Practicing Non-Violence as a Way of Life.

The Chief Instructor of Two Rivers Aikikai is Spiros Koyanis, 5th dan Shidoin, who trained under the late Mitsunari Kanai, 8th dan Shihan from 1983 until Kanai Sensei's passing in March, 2004. Instructors Lynn Marshall, 3rd dan, Fukushidoin and Shakoda Neil, 4th dan, Fukushidoin also trained extensively under the late Mitsunari Kanai, Shihan. Thus the dojo's Aikido style is primarily influenced by Kanai Sensei's teaching of Aikido and his theory of the unified body. Kanai Sensei's style pays close attention to "ma-ai" both before and after an Aikido technique allowing for the effectivenes of non-violence as self defense. Mitsunari Kanai Shihan was one of the last uchi deshi (live-in apprentice) of O-Sensei the founder of Aikido, with whom he studied intensively for over ten years. He was assigned to New England Aikikai in 1966 by Aikido World Headquarters in Tokyo. Since Kanai Sensei's passing, our dojo looks for guidance from Kanai Sensei's senior students, Claude Berthiaume, 7th dan Shihan, Robert Zimmermann, 6th dan Shihan, David Farrell, 6th dan Shihan and David Halprin, 6th dan Shihan. And as a member of the USAF, our dojo remains genuinely grateful to Yoshimitsu Yamada Shihan for his leadership and inspiration.

Seminars

Two Rivers Aikikai hosts Aikido Seminars twice a year in the Spring and Fall. Claude Berthiaume Shihan is our featured instructor for our Spring Seminars in Aikido and Iaido. For our Fall Seminar, we will choose instructors who have had an impact on our training over the years, from near and far. Seminars are usually a weekend event of intense training. We encourage our students to participate in seminars at Two Rivers Aikikai and at other dojos where they can practice a variety of styles and strengthen their foundations. Seminars offer all of us a way to keep up to date with the changes taking place in Aikido as it evolves. For a list of local seminars visit the Portland Aikido Calendar.

Dojo News:

Our practice space at Two Rivers Aikikai

When we moved to our new location on Belmont Street in late summer 2004, we decided to build a new mat foundation similar to the mats at Portland Aikido in Maine, Framingham Aikikai in Massachusetts and Raleigh Aikikai in North Carolina. We have 14 foot high ceilings, giving us plenty of room for bokken, jo and Iaido. Our members have worked hard to prepare the raw space into a pleasant dojo. Over July 4th weekend 2005, we used precious vacation time to build our new Tokonoma (special alcove) in preparation for our seminar with Yamada Sensei. We kept with a Northwest theme using vertical grain fir for the trim and natural slate tiles for the floor. We feel fortunate to have such a great place to practice Aikido and Iaido.

Thinking of starting Aikido?

Take a look at the class description for our beginner class located on our schedule page. We have added our Rules of Practice and the Objectives of our Beginner Program to the class descriptions. Find out what you should expect from us and what we'll expect from you. Once you join, you'll get a copy of our Member Booklet that includes information you will need including dojo etiquette, a glossary, Aikido resources and our list of testing requirements. Please visit us during class times to watch class and ask questions.

Schedule Change

Starting Saturday May 31st, we will practice Iaido in the early morning class from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. Our entire schedule and class descriptions are located on our schedule page. Please Note: The dojo is closed on Sundays during the summer, from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

USAF Announcements:

When asked for advice by his students on a wide variety of topics, Kanai Sensei often told us to "Just keep training." And so, we do.

USAF Summer Camp

The United States Aikido Federation, with the assistance of New York Aikikai, is proud to invite you to Summer Camp 2008. Camp will be held at Richard Stockton State College in Pomona, New Jersey from July 26th to August 2nd. Instructors include Yamada Sensei, Shibata Sensei and other USAF Shihan and Shidoin. Information and on line registration is available at the USAF website.

Check out Aikidoeast.com

The current issue of Aikidoeast.com, the on-line newsletter of the USAF, has articles and pictures from a variety of USAF seminars. Laura Jacobs Pavlick, Chief Instructor of Litchfield Hills Aikikai and Assistant Secretary of the USAF does a fantastic job as Editor. She also prints out and mails all of our USAF kyu certificates. Thanks Laura.

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General website information:

Links to Aikido Resources are located on our About Aikido page.

Go to our Children's page to challenge your concentration and test your Aikido vocabulary skills with three games created by Koyanis Sensei. Adults can play too!