Welcome to GRMCA, Grand Rapids Martial & Cultural Arts, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Our vision is to broaden and facilitate martial and cultural arts training through program enrichment, program immersion, and hard work. We offer regular instruction in Aikido and Zen meditation, and are planning to bring additional courses such as Iaido, Tea Ceremony, Japanese language studies, and Women’s Self-Defense intensives.
Aikido is a contemporary martial art founded by Morihei Ueshiba. The word “Aikido” can be translated as “the way of the harmonious spirit.” Aikidoka — practitioners of Aikido — train the mind, body, and spirit to resolve conflict through awareness, balance, and connection.
We practice forms from Muso Shinden Ryu (seated kata in the shoden and chuden sets; seated and standing kata in the okuden set), and Shindo Munen Ryu (standing kata) in the lineage of Mitsuzuka Takeshi Sensei, 8th dan, hanshi. After mastering the initial forms from these two schools, students will also learn the twelve Seitei Iai kata required by the Zen Nihon Kendo Renmei.
We practice Aikido in the tradition of T. K. Chiba Sensei, as transmitted by the teachers of Birankai North America.
Our non-profit organization will be offering cultural arts programs in the near future that help students connect with various cultures from around the world, and create different ways to explore various art forms to have fun and find personal development.