As we all remain home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are beginning to adapt our Shintaido practice to our separated lives.
In California, Sandra Bengtsson, Connie Borden and Robert Gaston are teaching a free, weekly Sunday morning class at 9am PDT. Please contact Connie Borden at bordensheets@aol.com for more information.
From June 7 – June 21 British Shintaido will be holding their Daienshu with Master Instructor Masashi Minagawa and General Instructor Gianni Rossi leading the event. Registration for this event ends June 1.
Master H. F. Ito shared his thoughts about how the Japanese word ningen – “human” – reflects much that we study in Shintaido: spacing, relationships, Ten-Chi-Jin-Ware-Ittai (Unification of Heaven, Earth, Self, and Society) and mutual respect.
This talk was given February 9, 2020 in San Rafael, California and can be viewed on YouTube.
A PDF file of the Visual Recording done by Tomi Nagai-Rothe can be downloaded here.
I have been thinking about you in this dark time of pandemics. While it is good to know all of us are part of the Global Taimyo Network for Peace, it is even better to get together!
I would like to invite you to a 45 minute Taimyo in a Time of Separation event via Zoom on Saturday, April 4, 2020 at 8:00pm Paris Time. Connection information is on the attached flyer. My hope is that we can reaffirm our connection and strengthen our spirits for the weeks and months ahead.
This will be a taste of my new virtual dojo which I am just launching. If you are interested in private or small group instruction, please let me know and I will send more information.
Ito
The time of 8pm for this event is Paris Time. For folks in the US, this event will take place at 11AM PDT / 2PM EDT.
If this will be your first time using Zoom, please download the software here, at least one day prior to our gathering. You can participate by computer, tablet or Smartphone. Please log-on at least 5 minutes early to set-up your video and audio connection. All participants will be muted for the practice, but the chat function will be open.
Join Our Taimyo Practice via Zoom https://zoom.us/j/241018586 Meeting ID: 241 018 586 Participation is limited to 100 logins
Every four years, the international Shintaido community gathers for a gasshuku. Registration is now open for this year’s international, “Biwako 2020” to be held near Kyoto, Japan from November 5-8.
The theme for the event is “和気藹々/Waki ai ai” describes an atmosphere or a situation where a group of people gather and share joy, laughter, happiness and peace with open-hearts, and the vibrations of these conditions spread into wider communities and fill and surround the earth and the universe.
There are many parts to this event:
November 5-6th will be the Advanced Workshop
November 6th will be the General Membership Meeting
November 7th will begin with examinations for Sandan and Yondon
November 7-8th will be the General Event with two keiko
November 7th will end with a party
If you are do not hold the rankings of Shintaido Graduate or Shodan in one of the other disciplines you may still attend with the recommendation of your instructor who is attending the event! While you will not be able to attend the Advanced Workshop or General Membership Meeting, you will be able to watch the exams and attend the General Event!
Doshu H. F. Ito is the Director of Instruction for this event and you can read his article, “What to expect at Biwako 2020”.
Please read more about the event at the official website: https://biwako.international-shintaido.com/ which is available in both English and French! Note: the pictures on the website are best viewed on a larger tablet or computer screen.
Greetings from the board of Shintaido of America! This year, we are launching many new initiatives, and we would like you to be included!
An online forum has been launched to assist graduates and assistants who are thinking about starting classes. The Teachers’ Group will provide support and strategies as you move forward as teachers. Lee Seaman has graciously agreed to mentor the group. New members welcome!
The SOA board is exploring branding in an effort to recruit new students. We are working with a marketing/branding professional, and hope to unveil some of the results in the next year. Let’s get growing!
Several new scholarships are available to subsidize participation in cross-regional and international events. Your membership makes you eligible to apply!
In addition, Shintaido of America (SOA) supports our community of practitioners by providing:
Body Dialogue articles; now in real time as postings on the website
Liability Insurance for instructors and students – so you and your students are covered wherever you practice
Curriculum development
Support to our instructors and the National Technical Committee
Communication with International Shintaido Project (ISP) and national Shintaido groups
SOA examinations and SOA Diplomas
Membership fees are $60 for all supporters. The SOA Board of Directors hopes you will take this moment to join SOA. The financial year for SOA goes from 1 January to 31 December and this year we are doing our membership drive in March to bring our financial year and membership into a closer match. For all of the benefits listed above, your annual membership works out to only $5 a month, or 16 cents a day! We hope you’ll consider supporting the future of our beautiful art form.
Alternately, a check for $60 payable to SOA can be mailed to:
Shintaido of America 18 Washington St, #115 Canton, MA 02021
Sincerely,
Connie Borden, Chair SOA Board of Directors Shin Aoki, Chair SOA NTC Brad Larson, Treasurer Nancy Billias David Franklin Herve Hofstetter Michael Thompson H. F. Ito
“I feel deeply grateful for Shintaido. The practice itself has revealed much and continues to be a great source of learning. There is no doubt that the community of practitioners and teachers bring the teachings to life. The power of Shintaido appears to be realized most fully in the relationships we hold. SOA is a hub that keeps this wheel of practice and relationship turning.”
David Sirgany, Graduate, Karate Shodan, PacShin
“I turn to Shintaido some days for exercise, some days for concentration, and some days just to light the fire. SOA membership provides the spark.”
Mark Bannon, Graduate, Kenjutsu Shodan, Shintaido Northeast
“As members of the SOA, the Quebec Shintaido Doshokai (QSD) applied for a grant to hold a summer gasshuku on the Gaspé Peninsula on the east coast of Quebec. Our request was accepted! This gave us a good financial support, which provided a safety cushion for the first big Shintaido event in Gaspesie. This event was successful at all levels and we were able to use the financial success to move forward with further events in Quebec!”
Carole Brouillard, Graduate, Kenjutsu Shodan, Organizer of Shintaido in Quebec
Unfortunately as a result of the spread of the COVID-19 virus, as a precaution, Shintaido North East has decided to cancel the gasshuku scheduled for this weekend.
