To better serve our Ukinju-Ryu and Daimon-Ryu Budokai community, our annual Taikai event information will appear on this website as our home page for Ukinju-Ryu and our Daimon-Ryu Budokai.org, and will remain our home page for all things Ukinju-Ryu andDaimon-Ryu. In time I hope all of our martial arts family will visit this page regularly to better appreciate our beloved Legacy and family ties. In the coming weeks, this year's Taikai information will be posted and updated here for your convenience. Contact us via e-mail: ukinjukai@yahoo.com
Due to material costs, the price for this year's event will be: Adults- $100 admission to the three-day event, and Youth (8-15 years of age)- $50 for Saturday and Sunday attendance. Space is limited, so contact your instructor to reserve your space today! For your convenience, you may pay and register via Venmo at: Thomas Spellman@tomsensei3. Please mark it 2026 Taikai. Thanks for your Taikai 2026 support. Questions: email us at ukinjukai@yahoo.com
Our annual "Welcome to Taikai" hombu practice will again be at Spellman Sensei's Ukinjukai Dojo backyard space located at 1380 Green Meadows Way, Ashland, OR 97520. The event is scheduled on Friday, Sept. 11th, from 10 am - 12 noon. Shoes and a head covering are recommended, and sunscreen is required. Water will be provided, and please come dressed for the practice.
The Ohana is invited to our Annual "Welcome to Taikai" Potluck dinner hosted by Nathan Lake Sensei and his Martial Arts of Medford Dojo on Friday night. The dojo entrance is around the back of 720 Crater Lake Ave, Medford, OR 97504. The event is scheduled for 7-9 pm. Please bring a family-sized main or side dish, and vegan dishes are welcome. Hamburgers and hot dogs will be provided. Drinks will be provided, and liquor is not allowed.
Saturday and Sunday are space-limited practices, so sign up soon.
The 6th Annual Kodomo Tame Ni Legacy Taikai, Sept. 11th & 12th, and 13th, 2026-
This year's 2026 Taikai's focus will be on the Okinawan ancient roots of our Legacy's traditions and practices. Come and join us as we explore our martial history and forge our link in our Legacy's future while we seek to become more human!
Here is the preliminary proposed 2026 Taikai training schedule for September 11th-13th, 2026. Note that this coming Sunday, the 13th, the schedule includes a historical Black Belt ceremony. Sensei Nathan Lake and his dojo staff have produced their first Junior Black Belt candidate ( the third in our family to date), who will joint the Daimon-Ryu Budokai Yudansha Society in Sunday's ceremony at 215 pm. Don't miss this wonderful event!
2026 Taikai Schedule of events-
Friday, Sept.11th, 10- 12nn, Ukinjukai Hombu backyard Dojo, 1380 Green Meadows Way, Ashland. Teaching: Tom Spellman Sensei, Tong Sensei, Darrell and Alice Sensei, Anna Sensei. Head covering, shoes, and sunscreen are recommended. Water will be provided.
7 pm-9 pm Friday, Sept.11th Taikai Welcome BBQ/Potluck Dinner- Martial Arts of Medford, 720 Crater Lake Ave, Medford, OR 97504
Bring a main/side dish to share; vegan dishes are welcome.
Weekend event-
Saturday, September 12, 2026-
Aikido of Ashland, 695 Mistletoe Rd Ste B, Ashland, OR 97520
Arrive suited up in dogi (uniform). Training will be barefoot on the mat. There will be NO bokken/sword practice scheduled for this years Taikai. The focus will be on the Okinawan roots of our Legacy traditions.
9:30 am- 9:45 am: Wake-up Warmup Workout, and is presented by Sensei Anna.
9:45-10:15 am Kihon (Basics) Mixed Adult/ Youth, and is presented by Sensei Spellman.
10:15 am-11:15 am Mixed Adults/Youth (20min-Y, 40 Min-A) empty handed drills Presented by Spellman Sensei Adults divided into basic and advanced practice.
11:15-11:30 am: 15 min Transition break
11:30 am--12:30 pm Lake Sensei
12:30 noon- 1:15 pm Sack Lunch (45 min)
1:15 pm-1:30 pm After lunch return warm-up Presented by Sensei Jeremy Huard
1:30-2:30 pm TBA
2:30-3 pm TBA
3 pm – 4 pm Tong Sensei
4:00- 4:30 pm TBA
4:30 pm- 5 pm -Cleanup/Close up for the day
7 pm-9 pm Saturday Night Black Belt dinner -
- El Paraiso Mexican Restaurant, 545 Clover Ln, Ashland, OR
Sunday, September 13, 2026-
Aikido of Ashland, 695 Mistletoe Rd Ste B, Ashland, OR 97520
Come suited up in dogi (uniform). Training will be barefoot. There will be NO bokken/sword practice scheduled for this years Taikai. The focus will be on the Okinawan roots of our Legacy traditions.
Note that this Sunday , the 13th, schedule includes a Black Belt ceremony that will include an historical event. Sensei Nathan Lake and his dojo staff have produced their first Junior Black Belt candidate ( the third in the family to date) who will joint the Daimon-Ryu Budokai Yudamsha Society in today's ceremony. All Black Belt Yudansha members are called to attend and welcome our new candidates. Don't miss this at 215 pm.
10-10:15 am Wake-up Warmup Workout, presented by Sensei Anna.
10:15- 10:45 am Kihon (Basics) Mixed Adult/ Youth. Presented by Spellman Sensei
10:45- 11:45 am Mixed Adult/ Youth (20 min-Y, 40 Min-A) empty handed Practice presented by Spellman Sensei. Attendees will be grouped into basic and advanced sections.
11:45- 12:45 pm: Sack Lunch
12:45 pm-1 pm After lunch return warm-up, and is presented by Jeremy Huard Sensei
1 pm-2:00 pm: Jay Schroder Sensei
2 pm-2:15 pm Break/Transition
2:15-3:45 pm: Black Belt Promotion ceremony. Spectaters and family members are welcome.
3:45-4:45 pm Darrell Goen Sensei
4:45 pm- 5:15 pm Cleanup/Close down Taikai. Everyone, please pitch in.
6:30-9 pm Sunday Night Aloha Dinner:
Taikai ALOHA Dinner at
Northwest Pizza and Pasta Restaurant, located at 1585 Siskiyou Blvd, Ashland, OR 97520, hosted by Morgan George and his fantastic team!
Mahalo nua loa for an epic 2026 Taikai. Come join us and celebrate!!
Sensei Tong, Darrell, and Alice Goen, who are long-standing Taikai favorites, are attending all 3 days. Excitingly, Sensei Tong will, for the fourth year in a row, be offering his Shakuhachi Traditional Flute music in an intimate concert setting. The concert is free, but there is a tip jar present, and the proceeds benefit the Taikai. Details for the concert will be announced closer to the event, so stay tuned.
Our Taikai Ohana is invited to the "Welcome to Taikai 2026 Dinner" hosted by Sensei Nathan Lake and his Martial Arts of Medford Dojo on Friday night, September 11, 2026. This dinner is scheduled for 7 am -9 pm. Please bring a family-size main dish, and vegan dishes are welcome. Hamburgers and hot dogs will be provided. Drinks will be provided, as well. Remember, this is a "No Liquor" and kid-safe event, so thank you, and have a great time!
Our host, El Paraiso Mexican Restaurant, is again opening its doors to our Daimon-Ryu Budokai/Ukinju-Ryu Budo Black Belt family. We will gather on Saturday, September 12th, 2026, from 7 to 9 p.m. to enjoy their delicious food and a full bar to quench our thirst after a great day of martial arts training! Black Belt gatherings are a traditional way of cultural and historical transmission and to promote bonding among the yudansha. Black Belts, please make your reservations with Sensei Spellman and Sensei Lake. Seats are limited, so reserve yours soon. See you all in September!. Pax, Spellman Sensei
The Taikai Aloha dinner started 15 years ago and was hosted by Morgan George and his incredible staff at Northwest Pizza, and we're back where we started! The menu has a large and varied selection for everyone's taste, and the space is very family-friendly. We need a headcount by August 15th, 2026, so submit your party number to Sensei Spellman or Sensei Lake. Don your Hawaiian flower lei and Taikai necklaces and come to the end of 2026 Taikai with much ALOHA! Mahalo nui loa for another great Taikai. Pax, Spellman Sensei, the 2026 fantasticTaikai presenters.