Opher Donchin began practicing Aikido in 1989 and holds tha rank of sandan. He has had teachers from seidokan aikido, aikido schools of ueshiba, and aikikai and has studied in Jerusalem, Baltimore, Tel Aviv, Rotterdam, Tampa, and Rehovot (in that order). As such his style is eclectic, but his current teacher is Ze'ev Erlich, of Masatake Dojo in Rehovot from whom he received his sandan.
Opher sees Aikido as a do -- a japanese term meaning a lifetime path. It has changed the way he thinks about conflict and struggle, shaped his lifelong goals, and helped him develop an understanding of himself and how he comes into contact with others. It has also shaped his ideas about movement and the body. This is central to his work as a neuroscientist studying motor control in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. Opher is passionate about teaching Aikido. He believe that each student has their own do -- their own path -- and that aikido can help reveal the path and help the student commit themselves to walking it faithfully and with purpose. |
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