Tenshin Dojo

Jorge Angulo Sensei demonstrates Sayu Nage and Irimi Nage
Tenshin Dojo-Miami has its roots deeply embedded in the South Florida martial arts community. Founded in 1991 by Jorge Angulo Sensei and Rick "Kala" Olmedo Sensei, Tenshin Miami quickly established itself as South Florida's premiere Aikido dojo. Tenshin Miami is the first to introduce Master Steven Seagal's "Tenshin Aikido" to Florida.
Tenshin Miami is the only authorized representative of Tenshin Aikido and Master Steven Seagal in South Florida. All Aikido classes are taught by Angulo Sensei with the assistance of certified black belt instructors. Our facility is 2,600 square ft. (the largest Aikido dojo in South Florida.) Tenshin Dojo also features a 1,200 square foot U.S. Olympic specification training surface made of a dense foam core for superior shock absorption and safety and a vinyl molded waterproof and hygienic surface for easy cleaning and maintenance.
For our students' and visitors' convenience there are two restroom facilities located at either end of the dojo. The front restroom is reserved for our visitors and the member’s only restroom is located at the rear of the dojo. The members restroom has a full shower facility with shampoo and body wash provided for their use. We also have separate changing rooms for men and women. Visitors can view all our classes from our comfortable seating area which provides them with a great view of the entire training area.
We have gone through great lengths to make Tenshin Dojo a safe and comfortable training facility. With the design genius of Roger “Hyper Cool” Mari and with the assistance of past and present students, we believe that we have met our goal.
Conveniently located in the Kendall area of Miami (southern Miami-Dade County), Tenshin Dojo can be easily accessed via the Florida Turnpike. Come and experience Tenshin Dojo first hand and see why we have students traveling from as far as Mexico City to train with us.
Anyone who is interested in learning Aikido. Aikido is many things to many people; it can be a great way to release stress, lose weight, a method to improve coordination and balance, spiritual development, an opportunity to gather together with like minded people and participate in a fun group activity, or a practical method of self defense. Whatever one seeks in aikido they will find. Aikido unlike most martial arts truly has something for everyone to discover. The founder of aikido Ueshiba Morihei O’Sensei (1883-1969) said that “aikido is for everyone” and he sent his students to reach out to every corner of the world and spread aikido.
Aikido is one of the more ethical martial arts. An aikido practitioner when attacked has many options on how to handle the aggressor. The aikidoka (aikido student) can simply move from the aggressor’s line of attack and escape without having to strike a single blow. On the other hand, the aikidoka can receive the attack and blend with the incoming forward momentum and redirect the aggressor into a series of pins, controls (using small joint manipulation), restraints, or throws which can send the aggressor crashing to the ground.
Aikido in the martial art community has been unfairly labeled as ineffective for self defense. This labeling comes from individuals whom have never practiced aikido or have practiced aikido with instructors who have chosen not to explore the martial side of aikido. One can get caught up in the ethical or spiritual side of the art without ever truly realizing the practical side.
The founder of aikido was a deeply religious man and after WW2 he was profoundly affected by the destruction of Japan. After seeing what a thirst for war did to his country, the founder changed his view on the purpose of aikido. The pure essence of aikido is to blend and not clash with an incoming attack and if given the circumstance put an end to it without unnecessarily injuring the attacker. It was this ethical position that the Founder wanted all of his student’s to apply, not only to aikido technique, but in daily life as well. Aikido is a deceivingly powerful and effective martial art. The movements of aikido appear dance-like and rhythmical, unlike the straight lines of attack of karate and other striking arts. It is these rhythmical and flowing movements that make aikido so powerful. Aikido has to be experienced to fully understand it.
Aikido is a very tactical martial art. The aikidoka is taught to place himself in superior positions in order to deal with an attack effectively. An aikidoka is taught to stay calm in the face of danger, to be aware of his surroundings in order to avoid surprise attack. Aikido excels where there is an over committed attack. When someone attacks he usually will thrust himself forward fully committed to his attack. This over commitment allows an aikidoka, regardless of size or physical ability, to defend himself, even if the act of self defense is to move out of the way of the incoming attack and escape.
Most martial artists don’t understand the concept of giving way or avoiding direct conflict. When a weapon is involved, a direct clash with an attacker can be deadly. Only through proper position and movement can one effectively deal with a weapon wielding aggressor. The concept of blocking is not part of aikido technique or philosophy. If a stronger aggressor attempts to punch, grab, or push a weaker person and the weaker person attempts to block or stop the attack, he or she may end up getting struck and injured. The only way a weaker person can deal with a stronger person is through blending with the attack.
Aikido is one of the more cardio vascular demanding martial arts. Conditioning plays a great roll in your ability to defend yourself. If you run out of steam during a conflict chances are that you will be defeated. It is not necessary to be in shape to join class; each student regardless of their present physical condition can greatly improve their cardio vascular conditioning. Each student gages his or her own level of practice. In other words, a student who is in poor cardio vascular shape will not train with the vigor of a student who is in top condition. But through consistent practice a student will greatly improve their conditioning, stamina, and coordination.
As the aikido student improves his physical fitness level through consistent training other things happen which the student may or may not realize that they are the fruits of his training. Because of the physical nature of aikido, stress is greatly reduced. Aikido practice affords the student the opportunity to leave the day to day troubles behind put on his Keiko gi (practice uniform) and step onto the mat for a vigorous stress reliving practice. The wearing of the white Keiko gi is not only to spare your regular clothing from being damaged; it is also a sign of humility and of uniformity.
By changing into the Keiko gi, students symbolically strip themselves of social and economic status and come together in this simple white uniform with one sole purpose, the practice of aikido. As for the spiritual aspects of aikido training, we leave that to the individual student and his personal beliefs. Some students have reported that after practicing aikido for a few weeks they felt a calming affect and clearer thinking. This in my opinion has to do with an increase in confidence developed by the student as he learns how to protect himself and others. Aikido practice demands a lot from its students. Since it’s a martial art created during a time of war its practitioners are required to develop a high sense of awareness, concentration, and attention to detail. In the battle field, day dreaming, lack of attention to detail, and not paying attention can cause you your life!
But since most of us are not or will never be on a battle field this heightened sense of awareness, attention to detail, and calmness transcends into our daily life whether it’s at work, home, or school. Because aikido is practiced with training partners in a cooperative and not competitive atmosphere, it also helps students develop inter personal skills and the ability to work with others. Aikido is truly many things to many people and the only way to discover what aikido can be for you is to step on the mat.