I stumbled upon the Mountain View Aiki school about 3 years ago, somewhat unexpectedly. I had been…read morefeeling like I was out of touch with my body, and after trying a class and meeting the rather unusual Lunia Sensei, I decided to embark on this martial arts journey with the goal of 'moving my body and becoming stronger'.
Right away Lunia Sensei told me that, if I'm just looking to build physical strength / muscle, I might want to look at local gyms or some place else. But I was actually looking to build both inner and outer strength and to get to know myself better on all levels - body, mind, spirit. And as it turns out, that was exactly the kind of training and education that this school offered.
'Aiki' means 'harmony', and that is what we try to embody in everything we do - techniques, strikes, the way we walk and move. Sometimes the things that Sensei (or the students, with the right guidance) can pull off look like magic, as they can be so effortless. For example, I am a very slim woman with not a lot of arm strength, but with an accurate targeting of certain anatomical points and visualization of energy flow, and movement of my own body in support of that, I can unbalance a guy much bigger than me without using too much force. Each body type - big, small, slim, tall, muscular, etc. - has its own advantages and disadvantages, and it's about each person developing a deep understanding of their own body and finding harmony within themselves and with others.
As in dojo, so in life. The learnings go much beyond martial applications and carry over to daily life, should one choose so. There is a big focus on personal development mentally, psychologically and spiritually, as we incorporate reading and discussions, as well as a unique blend of traditional Asian philosophies / practices into our training. As much as the student is willing to invest, the school provides guidance and opens appropriate doors.
That being said, I think even if someone just wanted a weekly workout or a simple self-defense training, they would find value in this very unique school. Class sizes are pretty small (2 - 6 students), so there is plenty of opportunity to work directly with the instructor and ask questions. We do a lot of partner work and get to experience how the concepts and techniques work on different bodies. We explore grabs, strikes, locks, throws, weapons, multi-person combat, etc, and also do breathing exercises, rolls, core strengthening, leg workouts, etc. Overall, so much amazing knowledge is available at your disposal, and it's a matter of asking for it and choosing one's own path. I think there is something here for everyone who is truly seeking.