Teachers
Three teachers, more than seventy years on the mat between them.
Ronnie Stevens, 3rd dan (1968)
Aikido is a passion. This martial art has held me since I was fifteen. The thinking behind it — that conflict is fertile ground for self-development and self-reflection — plays a large part in my life. Every break in harmony is an aikido lesson.
Ronnie (3rd dan) is a state-recognised aikido teacher, level 3. He started aikido in 1984. As a teenager he was drawn to it immediately, not least by the non-destructive character of the art.
His first teacher, Ad van Dun, is also a zen teacher. Aikido and meditation are therefore inseparable for him. From 1987 to 2008 he trained with Edy Kamalski (6th dan) in Arnhem, and from 2012 to 2017 with Piet Lagerwaard (6th dan), also in Arnhem.
Ronnie’s principal teachers today are Patrick Cassidy (7th dan) of Aikido Montreux and Linda Holiday (7th dan) of Aikido Santa Cruz. He travels regularly to Montreux in Switzerland to train with Patrick Cassidy.
Teacher, Talent Development Aikido Netherlands (2016 – 2018)
From 2016 to 2018 Ronnie was part of the permanent teaching team of Talentontwikkeling Aikido Nederland, where children and young people from all over the Netherlands train together under teachers from several federations. In 2016 the technical committee of the Aikido Federatie Nederland appointed him youth coordinator. For the final six months he took part in the team as an independent teacher.
Kim Zielman, 3rd dan
It is hard to put into words what aikido means to me. You experience aikido with your body, your heart, your soul and your mind. For me the experience is endlessly inspiring and nourishing. I owe a great deal to all the teachers I have met.
At twenty-three, in 2003, I began taking classes in Zwolle. From the very first class I was completely in my element. Sadly it was the last class before the summer break. The good news was that a summer camp was being organised in Poland. Together with four other aikidoka I drove to the mountains of Szklarska Poręba in a small car packed to the roof. Up early every day. We trained some six hours a day and went out into the countryside between sessions. I did not even have a suit yet, but I thought it was wonderful. That feeling has never let go of me.
I still travel the world to train. In aikido you usually have one place where you train, but you can also train and stay as a guest in other dojos. On top of that, seminars are organised in many places by teachers from all over the world.
My last journey was to Kumano in Japan, to the dojo of Anno sensei. The mountains, the river, the people… Aikido has given me so much.
Now I teach here, to a wonderful group of people in the dojo at the church, together with Ronnie Stevens.
People describe my aikido as sensitive, powerful and flowing. For me everything arises in relationship — with yourself, with your surroundings and with the other.
Aikidō wa, jinsei sono mono to no mai desu. Aikido is a dance with life itself.
Kim Scholtissen, 1st kyu (1982)
Kim teaches the children's and youth classes at Aikido aan de Rijn. She has practised aikido for more than ten years. In her classes with the children she also draws on her experience with yoga and capoeira. She has a passion for movement.