Seattle Kokikai Aikido is now offering classes in Madison Valley at the MLK FAME Center. The group offers classes for adults, and classes for parents and kids to do together. Both types of classes teach the basic movements and principles of Aikido (“The art of peace”) in a collaborative, constructive and engaging environment.

Kokikai is an international organization of Aikido practitioners who study the art of Aikido through the teachings of Sensei Shuji Maruyama, Kokikai’s founder and president. 

If you are interested in learning Aikido, we invite you to study with us. Whether you are experienced in the art or have no idea what you’re getting into, you can get in touch, visit a practice and discover what we do. The only way to find out if Kokikai Aikido will be as fun and beneficial for you as it is for us is to try it yourself. Because we have a fascination and appreciation for our practice, we’re always interested in sharing it with new participants.

Seattle Kokikai Aikido

Practice Times and Locations
Mondays: 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
Wednesdays: 7:15 pm – 8:45 pm
MLK FAME Community Center
3201 E Republican St, Seattle, WA 98112

[email protected]
www.SeattleKokikaiAikido.org
www.facebook.com/SeattleKokikaiAikido
kokikai.org

There are some fun classes being offered in the neighborhood. If you know of other local classes, please send them to [email protected] and we’ll get them posted to the website. 

Bread Baking Class

Have you always wanted to know how to bake your own naturally leavened sourdough bread using nothing but flour, water and salt? Now you can! Join Michasia for a class at Marine Area 7.

Sunday, February 12th, 2–4 pm
Cost is $45 plus tax; this includes a loaf for you to take home.
Class is limited to 12 students.
Email [email protected] to reserve your spot.

Design Nites w/ Floral Soil

Design Nites w/ Floral Soil is a flower arranging class in using a special soils medium. The class includes a free drink, design materials, and instruction on how to use the dried Floral Soil. They also send you home with an additional free kit of Floral Soil, moss, and seeds. 

Every Wednesday 7–8:30 pm
Starbucks Madison Park
4000 E Madison St., Seattle, WA
http://www.floralsoilsolutions.com/design-location-schedule/

Character Builders is a community karate class held every Saturday from 10–12 at the Montlake Community Center. 

Sean Gorman, the instructor of the class, is a Madison Valley resident and the COO of a tech start-up. He started the program to teach values to his son and provide a supportive environment for other kids to hone their characters through a disciplined practice.

Character Builders will be offering a free demonstration class on February 21 at 10 AM. Here is a short video that shows what the class offers. 

Character Builders
Montlake Community Center
Feb 21, 10 AM

Local French teacher Virginie Blackmoor will be hosting an event at Pioneer Hall in Madison Park called "My Perfect Trip to France." Learn the secrets of traveling in France directly from a French native.

Full details are at her website: http://www.frenchtruly.com/oct-perfect-trip-workshop/

Starting on July 2, Jen Kovarovic will be offering an eight-week course in Parent Effectiveness Training (P.E.T.) to Madison Valley residents. Jen has been a certified P.E.T. instructor since 2008. 

The benefits from the course: 

• Children will feel free to discuss their problems and concerns with you instead of withdrawing. 

• Children will learn self-discipline, self-control and an inner sense of personal responsibility. 

• Fewer power struggles, less tension, less resentment, more fun, more peace, more love. 

There will be a total of 8 sessions, each lasting 3 hours. The cost is $300, which includes books and miscellaneous class materials. Classes will be held at 818 33rd Ave. on Wednesday evenings, 6:00–9:00pm. 

If you are interested in more information, please email Jen.

French native and local resident Virginie Blackmoor is offering beginning French lessons on Wednesday nights at Harbour Pointe Coffeehouse. 

Virginie has been teaching the French language for ten years in Europe and the US. She uses a natural learning method of role-playing and immersion in French culture and cuisine. The class is limited to six people to keep the experience intimate and active.

French Hands-On Experience

In this 1.5-hour class, we spend the first half learning theory and then we spend the second half putting it into practice through role-play. This is not only an incredibly fun and bonding French event, it is also the best way to remember the theory. French food and drinks are included to provide more inspiration.

French Hands-on Example

Let’s pretend we are learning what to do and say in a French restaurant, from the moment you enter to the moment you leave. Person A is the customer and person B plays the waiter. A and B play their roles covering all sorts of topics, from inquiring whether a table is booked, to asking about the food and ordering, to dealing with problems and paying the check. We always have a lot of fun playing with this French event and it is amazing how much you retain when you are truly involved in a scenario, rather than just listening to a teacher and taking notes.

What’s included?

1. Weekly French Hands-On Experience described here.
2. Fun props for role-play activities
3. French workbook
4. Weekly audio files related to what we cover each week
5. Access to our secret Facebook page to keep you in touch with our French community at all times
6. Extra freebies

Who? Beginners but intermediates looking for a brush up are also welcome.

When? Every Wednesday starting on June 19th 2013, from 6:30 pm to 8 pm

Where? Harbor Pointe Coffeehouse in Madison Valley, Seattle 

You can sign up for the class at Virginie's website or phone her at 206 617-2716.

Sewing workshops are being held in January and February at Vian Hunter. Designer Lisa Vian Hunter has teamed with Pennie Laird-Sangerman, a fashion industry veteran, to teach custom clothing design, pattern-making, as well as the basics of sewing and design.

Registration is open for the Pencil Skirt Workshop, Sewing 101, Design and Patternmaking, and the Young Designer Workshop, a six-week workshop for aspiring fashion designers, ages 13-19.

To register, contact Lisa at 206 860-5030, or by email [email protected]. For more information, visit: http://bit.ly/13FMkej