October Lecture

Aikido: The Art of Peace

Thursday, October 19 at 7:00 PM

FREE for Garden Members | $5 for Non-Members

Aikido is known as a Japanese martial art.  However, is founder, Morihei Ueshiba (translated to great teacher), intended for it to be used as a way to peacefully reconcile the world.  Aikido is a non-competitive art and looks at an enemy not to overpower and concur, but rather as a path to find harmony in a chaotic world.  Ultimately, as a way to find true victory, victory over one’s self.  Stephen will discuss Aikido’s history, breathing and meditative techniques for centeredness and clarity and the physical mechanisms of Aikido and how they can be applied for a more harmonious daily life.

Stephen Tatsuo Toyoda is the current President and son of Aikido Association International founder, Fumio Toyoda Shihan.  He has been studying Aikido since the age of three.  After graduating with a degree in Biology from the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana, Mr. Toyoda served as an uchideshi under Y. Kobayashi Soshihan in Tokorozawa, Japan.  Mr. Toyoda is the dojo cho of Tenshinkan Dojo in Chicago, IL and has taught extensively throughout the United States and world.