Photos by Mary Coe Foran
Mary Coe Foran is sharing some photos of the Shintaido Northeast (SNE) Kangeiko held January 31 and February 1, 2026. Enjoy the photos!
by Derk Richardson
Pacific Shintaido’s Kangeiko 2026 was an exceptional event in several ways. For the first time in many years, the annual winter workshop was held as a sleep-over gasshuku. Keiko were conducted over two days, Saturday and Sunday, January 17 and 18, in the gymnasiums of Technology Middle School in Rohnert Park (about 50 miles north of San Francisco), and most participants stayed overnight Saturday in a large Airbnb rental house in nearby Santa Rosa, a 15-minute drive from the dojo. In addition, Shintaido of America exams were folded into the program after the Sunday morning keiko, with results announced and at the end of the workshop, and members of SOA’s National Technical Council offered demonstrations from the advanced curriculums of Shintaido karate, bojutsu, and kenjutsu.
Bay Area Senior Instructors Robert Gaston and Jennifer Peringer based the teaching on their investigation of the gasshuku theme “Kumite through Time and Space” (a variation on the Shintaido of America 50th Anniversary theme, “Kumite across Time and Space”). They focused on the concept of irimi (roughly translated as “entering”), applying it to four directions of movement—mae (forward), sagari (back), yoko (to the side), and ushiro (turning)—and incorporating open-hand techniques and weapons (bokuto, bokken, and boh).
Across the weekend, 16 people, including two attendees from the East Coast, participated in keiko. The level of experience ranged from a few years to several decades, and Robert and Jennifer shaped the curriculum accordingly. Jennifer was the lead teacher for the two morning keiko, Robert for the afternoons. Someone different led the warmups for each keiko, which added distinctive character to the sessions: Shin Aoki led a formal tenshin-jusoho; Sally Gaston emphasized stretching; Jennifer had us use boh for part of her warmup; and Lee Ordeman, attuned to the group’s levels of energy and fatigue, opened the final session with lots of slow movement and massage.
Similarly, each keiko had a unique flavor and flow. In keeping with the theme (kumite) and focus (irmi), Jennifer and Robert led a wide variety partner exercises and arrangements. They included partner-directed meiso jumping and rolling; daijodan kirikomi/kirioroshi and rolling in response to the four stepping directions; relatively basic kumitachi with swords; open-hand uchite cutting attacks and receiving, adding mae-irimi and yoko-irimi stepping and a bojutsu variation; small group practice dedicated to karate, bojutsu, or kenjutsu irimi applications (followed by demonstrations by each of the three groups); and various wakame arrangements leading to a free-flowing and ecstatic group wakame into collective tenso. The cumulative effect of the four keiko not only led to a deeper understanding the role of irimi in kumite, but also instilled a bodily sense of how timing and space (together comprising ma) are inextricably related in our practice.
The feeling of community (the collective ma) that developed over the weekend was enhanced by having lunch together in the gym, organized and prepared by Sandra Bengtsson and Sally Gaston, and by most of us staying overnight in an Airbnb house that Jason Ravitz researched and secured. Despite a few quirky hiccups in the accommodations, the spirit of the evening—fueled by a bountiful pot-luck dinner and elevated with wine (for some) and live music—was galvanizing. (Mike Sheets gallantly rode herd on the kitchen crew, managing to coordinate potentially chaotic preparations of dinner and breakfast.) A special feature of the festivities Saturday night was a visit from General Instructor Jim Sterling, who answered questions about the 50-year history of Shintaido of America and entertained and enlightened us with colorful and humorous stories of his experiences.
The “add-ons” to the Sunday proceedings—the NTC demonstrations and the SOA exams—reinforced the idea that Shintaido, as a practice and an organization, has a rich history (60 years in Japan, 50 years in America), a multifaceted and ever-evolving curriculum, and the potential for growth and expansion. In the exams, Sally Gaston, Martha Rodriguez-Salazar, Nicole Masters, and Jennifer Abajar, challenged different kyu levels of bojutsu and karate. The NTC demos were performed by Byron Russell (Hangetsu no Kata, an element in the sandan karate exam), Mike Sheets (Hojo no Kata, shodan bojutsu), Robert Gaston (Shoshi-no-Kon, shodan bojutsu), Jennifer Peringer and Shin Aoki (Soei Kumibo, sandan bojutsu), and Connie Borden, Lee Ordeman, and Sandra Bengtsson (Sannin-ichiretsu, General Instructor exam). The presentation capped the afternoon with a wave of inspiration for all of us in the audience.
In the opening ceremony, we revisited the words of Master Instructor Masashi Minagawa about the meaning of Kangeiko, which read in part, “At New Year we refresh our old selves and go back to the original beginner’s mind. Then we celebrate the coming year and ask for health and happiness. At Kangeiko especially, we try to find the real existence, our own nature inside ourselves.”
In the closing ceremony, Cheryl Williams read a poem by Pamela Joyce Randolph, “Time and Space,” which captured a certain essence of the workshop’s kumite theme:
Give me time to know myself,
and space to stand alone.
I need to get to know my heart,
and have thoughts of my own.
Give me your encouragement,
and trust in what I do,
Then I’ll uncover what was lost,
and share the best with you.
Kangeiko 2026 was likely the last gasshuku to be organized by the current PacShin Board of Directors—Shin Aoki, Cheryl Williams, Derk Richardson—which has been in place for well over a decade. We are looking forward to the next phase of the Pacific Shintaido journey.
by Jennifer Peringer
We just got back from a wonderful gasshuku in France taught by Shin Aoki, and organized by Christine Gov and Serge Magne. It took place outside the west coast beach town of Sables d’Olonne, from Feb 20 -22, and had 50 people in attendance, mainly from France but with some participants from as far afield as Germany, England, the Czech Republic, and Martha and myself from California. The event started with one keiko for advanced practitioners, then four keikos for all, the second of which was a boh class, taught by David Franklin and myself. The theme of the event, set by Shin, was ‘Giving and Receiving’, a theme rich with possible Shintaido interpretations.
Throughout the gasshuku Shin taught a variety of open hand and sword techniques, including wakame, renki kumite, tenchi kirikomi, kasumi, tsunami, sagari and ushiro receiving. These were all taught in the service of deeply exploring concepts related to the theme, such as:
In the boh keiko, David took the beginners and taught a version of tenshingoso kumite with boh. Meanwhile, I took the advanced students and used yonhon kumibo with breath work and vocalization to explore the concepts of giving with precision and commitment, and receiving with open heart and without fear. Then all joined together for a glorious group eiko dai.
There was a fun party on Saturday night, where the Toulouse group presented a festive dance choreography mixing tenshingoso and salsa (!), David Franklin played some blues harmonica, I led a little singalong version of La Bamba, and Shin made everyone happy by teaching a groovy line dancing routine.
At the end of the gasshuku Shin’s closing remarks were particularly moving, saying he learned as much as he taught, and talking about how both giving and receiving can be hard, how you need to open your heart, and how we all have much to learn.
I’d like to finish this article with an online comment after the event by one of the French participants, Blandine Graveline:
Bonjour
Une semaine après je suis encore sous le charme du week end dernier. Un immense merci à toutes celles et ceux qui ont organisé, animé et guidé ce kangeiko. Ça a été pour moi un moment magnifique et surprenant. La beauté, la précision, l’intensité des gestes des instructeurs, la joie puissante des eikos collectifs, la bienveillance de chacun, la générosité et la simplicité des sensei invités – tout cela m’a profondément touchée.
Le shintaido me surprend toujours plus. Cette pratique m’a appris et m’apprend encore à me tenir droite, à faire face, à me défendre ou à esquiver, à m’assouplir, à accueillir l’autre et surtout, comme le répète Eric Philippe, “mon” instructeur parisien qui n’a pas pu venir, à être digne. Quelle école ! Un apprentissage qui fortifie et aide à résister aux menaces du moment – un pas vers la liberté…
Ma profonde gratitude envers Shin Aoki et vous toutes et tous.
Blandine
Hello
One week later I still feel the charm of last week end. Huge thanks to those who organized, kept going and guided this kangeiko. It was a great and surprising moment for me. The beauty, the precision, the intensity of the instructors’ gesture, the powerful joy of the group’s eikos, the kindness of everyone, the generosity and simplicity of the invited sensei’s – everything touched me deeply.
Shintaido surprises me still more. This practice teaches me to stand up straight, to cope, to defend myself or to evade, to become more flexible, to greet someone and specially – as Eric Philippe, my instructor from Paris who couldn’t join, would repeat, to be dignified. What a school ! A learning that gives strength and helps to resist to actual threats – a step towards liberty….
My deep gratefulness towards Shin Aoki and all of you
Blandine
“Enacting . . . to put something into action.”
Cambridge Dictionary
by Tomi Nagai-Rothe
During the July 2025 Global Taimyo Community’s (GTC) gathering, I asked “Which part of Ito Sensei’s legacy will you carry on?” and “How will we share it — individually and collectively?”
It feels like a daunting challenge, in light of Ito Sensei’s life and work, yet I like to frame it as creating ripples on a quiet body of water.
Many of us had the experience of listening to a story, having a conversation, or receiving feedback from Ito-Sensei that we remember to this day. Something resonated and stuck with us. We each don’t need to emulate Ito Sensei’s biggest and most ambitious accomplishments: we can carry his spirit in many small yet significant ways.
I experienced Ito this way for more than 10 years when he lived with my family. So much of the impression he made on me was through his acts of kindness: driving dozens of Japanese friends to visit Yosemite National Park in his pick-up truck, checking in on friends who were sick or injured, teaching my son Kai Golf-do (kenko taiso with golf clubs) as an independent physical education class, cooking for us, sharing detailed feedback on my exams, keeping in touch with dozens of people he knew across the world. Answering email promptly was like kumite for him, I think. Each of those acts – whether directed toward me and my family or others – created a ripple.
In keiko Ito spoke about our ability to extend our senses out to feel how our friends were doing – at a distance. Did they just land at the airport? Are they doing OK? Simply thinking about a friend, and sending a connected, kind thought their way can create a connection, and a ripple. Many ripples can create a splash.
When I think of Ito’s multiple ripples, I remember the relationship mandala that I drew to show the connections within which we interacted. You can see it as a ripple map or a constellation.
Shintaido of America’s 2026 50th Anniversary theme is “Kumite Across Time and Space.” I think Ito embodied this in his life mandala, comprised of so many of our relationship constellations.
The ripple metaphor reminds me of Lao Tsu (Taoism) and also Ito’s Tai Chi practice.
Tao Te Ching by Lao Tsu
Eight
The highest good is like water.
Water gives life to the ten thousand things and does not strive.
It flows in places men (people*) reject and so is like the Tao.
In dwelling, be close to the land.
In meditation, go deep in the heart.
In dealing with others, be gentle and kind
In speech, be true.
In ruling, be just.
In business, be competent.
In action, watch the timing.
No fight; No blame.
Translation by Gia-fu Feng and Jane English
Vintage Books Edition. © 1972 by Feng and English
*Alternate language added by Tomi
Lao Tzu’s philosophy of being like water is also echoed in Sengcan’s poem Shinshinming, “Trust in Mind,” the theme for our 2026 GTC gatherings.
The Great Way is not difficult
for those who do not pick and choose.
When preferences are cast aside
the Way stands clear and undisguised.
By Sengcan – third Ch’an Patriarch
Our Ripples
On several occasions Ito reminded me that I could teach Shintaido with what is innate and deep – not the surface stuff – using my intention, experience, and imagination in a quiet way. A reminder to cast aside “preferences” as Sengcan says. So I hope you will consider how the quiet ripples you already make in the world can be part of carrying on Ito’s legacy.
Here are some ways that I experienced Ito making ripples in my life and others’ lives that are accessible to all of us:
A. Be helpful and supportive of others (i.e. show up):
B. Build connections among people you know
C. Share what you know
D. Be aware of fairness, stand up for justice
E. Continue something you have done that was directly or indirectly related to Ito
We never know how big our ripple can be. That ripple may very well resemble an ocean swell . . .
by Connie Borden
Shintaido is formed by people. From the founding of Shintaido in Japan to the introduction of Shintaido into the USA, it was people who transmitted this art form. This year as we celebrate 50 years of the founding of Shintaido of America, it is the people we are celebrating. Shintaido can be an intensely personal practice and often I hear that people started the practice at a significant time in their lives. These times could be college, post college, relocating to live in new areas, and seeking wisdom from senior practitioners, many times in related fields such as Amma Massage. Some people were introduced to Shintaido while living in Japan, others were introduced by word-of-mouth, which is still our most successful outreach tool! Many have formed long-term relationships, some in marriage and many in friendship.
First a little of history in the early years.
1975 – 1983 Beginnings of Shintaido in America – first eight years
(adapted from original article by Eva Thaddeus in Body Dialogue, Issue no. 10,2001)
1975: Michael Thompson introduced Shintaido in Geneva, New York. Among his original students were Irene Hadeishi, and Bill Burtis, who is now a Shintaido Instructor.
1976: H.F. Ito and Michael Thompson filed papers at City Hall in San Francisco, officially founding Shintaido of America. They offered Shintaido classes in San Francisco. Jim Sterling, now General Instructor, began studying at this time. So did Bela Breslau, now Senior Instructor and Kazu Shibao, now Senior Instructor.
1980: Tom Abbott, now Instructor, began teaching Shintaido in Worcester, Mass., and Shintaido was registered as a non-profit corporation in Massachusetts. Joe Zawielski, now General Instructor (deceased) began studying at this time.
1982: Lee Seaman Instructor and John Seaman, Instructor (deceased), who previously studied Shintaido in Japan, began teaching in Oregon.
1983: Michael Thompson moved back to the United States after 2 ½ years in Japan. He began a group in Los Angeles, where Friedmann Schultz began Shintaido. Michael then moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts to start teaching Shintaido there.
Shintaido of America wishes to celebration one person often called the “Mother of Shintaido in America.” This person is Bela Breslau.
Bela currently lives in Northeast (SNE) region in Western Massachusetts. Bela is Senior Instructor and Shintaido Bojutsu Nidan. She is co-founder of the Shintaido Farm.
Reflecting Americans in general by living in different areas of the USA, Bela lived on the west coast before returning home to the east coast. While having grown up on the East coast and having attended Hobart college, Bela was one of three early West Coast students with HF Ito. In 2001 Bela wrote this about her first day:
“My first day in San Francisco was a beautiful sunny day in September of 1976. After checking in at 776 7th Avenue, meeting up with my very best friend from college, Pamela Olton, seeing Michael Thompson again and meeting Ito, I went with others to Golden Gate Park to do Shintaido. I was wearing a pear of Judo Gi pants and T-shirt.” Body Dialogue, Issue No. 10, 2001.
Bela did many things to foster the growth of the organization while also supporting HF Ito. Bela taught a weekly Friday Night Shintaido class while in the SF Bay Area. She continued teaching with a weekly class at the Shintaido Farm. For many years she was editor of the SOA newsletter. While married to H.F. Ito and living in SF (in the apartment formally rented by Kazu Shibao), she and Ito hosted guests from Japan, France, and other countries. I could tell you more about Bela the lawyer, Bela the real estate agent. Shall I tell you more about the role Bela played a part in the creation and incorporation of the SoA organization? Shall I tell you of the many years she dedicated to organizing and running many gasshukus, workshops, and special classes? Shall I tell you of the major role Bela had with the production of the Shintaido book? I could tell you of Bela – the wife and life partner with Stephen Billias. I could tell you of Bela the mother of Sophia Billias. What I wish to tell you is of the presence of the person we know as BELA. Thank you Bela for all the kumites across time and space that you have shared with us in our growth as we practice Shintaido and more importantly the growth you have helped foster in us as human beings. Gambatte!
by Connie Borden, Tomi Nagai-Rothe and Robert Gaston
2026 marks the 50th year of the founding of Shintaido of America as a non-profit.
Our theme for 2026 is Kumite Across Time and Space. We hope to spark inspiration and create resonance with your Shintaido practice.
Senseis H.F. Ito and Michael Thompson spent many hours over the kitchen table in their apartment – shared with Pam Olton in San Francisco – to write the first bylaws for the nonprofit we now call Shintaido of America.
Let’s celebrate 50 years of practice and joy.
Postings on Facebook and Instagram. We will be using our rich archive of articles from Body Dialogue and videos from the SOA YouTube Channel to explore the Roots of Shintaido, Shintaido Disciplines, and Taimyo Kata and Peacemaking. These postings over the year will also include a Tribute to Friends, Connections to Music and the Arts as well as videos from many gasshukus. Not on Facebook or Instagram? Here are the first four weeks of postings:
In this video made in 2008, Margaret Guay, Shin Aoki, and others, under the direction of David Franklin, demonstrate how the practice Shintaido touches each of us. Shintaido means “new body way”
Read the January 1983 Body Dialogue article by H.F. Ito on the importance of transfer of Shintaido body wisdom to others.
Watch the video on one of the three Dai Kihon; one of the three core movements of Shintaido – Tenshingoso.
Read a 1986 interview with Aoki Sensei on Shintaido.
Our T-Shirt has the theme Kumite Across Time and Space. Here is a sample of the T-Shirt design (insert visual of T-shirt mock-up). All proceeds from T-shirt sales go to support instructors and kieko in the USA and Canada.
Order here: Store – Shintaido of America
Share photos of your keiko. Share poems. Read about future social media postings. Reconnect with old friends. Make new friends. Contact Connie to be added to the What’s app group by emailing President@shintaido.org.
We hope you will find 50 ways to engage with others for the joy of self-expression while deepening our Shintaido practice within each of our communities.