Kyu Tests

Students in Aikido test with a partner to demonstrate their skills as uke and nage. There are six levels of kyu or white belt ranks. Students who have practiced the required number of classes and have shown a dedicated effort to learn Aikido techniques and falls may test with Koyanis Sensei's permission. Testing is based on the requirements of the USAF. You may download our list of test requirements as a file (164k). As a Shidoin or Certified Instructor in the USAF, Koyanis Sensei can test students through Sandan, or 3rd degree black belt. In general, though, Dan tests for our students will take place at Seminars with Yamada Shihan or Berthiaume Shihan. Kyu tests at Two Rivers Aikikai take place on the third or fourth Monday in January, May and September. Visitors are welcome to come in and watch the tests.

Ten Week Beginner Session - Starts Saturday September 10, 2011.

Come in during class times to watch class and ask questions about our beginner program. Our next session starts Saturday January 12, 2012. Preregistration by January 5th is required.

6th Kyu Test Requirements at Two Rivers Aikikai

Tachi Waza:

• Gyaku Hanmi Katatetori Irimi Nage, omote and ura
• Tsuki Hiji Dome Kokyu Nage, ura

Suwari Waza:

• Ai Hanmi Katatetori Ikkyo, omote and ura
• Kokyu Ho

Details emphasized on the test:

• Demonstrate proper etiquette (rei) bowing at the beginning and end of the test.
• Sitting in Seiza, bowing from seiza, rising from seiza to a standing position.
• Standing in Shizen Tai position showing proper Ma-ai with partner.
• Tai Sabaki: irimi, tenkan, tenshin, enten, and combinations of body movements.
• Attacks: Attention to Ma-ai and protection of center line for katatetori and tsuki.
• Ukemi: Koho Kaiten, Zenpo Kaiten, pinning position for Ikkyo and Kokyu Ho.
• Shikko Ho: moving forward, turning and pinning.

Dojo members, please refer to your Member Booklet for rules of Etiquette and definitions of terms.

What are Seminars?

Seminars are intensive training workshops that are one, two or three days long and usually take place over a weekend. 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. 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 and Iaido as they evolve. For a list of local seminars visit the Portland Aikido Calendar.

Upcoming Seminars at Two Rivers Aikikai

2012 Spring Aikido and Iaido Seminar: May 4-6

featuring

Claude Berthiaume, shihan 7th dan

Past Seminars

2010 and 2011 Spring Aikido and Iaido Seminar with Claude Berthiaume 7th dan Shihan

Congratulations to Alex Nelson who passed his nidan test in Aikido
and to Chris Hatlestad who passed his shodan test in Aikido
at our 2011 Spring Aikido and Iaido Seminar with Berthiaume Sensei!

Movie clips from our 2010 Spring Seminar with Berthiaume Sensei.
Please give movies time to load.

• suribe goshi with Shakoda Neil. (3.2 MB)
• kumitachi #8 with Josh Layton. (1.8 MB)
• kumitachi #9 (2.9 MB)
• kumitachi #10 (2.9 MB)

2009 Fall Aikido and Iaido Seminar with Vu Ha, shidoin.

Movie clips from our 2009 Fall Seminar with Vu Ha Sensei.

• kaeshi waza of hajiki goshi with Shakoda Neil. (2.2 MB)
• kaeshi waza of the kaeshi waza with Lynn Marshall. (2.6 MB)
• ukashi goshi with Yelena Ryabova. (1.7 MB)
• hayanami with Michael Boeder. (1.8 MB)

May 2009 Spring Aikido and Iaido Seminar featuring Claude Berthiaume 7th dan Shihan

Movie clips from our 2009 Spring Seminar with Berthiaume Sensei.

• hiza tate shihonage with Jonathan Lilly. (1.0 MB)
• shihonage, kotegaeshi and irimi nage with Rod Yabut. (1.7 MB)
• bokken vs jo with Paul Butkiewicz. (1.2 MB)
• henka waza nikkyo to maki komi with Bob Fraley. (2.5 MB)

May 2008 Spring Aikido and Iaido Seminar featuring Claude Berthiaume 7th dan Shihan

Our Spring Seminar with Berhiaume Shihan was lots of fun! We practiced Chuden in Iaido and a vast array of techniques in Aikido. Unfortunately for Berthiaume Sensei, Montreal lost in the eastern conference semifinals for the Stanley Cup in hockey on Saturday night. As most of us get a chance to say at some point in our lives, we look forward to next year! He was still in a good mood on Sunday as we ended a great weekend of Aikido and Iaido.

Fall Aikido Seminar - November 2007 featuring

Suzane Van Amburgh, 4th dan Shidoin
Malory Graham, 4th dan Shidoin
Lynn Marshall, 4th dan Shidoin

Malory, Suzane and Lynn	Suzane demonstrating nikyo
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Lynn demonstrates iriminage with Teri	Malory throws Paul on Sunday
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Spring Seminar with Claude Berthiaume, Shihan, 7th Dan
May 2007

Thank you for joining us for our 2007 Spring Aikido and Iaido Seminar with Claude Berthiaume Sensei, the Chief Instructor of Aikido de la Montagne in Montreal, Canada. Berthiaume Sensei has followed the teachings of Yamada Shihan and the late Kanai Shihan and taught at camps and seminars around the world. The members of Two Rivers Aikikai appreciate his instruction at this seminar and look forward to our Spring Seminar with Berthiaume Shihan in 2008.
Scroll down or click here to see pictures and short movie clips from our 2006 Aikido and Iaido Seminar with Berthiaume Sensei.

Fall Seminar with Robert Zimmermann, Shihan, 6th Dan
November 2006

Our 2006 Fall Aikido and Iaido Seminar with Zimmermann Sensei was lots of fun. Zimmermann Sensei taught us Aikido basics, fundamentals of randori and kaeshiwaza from iriminage. We practiced bokken suburi against two opponents and jo tori with some interesting pins. In Iaido classes, we practiced Eishin Ryu Iaido. For many students, it was their first practice in Iaido and very exciting. We were also very fortunate to have New England Aikikai instructor Shakoda Neil, Fukushidoin teach class on Sunday. Check out the images and videoclips below.

Zimmermann Sensei demonstrates nukitsuke	Zimmermann Sensei demonstrates pin with jo
Movie clips from our November 2006 seminar with Zimmermann Sensei. katatetori tai otoshi by Zimmermann Sensei with Lynn Marshall. (230k) ude hishige nage by Zimmermann Sensei with Shakoda Neil. (434k) kaeshi waza of irimi nage by Zimmermann Sensei with Shakoda Neil. (470k) jo tori - ikkyo by Zimmermann Sensei with Shakoda Neil. (537k) jo tori - sankyo by Zimmermann Sensei with Shakoda Neil. (595k) kaeshi waza - nikyo to maki otoshi by Lynn Marshall with Shakoda Neil. (445k) kaeshi waza - nikyo to uki otoshi by Shakoda Neil with Lynn Marshall. (350k) beginning of Eishin Ryu Junto by Zimmermann Sensei. (544k)
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The energy was flowing at our 2006 Spring Seminar with Berthiaume Sensei. New England Aikikai instructors Vu Ha Shidoin and Shakoda Neil Fukushidoin also taught classes. Josh Layton came out with Berthiaume Sensei from Aikido de la Montagne and took lots of ukemi. Check out the images and videoclips below.

We now have a dvd of all Aikido classes, the 14 count Kumijo and the Toyama Ryu Iaido class from the May 2006 seminar with Berthiaume Sensei. Cost for the dvd is $20. E-mail Two Rivers Aikikai: 2rivers@portland.quik.com or call us at 503-238-7012 to order your copy. Classes from all three days are included with detailed demonstrations by the instructors in this one hour and forty five minute dvd.

Berthiaume Sensei sweeping Vu with ukashi goshi	Lynn Marshall and Josh Layton - kokyu ho
Movie clips from our May 2006 seminar. shomen uchi kata hiki hajiki goshi by Berthiaume Sensei with Lynn Marshall. (413k) kaeshi waza of shiho nage by Berthiaume Sensei with Vu Ha. (252k) ryote tori maki otoshi by Berthiaume Sensei with Josh Layton. (224k) katate tori suribe goshi by Berthiaume Sensei with Josh Layton. (479k) katate tori tai otoshi by Vu Ha with Josh Layton. (213k) katate tori hiki otoshi by Vu Ha with Josh Layton. (252k) kata tori kaiten nage by Shakoda Neil with Gwen Gaylin of Eugene Aikikai. (391k) kata tori kata hiki otoshi by Shakoda Neil with Lynn Marshall. (222k) 14count kumijo by Berthiaume Sensei with Josh Layton. (1.53m)
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Grand Opening Seminar with Yoshimitsu Yamada Sensei
and David Halprin Sensei August 12-14, 2005.

What a weekend of invigorating practice with Yamada Sensei and David Halprin Sensei
to celebrate the opening of our new space on Belmont Street!

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The First Annual Portland Friendship Seminar
donates 398 pounds of food for the Oregon Food Bank!

Close to 80 members of Aikido dojos in the Portland area practiced together at Two Rivers Aikikai on Saturday afternoon, March 18, 2006 in a benefit for the Oregon Food Bank. Seven different instructors taught 30 minute segments over the course of the afternoon. Participants brought 398 pounds of food and $301 in cash donations for OFB. The wonderful atmosphere and enthusiastic energy on the mat all afternoon attests to the spirit of Aikido in Portland dojos. The members of Two Rivers Aikikai appreciate the contributions everyone brought to our dojo. We look forward to seeing you on the mat again soon!

Two Rivers Aikikai is a 501(c)(3) federal non-profit organization that admits students of any race, color, age, gender, and sexual preference to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities that are available to all members.