O-sensei spent much time engaged in mountain training in many of Japan's spiritual mountain places. Making the most of the great resources offered to us by the Angeles National Forest and, in particular, Mt Baldy (a 10,000+ foot mountain wilderness fifteen minutes from the dojo), Senseis Rubin and Perry have found a number of ways to introduce these natural resources to the students at Musubi Dojo.

            In the 1990's Musubi Dojo held several camps in the popular Mt. Baldy Zen Center. And, when students were attracted to the idea of learning how to be out in nature cooking and doing for ourselves they "roughed" it in the Manker Flats campground where they cooked and ate and rested together in a place that was a short walk from Yamabiko Dojo and the Mt. San Antonio Waterfall. From July of 2000-2005, Musubi Dojo members participated in an annual Yamabiko Camp. In these mountain retreats, the training practice takes as its focus O-sensei's tenet of loving protection for all living things through mindful training practice.

         Water misogi, a purifying cold-water practice of O-Sensei's which helps to build stamina and self-control and center. (Musubi Dojo uses Mt. Baldy's San Antonio waterfall which is a 60 ft local waterfall - see Sandokai.);

            Aikido Training with jo (misogi no jo) and ken (Misogi no ken) is especially nice at Yamabiko Dojo. Musubi members found a grove of trees and named the space Yamabiko Dojo (Mountain echo). It now serves as a focus for Musubi Dojo's mountain jo and bokken training and camps.

Upcoming Workshops & Events - click newsletter on the home page.
July 13, 2008 - Mt Baldy Gasshuku (see front counter or the newsletter for more info.)

*Don't forget to check out Aiko Institute offerings* for more related events and classes at www.aikoinstitute.org. Aiko sends out an updated list of events every week through the email. If you'd like to be added to the list please let us know at info@aikoinstitute.org).