Peace Practices

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Website: PeacePractices.org

Social Media: Facebook ~ Twitter

Video: YouTube

 

Much is said about the value of empathy and the need to cultivate habits of nonviolence which lead to Peace. At the same time, it is very rare to find truly humane and co-creative environments which insist on the daily practice of peace in order to actually achieve this end. Through the local non-profit, Association Building Community, the Peace Practices curriculum was offered for the first time in 2009 at The Renaissance School, a Montessori learning environment in Oakland, CA. We opened a door there through which even the most scattered and conflicted children and families walked to learn habits of peaceful interaction. Peaceful ways of working through conflict and difference have always been one of the traditional pillars of learning and of Montessori education in particular.
 
 
In May 2014 we received three years of international funding and began the next phase, our local launch in partnership with Pacific Rim International School in Emeryville and San Mateo, CA. In 2016, we began working with Beacon Day School in Oakland. For more details, please visit Association Building Community's Peace Practices page. In 2016, the second of three years of promised funding, the foundation supporting us ceased communicating without explanation, and we became unable to support our administration. Some classes continued, but our infrastructure had to be disassembled. We searched for a more sustainable funding model. Brandon was invited to teach all levels of graduate students and introduce Conflict Done Well, the system as whole including Aikido 2.0, Martial Nonviolence, and Peace Practices, into the somatic psychology department of Pacifica Graduate Institute. Afterward, everything CDW then moved to be based in North Texas where it now has a home online, as a result of the pandemic, and continues to develop at Aikido Oak Cliff.
 
Now is the ideal time to offer your support and help us multiply our impact.

 

If you would like to read a bio of our founder, Brandon Williamscraig, it is available here.

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In my experience, Aikido can help students in several ways no matter their age. At least the following apply:

 

For School-age Children

Aikido practice reduces fear. This applies to interaction with family, problematic fellow students, and with the challenges of deadlines, testing, and concern for the future. If you face the future with martial intensity but a dedication to nonviolence, then option multiply and you are in balance and ready to respond when opportunities arise.

Aikido raises expectations. It can help to focus their learning process when students borrow martial ideas and pratices and apply them to their education. Aikido is learned in a dojo, which is an ordered environment entirely dedicated to one purpose--martial development. If the student approaches their learning in the classroom as though they were in a dojo, with special time set aside, rituals of beginning and ending, as though their future is at stake, then their learning process will shift in the direction of dedication and measurable increases in not only knowledge but also the ability to learn. In this way their interest in school grows with their skill, and they learn to shape their enviroment in order to support the particular learning they need.

Aikido turns a clear learning process into a habit. When you watch an art form done well, and then attempt to repeat what you have seen, and then bear responsibility for passing it on to others, you expect these phases in each future learning experience and help make the process happen. This deepens your understanding and refines your learning.

 

For young-adults in high school and at university

 

University of California - Berkeley

 

University of Chicago

 

University of Texas

 

Stanford University

 

For seniors and those with health concerns

 

Hisateru Ishikawa, a Free Aiki Dojo student who began training with us at 68 years of age, suggests that he studies aikido "to learn to walk with good balance; to fall and not be injured; to learn how to learn again and again and keep the mind quick."

 

More...

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Using Montessori philosophy and Approach to the Child, we offer an aikido-based developmental curriculum that teaches children and adults to practice peace together with their bodies and thoughts as though it were a martial art, because peace is not the absence of conflict but the ongoing practice of conflict done well.

The scope and Montessori foundation for our work is suggested by these articles 

From Dr. Montessori's work:

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A Remedy for War
Thoughts on Peace and Education


By Maria Montessori
Edited and Adapted by Mark Shepard

 

Publication History

2010-11-29

http://www.markshep.com/nonviolence/Montessori.html

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From the work of a previous director of training programs for Montessori Teachers in India, A.M. Joosten's, extension of Gandhi's principles:

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Excerpts from "Nonviolence and the Child"

A.M. Joosten

 

Publication History

1996-07-01

http://www.cctheo.org/nonviolence.html#joosten

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One of many contemporary attempts to answer "What Are The Real Benefits of Sending a Child to Montessori?":

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What Are The Real Benefits of Sending a Child to Montessori?

Tim Seldin

 

Publication History

2008-10-27

http://www.montessori.org/imc/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=334:what-are-the-real-benefits-of-sending-a-child-to-montessori&catid=16:articles-introducing-montessori-education&Itemid=44

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A response to the global needs reflected by such organizations as the United Nations, for instance in the 3rd Peace Salon in Paris at the Museum of Science and Industry in 2008:

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AMI Montessori United Nations NGO and UNESCO Montessori UN Decade on Peace and Non-Violence for Children

AMI Intl. Inc.

 

Publication History

2008-05-30

http://montessori-ami.org/ami/UNDecadePeace.htm

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For the past 100 years Montessori education has focused on preparing the environment and the developmental aspects of practicing peace on a daily basis which have been successful on many levels.  Schools are ready for more extensions.  It is encouraging, for instance, to know that “students carried a flag with two doves, sang peace songs, recited a peace pledge and said ‘may peace prevail on Earth’ in nearly about a half dozen or so languages” this year (2010) to celebrate The International Day of Peace. 

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Students at Seabrook schools celebrate nonviolence

Robert Goddard Montessori and French Immersion pupils embrace international day of peace

 

 

Liz Skalski

 

 

Publication History

2010-09-23

http://www.gazette.net/stories/09232010/bowinew121409_32536.php

 

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But ritual needs to grow out of  real understanding.  Our curriculum gives sensory understanding of  ‘making peace’ – how peace is made by each individual.  As in all things Montessori, materials, lessons, and habit forming practices make the presence of peace a more concrete and lasting reality so that children and staff alike may leave the ordered environment and carry the order they love, learn, and teach into the much higher stress areas of conflict in the home and beyond.

 

Montessori guides are hungry for more training that extends their understanding as well as directly applicable lessons and practice.  It is appropriate that this training come from a Montessori-child-grown-up.  The Culturesmith curriculum known as Martial Nonviolence, developed by Brandon WilliamsCraig, takes to the next level “Montessori’s key ideas about creating a culture of peace by working on creating ‘peaceful environments’ where children can experience peace daily at home, their schools and communities.” (AMI-UN) This emerges through sharing specific applications with faculty and staff (through in-service training and consultation), parents (through evening and weekend workshops), and children (in the classroom and dojo) that go beyond the basic training in behavior modification and innovations like the “peace table” to offer the children appropriate ways to direct their physical aggression and emotional upset.  Following the child, rather than subtly (and not so subtly) saying, “Don’t do that,” we suggest,  “When you would like to hit/attack/throw/fall, this is a way to do so in a safe and creative way.”  Since what we do is what we learn, it makes sense that we should practice Peace together with no less dedication and focus than one might practice, for instance, a martial art.

 

One of Brandon WilliamsCraig's Aiki Extensions colleagues, Charles Colten, is one of the foremost experts offering aikido in tandem with elementary education.

Around the country and around the world aikido professionals are realizing similar advances in a way that benefits the children in their dojos.

 

Imagine what might be possible if not only aikido but an entire system of peace-making behaviors became as common a practice as learning to read. This is where we are headed, and it will transform the classroom into the safe place it was meant to be so that our children may once again find their way into the future with the confidence that only comes when they are supported by their community.

 

To inquire further, please

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Please make contact any of these ways

brandon at culturesmith dot com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/bdwilliamscraig

Please call 972-503-6991 to schedule face-to-face client/consultation times.

or leave a comment below to let us know what you need.

We will be back to you in a flash!

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

What elements comprise your system and for whom is it designed?

In order to directly address the issues that concern you most, like bullying and classroom safety, Culturesmith offers a developmental Peace Practices curriculum based in Martial Nonviolence (MNv), which creates an ordered environment based on the Japanese dojo in which children and adults practice peace as though it were a martial art. Presupposing the pedagogical system originated by Dr. Maria Montessori, Martial Nonviolence is a Process Arts which combines aikido, theater improvisation, and facilitation skills. The curriculum is ready for persons as young as six years of age and may continue to be practiced and deeper expertise developed regardless of age. All that is required is the capacity to communicate, the realization that conflict may be done poorly or well, and the decision to practice the latter.

 

What happens if we express interest?

Brandon WilliamsCraig makes contact to respond to your questions personally and address any concerns. Then we schedule a free introductory meeting which must include all persons involved in making the policy and financial decisions to begin working together. If the Faculty and Staff involved in that introduction wish to move forward, a proposal is created which includes projections having to do with curricular scope, depth of practice, people participating, and cost.

 

Can our group begin with a portion of your offering without fully including it in our curriculum?

Absolutely. If you would like to have us present an in-service, or targetted training, one can be created to address your needs directly. We also design and offer facilitated processes, from emergency interventions to long-term consulting and safe-school in-services, which deliver specific exercises guaranteed to improve your capacity for working through conflict.

 

 

 

 

In-School Conflict Training Resources

 

Shaping the Brain with Redirection

 

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Aikido and Attention+Image
In the Martial Nonviolence classes I offer as part of my Peace Practices curriculum at The Renaissance School in Oakland, California, parents and staff often recommend children to me in order to work on behavioral issues. Many of these fall on the spectrum of attention issues which draw diagnoses of disorder and deficit, such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. The classes take place in a non-clinical setting, are directly focussed on learning to work well through conflict, and rely on principles associated with a martial "Art of Peace", called Aikido, so clinical diagnoses often end up being at best peripheral. Children are offered "metaphors in motion" which are both martial and nonviolent, so that they may deploy their energy and natural tendencies to develop ordering habits which they may use and refine to compensate for the places in life where they find disorder and fear.

 

A free account is required to see the full content available to members, contribute to the discussion, and consider additional and related materials and exercises.

 

 

 

As long as there have been martial arts, a minority of practitioners have carried forward the work of directly applying the conflict skills learned on the mat to situations that reach well beyond. Aiki Extensions, for instance, is an excellent contemporary example of aikido practitioners joining together to amplify the purpose of that art, as made explicitly clear by the founder, making a martial art into a process art for the benefit of the world.

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 From Facebook 20120423

  • Alonzo Young 
    As an Aikido practitioner and a teacher in the educational system, I get the importance of teaching Non-violence and mindfulness in all schools. And I appreciate your passion and drive on this subject. However, there are still some questions in the back of my mind that need to be answered for me to support you 100%. 1. The Renaissance School is a private school how does supporting this program help youth outside a private school system and is there a component to bring in students who are not from a higher economic class that can not afford this type of training? 2. Because The Renaissance School is a private school shouldn't this call for support go out to the parents of the school and getting them to become your advocates? If these two questions are yes, then I'm sure the Aikido community can and will support you and the youth parents in your efforts. I, for one would be happy to support this sort of education for all, but not for the few. To much violence going on in communities to limited it to private schools. As my teacher us to say "Self-defense is a right and not a privilege" - Martial Nonviolence is a spectrum of Self-defense and therefore should be available to all.
  • Brandon WilliamsCraig 
    EXCELLENT questions, Alonzo. Here are quick responses in the small space available: 1) As is often the case, programs that will be of benefit to everyone often launch where there is a grant, an angel benefactor, or a community that can support the work financially. As I have been donating the majority of my work time to social justice initiatives since the late 1990's, a better balance is required so that my spouse doesn't end up carrying each new development. For the program to get traction and be offered to students regardless of class, it must have success to report. The Catch-22 of social justice work is that it must be able to report successes in order to succeed. Otherwise, nobody will adopt it or participate, regardless of class. 2) I draw your attention to the title of the post: "Parents decide the future of Peace Practices at TRS. And) The aikido community has been enthusiastic in its response and, for the most part, is ideally suited to see the value of teaching These Children Right Here, in order to grow and offer the work to Any Child Anywhere. I look forward to hearing from you about ANY opportunity to be paid a living wage to teach this work, as opposed to physical aikido only, in a context which crosses/removes class barriers in schools as we did, for instance, by teaching at Occupy Oakland.

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This is a version of an email correspondence which addresses the issue of discipline in the Peace Practices dojo (classroom).


Hi Brandon-
 
 It was good to receive your correspondence and get an idea of what you are attempting to accomplish at the school. I'd like to provide you my input based on the little I've seen and heard of the Aikido class at TRS.  I'm _____'s mother and have witnessed bits and pieces of the class on several occasions.
 
What struck me most about the class is that the instructors do not require obedience.  I see the kids goofing around and notice how much of your time you spend trying to get them to listen.  I see participation in the class as a priviledge that must be earned and would prefer that you dismiss the children that are unable or unwilling to listen.  You could possibly achieve this by having them sit out the next class when they are distruptive and after sitting out three classes, dismiss them from the program.  I think you deserve much more respect from the children then you are demanding.  I similarly believe that the children are capable of giving you more respect.
 
That said, [my child] has shared that he likes the class and especially mentioned learning the skills and tactics.  So, thanks for all you do and let me know how I can support the cause.

 


Thanks very much for taking the time to respond and offer input which goes directly to the heart of the need for the Peace Practices curriculum. It is most important to me to begin by acknowledging the dilemma. You have put a finger on the primary challenge of the Thursday class, which I am addressing in the following ways at this time:
  1. Any child lost in his or her own agenda is asked to bring their body back to the training at hand by noticing what the class is doing and rejoining the group's movement.
  2. If that doesn't work, the child is excused to one of the observation chairs encircling the room and may request to return after five minutes or so have passed.
  3. If that doesn't work, the child is excused to the office and may or may not have the opportunity to rejoin us, at my discretion. 
  4. Some children continually push for control of the group's attention, with varying degrees of self-consciousness, and this behavior leads directly to parents in conference with me. One student had enough of this and opted out, which was a difficult but entirely acceptable outcome.
The need for discipline is also acute because the current class is a pilot and is packed to bursting with children who struggle with behavioral issues. This is so because aikido and Martial Nonviolence are ideal opportunities to engage ADHD-spectrum and other discipline-related challenges. It is also the case that the load is too great for one group where so many individuals needing attention at the same time. If I end up starting again in another environment, I will decrease the original enrollment and consider a lesson learned. 
 
Rolled-out to the whole TRS community, the Peace Practices curriculum will split the children with the most difficulty self-regulating into different groups, reinforcing the Montessori value of the Ordered Environment helping children, adults and, by extension, whole families to focus on the work at hand. A balance must be struck for this "normalization" to kick into gear, and the Thursday class moves in and out of this zone. The class has been progressively more in than out of focus over the last 5-6 weeks, and continues to improve with added support from parents both attending the class and reinforcing the ideas at home, which will also be a missing element until the curriculum is deployed as a whole. I hope this addresses your concerns, clarifies my intentions, and provides you with the information you need to support [your child]'s participation. I hope you will reply with any additional ideas and concerns, and allow me to address them.
 
As for letting you know how you can support the cause, we need a decision to commit to raising the funds necessary to launch the program. This could come from the parents as a whole, from a few families able to fund the initiative, from an organization to which a parent or parents have access, or from any other source that makes sense. Through partnership with the non-profit Association Building Community, donations to this program could be tax deductible and result in serious "social capital" growth for any supporting individuals or groups. If you know of any way to move this forward, I would be most grateful. More importantly, the children would begin to benefit right away. Also, if you use Facebook, please join our Cause at http://cause.peacepractices.com/ and let other parents know that Peace Practices is where you'd like fundraising energy to go.
 
With gratitude for your compassion, time, and energy,
 
Brandon

 

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Feb 18-20, 2011 

Come welcome Golden Bears Aikido at UC Berkeley to the San Francisco Bay Area Aikido Community and support Free Aiki Dojo!

 

If you love aikido and want to help it grow into being a part of education, if you trained in a university club, if you are an alum of the UC system or value public education, save the date to train with Senseis Robert Frager, Paul Linden, Kayla Feder, and Brandon WilliamsCraig to raise funds for Free Aiki Dojo and Golden Bears Aikido at UC Berkeley. Please visit the event on Facebook and tell your friends!

Golden Bears Aikido 2011 Fundraiser flier

 


Please pre-register here:

This is the pre-registration amount. At the door there will be an additional $5 charge for entry.

Registration is through our nonprofit partner Association Building Community, originally incorporated as "Beamish Process Arts" which is the name which will appear in the PayPal process and on your statement. Please print and bring your receipt with you for admission.


No one turned away for lack of funds, but we must raise money for the event to happen and make a difference.

Please pre-register!

Tax deductible donations welcome.

Sponsor a student to learn about peace-making.

Please spread the word!

 


Where?

Aikido of Berkeley 1352 S 49th St. Richmond, CA

When?

Feb 18, 19, and 20, 2011

What?

When we speak of the future of Aikido, we mean not only the ever-expanding practice of the art by over one million students and teachers in dojos around the world, but also the extension of aiki principles into the Process Arts (group process design and facilitation), which is to say at least into politics, facilitation, somatics, activism, social justice, law enforcement, psychotherapy, and education at all levels, so that peace-building responses to literal, systemic, and even potential violence may be ever-ready.

Themes

  • Why aikido works and doesn't work (anatomically speaking) on the mat
  • How aiki works and doesn't work (metaphorically speaking) in the dojo, community, and beyond
  • Compassion and awareness as a power source
  • Investigating the underlying logic (body and mind) from which aikido technique springs into the world in Process Arts.

Who?

Robert Frager+Image
Robert Frager Ph.D. is renowned for his pioneering work in the field of transpersonal psychology and for his role in establishing the country's first educational institution dedicated to this emerging field of research and practice. He also teaches courses in Spiritual Psychology and The Wisdom of Islam at the online University of Philosophical Research in Los Angeles. He is also a Sufi teacher, or sheikh, in the Halveti-Jerrahi Order, in which he was initiated by Muzaffer Ozak. He currently leads a dergah in Redwood City, California as Sheikh Ragip al-Jerrahi. Dr. Frager has been practicing the martial arts for over 50 years. He has been practicing Aikido since 1964 and currently holds the rank of 7th dan. He personally trained with the founder of Aikido, Morihei Ueshiba, while living in Tokyo, Japan in the mid sixties. (from Wikipedia)

 

Robert Frager and Morihei Ueshiba, O' Sensei.

 

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PLKFBW2011a


Paul Linden Ph.D., 6th dan, is Dojo Cho of Aikido of Columbus and an alum both of UC Berkeley and the Aikido Club begun there in the late 1960's by Senseis Robert Frager and Stan Pranin. Linden Sensei created and teaches a somatic process called "Being in Movement®" mindbody education, which fundamentally is drawn from Aikido. He will take us through many of the exercises he has developed to teach people to approach conflict from an inner state of calm alertness and compassionate power. He is a Board Member of Aiki Extensions, the international organization dedicated to encouraging aiki principles, building bridges of peaceful practice across divisions of martial affiliation, nationality, race, class, and gender, by valuing all forms of difference. More on Paul Sensei's contribution to the seminar may be found here

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BODY AWARENESS TRAINING AS A FOUNDATION FOR AIKIDO PRACTICE

 

An Aikido Workshop with

PAUL LINDEN, 6th Dan

Columbus, Ohio USA

Paul Linden demo
This Aikido workshop will focus on how to use body awareness methods (drawn from Being In Movement® mindbody education) to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of Aikido defense techniques and deepen Aikido practice as a meditative process. You will work with breath, posture, and intention to develop Aikido technique which is open, balanced, powerful, loving, and effective. These body awareness methods are equally useful outside of Aikido in helping people in such areas as stress management, conflict resolution, and improvement of daily movement tasks.

“I am astounded at Paul’s ability to read the significance of the smallest body response. When I received mind/body work from him, he guided my attention in a way that resulted in deep insight and healing for me. I would like to strongly recommend Paul's workshop on Aikido and body work to all Aikidoists. I believe that Being In Movement training is insightful, profound, and deeply healing.”    Mary Heiny Sensei, 6th Dan Aikido

Communications
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Robert Frager Aikido in ITP curriculum video
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Aikido in Education
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Golden Bears Aikido Club Certificates
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Golden Bears Aikido at UC Berkeley+discussion

 

 

Off campus we are

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Free Aiki Dojo+Image

Freedom Requires Practice

 

 

Free Aiki Dojo+How To Connect

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Brandon WilliamsCraig Sensei (and Free Aiki Dojo) have moved to Texas. Feel free to make contact, but classes including Martial Nonviolence in the SF Bay Area are now limited to 12-1 PM at Aikido of Berkeley on the first and third Saturdays, and are taught by Peace Practices instructor, Julian Wilner. Please consider joining Aikido of Berkeley; Kayla Feder Sensei is a world class martial artist. Please visit any of her classes and see for yourself.

If you are interested in continuing Golden Bears Aikido on the Cal campus, feel free to make contact and discuss options, but classes are on hold until new leadership steps up. If you would like to create a Free Aiki Dojo yourself, please keep reading (< click if no text appears below).

If you would like to create a Free Aiki Dojo yourself, the model usually involves building a program within an existing dojo or training community. You will need:

1) A wholly supportive Sensei or the experience and support necessary to teach and promote students of your own

2) A written agreement which establishes ongoing permission for a group/subset of students who answer to a different set of expectations than is customary in martial arts dojos. They may:

  • pay what they can, and may also not pay, so that there is no financial barrier
  • engage with the training community in their own way, as long as it is physically safe. This means no cultural barriers to training (including subtle disapproval for not paying, not buying a uniform, training sporadically, etc.)

The intention is not to eradicate the traditional dojo environment. Rather it is to increase freedom in aiki practice, so the more traditional students are subject to the stress of training with a subset of less traditional students, and vice versa. The hope is that this will create conflict which must then be facilitated and studied in order to both welcome everyone and ground physical practice in the body and daily choices, so that the resulting new patterns may contribute to Aikido 2 and be carried out of the dojo.

 

 

 

Free Aiki Dojo+Core Project

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Free Aiki Dojo+Participant(s)

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Free Aiki Dojo+overview

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Free Aiki Dojo+Image

 Current Students click here for resources

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Responses to Frequently Asked Questions are Here

 

 

Traditional Aikido and Martial Nonviolence® training for all ages...

Aiki principles applied in the real world.

Learn peace-making you can apply in any situation.

 

All practitioners of all martial arts, including all aikido styles, are welcome to come and learn how we combine traditional aikido and the process arts.

 

"Thank you Sensei Brandon! I'm hooked!" --Teina Anthony

 

 

** We offer Peace Pratices in schools and businesses. Clients include (or have included):

  • Associated Students of the University of California Berkeley
  • Beacon Day School in Oakland, a Whole Community initiative were we worked with the whole community of adults and children
  • Pacific Rim International School in San Mateo and Emeryville, a Whole Community initiative and partner in securing international funding.
  • The Flight Deck, in downtown Oakland
  • The Renaissance International School, Oakland, CA

For more, please see http://peacepractices.org

 

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Dojos provide a community area where fliers can be posted as invitations to train even more! Here is ours:

Members may post any aiki-related events they are ready to recommend personally.

 

 

 

Golden Bears Aikido at UC Berkeley
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Free Aiki Dojo+discussion

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The full schedule for our training community, Golden Bears Aikido and Free Aiki Dojo, is as follows:

Mon 12-1pm on campus Open Air on the Faculty Glade - Brandon Sensei


Tue 6-8:15pm at Aikido of Berkeley (AiBerk) - Senseis Brandon and then Kayla

Golden Bears Aikido and Free Aiki Dojo students are invited every Tuesday to join the students of Aikido of Berkeley for the entire evening. Kayla Feder Sensei has invited Brandon Sensei to teach a weekly basics class from 6-7, after which she teaches a general class from 7-8:15. Everyone is also invited to join in after these classes when on the first and third Tuesdays of every month Aikido of Berkeley creates its infamous potluck feast and community circle.

 

Wed 7-8am Downtown Dojo (1934 Bonita) or in the park at Hearst & Milvia - Brandon Sensei

 

Fri 3:30-5:30pm Downtown Dojo (1934 Bonita) or in the park at Hearst & Milvia - Brandon Sensei

 

Sat (every other) 10:30-12:30 AiBerk - Brandon Sensei.

 

 

Membership in either group (on and off campus) involves training with Brandon Sensei's and is available to everyone. Attending Berkeley High? Come check out other students learning whole-system self-defense that works in the street, in relationship with your family, and on into your future.

 

All potential students may simply appear at any training with no advanced notice. To know where we are on a given day, check the Twitter feed here or sign up for our email list at least one day before appearing. Please wear gym clothes you don't mind touching the ground and shoes that won't be damaged if dew on the grass makes them wet.

 

Before coming, please have a look at the

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Training with Brandon WilliamsCraig

Free Aiki Dojo, Golden Bears Aikido Club, and supplementary training 

Waiver of Liability, Assumption of Risk, and Indemnity Agreement

 

Waiver: In consideration of being permitted to participate in any training with Brandon WilliamsCraig, or persons approved as instructors by him, including but not limited to participation in the groups known as “Free Aiki Dojo” and/or “Golden Bears Aikido Club,” both hereinafter "training", I, the undersigned on the reverse of this page, for myself, my heirs, personal representatives or assigns, do hereby acknowledge that I voluntarily participate in training and release, waive, discharge, and covenant not to sue Brandon WilliamsCraig, d.b.a. Free Aiki Dojo, or any persons approved as instructors or students by him, or The City of Berkeley or one of its affiliated organizations. I release each party listed herein from liability from any and all claims including the negligence of its officers, employees and agents, resulting in personal injury, accidents or illnesses (including death), and property loss arising from, but not limited to, participation in the training.

 

I acknowledge and agree that my participation in any activities organized by the aforementioned groups is voluntary and that I knowingly assume all risks. For and in consideration of the granting of permission that I might participate in any activity organized by persons associated with Free Aiki Dojo and/or Golden Bears Aikido Club, I hereby indemnify and hold harmless and release and forever discharge Brandon WilliamsCraig (Sensei), Free Aiki Dojo (Free Aiki), Kayla Feder (d.b.a. Aikido of Berkeley), The City of Berkeley, Associated Students of the University of California (ASUC), the Regents of the University of California (Regents), Officers of Golden Bears Aikido Club (GBAC) and all its agents, assistants, and employees thereof either in their individual capacity or by reason of their relationship to the said ASUC or Regents or Club and their successors, from all claims and demands whatsoever which I, my heirs, representatives, executors, administrators, or any other persons, have or may have against the said ASUC or Regents or Club any or all of the mentioned persons or their successors by reason of accident, illness or injury, or other consequences arising or resulting directly or indirectly from said activity and occurring during such activity or at any time subsequent thereto. This release includes responsibility for any self-procured medications.

 

Assumption of Risks: Participation in training carries with it certain inherent risks that cannot be eliminated regardless of the care taken to avoid injuries. The specific risks vary from one activity to another, but the risks range from 1) minor injuries such as scratches, bruises, and sprains 2) major injuries such as eye injury or loss of sight, joint or back injuries, heart attacks, and concussions to 3) catastrophic injuries including paralysis and death. By signing I attest that I have read this entire document and I know, understand, and appreciate these and other risks that are inherent in training. I hereby assert that my participation is voluntary and that I knowingly assume all such risks.

 

Indemnification and Hold Harmless: I also agree to indemnify and hold harmless Brandon WilliamsCraig, d.b.a. Free Aiki Dojo, GBAC, any persons approved as instructors or students by him; the Regents of the University of California, their officers, employees, and agents; or The City of Berkeley or one of its affiliated organizations from any and all claims, actions, suits, procedures, costs, expenses, damages and liabilities, including attorney’s fees brought as a result of my involvement in training and to reimburse them for any such expenses incurred.

 

Severability: The undersigned further expressly agrees that the foregoing waiver and assumption of risks agreement is intended to be as broad and inclusive as is permitted by the law of the State of California and that if any portion thereof is held invalid, it is agreed that the balance shall, notwithstanding, continue in full legal force and effect.

 

Acknowledgment of Understanding: Though not necessary to keep it in force, every signature or initialing of this agreement re-confirms that I have read and signed this waiver of liability, assumption of risk, and indemnity agreement, fully understand its terms, and understand that I am giving up substantial rights, including my right to sue. I acknowledge that I am signing the agreement freely and voluntarily, and intend by my signature or initialing to be a complete and unconditional release of all liability to the greatest extent allowed by law.

 

 

Download Training Waiver+FreeAiki_GBACwaiver_v04

Before training you will be asked to sign in under these conditions. Participation indicates your acceptance of these terms.

 

Consistent students are sent an invitation to an ongoing online poll, in order to co-create our training schedule. This is a way of being more martial about the process of training together: more clear, purposeful, precise, and coordinated. We train early in the morning in the park, at night in the street, and in various circumstances geared to sharpen our practice and application.

 

Aikikai ranks are offered through Brandon Sensei's relationship with Kayla Feder Sensei, who is a senior teacher in the California Aikido Association. Requirement for promotion mirror those of Feder Sensei's dojo, Aikido of Berkeley, and are available from Brandon Sensei or via download from http://aikidoofberkeley.com/testing/rank_requirements.pdf

 

The group will never advance past the place of new people joining. Every class has a mix of levels, since practicing with people more advanced, similarly advanced, and beginning to advance is required to internalize the full range of possibilities inherent in any technique.


Please come any time you have the opportunity.

What this all looks like...

 

The most recent fundraiser in February 2011 was a great success! To find out more please click here:

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Feb 18-20, 2011 

Come welcome Golden Bears Aikido at UC Berkeley to the San Francisco Bay Area Aikido Community and support Free Aiki Dojo!

 

If you love aikido and want to help it grow into being a part of education, if you trained in a university club, if you are an alum of the UC system or value public education, save the date to train with Senseis Robert Frager, Paul Linden, Kayla Feder, and Brandon WilliamsCraig to raise funds for Free Aiki Dojo and Golden Bears Aikido at UC Berkeley. Please visit the event on Facebook and tell your friends!

Golden Bears Aikido 2011 Fundraiser flier

 


Please pre-register here:

This is the pre-registration amount. At the door there will be an additional $5 charge for entry.

Registration is through our nonprofit partner Association Building Community, originally incorporated as "Beamish Process Arts" which is the name which will appear in the PayPal process and on your statement. Please print and bring your receipt with you for admission.


No one turned away for lack of funds, but we must raise money for the event to happen and make a difference.

Please pre-register!

Tax deductible donations welcome.

Sponsor a student to learn about peace-making.

Please spread the word!

 


Where?

Aikido of Berkeley 1352 S 49th St. Richmond, CA

When?

Feb 18, 19, and 20, 2011

What?

When we speak of the future of Aikido, we mean not only the ever-expanding practice of the art by over one million students and teachers in dojos around the world, but also the extension of aiki principles into the Process Arts (group process design and facilitation), which is to say at least into politics, facilitation, somatics, activism, social justice, law enforcement, psychotherapy, and education at all levels, so that peace-building responses to literal, systemic, and even potential violence may be ever-ready.

Themes

  • Why aikido works and doesn't work (anatomically speaking) on the mat
  • How aiki works and doesn't work (metaphorically speaking) in the dojo, community, and beyond
  • Compassion and awareness as a power source
  • Investigating the underlying logic (body and mind) from which aikido technique springs into the world in Process Arts.

Who?

Robert Frager+Image
Robert Frager Ph.D. is renowned for his pioneering work in the field of transpersonal psychology and for his role in establishing the country's first educational institution dedicated to this emerging field of research and practice. He also teaches courses in Spiritual Psychology and The Wisdom of Islam at the online University of Philosophical Research in Los Angeles. He is also a Sufi teacher, or sheikh, in the Halveti-Jerrahi Order, in which he was initiated by Muzaffer Ozak. He currently leads a dergah in Redwood City, California as Sheikh Ragip al-Jerrahi. Dr. Frager has been practicing the martial arts for over 50 years. He has been practicing Aikido since 1964 and currently holds the rank of 7th dan. He personally trained with the founder of Aikido, Morihei Ueshiba, while living in Tokyo, Japan in the mid sixties. (from Wikipedia)

 

Robert Frager and Morihei Ueshiba, O' Sensei.

 

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PLKFBW2011a


Paul Linden Ph.D., 6th dan, is Dojo Cho of Aikido of Columbus and an alum both of UC Berkeley and the Aikido Club begun there in the late 1960's by Senseis Robert Frager and Stan Pranin. Linden Sensei created and teaches a somatic process called "Being in Movement®" mindbody education, which fundamentally is drawn from Aikido. He will take us through many of the exercises he has developed to teach people to approach conflict from an inner state of calm alertness and compassionate power. He is a Board Member of Aiki Extensions, the international organization dedicated to encouraging aiki principles, building bridges of peaceful practice across divisions of martial affiliation, nationality, race, class, and gender, by valuing all forms of difference. More on Paul Sensei's contribution to the seminar may be found here

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BODY AWARENESS TRAINING AS A FOUNDATION FOR AIKIDO PRACTICE

 

An Aikido Workshop with

PAUL LINDEN, 6th Dan

Columbus, Ohio USA

Paul Linden demo
This Aikido workshop will focus on how to use body awareness methods (drawn from Being In Movement® mindbody education) to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of Aikido defense techniques and deepen Aikido practice as a meditative process. You will work with breath, posture, and intention to develop Aikido technique which is open, balanced, powerful, loving, and effective. These body awareness methods are equally useful outside of Aikido in helping people in such areas as stress management, conflict resolution, and improvement of daily movement tasks.

“I am astounded at Paul’s ability to read the significance of the smallest body response. When I received mind/body work from him, he guided my attention in a way that resulted in deep insight and healing for me. I would like to strongly recommend Paul's workshop on Aikido and body work to all Aikidoists. I believe that Being In Movement training is insightful, profound, and deeply healing.”    Mary Heiny Sensei, 6th Dan Aikido

Communications
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Robert Frager Aikido in ITP curriculum video
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Aikido in Education
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Golden Bears Aikido Club Certificates
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Golden Bears Aikido at UC Berkeley+discussion

 

 

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The original University of Chicago Aikido Club

 

 

The Hyde Park Peace Dojo

 

 

Professor Don Levine Sensei's Ongoing Class at the University of Chicago

 

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Don Levine+Image

 

Contact Information:

Professor Levine passed away on April 4, 2015.

 

Background and pages of note...

 

About me

For Professor Levine's collected writing on aikido, please visit

http://www.donlevine.com/aikido.html

 

 

 

 

Musings

Professor Levine does not blog here at this time
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Of interest

UChicago Magazine Article - Don Levine
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Don Levine Eulogy by Jamie Leno Zimron
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Uploaded resource

Don Levine+Documents

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Don Levine - AikiCon syllabus aut 2010-final
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Don Levine - many dimensions of Aiki Extensions
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Don Levine - human rights and democratic procedures in Ethiopia - view point
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Don Levine - The Liberal Arts and The Martial Arts
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Relationships



 

To change your password, mouse to the gear icon on the upper right of this card. Under "account" choose "details" Enter your new password (twice), and click "Save Changes".

 

 

 

Primary and Secondary

 

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Using Montessori philosophy and Approach to the Child, we offer an aikido-based developmental curriculum that teaches children and adults to practice peace together with their bodies and thoughts as though it were a martial art, because peace is not the absence of conflict but the ongoing practice of conflict done well.

The scope and Montessori foundation for our work is suggested by these articles 

From Dr. Montessori's work:

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A Remedy for War
Thoughts on Peace and Education


By Maria Montessori
Edited and Adapted by Mark Shepard

 

Publication History

2010-11-29

http://www.markshep.com/nonviolence/Montessori.html

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From the work of a previous director of training programs for Montessori Teachers in India, A.M. Joosten's, extension of Gandhi's principles:

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Excerpts from "Nonviolence and the Child"

A.M. Joosten

 

Publication History

1996-07-01

http://www.cctheo.org/nonviolence.html#joosten

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One of many contemporary attempts to answer "What Are The Real Benefits of Sending a Child to Montessori?":

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What Are The Real Benefits of Sending a Child to Montessori?

Tim Seldin

 

Publication History

2008-10-27

http://www.montessori.org/imc/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=334:what-are-the-real-benefits-of-sending-a-child-to-montessori&catid=16:articles-introducing-montessori-education&Itemid=44

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A response to the global needs reflected by such organizations as the United Nations, for instance in the 3rd Peace Salon in Paris at the Museum of Science and Industry in 2008:

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AMI Montessori United Nations NGO and UNESCO Montessori UN Decade on Peace and Non-Violence for Children

AMI Intl. Inc.

 

Publication History

2008-05-30

http://montessori-ami.org/ami/UNDecadePeace.htm

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For the past 100 years Montessori education has focused on preparing the environment and the developmental aspects of practicing peace on a daily basis which have been successful on many levels.  Schools are ready for more extensions.  It is encouraging, for instance, to know that “students carried a flag with two doves, sang peace songs, recited a peace pledge and said ‘may peace prevail on Earth’ in nearly about a half dozen or so languages” this year (2010) to celebrate The International Day of Peace. 

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Students at Seabrook schools celebrate nonviolence

Robert Goddard Montessori and French Immersion pupils embrace international day of peace

 

 

Liz Skalski

 

 

Publication History

2010-09-23

http://www.gazette.net/stories/09232010/bowinew121409_32536.php

 

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.

But ritual needs to grow out of  real understanding.  Our curriculum gives sensory understanding of  ‘making peace’ – how peace is made by each individual.  As in all things Montessori, materials, lessons, and habit forming practices make the presence of peace a more concrete and lasting reality so that children and staff alike may leave the ordered environment and carry the order they love, learn, and teach into the much higher stress areas of conflict in the home and beyond.

 

Montessori guides are hungry for more training that extends their understanding as well as directly applicable lessons and practice.  It is appropriate that this training come from a Montessori-child-grown-up.  The Culturesmith curriculum known as Martial Nonviolence, developed by Brandon WilliamsCraig, takes to the next level “Montessori’s key ideas about creating a culture of peace by working on creating ‘peaceful environments’ where children can experience peace daily at home, their schools and communities.” (AMI-UN) This emerges through sharing specific applications with faculty and staff (through in-service training and consultation), parents (through evening and weekend workshops), and children (in the classroom and dojo) that go beyond the basic training in behavior modification and innovations like the “peace table” to offer the children appropriate ways to direct their physical aggression and emotional upset.  Following the child, rather than subtly (and not so subtly) saying, “Don’t do that,” we suggest,  “When you would like to hit/attack/throw/fall, this is a way to do so in a safe and creative way.”  Since what we do is what we learn, it makes sense that we should practice Peace together with no less dedication and focus than one might practice, for instance, a martial art.

 

One of Brandon WilliamsCraig's Aiki Extensions colleagues, Charles Colten, is one of the foremost experts offering aikido in tandem with elementary education.

Around the country and around the world aikido professionals are realizing similar advances in a way that benefits the children in their dojos.

 

Imagine what might be possible if not only aikido but an entire system of peace-making behaviors became as common a practice as learning to read. This is where we are headed, and it will transform the classroom into the safe place it was meant to be so that our children may once again find their way into the future with the confidence that only comes when they are supported by their community.

 

To inquire further, please

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Please make contact any of these ways

brandon at culturesmith dot com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/bdwilliamscraig

Please call 972-503-6991 to schedule face-to-face client/consultation times.

or leave a comment below to let us know what you need.

We will be back to you in a flash!

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

What elements comprise your system and for whom is it designed?

In order to directly address the issues that concern you most, like bullying and classroom safety, Culturesmith offers a developmental Peace Practices curriculum based in Martial Nonviolence (MNv), which creates an ordered environment based on the Japanese dojo in which children and adults practice peace as though it were a martial art. Presupposing the pedagogical system originated by Dr. Maria Montessori, Martial Nonviolence is a Process Arts which combines aikido, theater improvisation, and facilitation skills. The curriculum is ready for persons as young as six years of age and may continue to be practiced and deeper expertise developed regardless of age. All that is required is the capacity to communicate, the realization that conflict may be done poorly or well, and the decision to practice the latter.

 

What happens if we express interest?

Brandon WilliamsCraig makes contact to respond to your questions personally and address any concerns. Then we schedule a free introductory meeting which must include all persons involved in making the policy and financial decisions to begin working together. If the Faculty and Staff involved in that introduction wish to move forward, a proposal is created which includes projections having to do with curricular scope, depth of practice, people participating, and cost.

 

Can our group begin with a portion of your offering without fully including it in our curriculum?

Absolutely. If you would like to have us present an in-service, or targetted training, one can be created to address your needs directly. We also design and offer facilitated processes, from emergency interventions to long-term consulting and safe-school in-services, which deliver specific exercises guaranteed to improve your capacity for working through conflict.

 

 

 

 

In-School Conflict Training Resources

 

Shaping the Brain with Redirection

 

 

 

Pre-Primary

 

 

 

Ideal Numbers
1750  Full payment students two days
1000  Full payment students one day
250    Partial scholarship volunteers
100ish    Free-will offering scholarship volunteers
$3100 Gross

Expenses from Gross
Paul's travel ($450), food ($120), lodging (deshi)
Supplies and gratis snacks ($100)
$2430 Net

Distribution of net
50% to Paul = $1200ish

20% to Kayla d.b.a. Aikido of Berkeley = $450ish

30% to ASUC/Golden Bears Aikido for Brandon = $700ish

 

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Hi Bob,


I have been asked to come out and do a seminar in Berkeley, which of course I will take great pleasure in doing. And if you could come and do a demonstration or talk on aikido in the Bay Area, it would feel like coming home or coming full circle. It was taking your class at UC Berkeley that started me in aikido 41 years ago. I remember thinking as you talked about aikido that I really couldn't imagine spending time learning how to hurt people. And then the last day of class you showed a film of O'Sensei, and that was it! I showed up at the UC Berkeley aikido club, totally clueless, but having some sense that someday I wanted to be like the man in the film. So I hope you'll come and be part of the seminar.

Paul Linden

---------------------------------
Frager Sensei,

I first heard about you when I was very young, perhaps ten. I was at my first seminar and the women in the dressing room were talking about an American man who had met and had some interesting stories to tell about his training with O'Sensei. I remember hoping that I'd get to meet him. Now, many years later, I have the pleasure of inviting you to teach and speak at one of my own student's seminars. I am aware that you are one of the first teachers to introduce Aikido in California. I would be honored to have you speak and teach at Brandon's seminar taking place at Aikido of Berkeley in February of 2011.
 
Kayla
---------------------------------

Sensei,

As Paul Sensei was getting his first exposure to Aikido in your care, I was busily being born. As I mentioned at the Aikido and Psychotherapy seminar, it has been my pleasure to recreate the Aikido club you started at UC Berkeley. Kayla Sensei has agreed to host a fundraiser at Aikido of Berkeley and Paul Sensei has agreed to fly in to both teach traditional Aikido and connect this with his well regarded somatic process called "Being In Movement" which helps people to approach conflict from an inner state of calm alertness and compassionate power. Especially given your early, formative, and ongoing extension of aiki principles into education, therapy, and transformative work, it seemed to me an obvious choice to ask you to join us.

I hope you will consider accepting Paul's and Kayla's invitations and help us to raise funds to continue Aikido at UC Berkeley by favoring us with teaching and demonstration combined with stories of your early days bringing Aikido in the United States. It would be difficult to overstate the importance of giving the current Aikido students at UC a sense of the history they continue today. Whatever portion of time will work for you on February 18th (evening), 19th (all day), or 20th (all day) will be made available. If you are free to join us for a meal as well, even more stories might be forthcoming and that would be all to the good.

The event details are being finalized and are available at http://culturesmith.com/The_Future_of_Aikido_-_Peace_Practices Finally, if you have ideas about how this might be a more successful event, or how Golden Bears Aikido at UC Berkeley (http://goldenbearsaikido.com) might be even more likely to establish itself for the long term, I'd love to hear any suggestions you feel moved to offer. If you cannot join us on those dates, please say so and allow me to request another opportunity to introduce my students to your unique perspective on the future of Aikido, and allow me another opportunity to help you raise funds again for the image archive or another of the causes near your heart.

With gratitude,

Brandon

 

Behind the scenes To Do list

20101118 Final details approved and Frager invited by all three Sensei

Set-up advanced registration/poll and web registration

Agree that Paul will buy his own ticket and be reimbursed, or buy Paul's ticket

Arrange Paul's food and lodging

 

 

 

Golden Bears Aikido is looking for members, and now is the time to join!

GBA is a club, goverened by students at UC Berkeley, for which Brandon WilliamsCraig Sensei acts as co-founder and provides training and facilitation. This is the space on his website devoted to growing the club, and the GBA site on the UC servers may be found at http://aikido.berkeley.edu.

 

Are you interested in a Japanese Martial Art, called Aikido? Golden Bears Aikido is looking for UC Berkeley students and members of the Berkeley community who want to be club members. The purpose of this club is to provide self-defense and conflict facilitation skills through Aikido and Martial Nonviolence® training. Please email gbac at freeaiki dot com. Please also join our Google Group below.

For disability accommodation requests and information please contact Danny Kodmur at (510) 643-6456 (voice) or (510) 642-6376 (TTY) for communication services or Jamie Wilson at (510) 643-6473 for mobility services.  Their email address is http://access.berkeley.edu.  Please try to make your service request with as much advance notice as possible.

 

Click here to learn more about The Future of Aikido fundraiser Feb 18-20, 2011 at Aikido of Berkeley.

 

 

 

 

Golden Bears Aikido at UC Berkeley+Organizer(s)

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Golden Bears Aikido at UC Berkeley+Participant(s)

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Golden Bears Aikido at UC Berkeley+Remote Places

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Communications
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Robert Frager Aikido in ITP curriculum video
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Aikido in Education
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Golden Bears Aikido Club Certificates
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Golden Bears Aikido at UC Berkeley+discussion

 

 

Off campus we are

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Free Aiki Dojo+Image

Freedom Requires Practice

 

 

Free Aiki Dojo+How To Connect

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Brandon WilliamsCraig Sensei (and Free Aiki Dojo) have moved to Texas. Feel free to make contact, but classes including Martial Nonviolence in the SF Bay Area are now limited to 12-1 PM at Aikido of Berkeley on the first and third Saturdays, and are taught by Peace Practices instructor, Julian Wilner. Please consider joining Aikido of Berkeley; Kayla Feder Sensei is a world class martial artist. Please visit any of her classes and see for yourself.

If you are interested in continuing Golden Bears Aikido on the Cal campus, feel free to make contact and discuss options, but classes are on hold until new leadership steps up. If you would like to create a Free Aiki Dojo yourself, please keep reading (< click if no text appears below).

If you would like to create a Free Aiki Dojo yourself, the model usually involves building a program within an existing dojo or training community. You will need:

1) A wholly supportive Sensei or the experience and support necessary to teach and promote students of your own

2) A written agreement which establishes ongoing permission for a group/subset of students who answer to a different set of expectations than is customary in martial arts dojos. They may:

  • pay what they can, and may also not pay, so that there is no financial barrier
  • engage with the training community in their own way, as long as it is physically safe. This means no cultural barriers to training (including subtle disapproval for not paying, not buying a uniform, training sporadically, etc.)

The intention is not to eradicate the traditional dojo environment. Rather it is to increase freedom in aiki practice, so the more traditional students are subject to the stress of training with a subset of less traditional students, and vice versa. The hope is that this will create conflict which must then be facilitated and studied in order to both welcome everyone and ground physical practice in the body and daily choices, so that the resulting new patterns may contribute to Aikido 2 and be carried out of the dojo.

 

 

 

Free Aiki Dojo+Core Project

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Free Aiki Dojo+Participant(s)

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Free Aiki Dojo+overview

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Free Aiki Dojo+Image

 Current Students click here for resources

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Responses to Frequently Asked Questions are Here

 

 

Traditional Aikido and Martial Nonviolence® training for all ages...

Aiki principles applied in the real world.

Learn peace-making you can apply in any situation.

 

All practitioners of all martial arts, including all aikido styles, are welcome to come and learn how we combine traditional aikido and the process arts.

 

"Thank you Sensei Brandon! I'm hooked!" --Teina Anthony

 

 

** We offer Peace Pratices in schools and businesses. Clients include (or have included):

  • Associated Students of the University of California Berkeley
  • Beacon Day School in Oakland, a Whole Community initiative were we worked with the whole community of adults and children
  • Pacific Rim International School in San Mateo and Emeryville, a Whole Community initiative and partner in securing international funding.
  • The Flight Deck, in downtown Oakland
  • The Renaissance International School, Oakland, CA

For more, please see http://peacepractices.org

 

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Dojos provide a community area where fliers can be posted as invitations to train even more! Here is ours:

Members may post any aiki-related events they are ready to recommend personally.

 

 

 

Golden Bears Aikido at UC Berkeley
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Free Aiki Dojo+discussion

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The full schedule for our training community, Golden Bears Aikido and Free Aiki Dojo, is as follows:

Mon 12-1pm on campus Open Air on the Faculty Glade - Brandon Sensei


Tue 6-8:15pm at Aikido of Berkeley (AiBerk) - Senseis Brandon and then Kayla

Golden Bears Aikido and Free Aiki Dojo students are invited every Tuesday to join the students of Aikido of Berkeley for the entire evening. Kayla Feder Sensei has invited Brandon Sensei to teach a weekly basics class from 6-7, after which she teaches a general class from 7-8:15. Everyone is also invited to join in after these classes when on the first and third Tuesdays of every month Aikido of Berkeley creates its infamous potluck feast and community circle.

 

Wed 7-8am Downtown Dojo (1934 Bonita) or in the park at Hearst & Milvia - Brandon Sensei

 

Fri 3:30-5:30pm Downtown Dojo (1934 Bonita) or in the park at Hearst & Milvia - Brandon Sensei

 

Sat (every other) 10:30-12:30 AiBerk - Brandon Sensei.

 

 

Membership in either group (on and off campus) involves training with Brandon Sensei's and is available to everyone. Attending Berkeley High? Come check out other students learning whole-system self-defense that works in the street, in relationship with your family, and on into your future.

 

All potential students may simply appear at any training with no advanced notice. To know where we are on a given day, check the Twitter feed here or sign up for our email list at least one day before appearing. Please wear gym clothes you don't mind touching the ground and shoes that won't be damaged if dew on the grass makes them wet.

 

Before coming, please have a look at the

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Training with Brandon WilliamsCraig

Free Aiki Dojo, Golden Bears Aikido Club, and supplementary training 

Waiver of Liability, Assumption of Risk, and Indemnity Agreement

 

Waiver: In consideration of being permitted to participate in any training with Brandon WilliamsCraig, or persons approved as instructors by him, including but not limited to participation in the groups known as “Free Aiki Dojo” and/or “Golden Bears Aikido Club,” both hereinafter "training", I, the undersigned on the reverse of this page, for myself, my heirs, personal representatives or assigns, do hereby acknowledge that I voluntarily participate in training and release, waive, discharge, and covenant not to sue Brandon WilliamsCraig, d.b.a. Free Aiki Dojo, or any persons approved as instructors or students by him, or The City of Berkeley or one of its affiliated organizations. I release each party listed herein from liability from any and all claims including the negligence of its officers, employees and agents, resulting in personal injury, accidents or illnesses (including death), and property loss arising from, but not limited to, participation in the training.

 

I acknowledge and agree that my participation in any activities organized by the aforementioned groups is voluntary and that I knowingly assume all risks. For and in consideration of the granting of permission that I might participate in any activity organized by persons associated with Free Aiki Dojo and/or Golden Bears Aikido Club, I hereby indemnify and hold harmless and release and forever discharge Brandon WilliamsCraig (Sensei), Free Aiki Dojo (Free Aiki), Kayla Feder (d.b.a. Aikido of Berkeley), The City of Berkeley, Associated Students of the University of California (ASUC), the Regents of the University of California (Regents), Officers of Golden Bears Aikido Club (GBAC) and all its agents, assistants, and employees thereof either in their individual capacity or by reason of their relationship to the said ASUC or Regents or Club and their successors, from all claims and demands whatsoever which I, my heirs, representatives, executors, administrators, or any other persons, have or may have against the said ASUC or Regents or Club any or all of the mentioned persons or their successors by reason of accident, illness or injury, or other consequences arising or resulting directly or indirectly from said activity and occurring during such activity or at any time subsequent thereto. This release includes responsibility for any self-procured medications.

 

Assumption of Risks: Participation in training carries with it certain inherent risks that cannot be eliminated regardless of the care taken to avoid injuries. The specific risks vary from one activity to another, but the risks range from 1) minor injuries such as scratches, bruises, and sprains 2) major injuries such as eye injury or loss of sight, joint or back injuries, heart attacks, and concussions to 3) catastrophic injuries including paralysis and death. By signing I attest that I have read this entire document and I know, understand, and appreciate these and other risks that are inherent in training. I hereby assert that my participation is voluntary and that I knowingly assume all such risks.

 

Indemnification and Hold Harmless: I also agree to indemnify and hold harmless Brandon WilliamsCraig, d.b.a. Free Aiki Dojo, GBAC, any persons approved as instructors or students by him; the Regents of the University of California, their officers, employees, and agents; or The City of Berkeley or one of its affiliated organizations from any and all claims, actions, suits, procedures, costs, expenses, damages and liabilities, including attorney’s fees brought as a result of my involvement in training and to reimburse them for any such expenses incurred.

 

Severability: The undersigned further expressly agrees that the foregoing waiver and assumption of risks agreement is intended to be as broad and inclusive as is permitted by the law of the State of California and that if any portion thereof is held invalid, it is agreed that the balance shall, notwithstanding, continue in full legal force and effect.

 

Acknowledgment of Understanding: Though not necessary to keep it in force, every signature or initialing of this agreement re-confirms that I have read and signed this waiver of liability, assumption of risk, and indemnity agreement, fully understand its terms, and understand that I am giving up substantial rights, including my right to sue. I acknowledge that I am signing the agreement freely and voluntarily, and intend by my signature or initialing to be a complete and unconditional release of all liability to the greatest extent allowed by law.

 

 

Download Training Waiver+FreeAiki_GBACwaiver_v04

Before training you will be asked to sign in under these conditions. Participation indicates your acceptance of these terms.

 

Consistent students are sent an invitation to an ongoing online poll, in order to co-create our training schedule. This is a way of being more martial about the process of training together: more clear, purposeful, precise, and coordinated. We train early in the morning in the park, at night in the street, and in various circumstances geared to sharpen our practice and application.

 

Aikikai ranks are offered through Brandon Sensei's relationship with Kayla Feder Sensei, who is a senior teacher in the California Aikido Association. Requirement for promotion mirror those of Feder Sensei's dojo, Aikido of Berkeley, and are available from Brandon Sensei or via download from http://aikidoofberkeley.com/testing/rank_requirements.pdf

 

The group will never advance past the place of new people joining. Every class has a mix of levels, since practicing with people more advanced, similarly advanced, and beginning to advance is required to internalize the full range of possibilities inherent in any technique.


Please come any time you have the opportunity.

What this all looks like...

 

The most recent fundraiser in February 2011 was a great success! To find out more please click here:

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Feb 18-20, 2011 

Come welcome Golden Bears Aikido at UC Berkeley to the San Francisco Bay Area Aikido Community and support Free Aiki Dojo!

 

If you love aikido and want to help it grow into being a part of education, if you trained in a university club, if you are an alum of the UC system or value public education, save the date to train with Senseis Robert Frager, Paul Linden, Kayla Feder, and Brandon WilliamsCraig to raise funds for Free Aiki Dojo and Golden Bears Aikido at UC Berkeley. Please visit the event on Facebook and tell your friends!

Golden Bears Aikido 2011 Fundraiser flier

 


Please pre-register here:

This is the pre-registration amount. At the door there will be an additional $5 charge for entry.

Registration is through our nonprofit partner Association Building Community, originally incorporated as "Beamish Process Arts" which is the name which will appear in the PayPal process and on your statement. Please print and bring your receipt with you for admission.


No one turned away for lack of funds, but we must raise money for the event to happen and make a difference.

Please pre-register!

Tax deductible donations welcome.

Sponsor a student to learn about peace-making.

Please spread the word!

 


Where?

Aikido of Berkeley 1352 S 49th St. Richmond, CA

When?

Feb 18, 19, and 20, 2011

What?

When we speak of the future of Aikido, we mean not only the ever-expanding practice of the art by over one million students and teachers in dojos around the world, but also the extension of aiki principles into the Process Arts (group process design and facilitation), which is to say at least into politics, facilitation, somatics, activism, social justice, law enforcement, psychotherapy, and education at all levels, so that peace-building responses to literal, systemic, and even potential violence may be ever-ready.

Themes

  • Why aikido works and doesn't work (anatomically speaking) on the mat
  • How aiki works and doesn't work (metaphorically speaking) in the dojo, community, and beyond
  • Compassion and awareness as a power source
  • Investigating the underlying logic (body and mind) from which aikido technique springs into the world in Process Arts.

Who?

Robert Frager+Image
Robert Frager Ph.D. is renowned for his pioneering work in the field of transpersonal psychology and for his role in establishing the country's first educational institution dedicated to this emerging field of research and practice. He also teaches courses in Spiritual Psychology and The Wisdom of Islam at the online University of Philosophical Research in Los Angeles. He is also a Sufi teacher, or sheikh, in the Halveti-Jerrahi Order, in which he was initiated by Muzaffer Ozak. He currently leads a dergah in Redwood City, California as Sheikh Ragip al-Jerrahi. Dr. Frager has been practicing the martial arts for over 50 years. He has been practicing Aikido since 1964 and currently holds the rank of 7th dan. He personally trained with the founder of Aikido, Morihei Ueshiba, while living in Tokyo, Japan in the mid sixties. (from Wikipedia)

 

Robert Frager and Morihei Ueshiba, O' Sensei.

 

MU_RFclass
MU_RFportrait

 

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Paul Linden Ph.D., 6th dan, is Dojo Cho of Aikido of Columbus and an alum both of UC Berkeley and the Aikido Club begun there in the late 1960's by Senseis Robert Frager and Stan Pranin. Linden Sensei created and teaches a somatic process called "Being in Movement®" mindbody education, which fundamentally is drawn from Aikido. He will take us through many of the exercises he has developed to teach people to approach conflict from an inner state of calm alertness and compassionate power. He is a Board Member of Aiki Extensions, the international organization dedicated to encouraging aiki principles, building bridges of peaceful practice across divisions of martial affiliation, nationality, race, class, and gender, by valuing all forms of difference. More on Paul Sensei's contribution to the seminar may be found here

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BODY AWARENESS TRAINING AS A FOUNDATION FOR AIKIDO PRACTICE

 

An Aikido Workshop with

PAUL LINDEN, 6th Dan

Columbus, Ohio USA

Paul Linden demo
This Aikido workshop will focus on how to use body awareness methods (drawn from Being In Movement® mindbody education) to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of Aikido defense techniques and deepen Aikido practice as a meditative process. You will work with breath, posture, and intention to develop Aikido technique which is open, balanced, powerful, loving, and effective. These body awareness methods are equally useful outside of Aikido in helping people in such areas as stress management, conflict resolution, and improvement of daily movement tasks.

“I am astounded at Paul’s ability to read the significance of the smallest body response. When I received mind/body work from him, he guided my attention in a way that resulted in deep insight and healing for me. I would like to strongly recommend Paul's workshop on Aikido and body work to all Aikidoists. I believe that Being In Movement training is insightful, profound, and deeply healing.”    Mary Heiny Sensei, 6th Dan Aikido