Friendship Seminar
We’re thrilled to announce that Christine Leung Sensei will be leading our Friendship Seminar on Tuesday, March 24, 2026.
Weekend intensive with Thomason Sensei
About our Guest Instructor
Lucy Thomason Sensei started Aikido in October of 1995 at Capital Aikikai in Silver Spring, Maryland, under Clyde Takeguchi Shihan. She has trained with him ever since.
Thomason Sensei also travels extensively and rarely misses a chance to train with Aikidoka in other regions.
For our dojo, her long relationship with Takeguchi Sensei—combined with the breadth of her training—makes this visit especially meaningful. We’re looking forward to experiencing Takeguchi Sensei’s Aikido through Thomason Sensei’s lens: the details she’s absorbed over decades, the way she’s tested those ideas across different partners and dojos, and the clarity that comes from carrying a teacher’s principles while also making them her own.
Registering ahead of time helps us plan the mat space, staffing, and refreshments—so everyone has a smooth, welcoming weekend.
If you know you’re coming, please sign up in advance. Register here
We want Aikido to be accessible to everyone. If registration fees are a barrier, please reach out to info@aikidoofwisconsin.com—scholarship options are available.
Weekend Intensive & CPR Certification w/Bob Poresky Sensei
Weekend Intensive + CPR/BLS Certification
Feat. Bob Poresky Sensei
You’re invited to a special weekend intensive at Capital Aikikai of Wisconsin with our returning champion, Bob Poresky Sensei (6th dan).
This weekend is an opportunity to train in depth in the concepts that shape our particular dialect of Aikido: set, connect, control your space, and your shape–and for those who choose, to add a practical skill that strengthens our dojo community: CPR/BLS certification.
Bob brings decades of martial arts experience and teaches across the country, sharing his Aikido not only with aikidoka but also with students outside traditional martial arts. His instruction is practical, thoughtful, and accessible, with a gift for meeting practitioners where they are.
CPR/BLS Certification (Optional – Friday)
In addition to Aikido training, we’re offering an optional CPR/BLS certification class on Friday, June 12 (tentative start 3:30 PM), before the evening Aikido session. This class is independent of the seminar (you can attend the seminar, the CPR class, or both), but it is strongly encouraged.
Why this matters in a dojo setting: A dojo is an athletic environment—people fall, collide, overheat, and occasionally experience serious medical emergencies that have nothing to do with training (cardiac events can happen anywhere). In those moments, the most important factor is time. Having even one person on site trained to recognize an emergency, start high-quality CPR, and use an AED (if available) can bridge the gap until EMS arrives and meaningfully improve outcomes.
Upon completion, participants will receive American Heart Association (AHA) Basic Life Support (BLS) certification. We’re grateful to have this opportunity and be able to pair training with preparedness.
Schedule
Friday, June 12 • CPR/BLS Certification (optional): tentative 3:30 PM • Aikido: 7:00–9:00 PM
Saturday, June 13 • 10:00 AM–12:00 PM • 3:00–5:00 PM • Party at the dojo afterward
Sunday, June 14 • 10:00 AM–12:00 PM
Fees
(Seminar and CPR are separate—attend either or both.)
Aikido Seminar • $100 full weekend • $75 Saturday only • $50 Friday or Sunday only
CPR/BLS Certification (optional): $50
If the fee is a hardship, please reach out at info@aikidoofwisconsin.com.
Lodging
We have discounted rooms with late checkout at AmericInn by Wyndham of Janesville. Please book through the group block (or call (608) 371-9981 and use group code CAOW).
Registration
We appreciate that you register ahead of time. It will help us plan better. Complete your registration using this form.
Registering ahead of time helps us plan the mat space, staffing, and refreshments—so everyone has a smooth, welcoming weekend.
If you know you’re coming, please sign up in advance. Register here
We want Aikido to be accessible to everyone. If registration fees are a barrier, please reach out to info@aikidoofwisconsin.com—scholarship options are available.
Technical Seminar
Technical Seminar with Poresky Sensei
You are invited to our first-ever technical seminar! We’re honored to host Bob Poresky Sensei, 6th dan. This seminar is an opportunity to take a closer look at the concepts that shape our particular dialect of Aikido and to explore how they inform our movement, timing, and connection.
If you’ve trained with Takeguchi Sensei, you’ve likely heard him say:
• connect and set
• control your space
• expand and contract
• simple, not easyThese aphorisms guide our approach to Aikido and highlight the qualities we emphasize on the mat. During this seminar, Poresky Sensei will help us dig into these ideas—how they operate in practice, and how they contribute to the personality of Capital Aikikai.
Bob brings decades of martial arts experience and teaches across the country, sharing his Aikido not only with Aikidoists but also with students outside traditional martial arts. His instruction is practical, thoughtful, and accessible, and he has a gift for meeting practitioners where they are.
We hope you’ll join us to train, explore, and see how these concepts can enrich your own practice. We believe that cross-pollination between Aikido styles helps us grow and deepens our understanding of the art we love.
Date: January 23–25, 2026
Friday: 7 pm–9 pm
Saturday: 10 am–12 pm, 3 pm–5 pm; Party at the dojo afterward
Sunday: 10 am–12 pmFee:
• $100 full weekend
• $75 Saturday
• $50 Friday or SundayIf the fee is a hardship, please reach out at info@aikidoofwisconsin.com.
We have discounted rooms with late checkout at AmericInn by Wyndham of Janesville. Book your stay only here. Or call (608)371-9981 and use the group code CAOW.
A promotional poster for Capital Aikikai of Wisconsin’s Technical Seminar. At the top is the dojo’s circular logo featuring an Aikido silhouette with a jo staff and a wood violet. Large blue text reads “Technical Seminar” with the subtitle “Exploring Connection and Maai.” Below is a black-and-white photo of a male instructor labeled “Featuring Poresky Sensei – Capital Aikikai Syracuse.” The seminar dates “January 23–25, 2026” appear in bold blue text. Smaller white text notes that all affiliations are welcome and that schedule and fees are to be determined. The bottom includes the website “aikidoofwisconsin.com” and the address “4712 S John Paul Rd, Milton WI.” The background features a subtle grayscale image of two people training in Aikido.
Grand Opening
Capital Aikikai of Wisconsin will celebrate its grand opening the weekend of October 10–12, 2025, with a series of Aikido classes led by senior instructors from across the United States. Classes will be held Friday evening, all day Saturday, and Sunday morning, with a community dinner for participants on Saturday at 7:30 PM. The event is open to all Aikido practitioners, and the public is welcome to observe. Suggested contribution for the weekend is $125.