History of Murakumo Dojo

Murakumo Dojo originally began as an employee Aikido club for VICI Metronics in Poulsbo, WA. during 2001.  The founder was Sensei Todd Shirley who is still the dojocho presently.   In 2003, having moved to Los Gatos, CA, Sensei reestablished the dojo on a property that he and a friend of his had developed into a Japanese style garden during the 1990's.  The dojo resided in the garden into 2006, and was used for private instruction and  De Anza Aikido instructor meetings.  Todd had been coinstructing with Jeff Adams sensei and David Brown sensei at De Anza Community College at the time.

Murakumo Dojo has always reflected traditions that are distinctly Japanese, and the Los Gatos location allowed that to blossom even more.  Inside was found Shinto paraphernalia, a buddhist kane (bell), shodo & sumi-e art supplies, origami, kakejiku (scrolls), bamboo shades, shoji screens, traditional Japanese martial arts equipment, and tatami style flooring (10 tatami).  One wall of the dojo was made completely of stone inferring the foundation of a Japanese castle. There was a sound system and lighting. You could have also found a library of about 200 books on the subjects of martial arts, Japanese martial arts, Japanese language/history/culture/arts, Western & Eastern philosophy/religion.

The garden is approximately 1/2 acre on a hillside.  The garden was designed and developed by sensei during the middle of the 1990's.  The name of the garden was given by Udono, Takanori.  Who at the time was a yondan (4th dan) in Aikido, and in his early 20's.  He was also in training as a Shinto priest under the tutuledge of Hikitsuchi, Michio, a judan (10th dan) in Aikido.  After viewing the garden he said that in Japan this style of garden would be pronounced as "teien".  This is the Chinese pronounciation of the Japanese word "niwa",  and has been adopted in some cases by the Japanese.  After having discovered the local wildlife on the property he suggested the name of the garden to be, "Akakata no Taka Teien".  Translated this is, "Grand Garden of the Red-shouldered Hawk".  The garden is also an official wildlife habitat and many creatures can be discovered such as, squirrel, gopher, deer, bobcat, mountain lion, raven, and of course red-shouldered hawks. Within the garden are well crafted elements traditional to Japanese gardens.  You will find a torii, or vermillion Shinto gateway,  many statues, bells, and lanterns.  There is a Zen garden for meditation.  There is also a stream, waterfall, decks, and tsukubai (purification basin).  The plant life is a mixture of local vegetation and traditional Japanese foliage.  You can find rare species such as; black bamboo (kurotake), golden buddha bamboo, timber bamboo, black pine (kuromatsu), Japanese maple (momiji), Japanese plum (ume), and camellia japonica (tsubaki).   You can also find an outdoor dojo in the garden with a spectacular view of Silicon Valley. There is a historical shinto shrine in the garden as well, and a link to information about it can be found here: GARDEN SHRINE

tsukubai (purification water basin) illustrating Dogen's take on the 4 souls/1 spirit

makiwara, a striking post that traditionally used wrapped rope.

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Murakumo dojo entrance signboard