Upcoming Events
Building our Students and our Community
Our special events help enrich our students' training, build relationships with family and friends, and connect with the greater Whittier area community. Our seminars reach out to martial artists throughout Southern California and often beyond.
As social gatherings gain acceptance, we will begin hosting special events and guests again.
During the Covid-19 lock-down and recovery, we closed the dojo and conducted classes via online classes. We are now hosting a full schedule of classes indoors, using masks, social distancing, and sanitizing. All our instructors are fully vaccinated.
Our 2021 Mt. Baldy Retreat was presented as a one-day virtual retreat on May 29, 2021. Some folks participated in the Zoom presentation from the comfort of their own homes and computers, laptops, or tablets. Some groups met at their schools to be part of the Zoom presentation. Those who registered before the event could participate during the live workshops. They and later registrants were also able to stream the recording for three weeks following.
Scroll down for details.
Dan & Kyu Exams for 2022
Fellow students, family and friends come witness the tests and give support to the candidates. It's fun to watch.
Kyu Tests, usually held quarterly, are for students seeking their next promotions leading up to brown belt (2nd and 1st kyu). Adults test on Saturdays; and kids' aikido tests are on Fridays. Exams are usually the first weekend of March, June, September, November, and December.
The Brown and Black Belt Tests are held twice a year, in May and November. These are exciting to watch!
Are you a Student preparing to test?
Aikido kyu belts are to meet with Assistant Chief Instructor Gil Izaguirre 6 weeks prior to the test date for prep requirements.
Aikido Black & Brown belt candidates are to meet with Assistant Chief Instructor Gil Izaguirre 3 months prior to the test date for prep requirements.
Tai Chi candidates must have their immediate instructor's recommendation to apply. Assistant Chief Instructor Suzette Hodnett will oversee preparation.
Kyu sashes need 6 weeks preparation. Brown and black sashes need 3 months preparation.
Chilel Qigong
Full Moon Qigong
Practices are
postponed until further notice.
Schedule is subject to change.
Chi-Lel (TM) consists of visualizations combined with a series of gentle movements which can be easily followed by anyone who wants to decrease stress while improving and sustaining their health, wellness, and vitality. It is meditation in motion. According to Well+Good, the trendy health website, group meditation is one of the top ten wellness crazes.
The Chi-Lel practitioners all over the world practice Qigong together, forming a great loving healing chi-field.
2022 Mt. Baldy Retreat
Tentative / to be decided:
One-Day Virtual Retreat on May 28, 2021
The Mt. Baldy Retreat is a unique opportunity to explore the internal and external aspects of Aikido, Tai Chi, Qigong, and Zen. Everyone is welcome, from curious first-timers to experienced students and instructors. Please see our page for Mt. Baldy Retreat for details, schedule and registration links.
For nearly four decades we have held the retreat at the Mt. Baldy Zen Center, above Mt. Baldy Village in the San Bernardino Mountains, in California. The rustic camp is a great setting for training and meditative practice. We hope to return in the near future.
Please watch for updates.