ACNJ Friendship Tour 2003

Tim Vazquez (Chief Instructor, ACNJ-Brielle)

In the summer of 2003 members of Aikido Centers Of New Jersey* (ACNJ), embarked on a grand journey to foster the Aiki Spirit with fellow USAF dojo affiliates throughout the state of New Jersey. I titled the journey the ACNJ Friendship Tour 2003.

I knew a tour such as this would be a challenge since we are very fortunate in New Jersey to have a variety of quality chief instructors spread throughout the state. I considered it a grand opportunity and I took on the challenge to schedule, map, and explore how to best achieve this goal.

We began our tour on Aug 6, 2003 practicing everyday at a different USAF dojo and finishing at Capital's Aikikai's 30th Anniversary on Sep.15, 2003 in Maryland. The ACNJ members and I visited ten different USAF dojos in New Jersey (and we still missed some!). It was a great feeling to extend and receive the spirit of Aikido with a different dojo each night. (We wish we could have received frequent flyer miles from some airline for all the miles we put on our cars!) At each dojo we were met with open arms and warmth and at times we were even able to socialize with the local dojo members at the local eatery. Needless to say, we all had a great time-some with a little help from the local spirits! (Ya know what I mean! Ha! Ha!)

The timing of the tour also gave us the additional opportunity to experience two visiting guest instructors. On our visit to Long Beach Island Aikikai, under the direction of Chief Instructor Chet Griffin, we experienced Butch Chernofsky Sensei (New York Aikikai) instructing as a guest and on our visit to Aikido Of Ramapo Valley, under the direction of Chief Instructor Eran Vardi, class was led by guest instructor Donovan Waite Sensei (Center City Aikido).

Ultimately our dojo friendship tour was a unique "Aikido Marathon" and became, for many of us, some of the most demanding Aikido training we had ever done!

The USAF dojos that we were able to visit were:

	Aikido North Jersey Chief Instructor Jerry Zimmerman Sensei 44-A Honeck St. Englewood, NJ 07631 201-569-9799 www.aikidonj.com
	Vineland Aikikai Chief Instructor Peter Tamagni Sensei 837 E. Landis Ave. Vineland, NJ 08360 856-327-2475
	Long Beach Island Aikikai Chief Instructor Chet Griffin Sensei 4700 Blvd. St Francis Ctr. Beach Haven, NJ 08008 609-492-4064
	ACNJ*- Hoboken (New) Chief Instructor Don Fann Hoboken City Community Center Hoboken, NJ www.hobokenaikido.com
	Technical Center Aikido Club Chief Instructor Nizam Taleb Sensei 5401 Harding Rt. 40 Mays Landing, NJ 08330
	Aikido Red Bank Chief Instructor Jim Soviero Sensei United Methodist Church 247 Broad St. Red Bank, NJ 732-224-8910 www.aikidoredbank.com
	Princeton Aikikai Chief Instructors Mr.& Mrs. Numata Senseis Princeton ATA Black Belt Academy 830 Rt. 206 (Near Princeton Airport) Princeton, NJ 08540 609-430-0200 www.princetonaikikai.com
	Garden State Aikikai (New) Chief Instructor Scott Whaley Sensei 1527 Main St. Rahway, NJ 07065 732-499-4545 www.gardenstateaikikai.com
	Jersey Shore Aikikai Chief Instructor Skip Chapman Sensei 2257 Bridge Ave. Point Pleasant, NJ 08742 732-892-9191 www.njaikido.com
	Aikido Ramapo Valley Chief Instructor Eran Vardi Sensei 400 West Main St. Wyckoff, NJ 07481 201-891-0900 www.wyckoffaikido.com

I feel the ACNJ Friendship Tour further connected all of us together. It was a fulfilling and enriching experience for all of us who participated. I hope to conduct the tour again in the summer of 2004 with a concentration on non-USAF dojos to continue to pass the USAF/ACNJ Aiki spirit.

*Aikido Centers of New Jersey is under the direction of Chief Instructor Greg O'Connor. ACNJ has five member dojos including Morristown, Clifton, Brielle, Newton and Hoboken.