Tel Aviv resident and Aikido Sensei Miles Kessler, 5th dan, visited the Bay Area again where he taught a class at Aikido of Berkeley. The class also gave many attending an opportunity to visit the new location for Aikido of Berkeley on University Avenue, a block south of Hana Granados’ Pole Studio (featured here earlier this month).
Kessler Sensei has had extensive Vipassana training and was a live-in student of Saito Sensei in Japan. He has been featured here before when visiting the Bay Area and teaching classes. His work with Aikido Without Borders continues in Israel and the West Bank (along with Jamie Zimron, and others).
It is obvious that Miles Sensei’s Aikido has continued to deepen and grow. During the class he taught at Aikido of Berkeley, he discussed and then demonstrated how one can shift the connection with one’s self, and with a training partner. Miles calls these perspectives, “I, We and It.” He pointed out that as one shifts her or his perspective it can be diagramed like this:
Choice make > Centered awareness response > Intuitive response > Creative response
From those attending the packed class, it was clear that Miles was presenting something that reasonated in a profound way. The atmosphere in the room followed the evolution that Miles Sensei was presenting on the mat. It was truly a memorable class.
There were many statements after the final bows were made that the class was over too soon.
After, a group adjoined to the Himalayan restaurant across the street for a meal together. Joining in the festivities was Jamie Zimron Sensei and Kayla Feder Sensei, Dojo Cho at Aikido of Berkeley.
For those wishing to keep up with Miles Sensei’s presence in Israel, you can do this through his Integral Dojo page on Facebook. The work of Aikido Without Borders can be followed through their web page. And Aikido of Berkeley’s new location and class schedule is posted on their web page.
Miles Kessler Sensei is indeed a martial artist who continues to make a difference!
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