The Last Class
- a nostalgic tribute to historic Tam Dojo
Contributed by Paul Rest
On May 12, 2006, there was a full mat at Aikido of Tamalpais, located in beautiful downtown Mill Valley, California. The 6 o'clock class that Friday night was one of the last classes to be taught at the location the dojo had called home for the past 30 years. It was the very last class to be taught there by Richard Strozzi-Heckler Sensei, 6th Dan. Richard Sensei was one of the founders of the dojo, along with Wendy Palmer Sensei, 6th Dan, and George Leonard Sensei, 5th Dan. The dojo was scheduled to move the following week, so there was a nostalgic element to the training that night.
The training space was a magical place, as all who have trained there can attest. It had seen many memorable workshops and seminars over the years, including those taught by Mitsugi Saotome, Shihan and Hiroshi Ikeda, Shihan and uncountable kyu and dan tests. The dojo was filled with stunning original calligraphy by Saotome, Sensei. It was, indeed, a special environment where one could experience the rarified atmosphere of The Founder's art.
Richard Sensei had stumbled upon the dojo's location while walking around the downtown Mill Valley area on a fateful spring day three decades ago. Robert Naedeau, Shihan, 7th Dan, had suggested the trio begin teaching Aikido classes in Marin County. The building, a large structure on the corner of one of the two main streets going through Mill Valley, was only two blocks from the downtown retail area and had ample parking on neighboring side streets. Equally important, the dojo was close to inexpensive places to have a hearty lunch or dinner. Two excellent coffee shops were across the street from the well known book shop and restaurant, The Depot. The owner of the building, who was operating a head shop on the ground floor, showed Richard Sensei an upstairs space, a large open room with a high ceiling that had windows facing east and south along the length of each wall. There was access to the upstairs from the outside by climbing a two story, vertigo inducing, metal staircase. The building was used in the past as a car dealership and the upstairs was a parking area for the cars. As a result, the floor and ceiling had a solid look and feel that was necessary to support the weight of many cars and also the many falling bodies that would happen years later.
For over twenty years, Richard Sensei taught regular classes at the dojo. After he moved to Sonoma County and started his own dojo outside Petaluma, California, Two Rock Aikido, he taught only a Tuesday night class in Mill Valley. Some years ago, he resigned his partnership at the dojo in Mill Valley to concentrate his teaching and work in Sonoma County. The hour and a half class this Friday night brought together many of his old students from his years teaching at Tamalpais Aikido and a large contingent from Two Rock Aikido. In addition there were also students from other dojos around the Bay Area who had experienced Richard Sensei's classes over the years. 
Some weeks before the impending move, there had been a transfer of the dojo to new ownership. The new instructors, Brian Scott Sensei, 3rd Dan, Tony DePalma Sensei, 3rd Dan, and Greg Owens Sensei,, 2nd Dan, were also present that night. Senseis Wendy and George would be continuing a lightened teaching schedule at the dojo's new location, with the workload of the regular classes now shifted to the three new instructors.
Richard Sensei's class that night included techniques with variations from tsuki, irmi-nage, shomen uchi, irimi nage and yokomen uchi, shihonage. The emphasis of the class was fearlessly moving forward as part of an imri movement. Halfway through the class, Sensei shared the following quote:
"Poetry is a raid on the inarticulate."
TS Eliot
(from "East Coker")
Richard Sensei also read a beautiful poem by Mary Oliver, one of his favorite poets. The poem followed water traveling through the ground, past the roots of trees until it touched rocks that had been there, untouched, for ages. 
The class continued with a series of pins, including an on-the-shoulder reverse kote gaeshi and a thumb pin against the body, which was a new technique for many that night. In addition, there was a tsuki where nage stayed on the line and blended with the attack, the throw coming from the dropping of center and breath.
The class ended with a group photo, always a moment where the true test of Aikido happens, when everyone has to blend their ki this way and that way into the space allowed for the camera's lens.
Afterwards, students lingered on the mat, sharing their stories and memories. Hugs were exchanged as all realized that an era was closing. There was also excitement about the possibilities that awaited "Tam Dojo," as it is affectionately called by all. Later, a group of students went with Richard Sensei to a local Japanese restaurant where the conversation continued for many hours. It was a perfect ending for the evening.
Note: Aikido of Tamalpais is now located at 3001 Ridgeway, Sausalito, California 94965. Information about classes can be found by calling: 415-383-9474 or checking their home page: www.tam-aikido.org
Paul Rest, 2nd Dan, lives in Sonoma County. He trains at Two Rock Aikido with Strozzi-Heckler Sensei. He has had many essays, articles, book reviews and other pieces published. He recently finished a new novel. He can be reached at poetry@sonic.net