Registration is now open. I hope you will join us!
Sarasota Aikikai will celebrate its 50 year anniversary at a very special seminar March 7-9, 2025. This will also coincide with the celebration of Sensei’s 88th birthday on that Friday, March 7th.
Saotome Sensei and Ikeda Sensei are both coming, they told me they are excited to see all their friends from the old days together once again. Joining them are two more senior instructors from the early Sarasota days: John Messores Sensei and Dan Messisco Sensei.
For those who can make it to town a day early, we will also have special pre-seminar classes in the Sarasota Dojo on Thursday night, taught by Sarasota Aikikai instructors Melissa Bell and Zach White. Although this is not the first dojo location that Sensei came to in 1975, it is the location that has lasted the longest – Frank Bell established the present location of the Sarasota Aikikai in 1995, and it has been here ever since! The original Princeton Street Dojo is a mere four blocks away, so if there is interest, we may walk over and see it.
The seminar itself will be held in the gorgeous Sarasota Art Museum (https://maps.app.goo.gl/1WuFUrctMeXdVu4y9) for Friday and Saturday classes. The Friday night social will be held at a local favorite spot, just a few blocks from the seminar venue. The banquet will be Saturday night at our fabulous local Churrasco restaurant/ Brazilian steakhouse (vegetarian and gluten free options are available). And because everyone remembers those iconic early photos of Sensei on the Sarasota beaches, we will train Sunday morning on the sands of that beach! There will be plenty of time for photo ops too 😉 Update: that beach is actually closed for restoration following damage from the hurricanes last fall. Sunday class will be at a beautiful waterfront park on grass/turf (no sand). Still followed by Sunday brunch 🙂
Because this seminar is part of ASU’s 2025 yearlong anniversary celebrations, it qualifies for ASU Grant assistance.
More information and registration at our facebook event page or at our dojo website: https://sarasotabudokan.com/