Our Humble Beginnings
During COVID a few of us from our former dojo (Hikari Dojo) led by Louis Jumonville, Shihan, trained on Zoom Jumonville Shihan move to MA and trained with us when he could. In July 2021, we started training in the park.
Summer 2021:
In August we were very fortunate to find Wah Dojo (a Karate Studio in Pleasant Hill), led by Shihan Wah. He began renting space to us then.
Sitting in seiza Jennifer, Carla, Casey and Jacob
Kamae (beginning stances) for bokken (sword): Carla and Casey; Jo (staff) Jennifer and Jacob
A Surprising Day
The three of us in the photo right (Brian, Carla and Suzanne) had trained together for many years at Hikari Dojo in Martinez. During the pandemic, Sensei closed that dojo and moved to MA. A group of us continued on Zoom and then in the park until August 2021, when we found a home in Wah Dojo and became AikidoContraCosta.
On this particular day, Carla was not expecting any other students to show up and was planning on training alone. Unbeknownst to any of us, Brian and Suzanne (neither of whom had not been training with us) showed up. It was was like a homecoming! We’re all still training together almost 3 years later.
A Very Special Gift
On Friday, February 25, 2022, at the Aikido San Leandro’s Semi-Annual Division 1 training, in honor of our entry into the California Aikido Association (CAA), Hendricks Shihan (a gifted calligrapher) presented Carla with a special one for our dojo.
It says Takemusu Aiki (spontaneously creating Aikido techniques).
On Thursday, March 17, Carla unveiled the scrolled calligraphy at our dojo and presented Mark Ihrig with his 6th Kyu certificate, complete with AikidoContraCosta hanko (signature) stamp.
Training Indoors at Wah Dojo
Summer and Fall 2022
Casey pinning Philip for Shomen Uchi Ikkyyo Omote Waza
Jennifer throwing Suzanne in Munetsuki Kotegaishi;
Jennifer throwing Brian in Koshinage (hip throw)
Jennifer throwing Brian in Koshinage (hip throw)
We had our first big promotion day: Saturday May 14.
Carla called the test with Louis Jumonville, Shihan watching on Zoom
Congratulations to Jennifer Platt on taking a spectacular Ikkyu (1st Kyu) test
See the video on YouTube here
Jennifer receiving her ikkyu certificate.
Our group after the test.
