Slovenian delegation in Iwama

During our last day in Japan we visited Iwama, the place where O'Sensei lived and taught Aikido. We trained in the dojo there, which was built by the founder and where all the greatest Aikido masters trained, those who presented Aikido to the world and passed the knowledge on to new generations.

The Dojo keeper is Isoyama Shihan, one of the most respected Aikido teachers in the world. We were extremely honored that the Shihan organized a ceremony at the shrine and held a training session especially for us.

Slovenian delegation at the Hombu Dojo

During the last week of February, a delegation from the Slovenian Aikikai Federation (Aleksandr Starovojtov and Jasmin and Dejan Biščević) and the Federation's technical director, Wilko Vriesman Sensei, were received by the Doshu at Aikido World Headquarters in Tokyo.

We reported to the Doshu on our work, and also presented him with a gift. We were honored to have this photo taken with the Doshu and his son.

We trained in Hombu Dojo for one week, and also had a long meeting there with International Affairs representatives. The manner in which we were received was a great honor for Slovenian Aikikai, since it showed that we are on track to achieve Hombu recognition and subsequent IAF membership.

Hombu Dojo Shihan visits Sovenia

Slovenian Aikikai Federation cordially invites you to attend Aikido presentation and demonstration that will take place on18 March 2008 at Triglav Sport Center. It is a key event for the Slovenian Aikido. For the first time of history of Aikido, a representative of the Aikido
World Headquarters - Hombu Dojo, Yukimitsu Kobayashi Shihan will visit our country. The arrival of Mr Kobayashi to Slovenia is of utmost importance for the development of Slovene Aikido and of course for the official recognition of the Slovene Aikikai federation by the Aikikai
world headquarters based in Tokyo, Japan.

Date: 18th March 2008
Place: Triglav Sports Centre, Vodovodna cesta 25, 1000 Ljubljana
17:30-19:00 - Aikido seminar
19:30-20:30 - Presentation, demonstration and press conference

The demonstration and the press conference will be attended by representatives from the Ministry of of Education and Sport, Japanese Embassy, Slovene Olympic Committee, communes of Ljubljana, Škofja Loka and Velenje and last but not least, our guests of honor – Wilko Vriesman Sensei (5th dan) from the Netherlands and Yukimitsu Kobayashi Shihan (7th dan)
from Japan.

Yukimitsu Kobayashi 7 Dan

The latest good news from Aikido World Headquarters in Japan: Yukimitsu Kobayashi Hombu Dojo Shihan - who will be visiting Ljubljana, Slovenia in March 2008 - has been promoted to 7 Dan.

Congratulations!

Aikido winter school in Amsterdam

A 12-member delegation from the Slovenian Aikikai Federation took part in the annual Aikido winter school in Amsterdam. For some of us, this was the sixth year of practice with Wilko Vriesman Sensei.

Photos from the seminar

Milestone seminar with Wilko

This weekend’s seminar in Velenje and Ljubljana with Wilko Vriesman 5 Dan was a huge success, to say the least. We achieved a new record number of 63 participants, ranging from beginners to the highest levels. But Wilko was fully up to the challenge. He masterfully led the seminar so that everyone participating got the maximum benefit out of it. Wilko has set a new standard for the next big seminar in Slovenia with Yukimitsu Kobayashi Hombu Dojo Shihan 6 Dan on 19 March 2008.

Thank you, Wilko Sensei!

Wilko Vriesman seminar coming soon!

We hope you all know already about this weekend’s seminar in Velenje and Ljubljana with Wilko Vriesman 5 Dan. Everybody should come, even beginners – your participation is very, very welcome. And of course participation at Aikido seminars, just like regular training, is the key to making progress. This seminar will give you wings – no Redbull necessary!

Successful seminar

Aikido seminar 11.11.2007

There were 38 participants at the national Aikikai seminar in Ljubljana, which is very encouraging for Wilko’s upcoming seminar. Only a few regular participants were missing. Of course, the overall number could have been even higher, as will hopefully be the case when Wilko comes. Special mention goes to the eight participants from Velenje, who traveled the farthest to get here. Since Wilko will be in Velenje on Friday, we hope for a good turnout. Once again we invite everyone who’s not from Velenje to come if you can – you won’t be disappointed. And we certainly expect the tatamis to be crowded on Saturday and Sunday.

Summer school with Wilko Vriesman Sensei

Photos from the event

The Aikido Summer School, led by Wilko Vriesman Sensei and organized by Slovenian Aikikai, took place in Ljubljana on August 23-26.

Four days of intense training were attended by over 40 aikidokas from Slovenia and abroad. The growing interest in this teaching methodology attracted practitioners from two Austrian Dojos, Meiyukai (Vienna) and Kimusubi (Villach-Klagenfurt).

Following their successful examinations, Aleksandr Starovojtov and Dejan and Jasmin Bišćević have brought three Nidan grades to the Federation. Tadej Pačnik's hakama, earned after the nikkyu test, will adorn Dokiai Dojo.

Seminar with Michal Baňas in Ljubljana

Photos from the seminar

Thirty participants from Slovenian Aikikai, the Czech Republic and Slovakia enjoyed a seminar with Michal Baňas from Prague. This was the Federation's first seminar with Michal, who has been practicing Aikido for 17 years and teaching in his own Dojo for over 10 years. He was also the first Aikido teacher of Aleksandr Starovojtov and Staša Pisek.

During the seminar we practiced building trust between uke and tori. The training was both beginner-friendly and challenging to advanced students.

More guests from EU countries will be joining us at the Ljubljana Summer School on August 23-26.

Slovenan Aikikai discussion group

We are happy to introduce an Internet community where we can share our thoughts and experiences regarding Aikido.

This discussion group is a good opportunity for Slovenian Aikikai members to communicate and network, gain knowledge about Aikido and the Federation, and help one another make progress as Aikido practitioners and as human beings.

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New Slovenian Aikikai dojo in Velenje

Velenje Dojo

Slovenian Aikikai - as represented by its main trainer, Jasmin Biščevič - has started a new dojo in Velenje.

Seminar with Wilko Vriesman in Ljubljana

Aikido Seminar by Wilko Vriesman Sensei, April 2007 Ljubljana

For the 7th time already, Wilko Vriesman Sensei came to Ljubljana to give a seminar - this time with an assistant, Tom Dijkman 4 Dan.

Over 50 members of our federation enjoyed three days of intensive training. There was an examination at the end of the seminar, and Arsen Miloševič, Denis Zadnikar, Matjaž Žalig and Veljko Novakovič passed their 1st Kyu exam. Congratulations!

Prague seminar with Wilko Vriesman Sensei

A six-member delegation from Slovenian Aikikai went to Prague to attend a seminar led by Wilko Vriesman Sensei.

The last time we traveled to Prague was in November 2005. Our friends and colleagues from the Czech Aikido Federation recognized significant development in the Slovenian group. This was a great practice session.

More photos from Prague

Workshop in Jesenice High School

A delegation from Slovenian Aikikai presented Aikido to 4 classes (over 100 pupils) at Jesenice High School. During a workshop lasting 4 classroom hours, we explained the principles of Aikido and practiced some basic techniques.

Most of the participants were excited about the ideas behind the techniques, and showed great respect for the president and main trainer of Slovenian Aikikai.

Winter school in Amsterdam

For the fifth time already, members of Slovenian Aikikai attended the traditional winter school at Vriesman Dojo in Amsterdam. This year ten of us practiced for five days with over 70 Aikidokas from Dutch and Belgian Aikikai.

In the photo: the Slovenian Aikikai delegation with Wilko Vriesman Sensei.

More photos here

Slovenian Aikikai's December workshop

Over 30 members of Slovenian Aikikai participated in the December workshop (the Federation's free monthly joint training session) led by Dejan Biščevič and Aleksandr Starovojtov.

Seminar with Endo Seishiro Shihan in Vienna

Club Dokiai represented Slovenian Aikikai at the international seminar in Vienna led by Endo Seishiro Shihan.

Slovenia's first female black belt

Staša Pisek is the first female first-degree black belt in Slovenia to be recognized by Aikido World Headquarters - Hombu Dojo. Wilko Vriesman Sensei solemnly presented Staša with an official certificate from Hombu Dojo, signed by the Doshu, Moriteru Ueshiba.

This certificate is also the first dan grade issued directly to Slovenian Aikikai, thus marking another very important step towards recognition by the Hombu.

6th seminar with Wilko Vriesman in Ljubljana

Slovenian Aikikai organized its 6th seminar with Wilko Vriesman Sensei in Ljubljana. The purpose of these seminars is to build a solid foundation for Aikido techniques, the personal development of each practitioner, and the successful development of Slovenian Aikikai as a whole.

Photos from the seminar

30th anniversary of Aikido in Poland

Jasmin Biščevič represented Slovenian Aikikai at the 30th anniversary of Aikido in Poland, as a part of an international delegation.

In the photo: Wilko Vriesman, Christian Tissier, Eloy Weterings, Jasmin Biščevič

Training and demonstration at Sportfest

The Slovenian Aikikai Federation presented Aikido at the Sportfest fair held at the Gospodarsko razstavišče (National Fairgrounds) in Ljubljana.

Croatian Aikikai seminar

October 7-8, 2006 marked the first international Aikido seminar organized by the recently established Croatian Aikikai. The seminar was led by Mutsuko Minegishi, a Hombu Dojo shihan, with four guest teachers from England and the Netherlands.

The seminar was well-organized, and the Slovenian Aikikai delegation enjoyed the practice and Croatian hospitality.

The principal guest at this event was the Japanese ambassador to Croatia, who watched an Aikido demonstration by international groups. Aleksandr Starovojtov and Matjaž Žalig, representing Slovenia, received generous applause from the spectators.

First Ljubljana summer school with Wilko Vriesman

The four days of the first summer school in Ljubljana, led by Wilko Vriesman, were a big success. To ensure that the trainings would meet high standards, Vriesman Sensei brought along three young nidans from Dutch Aikikai: Eloy Weterings, René Habraken and Robert van der Horst.

The Federation now has another black belt, Staša Pisek, and 4 hakamas (2 kyu), including Matjaž Žalig from Dokiai, as well as Veljko Novakovič, Denis Zadnikar and Boško Praštalo. Congratulations!

Photos from the summer school.

Workshop with Tom Dijkman

Another guest from Dutch Aikikai has led a seminar organized by the Slovenian Aikikai Federation. Tom Dijkman (4 Dan) is a student of Wilko Vriesman and teaches in his dojo in Amsterdam.

Photos from the workshop.