Aikido Shugyo Retreat with Tom Collings Sensei

Aikido Founder Morihei Ueshiba devoted hours each day to disciplines for calming and clearing the mind. Although he never insisted aikido students follow this path of inner development and purification, it was the essence of his budo. While Aikido today is exclusively throwing and pinning, O-Sensei’s path of inner development remains available for any student to follow if they choose. 

This intensive seminar includes a variety of the breath, sound, and meditation disciplines which O-Sensei practiced. We will integrate them into regular aikido practice, and into our lives. Choose one or two days of silence and partial fasting, to enhance quality of mind and depth of focus. Light snacks such as fuit and tea will be served in formal tea ceremony style.

The training is open to beginning and advanced aikidoists and meditators. 

Training will be led by Tom Collings Sensei, Aikido 6th Dan. Tom Sensei has spent 40 years practicing monastic traditions, including study in Japan and China.

He is author of the book
SEARCHING FOR O-SENSEI—Learning and Living the Wisdom of the Warrior.

Tom Collings Sensei, 6th dan, began aikido in 1973 with Senseis Hagihara and Yamada. After earning his Shodan in 1977 he trained in Japan for 4 years at Aikikai Hombu and Iwama. Second year private training with Kazuo Chiba Shihan and his teacher Zen Master Hogen at Chogen-Ji Temple in Kannami Village. From 1979–1981 he was uchi and sotodeshi at Iwama attending daily classes of Morihiro Saito Sensei. From 1983 to 1993 he sponsored more than a dozen seminars on Long Island with Iwama sempai including Stan Pranin and Saito Hitohiro. Returned to Iwama on short training trips 1989, 1995, and 2006 and to China 2005 studying Shaolin Chi Qong. His aikido has been influenced and informed by a career as a parole officer in the housing projects and streets of New York City, and daily practice of live blade Yagyu Shingake Ryu Iaido, chi qong, and zen meditation.