Aikido DeLand Mushin Dojo is presently involved with Bamboo Arts Center. We offer Aikido classes, just north of DeLand, Florida. It has formed a collaborative with the center to improve and extend the life of dojo for the betterment of continuing its goals. It’s interdependence gives it a unique curriculum that is progressive in nature and flexible enough to look at newer ideas on the structure of Aikido as a true and more complete weapons system. In so doing, it makes it more applicable to teach certain skills to students which will allow them to learn methods that are more practically suited for living in modern society. It is able to do this, in large part, by its curriculum’s choice of study which explores some of the contradictory methods of study pertaining to the paradigm issues of Aiki-bujutsu vs Ueshiba’s Aikido’s Neo-traditionalist’s relationships. One of the biggest advantages of this is that it allows the student to see Aikido as martial science, not a religion.

Sensei Jim Saba, B.S., M.S.

Saba Sensei has been studying Aikido since 1988, from both classical and non-classical perspectives. He currently holds the rank of Nidan (2nd degree black belt) in traditional Ueshiba Aikido; and trained for 11 years under the late Dr. Tom Walker. Read more about Jim…

Aikido is a martial science and at Mushin Dojo we emphasize the science part of the martial sciences, particularly in the case of Aikido. Over time, Mushin Dojo has begun to investigate some very progressive ideas on Aiki-Bujutsu mythologies. The main idea of this emphasis stems from the fact that Aikido’s origins are that of a weapons system, and that this idea was the primary school of thought for the Koryu schools that existed in the pre-do period of Japanese history. In contrast to this was the post-do period, or Gendai period. This period was founded after the beginning of the Meiji Restoration of 1866. Consequently, this period marked a fundamental shift in the methologies that went from the study of the science associated with that of a weapons system and a science to a system that emphasized a martial art, whose primary focus was generally more upon the introspective and more esoteric ideas that dealt with the development of human enlightenment, self-improvement and individual spiritual development. These historical shifts were later made popular by Morihei Ueshiba. This was in part due to his self-interest in his religious and meta-physical beliefs, and in larger part due to the historical and political environment of post war Japan. These factors, either directly or indirectly, led most Aikido schools to formulate basic principles that are credited to him and his works.

For more than a year now, Mushin Dojo’s curriculum has begun to shift to the idea and methods that bring into light its weapon’s origins by doing what I call “Completing The Aikido Paradigm”. Aikido’s roots are in edged weaponry, but not exclusively, and much of this weaponry has largely been ignored by most, if not all, of the mainstream curriculums. Mushin Dojo is attempting to complete the study of this weapon’s system by taking a comprehensive look at the structure, type and function of all the main weapons carried by the Samurai. Primarily, these weapons include the long sword, half sword, or short sword and knife. It not only takes into account that all of these weapons had specific functions, but it also looks at the more complete transcriptions that exist between weapon to empty hand, and empty hand back to weapon.

Aikido Class Schedule

Tuesdays – 7:30 – 9:00

Fridays – 7:30 – 9:00

Sundays – 2:00 – 4:00

EMAIL Jim Saba for more information or call 386-747-6946.