Friday, March 20, 2009

Iaido - Samurai Sword Classes beginnning in April at Castle Rock AIKIDO!


After repeated requests, we are finally ready to start offering instruction in the Japanese art of sword drawing called Iaido. Iaido (pronounced 'ee'-'yai'-'doh') is the traditional Japanese art of drawing, cutting, and retracting the Japanese samurai sword or 'katana.' The word Iaido literally translates as "the way of mental presence and immediate reaction." Iaido is a distinct, non-combative form of martial arts intended to cultivate a practitioner's spirit. Like Aikido, Iaido is purely a defensive martial practice.

Iaido classes will be taught by sixth degree black belt, Hideki Iwakabe Sensei. Iwakabe Sensei was born in Japan and has trained in the martial arts from his early youth. Thus, he was raised with the true spirit of Bushido, the code of ethical conduct of the Samurai based on personal valor, honesty, integrity, and patience. Iwakabe Sensei holds black belts in Shotokan Karate, Kendo, Iaido, and Judo. In 1975, Iwakabe Sensei returned to Japan to study Iaido with 9th degree black belt, Master Danzaki Tomoaki Hanshi. Two years later, Iwakabe Sensei, began teaching Muso-Shinden-Ryu Iaido.

Beginning in April, Iaido classes will be held Thursday evenings from 7pm - 9pm. Castle Rock AIKIDO students will receive a substantial tuition discount for training Iaido. You do not have to be an Aikido student to participate in these classes. Iaido is a great martial art for adults of any age. For more information, please call us immediately at (720) 221-3665. Class size is very limited.








Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Bring Out the Zen!!! An Ancient, Eastern Philosophy for Solving Modern Day, Western Challenges


On Tuesday evening, March 10th, 2009 from 7pm – 9pm, a unique out of state visitor will be holding a free workshop in Castle Rock called Zen Philosophy for the Modern American!


Join American Zen Master Jun Po for a powerfully enlightening and wonderfully humorous evening right here in Castle Rock. Jun Po is a 66 year old American Zen Master, one of only about twenty in the United States. He has spent over thirty-five years studying, practicing, and teaching Zen Buddhism. He is also a successful survivor of stage IV throat cancer, which, no doubt, has contributed to his moving perspective on life.


Jun Po will be sharing with us how to cultivate happiness in our daily lives by learning how to transform our negative emotions and showing us how to discover a clear, open channel for awakening our minds, bodies, and spirits.

What is Zen? How is Zen philosophy relevant in our Western society of today? How can Zen philosophy be of any value to me in my life and with my family? How can Zen philosophy be of any value to me now in this tough economy? Questions like these will be addressed at this fun and free workshop. "There is a huge elephant in the room," says Jun Po.

"Anger and shame and the violence these ignorant, unconscious habitual reactions project externally and the waste of time and energy spent in depression and self-judgment internally are the cause of enormous suffering. In order to alleviate this suffering, we need deeper insight into and understanding of our minds and the real nature and intent of our emotions… Once we experience this truth and change our understanding, we can learn to transform our anger, shame or any painful emotional reaction into an expression of genuine concern and compassion."

Jun Po has created a new, non-religious form of his discipline called Mondo Zen. He will be introducing Castle Rock residents to this pure, bare bones, down to earth rendition of this ancient discipline and make it relevant and practical to a modern day American with powerfully wonderful stories and his side-splitting sense of humor.

The workshop is absolutely free. But optional donations in any amount of your choosing will be accepted after the workshop is complete. Don't miss out on this extraordinary opportunity to introduce yourself to or deepen your understanding of one of the world's most ancient, healing, and even provocative philosophies. You are very welcome to bring a friend or two with you.

Attendees who register online in advance will receive a free gift. Visit: www.CRaikido.com/junpo for details.

This free workshop will be held at Castle Rock AIKIDO, a martial arts program exclusively for adults, at 185 Caprice Ct. #5 in Castle Rock, CO 80109.


Take exit 182 off of I-25, and head West on Wolfensberger Road for 100 feet. Then turn North on Caprice Drive at the Old West Barbeque restaurant. Take Caprice Drive to the end and turn right on to Caprice Court. Castle Rock AIKIDO will be the building on your left hand side, unit number 5.
The workshop runs from 7pm to 9pm. Please arrive a few minutes early and feel free to bring a pillow or two for comfortable floor seating.

Call Castle Rock AIKIDO at 720-221-3665 for questions or if you get lost on the way.

Learn more about Mondo Zen at http://www.hollowbones.org/

Learn more about Castle Rock AIKIDO at http://www.craikido.com/