Aikido of Ramapo Valley

Rev.Eran Kyoka Vardi, Sensei 5th Dan	Zazen with Roshi Paul Genki Kahn

Aikido of Ramapo Valley is a traditional Aikido school, an affiliate of the United States Aikido Federation and the international Aikido Federation, directed by Rev. Eran Kyoka Vardi, Sensei.(www.aikidospirit.com).

Rev. Eran Kyoka Vardi, Sensei is a Zen priest, fully empowered as a Zen Teacher. He is a Dharma Successor of Roshi Paul Genki Kahn. Aikido of Ramapo Valley is an affiliate of Zen Garland, an international order for Zen practice, educaiton and service founded by Roshi Genki. Sensei Vardi serves as a Co-Director of the Aikido Zen Path, is on the Board of Directors and on Roshi Genki’s personal Advisory Committee.

Vardi Sensei is a member of the teaching staff at the renowned headquarters of the USAF, New York Aikikai, where he also trains regularly under the direction of Yoshimitsu Yamada Shihan.Committed to his ongoing Aikido development, he also travels to train with other prominent leaders and teachers of the Aikido communtiy. His teaching style is greatly influenced by Donovan Waite Shihan.

Our martial-art training consists of Aikido, Aiki-weapons and Zazen practice as an integrated part of the class schedule.

The practice of Aikido is non-competitive and is based on the principle of merging with an attacker, redirecting the energy and skillfully leading a conflict to a peaceful resolution. Developing the ability to blend with an incoming force requires the cultivation of awareness, mind-body-spirit unification,
and deep observation. Through learning how to harmonize with an attack and diffuse it, we learn how to harmonize and be one with life.

The practice of Zazen is an essential ingredient on the path of learning how to let go of the resistive pattern, constantly flow and intuitively adapt to all circumstances.

Aikido practice is an embodiment of the following quote:
“True victory is victory over oneself” – Morihei Ueshiba, Founder of Aikido.