The night I decided, so many years ago, to give the Fredericksburg dojo a try was one of the wisest intuitive decisions of my life.

I just want to take a moment and thank you for your kind words this morning.  I can assure you that any improvement that I have made in Aikido comes from the ability of the teacher.   The only way I know to approach learning is to be consist in effort…other than that you are responsible for any progress that occurs.  I truly thank you for all of the time and effort you have put into teaching me this science. My only wish I could learn at a faster pace. Aikido has become an important part of my life and in many ways which I can’t explain helps me deal with life’s issues in a more mature manner.  I thank you for that as well.  Again thank you for your words of kindness and encouragement this morning.

Thank you for being so welcoming  and for all of the advise and guidance that you have given.

Great group of people that now have a fantastic new “green” building. They do outreach work and support many other local and national nonprofits.

I learned about Aikido from my Brother in Law. I was surprised to find it in Fredericksburg because I live 20 minutes from Fredericksburg. I took my son Shan (9yrs old) for a trial lesson and he loved it. Classes are well taught with a lot of patience and understanding of children and their needs. Instructors are kind and very experienced. Shan has gained a lot of confidence in himself and more self control from attending these classes. He was scared to be in the dark alone at night, an now after doing Aikido for a few months he has overcome this. He enjoys learning how to defend himself without having to hurt anyone. That is the art of Aikido. I am very impressed with Aikido in Fredericksburg and would recommend it to anyone who has children.

Aikido in Fredericksburg is an amazing place. The world-class facility is a joy to train at, the people are warm, friendly, and fun, and the training is top-notch. Whenever I meet non-members at seminars, they comment on how nice the place is, and new members consistently comment about the positive energy.

Aikido is a beautiful particapatory art that coordinates the mind and body and spirit. It has helped me become more aware of my body and how it can interact in a peaceful way with other people in a variety of situations including social situations. I am 62 and if it wasn’t for Aikido, which can be done into your senior years, I would be a lot worse off than I am for flexibility, awareness, mental and physical health. Many people my age and older have mentioned the same benefits. I’ve seen the instructor with children. He gains the respect of the children, which is a miracle in this day of media distractions, broken families, and families with both parents working. The children are learning to be more mature, healthy, and interactive with other people. The Aikido dojo I belong to reaches out to all Aikido practitioners with seminars from visiting teachers from around the country and world. Aikido is called the art of peace and harmony. The Aikido dojo invites sister arts such as Tai Chi and Yoga to help in this practice.

Aikido isn’t only a place to learn a very effective, defensive martial art. It’s a place just full of great energy, and the people there actually care about you. The green building and location serves to show just how dedicated those who run the dojo are to protecting the environment and, in turn, to make this one of the best places to train you’ll ever see. If you skip past the building and take a look at the people there, you’ll see that the building’s positive attitude generally reflects on those who come in. Many people I’ve trained with there have commented that it is a place that’s helped them find their mental balance.

My son has trained with the members of Aikido for 6 years; starting when he was 10. We’ve been encouraged as our son has grown into a very focused and balanced young man. Training, camaraderie, responsibility for the enviroment, structure, are only a few of the attributes resulting from training at the Aikido Dojo in Fredericksburg.

This is a fantastic organization that is active in the local community of Fredericksburg, VA as well as helping in other programs that cross state and national boundries. Akido in Fredericksburg teaches peaceful ways of conflict resolution as well as renewing environmental resources.

Many years ago, my older brother, an 8th Dan in Shito Ryu Karate Do and member of the United Martial Arts Association International, gave me advice on what to look for in a martial arts program. I found everything he identified as admirable attributes in a school – focus on teaching the art, teaching character, and a welcoming community dedicated to the sharing the art with others – and as reflected in the chief instructor, Sensei Aviv Goldsmith. My two sons (11 and 13) are students and I have been a student when my work schedule permits. I recommend this school to anyone interested in learning a martial art and about themselves. The Aikido Club of Fredericksburg is an outstanding organization and is a valuable reseource to our community.

I started training with Aikido in Fredericksburg seven years ago. It has been a life changing experience. I am in better physical health, I am not a streesed out at work, and I am better able to deal with lifes problems. And id I were attacked I am better prepared to defend myself than I was prior to learning Aikido. The chief instructor is top flight and a good man. I highly recomend Aikido in Fredericksburg.

This is a holistic organization that works to not only help you improve yourself physically, but also improve how well you interact with the world around you. Subsequently, you end up with many subtle improvements to other areas of your life–many times without realizing it right away. AIF also works to remain involved in the community by hosting outreach days and community clean up events.

Aikido in Fredericksburg is so much more than a Martial Arts school they are a conduit for peace. In the past several years, AIF has partnered with various organizations to provide charitable assistance to those in need. Through monetary donations, volunteering, organizing and presiding on various boards, the reach of AIF has gone beyond the local borders and has impacted organizations around the world. Here is an example of their commitment to giving back to the community: They have provided scholarships for several children and their “Big’s” at Big Brothers/Big Sisters. They have donated to The Hope House, a local organization that assists the homeless. They volunteer with Friends of the Rappahannock another local organization that works to protect our environment.  They have raised funds for the families impacted by the earthquake in Haiti. They have adopted a local road to keep it clean and do so twice a year. Preside on the board of another non-profit that has brought Pakistani and Israeli youths together to train in Aikido. They are invited, all expenses paid, to attend camp in Pennsylvania where they learn to live and train together and promote peace. These are just a few examples. For a small organization, they are making a big impact. As a student, I am honored to see so much given back to the community and to be a part of it and am constantly rewarded by the good we do.

I started at Aikido in Fredericksburg in 2002 as a way to continue my training, but the longer I stayed there the more I began to see the big picture. That is to say we are responsible for what happens in this world and our community. We must give all we have to make this a better place for all the people of the world. Building a dojo and helping with roadside cleanup might not sound like a lot but when you have a group of people who are focused on bettering themselves and the place and people that live there it has a ripple effect.

Aikido in Fredericksburg is a great dojo. I feel that their classes are well structured and that there is an unusual amount of flexibility in the schedule. I can train pretty much any time of day I want to most days of the week. I also find that the cost is low compared to other martial arts schools in the area and the community they have developed within their membership is second to none and that is where I feel this dojo really excels. You will find people teaching here who are both great instructors and who are people who genuinely care about each other.

I had been in search of a martial art that was effective, yet non-aggressive. Aikido fits the bill exactly. If anyone tries to grab my children, they’re probably in for quite a surprise. My children have the means to defend themselves but can not use that means to become bullies. Sensei Goldsmith routinely asks about the kids’ school perfomance and cares after them beyond the dojo. In fact, there is a sense of belonging amongst all the students that sets AIF apart from other dojos. My son has high functioning autism and has problems with certain social situations. The caring instruction of the Sensei has helped him immensely to overcome some of his apprehension with folks. My daughter’s confidence, self esteem, and physical agility have increased greatly, also.

Beautiful thank you

Thank you for organizing the gasshuku! Great experience and memories 🙂

I was told last night at 5pm that I need to create a PowerPoint and present it to the executive leadership team at 830 this morning. The executive leadership team consisted of the two SVP’s directly under our CEO and our head lawyer with a slurry of VP, directors and  managers. No pressure. Surprisingly I slept well. I woke up and said no matter what happens I am just going to blend, receive and enter. It went really well, no panic, no anxiety and felt like a really good hours long Jiyuwaza.

You’d be surprised just how often I think of you all. Very often. Not a week goes by without something that takes me back to a lesson I learned on or off the mat. Aikido becomes part of your being – a bit like a freckle that can’t be removed & grows stronger with the metaphorical sunshine.