Amber's Aikido Origin

Aikido found me once in the 90s. One summer living, in D.C., I walked past a dojo every day until one day I walked in. It wasn’t a good experience. I left after several weeks with an injured shoulder and thinking sensei = sleazy.

Fast forward thru the decades and I found myself entering a dojo again. (a year and a half ago). I was uncomfortable even scared. But we were doing this for our son, to give him confidence and physical training. Jesse(my husband) took to the movement, thriving in the challenge and intensity. I was still uncomfortable, still uncertain and still sometimes scared. 

But I kept going. This dojo was filled with respect, filled with kindness, filled with rigor and honor. Galen’s teachings and my sempais’ compassion showed me a different aikido. An aikido and a community that is now an integral part of my life. A teacher who has restored my faith in the role of sensei (my first sensei was a real dud!). An aikido I plan to practice for decades to come.

(can anyone tell me how to make a possessive plural japanese transliteration? Is it “sempais’s” or “sempais’ “ or ….. )