Community


 * =Instructor=

FreeAiki is a combination of a full, traditional Aikido curriculum and Martial Nonviolence (tm) a body-mind-culture conflict facilitation method created by FreeAiki founder [|Brandon WilliamsCraig] Sensei.

Brandon Sensei is a 4th degree black belt, a conflict professional, and non-profit executive with academic degrees in mythological studies and Jungian depth psychology. His first 20 years as a professional was as a liturgical vocalist and actor in regional theater, and a teacher of children's theater for all developmental periods and styles.

[|Brandon] began his aikido training in 1990 with [|Russ Alvey Sensei of North Texas Aikido]. He traveled to California in January 1995 to become [|Patricia Hendricks] Sensei's [|uchideshi], or full time, live-in apprentice. Pat Sensei tested Brandon for his black belt December of 1996 and he completed his apprenticeship in February of 1997.

In January 1998, he became a student of Kayla Feder Sensei 6th dan, Dojocho of [|Aikido of Berkeley]. Kayla Sensei asked Brandon to take over the children's program and Brandon connected Aikido of Berkeley with a national Home Schooling network to provide aikido as P.E. for its kids. Later he becamse Kayla Sensei's Assistant Instructor teaching adults, and Dai sempai, or senior student. ||  media type="custom" key="4280999" || || =Aikido Tradition= // more historical information available at Wikipedia //Morihei Ueshiba, (植芝 盛平 Ueshiba Morihei, December 14, 1883–April 26, 1969) also known as O'Sensei, named his art form [|Aikido (合気道,)]. His son, [|Ueshiba Kisshōmaru], and grandson, [|Ueshiba Moriteru], each becamse Doshu in their turn, the head of the international aikido organization Zaidan Hojin Aikikai (the “Aikikai”). Many of O'Sensei's original students remained affiliated with the Aikikai and many chose to be independent or start their own organizations.

In 1942 O'Sensei left Tokyo and moved to [|Iwama] in the [|Ibaraki Prefecture] where the term "aikido" was first used as a name for his art. Here he founded the [|Aiki Shuren Dojo], also known as the [|Iwama dojo], the care of which was passed to a devoted apprentice, Saitō Morihiro.

[|Morihiro Saito Shihan] (斉藤 守弘 Saitō Morihiro, March 31, 1928–May 13, 2002) remained in Iwama and trained many [|uchideshi] who went on to become renowned teachers.
 * [[image:AiBerk_Taisai_20090426_KF_0791.jpg width="278" height="416" caption="Kayla Feder Sensei"]] || Pat Sensei and Kayla Sensei "grew up in aikido together" and were both students of Saito Shihan until the time of his death. Pat Sensei is the head of the [|California Aikido Association (CAA)] Division One and Dojo Cho of Aikido of San Leandro.

Kayla Sensei is on the Dan Examination Committee of the [|CAA] and is the Dojo Cho of Aikido of Berkeley. Aikido ranks are sought by Brandon Sensei through Kayla Sensei's connection with Pat Sensei and the [|CAA] of which all three are members.

**It is not necessary to be a member of any organization to practice Free Aiki. As in all things, each choice should be made with an eye to its consequences for the individual and the community.**
 * Anyone interested in an Aikido rank internationally recognized by the [|Aikikai] should inquire about requirements, as well as Aikido of Berkeley and CAA protocols.**

Both Brandon and Kayla Sensei also have the privilege of serving on the Board of Directors of [|Aiki Extensions] an international organization for martial artists teaching and working toward peace.

|| Students from various area dojos train together in FreeAiki with no concerns about affiliation and regulation. Each decides for themselves what is best for their training path.

[|Nick Walker Sensei], founder and most senior instructor of Aikido Shusekai, and the chief instructor of the Aikido Shusekai dojo at the Downtown Berkeley YMCA, helped establish FreeAiki and returns to teach when his duties allow.

As more training is, in almost every case, a good thing, we highly recommend that each student train not only in the morning with us and at special FreeAiki events, but also regularly in classes offered by one other local dojo that supports the ethic of cross-training and good relationships with other martial artists. In our immediate area we highly recommend: [|Aikido of Berkeley] [|Aikido Shusekai] [|Aikido of San Leandro] [|Oakland Aikido Institute] =Process Arts= Brandon co-founded [|Association Building Community], a local 501(c)3 and intentional, distributed community which encourages and develops the process arts, the emergent field of culture-making facilitation techniques and disciplines (applied psychology, organizational development, Nonviolent Communication, Processwork, and many more) which pay at least as much attention to how ideas are interpreted and systems made as to what, literally and materially, is produced. Martial Nonviolence (tm) and several other methodologies are Brandon's contribution to the [|process arts]. More information is available through ABC and at [|bdwc.net].



FreeAiki dojo trains with 7 Generations in mind. These Ohlone elders are the images with whom we train, though we do not represent or promulgate an ethnic or tribal tradition.