Welcome to Sierra Aikido
Welcome to the website of Sierra Aikido. Sierra Aikido is a
California nonprofit ( 501(c)3 ) public benefit corporation dedicated to
providing fitness, work / life balance and intercultural
awareness through Aikido.
Key Elements of Our Programs
Sierra Aikido has a friendly, supportive and enjoyable training
environment for people of all ages and physical abilities. Our goal is to
help our students to reach high yet attainable standards in Aikido. We
offer:
-
Two highly experienced senior instructors who teach each class as a
team, and circulate to provide individual help
-
Emphasis on quality and clarity of movement within the context of traditional Aikido
throws, rather than on memorizing many complex techniques and forms
-
Individual instruction, as well as group training
-
Self-paced training, with each developing at his or her own rate. The
instructors work individually with each member on correct throw forms,
smooth falls, posture, body alignment, throwing stance, and the ability
to adjust to a partner's movements
-
Individual training and testing objectives tailored to every member's personal
requirements
-
A structured, documented curriculum with clear training and
testing objectives for the group
-
A Members' Portal / Repository of instructional
materials and information, continually evolving in response to ideas and suggestions
from the membership. At the moment the Portal comprises:
- Training information, such as personal attendance history, both general and
individual exam requirements, exam and rank history.
- A growing Aikido Library of both image ( video clips and stills )
and online printed information resources: Aikido techniques,
footwork, test and rank requirements, individual and paired weapons
( bokken, jo, tanto ) techniques and exercises, etc.
- Members Forum for discussions of Aikido topics.
- Sierra Events Calendar and news and announcements.
Sierra's instructors are committed to working one-on-one with students to
track personal progress toward course objectives, and to meet personal
needs and goals. Anyone can do Aikido well with consistent support.
How to Sign Up
Sierra Aikido offers adults two ways to start Aikido:
- Aikido for Beginners - A one-month ( 10 sessions ) course, with the
option to convert to regular membership on completion. Start at any time.
Course Fee: $ 75.00.
- Regular Membership - Attend ongoing classes for adults in two
locations
on the mid-Peninsula, in Menlo Park and Mountain View, respectively.
Both options entitle any member to train freely at either location at any
scheduled
time.
You can sign up for Aikido lessons in two ways:
- At the dojo location of your choice
- Come to the location of your choice about 10 minutes before the
start of any class
- Sign a waiver of liability form and pay the dues, preferably
by check ( We can't handle credit cards and don't carry change
for cash payments! )
- Sign up online
Your membership only takes effect from the day you first start
training.
Principals and Instructors
Sierra Aikido is managed and operated by senior practitioners of Aikido.
Both trained and taught at a dojo in Mountain View,
since 1993, until Sierra Aikido became a fulltime commitment as a nonprofit
( 501(c)3 ) community benefit organization in February, 2007.
- Frits Levenbach, 5th Dan
During the 1960s and 1970s he trained at various Aikido dojos in
Japan and the U.S., including at Tokyo University ( Todai ) and
Aikikai ( Honbu ).
He has been teaching a general Aikido class for adults, including weapons, weekly
since 1995. He also coordinated the monthly Beginners Course and assisted
with the children's program at Aikido Center, Mountain View.
- Julie Bennett, 3rd Dan
Julie was the head instructor of, and responsible for developing
and expanding, the children's program at Aikido Center, Mountain View,
from 1999 to 2007. She also both assisted and taught as substitute
instructor in the dojo's Beginners Course since its inception.
She is a credentialed teacher with 20 years experience creating, building
and teaching programs for both children and adults.
Contact Information
