Due to the corona virus Enmei Dojo is closed for the foreseeable future. Hopefully the students will keep up with their arts by practice at home. If you have a partner, that is great. If not, there is a lot you can do on your own, like jo kata, suburi, and even going through the techniques on your own.

Of course, doing techniques on your own is like shadow boxing, and shadows generally don’t hit back. Still, if you go through the techniques slowly and carefully you can work on where your feet and hands need to be, and key points to think about as you do the technique.

There is a lot of information on the net. On our site, for example is the syllabus and a few links to videos. There are lots of videos on you tube, and while a lot of them are somewhat lacking, there is always a nugget of information in there somewhere, though sometimes well hidden.

Also, I encourage people to keep in contact with other students and staff. Avoiding physical contact where possible is great for keeping corona virus at bay, but it is far from ideal for our mental well being. Keeping in touch by phone and email can help.

More about the cross training. The instructors will be Ricky (Yoshukai karate), Joe Justado (kali), Bill Wayne (Gojo Ryu karate), and myself (aikido).

Ricky said he is going to do slow motion fighting – a training method to give people time to learn how to spar more effectively.

Joe is going to do disarms and locks with a kali stick.

I haven’t decided, but I might do grabs in fighting. (And yes there are good reasons to grab somebody trying to hit you.)

I don’t know what Bill Wayne will do. Last year he did sweeps. IIRC, the year before he did kubitan techniques.

The current plan is to cancel aikido classes for the next two Tuesdays (24th and 31st). Tuesday classes will start up again on 7th. We cancelled classes on Saturday 21st, because nobody but me could make it. But we plan to have classes on 28th and 4th. The next two Wednesdays are Xmas Day and NY Day, so there will be no yoga then. Classes will start up again on 8th. Thursday classes will start back on 9th.

However, it is best to contact me if you are unsure about the schedule. 321 269 2394, or contact@enmeidojo.com.

So Merry Xmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy New Year, or whatever you wish for yourselves. Be safe and don’t eat too much.

For anybody that wants to try out a martial art or yoga, now is a great time. During December and January, we are offering new students a two-for-one special: pay one month for any class or set of classes, and get the next month free.

We went to TBJC for testing on Thursday, and Doug and Randy both passed their tests. Doug is now a 6th kyu. Randy is now a 5th kyu. They both fought very well. Congratulations to both of them.

We are planning a cross training seminar for Nov 16th. We will have aikido, kali, karate, and yoga. Watch this space for details.