More information to follow.

July 31, 2020 Hello everyone, Due to the continuation of the State of Emergency in Ontario related to the Covid-19 pandemic, the dojo will remain closed until Friday July 31. We will continue monitoring the situation and keeping you informed. Please stay safe and healthy, and thank you for your ongoing support and understanding. Sensei Robert Zimmermann Shihan Chief Instructor - Toronto Aikikai _________________________________________________________________

June 3, 2020 Hello everyone, Due to the extension of the State of Emergency in Ontario related to the Covid-19 pandemic, the dojo will remain closed until Tuesday June 30. We will continue monitoring the situation and keeping you informed. Please stay safe and healthy, and thank you for your ongoing support and understanding. Sensei Robert Zimmermann Shihan Chief Instructor - Toronto Aikikai _________________________________________________________________

April 30, 2020 Hello everyone, Due to the ongoing COVID-19 measures the dojo will remain closed until Sunday May 31. Please stay safe and healthy, and thank you for your ongoing support and understanding. Sensei Robert Zimmermann Shihan Chief Instructor - Toronto Aikikai _________________________________________________________________

 

April 3, 2020 Hello everyone, Based on today's communication by the Premier regarding the ongoing COVID-19 situation, the ongoing provincial declaration of emergency, and the recommendations for social distancing and fines for ignoring them, the dojo will remain closed until Friday May 1. As per my previous email, please stay healthy and continue practicing those things you can do on your own at home. I had previously mentioned the warmups, tai sabaki, weapons suburi and catching up on Aikido reading. In addition there are other things you can do, including going for walks in the sun or riding a bike, which can elevate your mood. If you decide to do that, remember to follow the new by-law requiring you to remain at least 2 metres away from others. Of great importance are to maintain a positive attitude and to use this "down time" to care for yourself and your loved ones. For example, share information in social media, use our private Facebook group, and contact me or others by email or WhatsApp if you need something or just to say hello. While normally I wouldn't suggest it, I think it's a good idea to also post and share a few good jokes or memes in our group. We are in this for the long haul, it seems. This has turned into a kind of marathon, and our focus must be to stay together and strong during this crisis. If it is any consolation, practically all Aikido dojos, organizations and practitioners worldwide, including Hombu, are in the same situation. As for me, I am occupying some of my time continuing with the development of Shin Kaze, which keeps me busy and focused on what our new federation will be doing after we emerge on the other side of this. I am also thinking about how to improve our dojo. I would like to ask for your assistance and collaboration in providing ideas along the lines of what you'd like to see in the new federation and what you'd like to see different or changed in our dojo. In addition, based on your personal expertise and profession, please let me know in what areas you could and would like to contribute both to the dojo and the federation. Thank you for your ongoing support and understanding in these unusual times. Please stay safe and healthy, Sensei Robert Zimmermann Shihan Chief Instructor - Toronto Aikikai _________________________________________________________________

 

March 27, 2020 Hello everyone, In one of my previous emails I said I was hoping we would be able to resume classes tomorrow, March 28. However, in light of the provincial declaration of emergency and the continuing recommendations for social distancing, in order to to respond with an abundance of caution for the benefit of all our dojo members I have decided that the dojo will remain closed until Friday April 3. Please stay healthy and continue practicing those things you can do on your own at home, such as the warmups, tai sabaki, weapons suburi and catching up on Aikido reading. Also, please keep in touch with your fellow practitioners, exchange information in social media, use the private Facebook page and contact me or others by email or WhatsApp. Thank you for your support and understanding in these unusual times. Hope you are as itchy to get back on the mat as I am. On a more positive note, we have just launched our new federation, Shin Kaze Aikido Alliance. Take a look at its we page at http://www.shinkazeaikidoalliance.com Sensei Robert Zimmermann Shihan Chief Instructor - Toronto Aikikai _________________________________________________________________

 

March 14, 2020 Hello everyone, In view of the social distancing precautions being recommended by Health Authorities for coping with the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, after considerable reading on the topic and much thought, I have reluctantly decided to close the dojo from Sunday March 15 to Friday March 27. I was hoping I could avoid that decision by continuing to practice only in ways that would maintain appropriate physical distance on the mat. However, while our group is small and healthy, the situation both locally and world-wide has been changing daily, and all of us are susceptible to infection. Also, as I always insist on "getting off the line of attack", I believe it is better to err on the safe side, follow the recommendations of experts and do our part in the efforts to "flatten the curve" of the pandemic. In addition to hygiene, social distancing plays a crucial role in this effort and is most efficient if implemented early on. It is for these reasons that I have decided to close the dojo, instead of keeping it open as I initially hoped to. I will be closely monitoring for developments and will let you know of any changes. I will be at classes at the dojo tomorrow, March 14 for a last practice day before the break and to answer questions. In the meantime, please stay healthy and continue practicing those things you can do on your own at home, such as the warmups, tai sabaki, weapons suburi and catching up on Aikido reading. If you are so inclined, you can also do what I used to do in my earlier years when I couldn't go to the dojo: I practiced on (ahem… with) my parents and my siblings. Also, please keep in touch with your fellow practitioners, exchange information in social media, use the private Facebook page and contact me or others by email if you have any concerns or questions or just to say hi. If all goes well, classes will resume on Saturday March 28, which coincides with our dojo cleanup and potluck day. The adult tests that were planned for that day, as well as all activities that were planned during the closure period will be rescheduled. Thank you for your support and understanding in these unusual times. Sensei Robert Zimmermann Shihan Chief Instructor - Toronto Aikikai _________________________________________________________________