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Chief Instructor Benjamin Pincus
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Benjamin Pincus
5th dan, shidoin
Sensei brings over 27 years of aikido experience to his
classes. He studied
under several direct students of O Sensei, beginning with
the late M. Kanai
Sensei (8th
degree black belt) in 1982. During his undergraduate years studying
philosophy, he apprenticed with the late Paul Sylvain Sensei (6th
degree) and Y. Yamada Sensei
(8th degree), Chairman of the United States Aikido Federation, Eastern
Region. At New York Aikikai, he also studied under Seichi Sugano Sensei (8th degree) and became a
student of Donovan Waite Sensei (7th degree).
Seeking to deepen his understanding of Aikido after deciding to
become an Aikido teacher, he studied in San Diego with K. Chiba
Sensei
(8th degree) in a kenshusei (intensive instructor's training) program.
Sensei also took classes from the late Terry
Dobson Sensei (5th degree), the only American uchi deshi
(direct student) of O Sensei. Terry Dobson was the first person to show the relationship between technical Aikido
and verbal conflict resolution, writing the book "Giving in to Get Your Way" and a "Soft Answer: The Tokyo Train
Story". Inspired by his example, Pincus Sensei enrolled in Woodbury
College Mediation/Conflict Management
Program
in order to understand the relationship between verbal conflict resolution and Aikido. He is a conflict
resolution and mediation trainer certified by Woodbury
College.
Sensei married his long time partner and student, Heidi Albright, an assistant instructor at Aikido of Champlain
Valley. On January 2nd, 2007, they had a child Caleb. He has discovered that the only thing more challenging
than Aikido is parenting. "I am learning through Caleb to view my role as a teacher not as someone on the
outside, sitting in judgment, but as another human being seeking to make sense of the complexities of the world in
a compassionate way."
Sensei presently holds the rank of godan (5th degree black belt)
and
shidoin
(certified instructor) with the United States Aikido Federation,
Eastern Region and the International Aikido Federation in Tokyo,
Japan. He is sandan (3rd degree) in Muso Shinden Ryu Iaido
which he began
studying
under Paul Sylvan Shihan, and is affiliated with North American San Shin
Kai.
Sensei is the only fully certified Aikido instructor in Vermont, and is
dedicated to deepening his understanding of Aikido by attending and
hosting seminars with senior instructors from around the world.
"My emphasis on traditional form allows
students to develop
fundamentals: strength, grace, flexibility and effective
technique. Meanwhile, I make training accessible and challenging by
integrating other traditions -- from yoga to zazen (Zen
meditation) -- other martial arts and verbal conflict resolution. Aikido
is not separate from daily life -- it provides students with a context to
enrich themselves and their relationship with the surrounding world. A
fundamental aspect of this growth involves gaining insight into the
paradox of martial arts: by learning how to fight one ultimately
learns how to resolve conflict."
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Other Instructors
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Ed Pincus
4th dan, fukushidoin
Ed began his Aikido training in 1982 at the age of 44 at the Harvard
Aikido Club and New England Aikikai. After moving to Vermont, he
continued his training at Vermont Aikido, first with Hugh Young, and then
Terry Dobson Sensei, a direct student of O Sensei. In addition to
teaching classes, Ed is a member of the ACV Technical Committee.
"I had been looking for a form of exercise that was not boring. I found
Aikido incredibly challenging and always interesting. Moving to Vermont
made it difficult to continue Aikido. At that time there were no
established dojo in the state with advanced teachers. I trained with Hugh
Young, who was very talented but a relative beginner. When Terry Dobson
came to Vermont, my Aikido took on a new dimension. Terry became a friend
Terry stressed the connection between everyday life and training on the
mat. In every Aikido technique, he hoped to embody the notion of
protection (take musu aiki). He emphasized the relationship
between who you are and your Aikido. Aikido was not only in your posture,
but also in what you said and how you said it.
The next major change in my practice came when my son, Benjamin Pincus
Sensei, opened a dojo in Winooski. It felt like exactly the kind of dojo
where I wanted to learn and practice. It was also the first time since I
was a beginner at New England Aikikai that I had a teacher in the
traditional Japanese sense --even though in Japanese culture, it seems
bizarre for a father to learn from his son.
Over the years I have worked out the connection between what Terry Dobson
taught and the tradition represented by my son. When I teach, I try to
show that connection."
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Heidi Albright
3rd dan, fukushidoin
Heidi began Aikido in 1993 with Arnie Dinowitz Sensei and Liz Dinowitz
Sensei at Monadnock Aikikai, in Keene, NH. She became soto-deshi
to
Benjamin Pincus Sensei in 1997 when Aikido of Champlain Valley opened at
its original location in Winooski, VT. Heidi and Benjamin were married in
1998.
In 2007 Heidi was awarded fukushidoin (teaching certification)
and graduated from the soto-deshi program. Heidi is a member of
the ACV Technical Committee and is currently 2nd dan in Muso Shinden Ryu
Iaido. In addition to being a mother, she is a biologist, artist and
graphic designer.
"Aikido has always been a path of transformation for me, on several
levels. One thing becoming a mother has taught me is that nothing ever
stays the same. This is also at the heart of Aikido--it is a method to
change ourselves in positive ways, to find harmony where there was once
conflict. I try to bring joy and my love of Aikido to my teaching, while
still keeping a focus on intensive practice."
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Debi Hron
2nd dan
Debi started Aikido in 1995 at Florida Aikikai under Peter Bernath,
Shihan. She trained there for two years before moving to Vermont where she
continues to study with Benjamin Pincus Sensei at Aikido of
Champlain Valley.
"I started Aikido with my teenage son thinking it would be good for him
and
soon realized it was good for me also. It soon became a path of not only
physical training, but also spirituality, compassion, and emotional
healing for me. The compassion and teaching I received in the beginning
helped restore a sense of trust that had been lost for many years. Being a
soto-deshi helped to ingrain a habit of intensive daily practice
that continues to be a focal point in my life today.
One of the unexpected gifts Aikido has given me is the inherent aspect of
conflict resolution found within its philosophy. I have been able to
translate the physical skills I've leaned on the mat to personal conflicts
in my life with amazing results. In addition to all the wonderful life
lessons I've gotten from Aikido, it continues to be just plain fun! And I
plan to train until I'm 106."
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Jason Pepe
2nd dan
Jason began his Aikido practice in 1997 when he moved to Burlington,
Vermont. He has studied with Benjamin Pincus Sensei since Aikido of
Champlain Valley opened its doors. Jason also studies Muso Shinden Ryu
Iaido in which he currently holds the rank 2nd dan.
In addition to his Aikido practice, Jason teaches college physics, plays
music in local bands, and spends time with his family. His daughter Eva
(age 9) also practices Aikido at ACV.
"When I first moved to Burlington I wanted to continue my training in
Jujitsu. I thought of Aikido as a very gentle art that I might like to
practice when I got much older. After I began training with Pincus Sensei
I realized that Aikido training could be very intense. Aikido has some
very basic principles, which are often very difficult to put into
practice. This challenge is part of what I love about Aikido. One small
insight can lead to a greater understanding of one's entire practice.
I find that Aikido weapons training is essential in improving one's empty
hands practice as it enables one to feel the relative strengths and
weaknesses of body positions and movements. When I teach Aikido, I try to
incorporate some fundamentals of weapons training in basic body
movements."
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Andre Messier
2nd dan
Andre has been training with Benjamin Pincus Sensei since he started
Aikido in
1999. He was a member of the soto-deshi program for five
years.
"I really like the variety in Aikido. Even from the same opening, there
are a lot of different techniques that can be applied. When I teach, I
try to focus on a
small number of openings and show different techniques. "
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Alex Perry
1st dan
Alex began training in 2002 at Aikido of Champlain Valley, where he
studies intensively with Benjamin Pincus Sensei and spent two years as
uchi-deshi. Alex also holds the rank of shodan in Muso
Shinden Ryu
Iaido.
He regularly assists with the children's Aikido classes at ACV.
"Practicing Aikido can be an inquiry into life. There is much learning to
do. It is an honor and a pleasure to train at ACV."
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Aikido
of Champlain Valley is a 501(c)(3) federal non-profit organization that
admits students of any race, color, age, gender, and sexual preference
to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities that are
available to all members. We do not discriminate on the basis of race,
color, age, gender, sexual orientation, or national or ethnic origin in
our educational, hiring and admissions policies.
Aikido of Champlain Valley is a member of the United States Aikido
Federation
©2004-2008 Aikido of Champlain Valley, 257 Pine
St., Burlington Vermont For questions or comments about this web site,
please e-mail the webmaster
.
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