About Gregory Soon

I am an independent Aikidoist and instructor, and am not affiliated with an organization or federation.

I view Aikido as a lifestyle and way of life, not just a fighting or self defense system. Although Aikido is martial art training, self-defense training, movement and awareness training which develops a strong spirit...
... More importantly, Aikido helps us to consciously live more active, healthy and responsible lives.

As an independent practice, ranking & promotion is not offered.
If you have an interest in ranking/promotion please visit a dojo that is affiliated with Aikikai Hombu Dojo: US Aikido Federation Dojos

Code of Conduct:
http://soonmethod.wordpress.com/2008/01/03/code-of-conduct/

Weekly class updates & announcements:
http://soonmethod.wordpress.com/

BIOGRAPHY

Born in Bangkok, Thailand in August 1976, I have dedicated over 22 years training as a martial artist.

My father was an amateur boxing champion in the 1950s in Rangoon, Burma. I started learning how to box at around the age of 5 years.

I trained in Aikido as a teenager, in 1996 was accepted by Yoshimitsu Yamada Sensei to be an uchi-deshi (live-in student) at New York Aikikai on West 18th Street in NYC. I lived and trained at NY Aikikai from the ages of 20-22 and was hired as an employee at NY Aikikai in 1998 as head-uchi-deshi and performed beginning student instruction, maintenance, and dojo operations.

During this period at NY Aikikai: I trained an average of 36 hours per week, 6 days a week, as a professional martial artist. I attended all classes taught at NY Aikikai by Senseis Yoshimitsu Yamada and Seiichi Sugano.
I was also Yamada Sensei's personal assistant through most of 1998, and took extensive ukemi for both instructors while living as an uchi-deshi at NYA. At NYA, I had the privilege to live and train with Aikido instructors and students from around the globe.

I am no longer associated with NY Aikikai and am an independent practitioner. I chose to leave NY Aikikai in late 1998 and continued my martial art training in various styles including Judo, Wing Chun Kung Fu and Mixed Martial Arts. I began offering private instruction in 2002.

In the sidereal Zodiac, I am a Leo, with my ascendant Sun in the Lunar mansion of Poorva Phalguni and Mars in Uttara Phalguni (based on Vedic astrology), I have dedicated this life to the martial arts, a life of training and discipline, development and growth in the martial arts.