Atlanta School of Aikido

The School of Inner Martial Arts

Offering Aikido in Atlanta since 1994

(770)522-9898

Located in the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta (MJCCA) - Dunwoody

The Atlanta School of Aikido offers a style of Aikido based on the teachings of Koichi Tohei's Ki Society, Shihan Shizuo Imaizumi's of Shin Budo Kai Aikido, Mark Leidig of the School of Inner Martial Arts, and Dan Harden's Sangenkai. It is movement based, flowing and smooth, but true to Aikido's martial roots.

Training includes the empty-handed arts of Aikido (throwing and pinning) as well as Ki training, weapons training with jo (staff), bokken (wooden sword), and Internal Power development.

Classes are small and focused on personalized instruction. Beginners train with experienced students or an instructor at the start of their training.

It is our hope that you will come by and visit one of our classes.

Although this site deals primarily with the Atlanta School of Aikido dojo, information within these pages pertains to the other affiliated dojos. Additional information regarding these other dojos can be found on the links page.

Within the following pages, you will find information, some history, and photos.

NOTE: We are excited to be moving to the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta (MJCCA)! With our move to MJCCA, schedule and pricing may change slightly from what is listed.

Class schedule:

Day	Time
Monday	7:30 PM - 9:30 PM
Wednesday	7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Saturday	9:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Classes are ongoing, you may start at any time. All beginning students are paired with advanced students for a quality and safe experience.

It is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED that you watch a class before registering. Visitors are always welcome! Please remember that MJCCA is a gated facility, and, to visit class, you will need to be put on the visitors list if you are not already a MJCCA member. Please contact Sensei Feldman for more information or to be added to the visitor's list. email: larryfeldman2 (at) gmail (dot) com Phone:(770)522-9898

Monthly dues:

Regular - Non-MJCCA Member	$75.00
Regular - MJCCA Member	$45.00
Students, Law Enforcement	$45.00
Single-Visit Matt Fee	$15.00

Online Payment Link Coming Soon!

No Contracts, No Initiation Fees, No Fee For Testing.

Class Registration:

For information about registering and paying for class, please click the link below:

Registration

Location:

Atlanta School of Aikido meets at the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta (MJCCA)

Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta
5342 Tilly Mill Rd
Atlanta, GA 30338
(678) 812-4000

*Note* You do not need to be a member of MJCCA to practice.

Other Class Inforamtion:

1. The current Shodan (Black Belt) criteria is to successfully demonstrate over 200 techniques and roughly one hour of weapons katas, including solo and paired bokken (sword) and Jo (staff). Due to the quantity of weapons katas covered, we begin weapons training almost immediately in a student's practice.
   
   
2. We do not utilize colored belts. All students wear white belts. Students are eligible to wear a hakama (the black pleated pants) upon promotion to 3rd Kyu. Students progress at their own rate and test individually when the student is ready.
   
   

Chief Instructor

Larry Feldman - Sensei
Chief Instructor at the Atlanta School of Aikido

Larry Feldman started his martial arts career in 1973 studying Hakko Ryu Ju Jitsu, a traditional Japanese style of Ju Jitsu. Larry has been studying Aikido since 1978 and has been a student of Mark Leidig since 1985, and Shizuo Imaizumi from 1986 to 2005. Larry has been studying Internal Power with Dan Harden since 2012.

In November, 2015, Larry was promoted to Rokudan (6th degree black belt) by Mark Leidig - Sensei.

Instructors

Phil Newman - Sandan (3rd degree black belt)
Assistant Instructor

Phil began his study of Aikido in 1996 with Sensei Feldman. Prior to this time, he had an interest in martial arts, but never commited himself to formal study. Under Sensei Feldman's teaching and guidance, Phil slowly progressed from someone with no skills to the level of Shodan in 2006. The journey has been exciting, both physically and spiritually. He derives great pleasure from applying the skills he has learned under Sensei Feldman and Sensei Leidig in his teaching of beginning students.

Steve Rohrabacher - Sandan (3rd degree black belt)
Chief Instructor - North Georgia School of Aikido

Steve began studying Judo in 1968, he was promoted to Shodan 1977. Steve studied Aikido in Aikikai style with Peter Bernath, 7th Dan, Florida Aikikai, from 1984-1993. Steve has been studying Aikido with Larry Feldman, Shinbudokai / School of Inner Martial Arts, Atlanta, from 1999- present. Steve was promoted to Shodan in 2007.

Steve is also the Chief Instructor of the North Georgia School of Aikido, LLC in Clarkesville, Georgia. More information can be found at http://northgeorgiaschoolofaikido.com/

Mitch Messer - Shodan (1st degree black belt)
Assistant Instructor

Mitch began his Aikido training in 2000, for the practical self-defense aspect and also as training for real-world conflict resolution and high-stakes negotiation. Mitch was promoted to Shodan in 2007. In addition to Aikido, Mitch has studied archery and western fencing, particularly epee and foil.

Hector Viust - Nidan (2nd degree black belt)
Primary instructor for the Thrusday night class.

Hector began his Aikido journey in 2009. While he has practiced other forms of martial arts prior to joining the Atlanta school of Aikido, he has never committed to any particular martial art. However, under Sensie Larry’s guidance, he was able to find his path through Aikido. “Aikido has allowed me to practice a martial art that does not conflict with my thoughtful nature. It has been an enlightening experience to be able to deal with conflict in a compassionate manner.” Hector looks forward to continuing his Aikido journey and sharing his experiences with others.

Hector was promoted to Shodan in August 2014.

“As I look back upon my Aikido career, I feel that I was extremely lucky to have come upon and chosen The Atlanta School of Aikido as my guide in my martial arts journey. The knowledge, depth of understanding, commitment and most of all patience of the instructors have been supremely beneficial to me. I highly recommend this school for your journey as well and look forward to training with you on the mat”

Pete - Shodan (1st degree black belt)
Assistant Instructor

Amos Causey - Shodan (1st degree black belt)
Assistant Instructor

Dan Harden - Shodan (1st degree black belt)

Mark Leidig - Sensei

The Atlanta School of Aikido holds seminars with Mark Leidig 7th Dan, Chief instructor of the Austin (TX), College of Aikido and founder of the School of Inner Martial Arts.

Mark's next seminar will be April 10th and 13th during normal class times.

Dan Harden

Dan Harden's next seminar in Atlanta will be held on the following date:

• May 3-6, 2024

Registration information for the seminar is available at:
www.bodyworkseminars.org

These seminars are not open to the public. Non-dojo members need to contact Dan directly at dojoseminars@gmail.com to make a request to attend.

School Lineage

The following chart shows the lineage of the Atlanta School of Aikido going back to the founder, Morihei Ueshiba

Affiliated Dojos

School of Inner Martial Arts
Austin Community College
Northridge Campus
11928 Stonehollow Dr
Austin, TX 78758
Mark Leidig - Sensei
mleidig@austincc.edu



North Georgia School of Aikido
Beginning January 2017
Habersham County Parks and Recreation Aquatic Center
120 Paul Franklin Rd
Clarkesville, GA 30523
Stephen Rohrabacher - Chief Instructor
srohback@bellsouth.net

Friends of the Atlanta School of Aikido

North Georgia School of Aikido, Clarksville, GA

Shin Budo Kai Honbu Dojo, New York

Sangenkai, Spencer, MA

DePasquale Ju-Jitsu River Vale, NJ

Atlanta's Traditional Okinawan Karate-Do Dojo

Durango Shin-Budo Kai

Albuquerque Shin-Budo Kai

Aikido Myrtle Beach

How to Find a School

Most people pick a school because they drive by it on the way to the dry cleaners.

Often times I get asked for recommendations for a kids class, or how to find a place to practice. It's a good idea to treat a search for a martial arts instructor much like you would a search for a physician or attorney, and ask people you know or trust for a recommendation.

A few simple questions to consider:

1. How the beginners are treated by the teacher, and how they are treated by the senior students?
2. Do you think you can learn from this instructor?
3. Are you willing to spend 2-3 days a week with these people in this environment?

One of the great secrets in the martial arts is that there are people, and schools who practice because it is something they love to do. They are usually smaller in attendance, allowing for a more personal teacher/student, artist/apprentice relationship which is how martial arts have traditionally been taught. On top of smaller classes, many times these school charge less than more commercially oriented schools. But they can be harder to find, since they don't always have that big sign on the freeway.

Why should you watch a class before starting our class?

Because I am more interested in your time than your money.

As a school we invest a lot of time in beginners. New students are paired with experienced students or an instructor until they reach a level of proficiency and confidence in their own abilities. Working with a partner who knows what they are doing, won't injure you, and won't let themselves be injured provides the safest environment for beginners. Learning is also easier when your partner has the knowledge and skill required to do the techniques being taught. For these reasons a more personalized approach to beginners is far superior to an 'introductory class', but it asks a lot more of the experienced students to support it.

Advanced students get a chance to learn how to teach, but it takes them away from the more advanced training. Instructors also spend more time watching and instructing beginners than a regular class.

We only require 1 month's dues to start training, and make this investment in you. Since watching a class will help you make a more educated decision about whether practicing Aikido with us is the right thing for you - we ask that you invest an hour and a half to help you make the right decision.

Aikido Benefits the Body

Besides being a full-body workout, Aikido provides many benefits. These benefits Include:

• Strengthing most muscle groups including core muscles.
• Improved balance both at rest and in motion.
• Improved "connectedness" in the body. Some may call this coordination, but it is even more than that.
• Increased flexibility through dedicated stretching and normal practice.
• Learning to fall and roll. That's right, it's a benefit! Many students have come to class and said that their skill in falling and rolling had saved them from broken bones or worse when falling from a ladder, stairs, or the like.
• Easy on the body. Unlike other arts that damage and wear down the body over time, Aikido, as we teach it, can be studied and enjoyed for a lifetime. There is no "smash and crash" here.

Aikido Benefits the Mind

While Aikido is a good workout, it has many benefits for the student's mind as well. Particularly, Aikido views the mind and body as connected and integrated. Therefore, practice builds and stimulates that connection. Here are some of the benefits:

• Increased focus and awareness.
• Being centered and in touch.
• Relaxation and stress relief.

Aikido Benefits outside the Dojo

While Aikido offers many benefits to the student while studying in class, there are also many benefits to be realized outside of class as well. They include:

• Self defence. Aikido is a martial art after all.
• Conflict management and resolution. Many principals learned in Aikido apply to all types of interpersonal interactions and conflict. The principals apply whether the conflict is physical or some other type.
• Peace and harmony. Though it is often misunderstood in its martial context, Aikido teaches the restoration of harmony. The regular practice of seeking harmony rather than destruction is a positive influence in everyday life.

Should you have any questions about the class or the dojo, please contact Sensei Larry Feldman via email at:

       larryfeldman2 (at) gmail (dot) com

or call

       (770)522-9898


Questions or problems regarding the website should be sent to:

       swa1969 (at) gmail (dot) com

Atlanta School of Aikido teaches Internal Power development as taught by Dan Harden and his Sangenkai organization.

Dan learned Internal Power in Daito Ryu Aiki Jitsu and made a personal journey out of applying these principals in MMA and traditional Japanese Swordsmanship. The principals apply universally across Yoga, Tai Chi, Aikido Daito Ryu, Hsing I, and Bagua. The commonality of these arts is based on spiral movement.

Dan will quote O'Sensei (the founder of Aikido and legendary martial artist); demonstrate the bodywork O'Sensei was referring to; and show it's application in not only Aikido but other martial arts.

Very few people in the world can generate the power Dan Harden demonstrates. Even fewer can teach it in a coherent, systematic way.....in English.

We practice Internal Power development with solo exercises, paired practice, and ultimately integrated into Aikido. Here is what one of our students has experienced with Internal Power practice.

"Before starting Aikido, I had an injury to my hip, resulting in daily discomfort and limited mobility, including an uneasiness about my ability to perform some of the techniques required by Aikido. However, after 2-3 months of performing the bodywork exercises, the discomfort in the hip disappeared and I regained full confidence in my physical ability."
- Joe M.

More information on Internal Power can be found at:

www.bodyworkseminars.org