Basic Rolling and Falling Aikido Workshop

Just a quick reminder that Castle Rock AIKIDO will be hosting a Basic Rolling and Falling (or UKEMI) Workshop this Saturday, June 6th, 2009 from 1pm-3pm.

Due to the large number of new, beginner-level Aikido students that have joined Castle Rock AIKIDO in recent months, we thought it would be valuable to have a special class dedicated specifically to mastering the basics to falling and rolling.

All students are welcome to attend. However, it is strongly encouraged that any students training for less than six months make every effort to attend this FREE workshop.

Basic rolling and falling is a critical first step in one's Aikido training and mastering such early dramatically accelerates one's skills and greatly reduces the likelihood of injuries.

Some advanced falling, called breakfalls, will be demonstrated at the end of the workshop by more advanced students.

This workshop is FREE to all active or inactive Castle Rock AIKIDO students. The workshop is only $10 for students who train at other Aikido schools.

Regular Saturday morning classes at 10am and 11am will be held as scheduled with the Ukemi Workshop to follow.

Hope to see you all there! http://www.craikido.com/ Call 720-22-3665 for more details.

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/

Aikido Testing Seminar Held in Castle Rock for First Time

The summer's testing seminar for Colorado's Aikikai dojos under Izawa Sensei was held on Saturday, September 6th. For the first time ever, testing was held in Castle Rock at our new dojo on Caprice Court. It was a hot, sweaty time, as dozens of students packed into the dojo.

For many students, it was their first rank test (Go-kyu). Others tested for brown and black belt. Senior student, Steve Yee, tested for black belt after ten years of Aikido training. This is quite an achievement because in Aikido, less than 5% of all students ever reach black belt. Significantly less than other more popular martial arts in America, this may explain why earning a black belt in Aikido is so coveted and respected in the martial arts world.

This promotion represents only the 3rd time Sensei has ever promoted someone to the rank of sho-dan or 1st degree black. As is part of our tradition at Castle Rock AIKIDO, Steve's black belt earns him the right to wear the Japanese hakama. Hakama are the dark colored, pleated pant-skirts reminiscent of traditional samurai dress. Many Aikido school's hakama are black. However, at Castle Rock AIKIDO, our hakama are a deep indigo color, which, like the depths of the ocean and the layers of a night's sky, are meant to symbolize the continued future journey of a student privileged enough to reach the rank of sho-dan.

View pictures of Aikido seminar, click here.


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The ranks issued by Castle Rock AIKIDO are sanctioned by the home school in Japan. This is one way Castle Rock AIKIDO is unique among some other Colorado dojos.

Castle Rock AIKIDO is an award winning, traditional Japanese Aikido martial arts school. Aikikai affiliation. Program exclusively for adults, sorry no kids classes. No contracts ever. Visit http://www.craikido.com/ for a coupon to try a free class.