Aikido Shobukan Dojo, Washington D.C.

Contributed by Pete Trimmer
Instructor, Aikido Shobukan Dojo

Aikido Shobukan Dojo, located at 421 Butternut Street NW, in Washington, DC, was founded in the late 1970's by Mitsugi Saotome shihan. The dojo remains today an active center for aikido training, with daily classes and assorted seminars, the most prominent being the annual Cherry Blossom Seminar in spring and the annual Summer Intensive Seminar in July, where Saotome shihan's weapons training is featured.

The dojo's experienced teaching staff, most of whom have trained for over twenty years, offer beginner through advanced classes morning and evening. Members come from all over the metro area and from all walks of life, with the common purpose of studying aikido and its benefits. Saotome shihan's unique influence and mastery may be seen and felt throughout the dojo, from the approach to training to the design of the dojo itself.

The first impression a visitor gets of our dojo is its distinctive look. Located in the rear of a house on a semi-residential street which dates back to the turn of the century, the dojo features a front garden with a wonderful layout of trees, plants and rocks that at once hints of a Japanese garden. There is a side path that leads past the front porch to our main dojo door. It is there, under a wooden awning supported by the trunk of a tree, that Saotome shihan has erected a large calligraphic sign welcoming the visitor.

Our entryway sets the tone of our dojo with a shrine to O'Sensei, a rustic log seat and wooden platform for removing shoes. On the wall shelving are small works of art evoking the spirit of the dojo.

Nearby is a seating area furnished with rustic furniture and featuring a large, floor-to-ceiling teapot hanger positioned over a brazier. At one time, this was actually used to make tea, until a new student cleaned the inside of the pot with furniture polish. Since then we have simply admired it for its beauty. The walls of this area are hung with photographs of O Sensei, the former Doshu Kishomaru Ueshiba, and Saotome shihan.

Down the hall, past the dojo office, student lounge-library, and kitchen, are the men's and women's dressing rooms and showers.

Our canvas-covered mat space is quite large, about 60' x 60', and we often enjoy an open-air feel by raising the large back doors that afford a view of the garden. In the center of one wall abutting the mat, our lovely kamidana houses a picture of O Sensei and Saotome shihan's calligraphy, along with quotations of O Sensei in both English and Japanese.

Visible from the training area is a large and colorful original painting of two samurai, a gift from a French artist and aikido student, Michelle, who visited our dojo some years ago.

In a small loft tucked away over the front entry and hidden by a sliding door adorned with a large work of Sensei's calligraphy, is a special tearoom complete with zabuton, cups and teakettle. Upon entering this special room, one can immediately feel its welcoming and restful essence and is invited to meditate, contemplate or study.

Beyond the mat space, through the back doors, is a deck with chairs for sitting, and beyond the deck is an exquisite garden of rocks, trees, mosses and bamboo. This lovingly designed and cared-for garden also features bonsai trees and a river of black and white rocks that form the calligraphy for "life".

Aikido Shobukan Dojo is a unique and beautiful place, offering high standards of training and a class schedule that is designed to accommodate a variety of personal schedules. We welcome all visitors and practitioners of Aikido to come and enjoy our dojo and our practice. Please visit our website at www.aikido-shobukan.org for additional information, including classes, directions to the dojo, etc. Our phone number is 212-829-4202, and our email is [email protected]. Information about Saotome shihan may be found at www.asu.org.