21st Annual Big Sur Weapons Retreat

(Check Later for updated information)

September 7-9, 2012

Douglas Ranch - Carmel Valley, California

Instructors:

Danielle Molles Smith, 6th dan · Dennis Evans, 5th dan · Michael Smith, 5th dan
Erik Haag, 4th dan · Mitch Johnson, 4th dan · Cathy Jaeger, 4th dan
plus
Special Guest Instructor: Ikuyu Conant (Watsonville Taiko)

Activities:
Here's what we did in 2011

This year we celebrate our 20th Weapons Retreat, with more study of aikido weapons; bokken, jo & tanto, and a special treat of Taiko led by Ikuyu Conant of Watsonville Taiko!

Friday night, a sandwich buffet will be served at 7:15 with entertainment and social time afterwards. Saturday and Sunday mornings will begin at 7:30 am with Chi Gong. Breakfast will follow at 8:15 am. The weapons classes will begin at 9:00 am. We have thirteen hours of great training in the outdoors planned, and a few fun surprises!

For leisure time or non-training participants, there is a wonderful swimming pool, tennis courts, hiking trails, and serene contemplation of the "Art of Peace," practiced in the rollin' golden hills of California.

The facilities at Douglas Ranch include a large, rustic lodge with 3 dining rooms, each with a fireplace. The meals will be simple vegetarian and non-vegetarian fare. Sleeping will be on provided cots in rustic, wooden cabins, accommodating 2 to 4 campers each. Couples will be in their own cabins. The nights are cool; bring a warm sleeping bag.The modern bathrooms and showers are centrally located among the cabins.

Our entertainment committee is, once again, planning fun evening events on Friday and Saturday. Stay tuned to this site for more information as the event gets closer. Check out our "photo gallery" for images from past retreats' training and entertainment.

Description:

Experience 2 days of camping, training and fun at the Douglas Ranch Camp; a serene, natural setting amidst oak-covered hills along the Tularicitos Creek in beautiful Carmel Valley, 15 miles east of Carmel, California.

History:

For 10 years Aikido of Monterey presented their annual Big Sur Weapons Retreat at Pico Blanco scout camp in Big Sur.During renovations at that camp, we changed the venue to Douglas Ranch in Carmel Valley. This year, once again,we will be presenting the Annual "Big Sur" Weapons Retreat at beautiful Douglas Ranch.

The Buzz from past retreats:

"The Weapons Retreat is a very useful way to study jo and bokken intensively. When questions come up, the instructors are right there to answer them. And to hang out with the folks training at Aikido of Monterey in beautiful Carmel Valley under the oaks by day and stars by night refreshes my spirit."

"I've been looking forward to the retreat for months!"

"Is registration open for the weapons retreat? What do I need to do to sign up? Looking forward to coming back, last year was incredible!"

"Amazing instruction in a most amazing environment."

"Aikido of Monterey's weapons retreat is a fun and informative weekend of training, acquaintances, and fun. I look forward to it each year."

"...a weapons intensive with laughter and heart. Not to be missed!"

"I'm much better acquainted with my bokken and jo, not to mention water polo and all the great students and instructors from Aikido of Monterey, other California dojo, and international students from Japan, Germany, Turkey..."

"Can't wait until the 2011 retreat! I remember when we had Taiko in Big Sur. It would be so great to hear that sound at Douglas Ranch...the echo of the drums off the hills...the vibration of the oaks...whadya think?"

The Art of Peace - Morihei Ueshiba

91 The real Art of Peace is not to sacrifice a single one of your warriors to defeat an enemy. Vanquish your foes by always keeping yourself in a safe and unassailable position; then no one will suffer any losses. The Way of a Warrior, the Art of Politics, is to stop trouble before it starts. It consists in defeating your adversaries spiritually by making them realize the folly of their actions. The Way of a Warrior is to establish harmony.

Aikido of Monterey · 1251 10th Street, Monterey CA 93940 · info@aikidomonterey.com · 831.375.8106