About: Aikido | Gregory Soon | Soon Aiki (Kalasarpa Martial Art)


Soon Aikido is a spiritual discipline and martial art system of Japanese origin.

Aikido was founded by Morihei Ueshiba O'Sensei, on the belief that in order to develop inner-peace, it is vital for people to "Kokoro no sentaku" and "Kokoro no tatenaoshi", or, to Purify Our Hearts and Minds. Morihei Ueshiba O'Sensei was a life-long martial art instructor/master and Aikido is a manifestation of his life-long pursuit toward spiritual perfection. The training discipline involved in Aikido is based on martial art techniques of Tenjin Shin'yō-ryū (天神真楊流), Yagyū Shingan-ryū (柳生心眼流), and Daitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu (大東流合気柔術), but separates itself from Jiu-jitsu through its focus not on combat, but on personal development and perfection of the spirit through training.

Gregory Soon is the head instructor and creator of Soon Aiki, an independent Dojo in New York City.

Gregory Soon was born in Bangkok, Thailand. He is a life-long athlete with over 25 years of training experience in the martial arts. He began training in traditional western boxing as a kid, and was taught by his father Joe, who was an amatuer boxing champion in the 1950s in Rangoon, Burma.

In High School Gregory was a competitive foil-fencer who competed in inter-scholastic competitions as well as United States Fencing Association competitions. He was Captain of his high school fencing team during his senior year of high school. He was also awarded the Senior Class Athletic Achievement Award during his senior year of high school.

In 1996 Gregory was accepted as a live-in-disciple (Uchi-Deshi) by Sensei Yoshimitsu Yamada Shihan and lived full-time at New York Aikikai from January 1997 through 1998. During this period Gregory trained 4 to 6 hours a day in Traditional Aikido under the instruction of Shihans Yoshimitsu Yamada & Seiichi Sugano, both of whom were direct disciples of the founder of Aikido, Morihei Ueshiba O-Sensei. In March of 1998 Gregory was hired as Head-Uchi-Deshi at New York Aikikai and remained in that position, handling daily dojo-operations, until he left in late 1998.

Gregory also studied Judo and mixed-martial art grappling with Teimoc Johnston Ono (1976 Olympic Judo team member) and learned the finer points of Traditional Judo while training at Oishi Judo Club. Gregory has also trained in Wing Chun Kung Fu (he still attends seminars when he finds time). He incorporates elements of all the training methods he has studied into his teaching.

Soon Aiki Dojo sets forth to share Gregory's personal philosophy & ideology, his experience in work, training, and spirit, through an Independent and Fresh Approach to the Philosophy of Aikido.

Since 2002, Gregory has offered private instruction in Self-Defense.
Since 2007 he has been conducting group classes at Moving Body Resources, 112 West 27th Street in NY, NY.

Soon Testimonials:

"I have been training with Greg for some time now. People do Martial Arts for different reasons but mine is to fill gaps in knowledge of self defense. After coming primarily from striking styles and having preconceived notions on what Aikido was about - I was pleasantly surprised on Greg's adaptation. From striking to locks, take-downs and control of your opponent I believe that Kalasarpa Martial Art offers a different way on approaching your opponents. I highly recommend it."
A. Silver, Astoria, NY, January 10, 2010
(from LinkIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/soonaiki)

"Gregory is an excellent instructor, working with individuals of all ages and physical types with instruction tailored to each individual's abilities. His mastery of the craft is amazing and he successfully conveys his enthusiasm to his students."
Top qualities: Expert, Good Value, Creative
P. Hardy, New York, NY, November 23, 2009 (from LinkIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/soonaiki)

"I have always respected the philosophy of self-defense by turning an opponents negative energy against them. This is a useful concept in the struggles of daily life and I have always wanted to develop those skills.
Since I began taking Greg Soon's Aikido classes, I feel I am on the right path. The skills that Greg can teach will be invaluable in developing a centered approach to life. To be able to fall down and get up again is not only a good workout in itself, but a good analog to life's challenges and living a productive life.
I highly recommend Greg's class. He is an extremely knowledgeable and centered teacher that has allowed me to refine and test my abilities both physically and spiritually."
L. Saffioti, Kew Gardens, NY

"Greg is a great martial arts teacher. I really enjoy training with him. He is patient, easygoing and has a good sense of humor; but he's also specific with his instruction and serious in his aims. Taking his classes has definitely been worth my time because he teaches practical techniques of self-defense, drawing from a variety of martial arts, focusing on techniques that will actually help a person defend themselves on the street rather than spending time on antiquated traditional styles. At the same time, he integrates this with a lightly held, but deeply felt, spiritual understanding of how to use energy and intention, which has helped me to discover that I am much more powerful than I had realized before."
S. O'Conner, Inwood, NY

"About doing Front Rolls at Gregory's classes. They look so easy but one doesn't always do them right the first time. It takes training. You'll know it when you do them right. It gives you a sense of empowerment and you want to try to see if you can do it again... that goes for any martial arts technique."
R. Lieu, New York, NY

Gregory is a Current Member of the Following Alliances:
Asian American Arts Alliance:

http://aaartsalliance.org/artists/soongregory-kijja/
"Asian American Arts Alliance is dedicated to strengthening Asian American artists and arts/cultural groups in New York City through funding, promotion and community building."

ACSM Alliance of Health and Fitness Professionals:

http://www.acsm.org/

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