The founder of School of Budo and lead instructor, Michael Selin, travels frequently to connect with an international community of training partners. Michael's vision has helped attract some of the biggest names in martial arts to join us for seminar weekends in Portland. Brazilian Jui Jitsu — Rolling with partners at all levels of experience. Head Instructor Tim Cartmell, from ACE in California
where some of the biggest names train today. Aikido — We emphasize the essence of martial movement with emphasis on "ukeme" — falling and rolling to protect oneself. Head Instructor Jaff Raji, from Rennes, France, is a master, teaching for decades. Jaff joins us for seminar weekends 2-3 times per year. Jodo, Iado — Old martial systems unchanged for hundreds of years, serious kada training with weapons — the stick and the sword. Head Instructor Jaff Raji. Fitness — focus on core conditioning and gymnastic ring and floor work
Combatives — invite only class with tactical professionals on weapons handling
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Ecole de Budo RAJI is an international school. The name is French for school of budo. RAJI happens to be our head instructor's last name, but is also an acronym for Ryu Aikido Jodo Iaido. The school was founded in 2001, in Rennes, France by Jaff Raji. Jaff has been a full time teacher of aikido, jodo and iaido for over two decades now. Raji happens to be Jaff's last name, but as an acronym R-A-J-I originally stood for Rennes Aikido, Jodo, Iaido. Rennes is Jaff's home base and the founding city in France of Ecole de Budo RAJI. However with the school's international spread, the R can also stand for Ryu, Japanese for traditional school. The Founder and Head Instructor, Jaff Raji and all the main teachers and students of the school are dedicated to practicing and passing on the authentic and traditional values of Japanese budo especially as it relates to self development. The school considers budo and more specifically aikido, Shinto Muso Ryu Jodo, and Muso Shinden Ryu Iaido as tools for the harmonious development of man. Even before the foundation of the Ecole de Budo RAJI, Jaff had been regularly teaching in numerous countries, establishing and strengthening groups of serious practitioners. Jaff's longstanding intimate work-relationship with his many students eventually created the atmosphere and need for the foundation of Ecole de Budo RAJI-International. This took place in 2003 here in Portland during an intensive seminar with longtime students from France, Venezuela, Hungary, Ecuador, and the United States. Today Ecole de Budo RAJI has dojos in France, Hungary, U.S., Venezuela, Ecuador, Chile, Romania, and Reunion Island. Jaff also gives seminars regularly in Austria, Slovakia, Spain, Italy and Ireland. Since August of 2005 the headquarters of Ecole de Budo RAJI-International has been located in Portland. Teachers and students of the school frequently meet to share their work at major seminars held at different locations around the globe several times a year.
