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"The
Art of Peace" |
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Heaven & Earth
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Michael Sensei at Heaven & Earth Aikido Dojo The founder and current leader of Heaven & Earth is Michael Ricca. Originally from Chicago in the USA, he has lived and studied in Asia since 1987. Michael likes to consider himself as being a citizen of earth rather than being tied to a specific country. Having traveled and lived in various places around the world he feels comfortable with just about anyone and anywhere. He has been living in Taipei Taiwan since 1991. After living in places such as Hong Kong and Tokyo Japan, Michael now considers Taiwan his home.
Michael first began his training in the Martial Arts at the age of 17. At that time he was studying Taekwondo. "As a youth I was really fascinated with the Martial Arts", at that time there wasn't much choice in my home town so I decided to start learning Taekwondo". "I loved practicing the kicks and hits but as I got older and had to think more about career and family I gradually moved away from it".
After moving to Chicago to work for an International Company, Michael sensei started traveling and found himself unusually attracted to Asia and the Asian culture. While spending a lot of his time in Hong Kong, China and Taiwan he decided to continue his Martial Arts training. This time he started learning Chinese Shaolin Kung Fu. Finding someone to teach him was difficult because of his constant traveling.
"I was quite lucky because I found a teacher in Chicago who also had friends in Taiwan and Hong Kong teaching the same style as him". "So I now had teachers to work with just about everywhere I traveled". Even while traveling he continued to practice his Martial Arts turning his hotel room into a makeshift Dojo each morning. "I'd stand the bed up on end and stack all the chairs on top of themselves so I could have enough room to go through my Katas".
After moving to Taiwan and starting his own business Michael started training in Aikido at the Neihu Junior High School with Huang Laosher. Huang Laosher method of teaching appealed to Michael because he would always make the classes interesting by presenting them in a way that made the techniques useful for street situations. His instructor was concerned that all of the movements flowed and worked together. He would also expand our vision of Martial Arts by throwing in a little Kendo and Iaido. "Though not specifically Aikido, I think the extra sword work made the sessions more interesting and we had a chance to learn about some of the other Martial Arts that influenced the creation of Aikido".
After training under Huang Laosher for over two years Michael Sensei was awarded his Shodan (1st Degree Black Belt). "The Black Belt Evaluation was particularly tough on me since I blew out my knee playing semi-pro Ice Hockey when I was in my 20's". "Many of the techniques needed to be performed from Seiza which is a kneeling position, I just gritted my teeth and stuck with it until the knee portion was completed". Michael continued to train with Huang Laosher eventually earning his 2nd and 3rd degree black belts. Michael Sensei trained intensively sometimes training or teaching 2-3 times per day. "I use to assist Huang Laosher teach the Junior High School Students on Friday afternoons, that was a real challenge and experience, being surrounded by 30 students all trying to be tough and trying their hardest not to go down when you threw them". "It was a real challenge, but I think I learnt more about Aikido in those classes than any other session, you had to really work on your technique so that you could throw them without hurting them, which is what Aikido is about". "Often 4-5 of them would try to come at me all at once, it was great practice in learning how to control multiple attackers without injuring the".
After Huang Laosher had some serious health problems in 2000-2001 Michael Sensei took over teaching and handling of the Neihu Dojo's responsibilities. "Teaching is also learning and in order to be sharp for the classes I would go over all of the techniques mentally and physically before each class". "It was a real challenge filling in for someone with the experience and ability of Huang Laosher". "It was intimidating at first teaching other Black Belts on my own especially not in my native language".
With his own Dojo, Michael hopes to continue the lineage of Aikido, passing on to his students what has been passed down to him. "One of my own goals with my training is to pass on the correct fundamentals but at the same time making it useful and interesting to the students". "Like my teacher, I plan on integrated some of the other Martial Arts that I have studied in the past from time to time".
Starting Heaven & Earth was something that just kind of happened due to a wide variety of circumstances which seemed to be leading him along this path. Michael decided to open his own training center only after the dojo he had previously trained and taught at had been closed down. The Neihu Aikido Association dojo was located in the Neihu Middle School and when the school needed more classroom space it was forced to move. At almost the same time Michael's sensei Huang Laosher had some serious health problems so it was decided to close the dojo for now until he has fully recovered. In the future Huang Laosher intends to hold advance courses for black belt level Aikidoist at the Heaven & Earth Dojo and will assist Michael in promotion and evaluations of his students.
Currently Michael continues to train and advance himself in Aikido, Aiki Jujutsu, Chi Gong and Tai Chi Chuan. HEAVEN & EARTH AIKIDO E-MAIL: aikido@heaven-earth.com #401 Chang Chien Rd. |
