Annual ASU Winter Intensive

Annual ASU Winter Intensive A week of intensive Aikido training with Mitsugi Saotome Sensei and selected senior instructors. All students of Aikido are welcome.

The ASU Winter Intensive is the annual aikido training camp designed to present the best and brightest that the ASU has to offer the aikido world; to represent O Sensei's aikido as it was understood by Saotome Sensei; and to connect with students and teachers all over the world (of any affiliation) who also wish to study this teaching. Saotome Sensei will share the aikido he developed from his man

y years of one-on-one experience with the Founder. Many of Sensei's senior students, personally trained by him, who are now leaders in the aikido community and world class instructors in their own right will share their perspective and favorite training methods. In addition, special guest instructors from outside ASU are welcomed each year to share their understanding, and develop new connections with our extended aikido family. Lessons will include discussion of the internal and external aspects of aikido, spiritual, philosophical, energetic, and physical principles. Applications to open hand and weapons technique will be addressed. Students of any affiliation or experience level will find new understanding and new challenges. Together we will renew our training and our aikido family. For details and updates, please see the Event Page.

01/05/2026

As we leave Winter Intensive and start 2026 in earnest, we wish to express our deep gratitude to Mitsugi Saotome Shihan, Hiroshi Ikeda Shihan, and Lee Crawford Sensei for their in-depth instruction. We’re indebted to Chuck Weber Shihan, George Ledyard Shihan, Tres Hofmeister Shihan, and Raso Hultgren Shihan and ASU Board members for their insights. And we thank each of those who participated in our five-day celebration of Aikido and community.

We hope to see you next year!

01/04/2026
If you’re still working out arrangements for hotel rooms and transport to the Sirata, don’t overlook the ASU Winter Inte...
12/27/2025

If you’re still working out arrangements for hotel rooms and transport to the Sirata, don’t overlook the ASU Winter Intensive Slack channels for room-sharing and ride-sharing. If you haven’t used Slack in previous years, please use this link to setup your Slack account and start communicating!

George Ledyard Shihan rounds out the roster of 7th Dan instructors at Winter Intensive this year! There's still time to ...
12/18/2025

George Ledyard Shihan rounds out the roster of 7th Dan instructors at Winter Intensive this year! There's still time to get your registration completed ⬇️
https://winterintensive.com/.../individual-registration-jan/
George Ledyard Shihan began his Aikido studies in 1976 under the direct instruction of Mitsugi Saotome and has continued this association ever since. Ledyard Shihan currently holds the rank of 7th Dan in Aikido and Shodan in Daito Ryu Aikijujutsu. He counts Hiroshi Ikeda, William Gleason, Howard Popkin, Mary Heiny, Tom Read, Endo Seichiro, and Dan Harden as strong influences on his Aikido.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NygPGkbt0U

George Ledyard demonstrates Kumi Iai Form #1. Defense against a vertical draw and cut.

We’re just a few days away from the December 19 deadline to sign up for the Winter Intensive dinner party. The dinner pa...
12/15/2025

We’re just a few days away from the December 19 deadline to sign up for the Winter Intensive dinner party. The dinner party this year will be a 3 hour dinner cruise on a yacht with a dining room, sit down dinner with menu options and full service, and a bar and social area for dancing!
Party on the water with your friends on the mat!

Dinner ReservationsThe dinner party this year will be a 3 hour dinner cruise on a yacht with a dining room, sit down dinner with menu options and full service, and a bar and social area for dancing! The dinner cruise will include a full meal with salad, bread, entree and dessert as well as your boa...

12/11/2025

Excerpts from the December 7-9, 2017 seminar by Sensei Tres Hofmeister exploring neutrality at the point of connection with katatedori (same-side wrist grab)...

Deadlines are coming up fast!
12/09/2025

Deadlines are coming up fast!

Don't procrastinate! Sunday, 12/14/25, is the LAST DAY to score a t-shirt with your Winter Intensive 2026 registration! Shirts are available in navy or sage and feature Saotome Sensei's calligraphy on the back.

A limited number of shirts will be available for sale during the event. 👕⏳

12/02/2025

Chuck Weber Shihan, 7th Dan and Senior Instructor at Baltimore Aikido, Demonstrating Aikido. Babacar Faye, uke.

Deadlines are coming up fast!
12/01/2025

Deadlines are coming up fast!

Winter Intensive starts this month! Here are upcoming deadlines to make the most of your experience.

December 28 is the final deadline for registration, either as an individual or a group member. (Registration of a group has closed.) Spots are filling up fast! Use the link below to complete your registration
https://winterintensive.com/wi2###x/individual-registration-jan/

December 14 will be the last day to receive a complimentary t-shirt with your registration! After this date, they will be available for purchase on site while supplies last.

December 19 will be the last day to sign up for the dinner cruise on Saturday, January 3. Enjoy delicious food, drinks, and the dance floor on a gorgeous evening cruise. Tickets can be purchased at the link below
https://winterintensive.com/wi2###x/dinner-reservations/

11/22/2025

Final Week for Winter Intensive Hotel Reservations

The cutoff date for our Winter Intensive group rate at the Sirata Resort is Wednesday, November 26, 2025 at 11p EST. The number of rooms still available in our block can be counted on your fingers! Book now and join us for a fun-filled week of outstanding aikido training in the Florida sun.

11/18/2025

We're so very pleased to welcome Raso Hultgren Shihan, a 7th dan ASU senior instructor, to the teaching roster of Winter Intensive this year. Chief instructor of Aikido of Missoula in Missoula, Montana since 1990, Hultgren Shihan began Aikido in 1971 and includes Robert Frager Sensei, Frank Doran Shihan, and Hiroshi Ikeda Shihan as well as Saotome Shihan as her instructors.
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?ref=search&v=410029964670517&external_log_id=5875142d-8962-4774-81a2-c268ce34bd0d&q=annual%20asu%20winter%20intensive

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5300 Gulf Boulevard
Saint Pete Beach, FL
33706

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