Evolutionary Aikido summer camp, Montreux, Switzerland

From the Evolutionary Aikido Community Facebook page.

We are happy to present you Ray Butcher, dojo cho of Henshin Aikido, Dublin, Ireland. He will be sharing his energy during our EAC summer camp starting in one month! Come and join us for the first EAC summer camp in beautiful Montreux Switzerland, August 5th-10th. Sign up by sending an email to info@aikidomontreux.com

Ray’s bio

Ray Butcher Henshin Aikido Dublin

I am co-owner of Balance Ireland where I teach Aikido (Henshin Aikido), Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Self Defence, Yoga and mobility. I also specialise in Women’s Self Defence, teaching a program called ‘Reduce the Odds’. It uses scenario based training to deal specifically with awareness and sexual assault/rape prevention. 

I started training when I was 10 years old in the 70s. I have studied various martial art traditions, including Judo, several styles of Karate and striking arts, Aikido and Gracie Jiu Jitsu. I started practicing Yoga in the early 2000s and completed my teacher training in 2011. I have worked in the field of Crisis Intervention teaching Control & Restraint and Defensive Tactics to security personnel and health professionals. I currently hold a 4th Dan black belt in Aikido and a 1st degree black belt in Gracie Jiu Jitsu.

As I started at a young age, I developed a passion for martial arts and eastern philosophy. In my late teenage years I began to feel, especially form a physical perspective, that there had to be a better way to resolve a conflict than winning at the expense of the other person, In my mid twenties I moved from Ireland to Australia, and it was there that I found Aikido at a University club in Sydney. I distinctly remember during my first class having a sense of belonging. As I delved deeper into Aikido, I found the answers I was looking for in the founder’s philosophy but I soon realised that it was going to take a lot longer for this to manifest physically. 

Because of my experience in the other martial arts I felt confused and unsure physically about Aikido and its practically. In the early 2000s I began to feel a shift in my understanding and started to make some changes and progress. I finally found the way forward when I began to let go and start to trust the process of Aikido and realising that my previous concepts of self protection and conflict resolution were flawed. Two main influences that paved the way forward for me back then were with my study of Gracie Jiu Jitsu under Phil and Ricardo Migliarese, and then later in 2011 when I began to study Aikido with Patrick Cassidy Sensei and Evolutionary Aikido.

After almost 30 years of practice, Aikido obviously plays a very important role in my life. It has and continues to open up many avenues of growth, constantly keeping me creatively engaged and open minded. Rather than close the door on my past martial arts experience, Aikido opened up a new and wonderful way to look at all the arts I have studied. Utilising Aikido’s principles gave me a greater understanding and appreciation and helped me to continue my studies in other areas and arts, such as Gracie Jiu Jitsu and conflict management. I believe that the basic Aikido curriculum is a very important foundation to learn the principles. To keep evolving and truly understand the vastness Aikido has to offer, we need to step outside this box of just technique based Aikido, take a risk and explore all avenues, hopefully creating opportunities to discover new possibilities.

Currently I am working on a ground based flow. The goal being to seamlessly include a complete flow from all ranges standing to ground, with single and multiple attackers. An important part of my training is to put myself in physically difficult, sometimes restrictive scenarios. To find solutions under stress, all the time staying curious with the process and true to myself and the core principles of Aikido.

I think a good description of Aikido is that it is a tool for reconciliation. At its core, it helps us to embrace conflict (inner and outer) with curiosity and confidence, cultivating inward reflection and peace. 

In conclusion I would like to say that I have met some amazing people on this journey. I am very grateful to all my teachers both past and present for sharing their knowledge. I feel very fortunate to walk this path, and to have the opportunity to study and teach.

Would you like to know more about Aikido?

More information on Ray’s dojo can be found here. You can find out information about Patrick Cassidy and the Montreux dojo at www.aikidomontreux.com, and more info on the Evolutionary Aikido Community at www.evolutionaryaikido.com.

Balance BJJ Promotions

Balance BJJ Promotions May 14th 2019

Congratulations to everyone who got promoted on Tuesday night. Ray gave out some stripes and we have two new blue belts Noel and Shane!

BJJ Phibsborough

If you’re interested in starting Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, we have a 4 week beginner’s course that’s suitable for anyone over 15 years old and up . It’s called Gracie Basics and you’ll find more information here.

Balance Ireland is affiliated to Relson Gracie 6th and 5th degree black belts Phil and Rick Migliarese of Balance Studios in Philadelphia.

Balance Studios: A Jiu-Jitsu Story

Balance Studios: http://BalanceStudios.net Phil and Ricardo Migliarese began their journey over 30 years ago by themselves, when jiu-jitsu had not even established itself in North America.

Under the guidance of Relson Gracie and the inspiration of Helio Gracie, the creator of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, the Migliarese brothers became some of the first black belts in the United States.

Today, almost 20 years after they opened their first school in Philadelphia, they have created a community, a family, of diverse individuals who are dedicated to learning from one another, on the mat and off.

“Balance Studios: A Jiu-Jitsu Story” gives the viewer a unique perspective into the service-oriented experience that the Migliarese brothers have created, and how it touches the lives of people in Philadelphia and at more than 40 global affiliates.

BJJ Dublin

Here at Balance Jiu-Jitsu Dublin, Ireland. we have lots of Gracie Jiu Jitsu classes. If you’d like to start BJJ, we have on going beginner’s courses. You’ll find lots of information here.

The art offers something for everyone, men, women and children. They can
enjoy the benefits of the simple and effective techniques as a method self defence, to keep fit and as a combat sport.

Balance Jiu Jitsu Ireland is a community, we strive to provide the best instruction with highly qualified teachers in a safe, clean and relaxed learning environment.

Ray Butcher is a 1st degree BJJ black belt under Phil & Rick Migliarese of Balance Studios in Philadelphia. Balance Jiu Jitsu Ireland are a Team Balance affiliate with Relson Gracie 6th degree black belt Phil Migliarese and Ricardo Migliarese 5th degree black belt of Philadelphia.

Our Gracie Basics 4 week course for beginners is on Tuesdays 6.45pm, it costs 50 euro. You can start whenever you like and do your 4 weeks.

New Balance Yoga classes

Yoga in Dublin

 

Reclaim your wellbeing

Our new class schedule has started and we’ll be adding new classes as September goes on.

Our new lunchtime class is on Mondays 1-1.45pm, it’s open to all levels and there’s a special drop in rate of 10 euro for this class.

Kids and Teens Yoga classes will be back on Wednesday 21st September, 4 – 5pm Kids Yoga 5 – 10 years and Teens & pre-teens 11 yrs – 16 yrs 5 – 5.45pm. A drop in class is 10 euro, 6 weeks – 55 euro and 12 weeks – 96 euro. We will also be running an Parent and Teen class on the last Saturday of each month… call us to book your place.

We also have a new Monday class starting on the 26th September Yoga & Meditation for Relaxation. This class is from 8-9pm, the perfect way to wind down after a busy day.

Our regular Ashtanga Yoga classes are still happening:

Monday 6.30pm Beginners

Tuesday 10.30am All Levels

Wednesday 6.30pm Beginners

Thursday 9.30am All Levels

Thursday 6.30pm Improvers

Saturday 10am All levels

A drop-in class is 14 euro and we also have an 8 class pass, it’s 80 euro and valid for 8 weeks.

Thinking of starting? You just need to come early on your first night to register. Bring a mat if you have one but we have some spares and some available to buy in our shop. Apart from that bring an open mind and a willingness to learn!

See you on the mat…

Street Week at Balance!

Join us for a Free Self Defence class

at our 1st

Balance Street Week

 Tuesday 6th to Saturday 10th of September

street week

All of the classes will be focused on Self Defence. You can take part in our regular classes as part of our Free Trial offer. We also have a free Gracie Jiu Jitsu class on Saturday 10th. During our Street Week you will get to experience some of the self defence aspects of Gracie Jiu Jitsu, Boxing/Kickboxing and Aikido.

We’ll also be offering a free 45 minute taster class of our Women only “Reduce the Odds” program. The program is specifically designed for women and addresses the most common sexual assault scenarios women of all ages are likely to face if attacked. You can find more info here!

Self defence is just one of many benefits in the study of a Martial Art. Increased self confidence, becoming more focused and disciplined, meeting and connecting with other people, strengthening the body, the mind and most importantly for us, creating a sense of community in a friendly and relaxed environment.

 

So why not take advantage, try out one of the following free classes for beginners:

 

Tuesday 6th – 6.30pm – ‘Reduce The Odds’ (Women only)

Tuesday 6th – 7.30pm – BJJ Street week

Wednesday 7th – 7.00pm – Boxing/Kickboxing 

Wednesday 7th – 8.00pm – Aikido

Thursday 8th – 7.30pm – BJJ Street week

Saturday 10th – 9.30am – Aikido Kids Self Defence (7yrs+)

Saturday 10th – 12-1.30pm – Gracie Jiu Jitsu Self Defence

 

To book your place, call 087 229 7215 or email info@tbi.ie and let us know your name and mobile number and what class you’d like to attend.

(If you are under 18, you’ll need a parent or guardian to come and sign a registration form)

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Balance Martial Arts

www.tbi.ie

1st floor ABCD, 40 Lower Drumcondra Road, Dublin 9