Shugyo members, Please check your email. "Dojo Update-August 2020" has important information about reopening.

A note from Dan Jones, now CAF past president, on a very successful AGM conducted via Zoom. Congrats to Anita Abbasi (Shugyo) and Collin Brown (JCCC), newly e...lected to the board. Thank you all again for attending the video teleconference today. If you didn't make it to there meeting, you missed a good one. The new Board has a great tool now to connect via Zoom so you all can stay connected between the AGM's. The new Board is comprised of: President - Steve Erickson Vice President - Michelle Lapointe Secretary - Kim Riddick Treasurer - Steven Duguay Member at Large - John Foster Member at Large - Ted Yoshioka Member at Large - Collin Brown Member at Large - Anita Ababasi The following people are continuing their roles in the CAF as well. Camp/Seminar Committee - Pat Olson Bursary Committee - Adrian Iliescu Examination Committee Chair - George Hewson Hombu Liaison - George Hewson Kawahara Trust Fund - Jim Barnes We were very fortunate to have a lot of interest in the open positions on the Board. It would have been great to accept all the nominees but unfortunately there weren't that many openings. Each of the nominees have diverse experience and expertise to add to the CAF. If you didn't get onto the Board please make your interest known if you'd like to assist the Board with their 'to-do' list. Thank you to Doug and Penny who stepped down from the Board. Your work on the Board for the CAF has been valued and appreciated by everyone. Again, congratulations to the Board and the others in key roles for your dedication to the CAF. All the best for good health and good practice. Regards, Dan

#throwback to Chris’ level 3 advanced weapons test last September.

#throwback Another from the same Clyde Sensei seminar a couple of years ago. Some Aikido smiles we miss seeing in person! : @gigifontoura or @sumifactory (??)

#throwback Karen and Kali at one of our Clyde Takeguchi Sensei seminars a couple of years back. Missing that human-to-human contact connection Aikido brings. : @gigifontoura (?) or @sumifactory (?)

Lorraine is Shugyo’s most longstanding student She is also an AP Nurse at CAMH and has been one of the many medical & healthcare practitioners working the frontlines tirelessly since the beginning of the pandemic. Photo #throwback to Shugyo’s 30th anniversary seminar. : @cedric_swaneck (?)