New location

Thank you for a great year! I'm proud of all of you and the progress you've made. We've had a fickle year with the studio we were at, but this will finally change with our new location. Here is the address:

School of Ballet Arts
55 North 1400 West
Lindon, UT

(Coming from SLC area exit at 1600 N., turn right and pass Timpanogos Harley Davidson, turn right onto Geneva Rd. Northbound, You'll drive under the freeway and stay on the road for about 30 seconds, then turn left onto W. 500 N., turn left onto N. Anderson Lane and follow for about 30 seconds and you'll arrive at School of Ballet Arts. If you get lost call me!

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We are shaping up the way we do things at the dojo! We'll be focusing more on iaido as an art, physical art, and a traditional way of self defense. This will require more from the student physically, emotionally, and spiritually. We'll also be adapting 5 maxims found in most traditional arts in Japan:

1. Character
2. Sincerity
3. Effort
4. Etiquette
5. Self-control.

Let's make 2012 a great year! Here are some things to look forward to:
-Tameshigiri
-Nihon Matsuri participation
-Aikido seminar
-Quick hand-to-hand self-defense seminar
-Annual trip in Fresno
-Zen meditation

***For students who bring a friend and they join Iwayama Dojo, you will recieve a month of free tuition***

メリークリスマス

 Thank you for a wonderful year! I hope that you all have a wonderful holiday break and remember this spoken by The Buddha, "However many holy words you read, however many you speak, what good will they do you if you do not act on upon them?" Go lift someone's spirit, tell a loved one how much you care about them, or do something to make someone else happy. By lifting up others, you lift yourself up as well! -Sorensen Sensei

Lao Tzu

Knowing others is wisdom, knowing yourself is enlightenment. -Lao Tzu

Overcoming Obstacles

I've always found that when I'm practicing martial arts and struggling to understand a concept or technique that the thing that is usually holding me back is often the thing that I needed to learn the most. The little things that it took for to overcome the obstacle made me stronger and eventually helped me realize my goal and better understand a concept or technique. There is a zen proverb that says that the obstacle is the path and as you study martial arts this becomes more and more true. Don't let obstacles knock you down, strike them first.