Adult Kyu Tests
Congratulations to Corne, Christine, Guido, Kevin, and Sam for their excellent yukyusha tests.  In order of rank: Corne, 1st kyu; Christine, 4th kyu; and Guido, Kevin and Sam, 5th kyu.  Well done!

We've scheduled our next adult test for Saturday, September 26th.  Remember, in addition to your hours, you must have permission to test from Sensei.

Children's Class
Sensei has some new ideas for Aikido games, which she is eager to try out.  They look really fun!

And in case you didn't know, our test requirements can be found online, on our website.  Why am I telling you this?  Well, we've scheduled our next test for Saturday, August 29th. 

As a reminder, our test dates can also be found on our website calendar.  For your username and password, email Sensei.

Yoga Classes
Yoga classes are in full swing at the dojo, and are held on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, from 5:00 to 6:00 in the evening.  The classes are open to everyone, from beginners to more advanced students.

I am happy to report that interest in the Yoga program has been growing steadily.  Interested?  Please contact Anastasia on her website, Mandarin Yoga.

Upcoming Seminars
Florida Aikikai will host Claude Berthiaume Shihan on August 15 and 16, at their annual Summer Seminar.

On October 10, Aikido of Tampa Bay will host Nobu Arakawa Shidoin, from Hyde Park Aikido.

Tuition Reminder
A reminder that tuition is now due for August.  Please keep in mind that our payment obligations are also due monthly.  Sensei would appreciate it if your tuition is paid timely, on or before the first scheduled class of the month.

Remember, we offer several payment options, including PayPal™ and direct debit.  Our payment policy can be found on our website.  Thanks.

Movie Night - Bring A Friend!
Our last movie night was such a success that we have decided to schedule a children's movie on a monthly basis.  In July we saw Kung Fu Panda, and enjoyed pizza, movie style popcorn, and other refreshments.  Our entire children's class was present, along with parents and guests.  We had a blast!

Before the movie the students organized an impromptu round of shikko tag, an Aikido game taught in class.  After the movie, the kids played more Aikido games and in general enjoyed themselves immensely.

This month, Sensei asked her students to pick the movie.  So far, the contenders include Ice Age and the Karate Kid.  Is there another movie you'd like to see?  Let us know!

Not only is movie night a great way for our younger students to have fun in a supervised environment, parents have the opportunity to relax for the evening, or meet other parents from the dojo.  It is also a great opportunity to help grow our children's class.  As we continue to increase our student base, we can offer additional programs designed especially for our younger students.  We have lots of ideas, so stay tuned.

So, for the parents, we offer this challenge: Ask your son or daughter to invite a friend!  As our guest, we can guarantee a wonderful time, with kids their own age.  We also offer you this incentive: If your child's friend enrolls in our school, your son or daughter trains free for the month.  And, because we think we have the best children's program in Jacksonville, we offer our classes free for one week, with absolutely no obligation.

We're scheduling movie night for Saturday, August 22 at 6:30 p.m.  Before the movie, Sensei plans to referee a few Aikido games, such as shikko tag and our obstacle course.  We also intend to install a movie screen which should reduce the glare from outside. 

Most importantly, however, we want YOUR input!  Help us make movie night even better.  Please let us know your suggestions and feedback.  Thanks!

Summer Seminar with Grady Lane Shidoin
A few pictures to remember the event.  Special thanks to our friends from the Aiki O-Kami Society and Shugenkai Aikido, who joined us for the seminar.