Organizers Connie Borden, Rob Gaston, and Lee Ordeman are excited to announce that registration is open for a kenjutsu workshop October 11, 12, & 13, 2025.
Our guest instructor will be Pierre Quettier, 5th dan shintaido kenjutsu and shintaido general instructor. With 49 years of shintaido experience, he has made his recent focus teaching shintaido kenjutsu. He was awarded 5th dan kenjutsu at last summer’s international gasshuku, Dokan ’24. Pierre was chief author and editor of the book Shakunetsu: Chronicles of the Creation of Shintaido, published in July 2023.
Everyone is welcome. All levels of experience are eligible, and we particularly encourage those currently teaching or interested in teaching shintaido kenjutsu.
Curriculum will include Goho Batto Ho (5 drawing techniques for sword), Jissen Kumitachi (practical arrangements of kyukajo) and the three kata developed for shintaido kenjutsu: Shoden, Chuden, and Okuden.
During the six keiko of the three-day workshop, participants will study according to their skill levels. We will use bokken (light wooden sword). Practice with an iaito is optional. At the end of the workshop, participants will be provided means for continued study, such as videos and printed materials. The workshop will be held in the town of Rohnert Park, located in the North Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area, just south of Santa Rosa.
Cost of workshop, including instruction, 6 keiko, 3 lunches, and dojo, is $320. No one is turned away for financial barriers. SOA members can contact Connie Borden at president@shintaido.org for information on SOA scholarships. The cost of lodging and meals other than lunch are separate.
We will gather for our evening discussions and dinners at the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel Sonoma Wine Country Hotel. The hotel room rate includes breakfasts, access to a swimming pool, hot tub, and sauna. Parking is $22/day. Please consider staying at the hotel for several reasons: The first is that staying there makes a daily commute unnecessary, it simplifies holding gatherings in the evenings, and there are very limited options for staying with SoA members nearby. Please book directly with the Hotel.
Lunches on each of the three days will be served at the dojo and are included in the registration fee. We are planning a combination of “family style” meals by means of crock pot and/or deli platters. Having meals at the gym decreases travel time and allows for more relaxation time.
As is expected and traditional at gasshuku, all participants contribute to its success by sharing in a number of tasks. These include various preparations before the event, and jobs during the event. Jobs would include supporting the instructors with “sensei care” and hakama care, dojo prep, transportation assistance, and event recorder.
We want to share an invitation to an introductory Shintaido class. This is a great opportunity to learn the very basics of Shintaido.
The class is suitable for absolute beginners, so if you know of anyone who might be interested, please share this invitation! However, we believe that it can also be beneficial for experienced practitioners. Everybody is welcome.
This introductory class is intended to share simple body movements paired with vocal expressions that can lead to mind-body unity and a peaceful connection with others. This class is led by Nicole Masters.
When? Sunday June 8th, 2025 from 3 to 5 PM Where? Energy Wave Center® EESystem™ Energy Spa 120 Pleasant Hill Ave North Suite 330, Sebastopol, CA 95472
The registration fee is 35 USD
Register online and find all the information here: https://energywavecenter.com/shintaido/
The Shintaido of America Board of Directors and National Technical Committee invite all SOA members to a community meeting on 15 June 2025. This meeting will be held on ZOOM. Over the ninety-minute meeting, the SOA board will share updates on activities, the NTC will present planning for 2026 and the active teachers will share about their teaching activities. There will be time for discussion with our members.
The ZOOM meeting will start at 9am West Coast time//12noon East Coast. We will start doing Shintaido movements so we can connect across time and space. ZOOM link to be sent to SOA members closer to the date. Check your email!
Shintaido of America is planning two keiko to celebrate H.F. Ito on the weekend of 17 & 18 May 2025. Since 1975, Ito Sensei practiced and taught Shintaido on Mt. Tam and at Ocean Beach. These are two places where he gained inspiration for his teaching. So, following his last wishes, we have planned keiko at these locations. Nicole Beauvois, who lives in France, will be in the SF Bay Area for these events. We will also gather for a potluck dinner & music and a potluck brunch.
All are welcome. No charge. Donations can be made to the H.F. Ito Memorial Fund – http://www.shintaido.org/store/. (indicate donation for H.F. Ito Memorial Fund)
17 May 2025. Taimyo at Mt. Tam, Marin County 8:30AM — arrive at Hang Glider site #1 on Mt. Tam. This site is 1.2 miles from Rock Springs trail head parking; at the “T” where Pantoll Road ends – take a left onto West Ridgecrest Blvd to Hang Glider Site #1.
Rob Gaston will lead Taimyo. After our practice, let’s enjoy a meal—bring your own picnic breakfast. There is limited or no internet connection on Mt. Tam. Carpooling is recommended. Check your navigation guides for specific information. Allow at least one hour for travel up this mountain road that is frequently shared with bicyclists. A large map of the Mt. Tam site is available upon request.
6PM- Potluck dinner and music at Jennifer and Martha’s home. Bring a dish to share. Bring music, poetry, or other creative expressions to share. Address to be shared in May.
CHANGE OF LOCATION 18 May 2025 Keiko at Lake Temescal in Oakland, CA. (not at Ocean Beach, San Francisco) 8am to 10am — Keiko led by Shin Aoki
11am to 1pm — Potluck brunch at Connie and Mike’s. Bring a dish to share. Basics of coffee/tea, egg dish, and soup will be provided.
Interested? Contact Connie Borden at president@shintaido.org. While no registration is required, it is helpful to know an approximate number of attendees for planning of keiko and meals.
Greetings from the board of Shintaido of America! It is time to renew your membership.
Moving forward in our world, which is filled with chaos, there is an urgent need for peace. As we re-dedicate ourselves to our practice of Shintaido, let our practice bring peace inside each of us so we can share it with our world. We aim to support our community of practitioners by providing members with:
Full access to the Shintaido of America Website. Check it out! New things are happening all the time! We also feature a media page that includes our newsletter, YouTube, and Podcast links.
Body Dialogue is now completely digital and appears in real-time as postings on the website.
Liability Insurance for instructors and students – so you and your students are covered no matter where you practice. This is available to members at no cost: http://www.shintaido.org/membership/member-resources/
ZOOM classes and in person Keiko -a full listing of these – is available on the SOA website where you can get access to the most up-to-date changes to the curriculum, which continues to develop, especially the Kenjutsu curriculum.
Support to our instructors and the National Technical Committee. Support communication with International Shintaido Technical and Exam Committee (ITEC). Support leadership by SOA and ESC as the organizing and sponsoring organizations for international activities.
Eligibility to challenge SOA examinations and receive SOA Diplomas
Access to grants for travel and education scholarships for Shintaido events worldwide. This past year, we were able to send 8 members on travel scholarships to the International Gasshuku – Dokan.
Support to upcoming groups. In 2025 SOA is providing fiscal sponsorship to Global Taimyo Community. Look for the announcements for the July workshop.
Shintaido of America Examinations were held on Monday, 20 January 2025 at Cotati Veterans Memorial Building, Cotati, CA. Examiners were Jennifer Peringer, Yondan Bojutsu, Nidan Karate and Senior Instructor and Byron Russell, Sandan Bojutsu, Nidan Karate, Nidan Kenjutsu and Senior Instructor.
