Mitsubachi Dojo

Ma'ai Perspective is doing important work in foregrounding women's voices in their podcast about budo. They were kind enough to interview me for the first episode of their second season. Check it out on YouTube or Spotify!

S2 Episode 1: Roo Heins on Japanese Arts in the West Roo Heins is an Aikido, Iaido, and Sado (tea ceremony) practitioner who teaches all three disciplines at Kalamazoo Aikikai, Mitsubachi Dojo in Michigan. Havi...

https://encorekalamazoo.com/a-woman-owned-aikido-dojo%ef%bf%bc/

Thank you Chris Killian for the lovely write-up in Encore magazine!

A Woman-Owned Aikido Dojo - Encore Magazine It’s hard not to feel at peace around Roo Heins. It’s obvious that the bliss that glows off her is the result of a disciplined adherence to a practice that […]

あけましておめでとうございます!
Happy New Year, two weeks late, from Mitsubachi Dojo!

On January 1 we had a small but spirited Hatsugeiko, first practice of the new year. We started with a tea ceremony, then an hour of uchikomi practice with bokken. It felt great to begin the year with fellowship and positive ki.

The tree pictured here is a sassafras tree salvaged from Marcus's yard after a storm, intended as our future kamiza. It's a bit of a project but it will be amazing when it's done!

The bulb on the current kamiza is one I dug up when I dug the dahlia corms up for overwintering. I didn't know what it was or whether it would do anything, but lol and behold, when we came in for practice on January 1, a few purple buds were emerging, and I realized it's a hyacinth.

This was a reminder that even in the dark, when uncertainty is more abundant than hope, nature finds a way. Sending that spirit out to our community for the coming year.