2025 TAA Summer Gasshuku Wrap-Up – Tomiki Aikido of the Americas

on August 7, 2025

This Summer’s Gasshuku was held July 19-20 in Lewis Center, Ohio at the fine accommodations of Team Chitwood Martial Arts. The event was again graciously hosted by Robert King shihan and the Mansfield Tomiki Aikido Club. Along with four belt examinations, the following instructors led excellent seminars. Thank you to all instructors!

Competitive Judging (Robert Dziubla) – Dziubla shihan covered the basic signals and methods of officiating tournament randori.
Floating Techniques (Warren Pottebaum) – Pottebaum sensei used the illustration of going over a speed bump to show how movement is a series of rising and falling actions. The seminar focused on doing technique on the rising action, causing the opponent to float. This allows you to then throw more effortlessly.
Kote Gaeshi Variation (Jeff Davidson) – Davidson sensei presented a number of variations to the common kote gaeshi lock. These variations appear in the rokudan curriculum. They begin with a variety of grips, including two handed grips and gripping the collar from behind.
Goshin no Kata for Embu (Gabriel Adalem) – Adalem sensei provided tips and cues for performing the 16 techniques of Goshin no Kata (or Koryu Dai San) that are used in embu competition.
Seichusen and Toitsuryoku (Erik DiVietro) – In this workshop, DiVietro sensei reminded participants to focus on moving through the centerline to one point. The majority of the workshop was devoted to applying this concept to things taught in other workshops.
Randori Drills (Josh Ramey) – Ramey sensei took the group through some basic connection drills for randori. These are practical ways to stay connected during movement for more effective techniques.
Self-Defense and Firearm Defense (Robert Dziubla) – Dziubla shihan discussed practical applications of the color codes of awareness. He then demonstrated several variations of defenses against threats with a pistol. Dziubla shihan also authored an informative paper, Fundamentals Of Randori Training / Tegatana Taisabaki, as an addendum to the gasshuku.