Posted June 15, 2009

Yoshinkan Aikido is an ethical martial art form drawing on the discipline, techniques, etiquette, philosophy and spirit of the Japanese Samurai. Aikido is a physical, mental and spiritual art form developed by 20th century martial artist Morihei Ueshiba. Gozo Shioda, Ueshiba’s leading student, founded his own dojo in Japan the 1950s and named it the Yoshinkan Dojo (265 West 7th, 3rd Floor). The dojo is a formal gathering and training place for any of the Japanese martial arts. 

PHOTO:  Aikido students stand at the ready, or "kamai" position.

Aikido is a physical, mental and spiritual art form developed by 20th century martial artist Morihei Ueshiba. Gozo Shioda, Ueshiba’s leading student, founded his own dojo in Japan the 1950s and named it the Yoshinkan Dojo (265 West 7th, 3rd Floor). The dojo is a formal gathering and training place for any of the Japanese martial arts. 

Shuharikan dojo founders and instructors Glen Giacoletto, Gordon Shumaker, Jon Sharratt, Maggie Murphy and James Nolan offer classes year-round. All instructors hold black belt or higher and international teaching licenses issued and certified by the Aikido Yoshinkai Foundation in Japan. This May marked the fourteenth year the nonprofit educational organization has been serving the St. Paul community.

Aikido translates as “The Way of Harmony”; Shuharikan means “The House of Cultivating Peace” and refers to the three stages of training and mastery in a martial art; and Yoshinkan means “to cultivate mind and spirit.”
Using escapes, holds, throws and pins instead of kicks and punches, the art focuses on peaceful resolution of conflict. Aikido’s emphasis is defensive rather than confrontational and the student learns to defuse the conflict without harm to the aggressor. One of their mottos is: “Please leave your ego at the door. Work on yourself.”

The dojo currently has 25 adult men and women students of all ages and physical abilities and 20 children. There are classes for teenagers and kids, classes on self-defense, weapons training, and a nonimpact course called Deep Aikido, which focuses on balance, breathing and philosophy.

Teaming Up to Help Youth
The Shuharikan has recently teamed up with Heroes Camp, Restorative Justice Program, Partnership for Violence Prevention and Totem Town to work with youth who have gotten into trouble. Training scholarships are available for this program. The scholarships offer young people coming from difficult situations the opportunity to train at the Shuharikan dojo twice a week for a designated yearly quarter. The quarterly value of the award is $210. The scholarships also provide adults who train at the dojo the opportunity to act as informal mentors to the scholarship students.

Dojo leaders uphold the ideal of using the “art” of Aikido to reach out to those in need and to offer them a different path or way to approach life.

Co-founder Jon Sharratt says, “Last summer we did six training scholarships. Trainees are learning self-defense along the way, but they are also learning to question themselves: ‘Can I learn the material? Can I work with any type of person?’ Our students can train as hard as they want to do the best they can. We don’t have competitions, but explore how students can be more effective and efficient. And that directly translates into work or school as well. We are offering these scholarships as another opportunity.”

Aikido teaches leadership skills, discipline and responsibility. The instructors’ goal is to help students progress through hard work and goal setting to eventually become instructors and mentors themselves. In this way, the martial art will not be lost. “You become part of a tradition,” Jon says, “and part of the responsibility as a black belt is to continue the tradition and give back to the community.” Jon adds that the Shuharikan is not a military organization, but they do believe in team learning and using their leadership skills to help people and better their community.

“One of the core pieces of Aikido is performing techniques with a partner in a respectful, controlled manner,” and students don’t need to dress up for class. Jon encourages students to “Just come down, this is your time to work on yourself.” Safety and the basics are covered first, and from there the students can expand with their own personal version of the art.

Classes are offered by instructors from other dojos. Special classes like self-defense are also held. Regular classes are held Monday through Thursday 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. Kids’ classes are Saturdays 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. For info, call 651-222-7337 or visit shuharikan.org