The Aikido Institute of Texas was created to provide opportunities for Denton area residents to train in Traditional Aikido, as developed by the Founder, Morihei Ueshiba, and preserved by the late Morihiro Saito, Shihan.

The focus of training is on basic principles of Aiki movement. The student is encouraged to focus on his own personal development through daily training with these three values as a guide: Humility, Awareness, and Perseverance.

David DeLong, Sensei
- Chief instructor -

The chief instructor of the Aikido Institute of Texas is David DeLong, who holds a Yondan (4th degree black belt) rank with Hombu Dojo, (Aikido World Headquarters).

He began training at the Aikido Institute of Oakland, CA. in 1986. He served as uchi deshi under Kim Peuser, Sensei, (6th Dan), for over two years.

"I have undertaken this with a deep sense of gratitude to my Sensei. I am also indebted to Hoa Newens, (6th Dan), formerly the chief instructor at Oakland, and now the Dojo-Cho at the Aikido Institute of Davis, Ca.."

"One thing I can tell you about these two remarkable gentlemen is that they have both been training on a daily basis for about thirty years. Growth in Aikido never stops, and I hope to follow their example and continue to grow and learn in Denton for the rest of my life. The main focus of my training will be serving the needs of my fellow students at the Aikido Institute of Texas."

Jared Mays, Sempai

Jared is a twenty-year-old college junior at the University of North Texas. He is majoring in Anthropology with a minor in Japanese.

Jared has studied with David Sensei for two years and is the sempai of dojo. He is also the instructor of the juniors' class.

In August we'll all be wishing him farewell for a year as he is off to Japan to study and train. Let's hope he has a great time and brings back some valuable experiences.

Benjamin Morris, Sempai

Benjamin Morris is an eighteen year old sophomore at UNT, majoring in political science.

He is a sankyu, and has been training in aikido with DeLong Sensei since May of 2002. He has also been leading the kid's class since August of that year.

Over the summer, Ben will be in Austin, TX, interning at the State Attourney General's Office, and in August of 2003, he will be moving to Portland, OR, to study Politics at the University of Portland.

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Aikido is a martial art created by Morihei Ueshiba. It is a synthesis of a number of classic martial disciplines that Ueshiba, (or O'Sensei. as he is referred to by Aikido students since his death), studied during a lifetime of daily training.

O'Sensei also was seriously committed to a life of spiritual study and practice and this commitment is reflected in his development of Aikido not only as an effective martial discipline, but as a holistic system by which a practitioner could integrate himself mentally, physically and spiritually through daily practice. His vision was that people of all walks of life, of different ethnic, national or religious orientation, could use Aikido practice as a tool with which to bring Peace and Harmony into their own lives and into the world.

O'Sensei was born in 1883, and began studying martial arts at a fairly early age. He survived numerous adventures, distinguished himself in the army, and endured through hard and turbulent times. His life story can be seen as a study in perseverance. In 1942 he moved to the small country town of Iwama, north of Tokyo, to farm, study and train. He felt that the three most important activities for personal development were farming, budo practice, and spiritual practice.

It was during this period in Iwama that he organized and synthesized the product of his decades of study and training into what is today known as Aikido. In 1946 a local teenager, Morihiro Saito, joined the group training under O'Sensei. Saito Sensei trained with him and served him as uchi desshi, or personal assistant, for 23 years. Saito Sensei developed into one of the top instructors in the world, and upon O'Sensei's passing, became the Chief Instructor of the Iwama dojo, and guardian of the Aiki Shrine in Iwama.

The Aikido Institute practices Iwama Style Aikido, as preserved and taught by Saito Sensei and his students. The hallmarks of Iwama Style are an emphasis on basic principles of movement, and proper form, as informed by a grounding in the principles of Aiki ken, (sword), and Aiki jo, (staff).

"The power of Aikido can twist you like the Texas tornado." David Sensei.

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The Aikido Institute of Texas is a charter member of the Takemusu Aikido Association, which is headed by William Witt, Shihan, 7thDan, Hombu Dojo.

Witt Sensei was the first American to train in Iwama, and was among the first Americans to be named Shihan.

The TAA lists among its members , in addition to Witt Sensei, Peuser Sensei, and Newens Sensei, a number of the top Iwama Style instructors in the world, including Hans Goto Sensei, Dennis Tatoian Sensei, of California, and Wolfgang Baumgartner of Germany.

More information of the TAA can be found on the TAA website: www.takemusu.org

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Hara Gallery is a special section at the Aikido Institute of Texas. It is established for art exhibition. Visitors are welcome in both Dojo and Gallery's open time.

"Hara" is a Japanese term which can be translated as: belly, viscera, or center of being. On a philosophical level it can be considered the center of personal identity and the nexus between heaven and earth. In Aikido it is considered the motive center of the human body, a point about 2 inches below the navel , corresponding to the center of gravity when one is in the correct stance and posture from which a connection is made through the legs to the earth, and from which energy generated from the hips as a result of this stable base is transmitted through the torso, shoulders and arms into the hands. It thus has a practical biomechanical relevance to the practice, and students learn a center-oriented awareness of their own body as well as the awareness of the center of their training partner, and learn to develop a connection between the two. This has a metaphorical relevance as well, as students transcend the abstract projections of their own mind and become aware of the reality confronting them.

The emerging artists who show at Hara Gallery have a "fire in the belly" for creating art that bridges the gap from one individual human to another. The Gallery specializes in works of an intimate scale, with the individual human spirit in mind. Art for corporations and bureaucratic institutions are adequately represented elsewhere.

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Training will focus on basic practices, basic techniques, and basic exercises which will help to prepare you for more advanced training in the future and will reduce the chance of serious injury.

At least 60% of our effort will focus on ukemi skills, the art of receiving techniques, to allow us all to train at the highest possible intensity with the least possible risk of injury. Be proactive. The practice is being made available for your benefit. The practice is self-paced and the most benefit is gained when one brings all of their body, mind and spirit into the practice. The best training is serious and fun.

" The one thing I can tell you with absolute certainty about Aikido is that you will get out of it what you put into it."

"If you knew the time it took me to gain my mastery, it wouldn't seem so wonderful."
Michelangelo

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