Name: BUKIWAZA SEMINAR
Start: 2025-10-19T10:00:00-04:00
End: 2025-10-19T13:00:00-04:00
Location: Shubukan Aikido Dojo

The Aikido Association of Puerto Rico [プエルトリコ合氣會] is proud to announce a BUKIWAZA SEMINAR hosted in Bayamón, Puerto Rico on October 19th, 2025. The training is open to students of any martial art or rank, and from any organization or dojo. Aikido instruction will be provided by Bolívar Ramírez-Kaicho.
Dr. Bolívar Ramírez began his martial arts training at the early age of four years. Ramírez Sensei has been actively involved in the practice and teaching of martial arts for 45 years and is the head instructor of the Aikido Association of Puerto Rico. Dr. Ramírez holds black belts in the martial arts of Aikido, Karatedo, Judo and JuJitsu. He devoted himself to intense Japanese martial arts training and truly led a life of 'Bunburyoudou' or unification of literary and martial arts.
BUKIWAZA is the weapon-based training within Aikido, focusing on the use of a wooden sword (bokken, or Aiki-ken) and a wooden staff (jo, or Aiki-jo) to teach fundamental principles and body mechanics that enhance empty-hand (Tai-jutsu) techniques.
This integrated weapons training develops posture, balance, and body structure through practices like solo strikes (Suburi), paired forms (Kumi), and prearranged routines (Kata). The core idea is that the weapon becomes an extension of the body, making errors in movement more apparent and developing efficiency and balance in application, following in the tradition of our dojo's founder, the late Aikido Shihan Fumio Toyoda (1947-2001).
Purpose of BUKIWAZA:
1. Enhancing Tai-jutsu: Weapons practice reinforces fundamental stances and body movements, which are harder to see in empty-hand practice.
2. Developing body mechanics: The weapons emphasize correct body structure and hip movement, showing how the effect of these actions is magnified.
3. Learning principles: Bukiwaza helps practitioners learn the principles of Aikido, such as coordination with an opponent's movement and efficient use of power, which are transferable to empty-hand combat.
Components of BUKIWAZA:
1. Aiki-ken: The practice of Aikido using the wooden sword (bokken).
2. Aiki-jo: The practice of Aikido using the wooden staff (jo).
3. Suburi: Basic, repetitive solo movements with the sword or staff.
4. Kata: Prearranged sequences of movements, such as the 13-jo or 31-jo forms.
5. Kumi: More complex paired exercises, including Kumitachi (sword-to-sword) and Kumijo (staff-to-staff).
The Aikido Association of Puerto Rico's purpose is to promote the art of Aikido around the island, and to foster quality, professional Aikido instruction.
In the Spirit of BUDO friendship, we are not charging Seminar Fees in hopes of building future friendships and good will in the martial arts community in Puerto Rico. Voluntary contributions will be accepted. Suggested donation: $30.
*Certificate of Participation