About the Merrifield Dojo
The Virginia Ki Society was founded in 1974 when a small program in the Virginia suburbs of Washington DC was established by William (Kirk) Fowler. Since that time it has moved several times, arriving at its present location in the Washington DC suburb of Merrifield, VA in 1994. Soon after founding the VKS, Fowler Sensei moved and left the dojo under George Simcox Sensei, who was personally appointed by Ki Society founder Koichi Tohei to be Chief Instructor of the Virginia Ki Society. Simcox Sensei led the dojo for almost 25 years, from 1975 until his recent and untimely death in November 2000. In December 2000, Koichi Tohei appointed Chuck Auster, head instructor of the New York Ki-Aikido dojo to succeed Sensei Simcox as Chief Instructor of the
VKS.
In 2003, to reflect the reality that all member dojo of the VKS were equally important, the Merrifield dojo was re-christened Northern Virginia Ki-Aikido, and now operates as a regular member dojo of the VKS, which is now headquartered in New York, where Auster Sensei teaches.
The Virginia Ki Society was incorporated in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the early 1980's as a non-profit (501c 3) corporation. It is organized with a Board of Directors, who are elected annually by dojo members. In turn, the Board appoints officers to conduct the day-to-day business of the organization.
As an Authorized Society within the Ki Society International, the Virginia Ki Society operates
under the rules and regulations promulgated for overseas societes which establishes minimum requirements for testing and advancement. The Chief Instructor attends annual training by a senior member of the Ki Society International professional teaching staff. All classes are taught with a segment on Ki Development and another on Ki Aikido.
If you wish to learn more, please download the Northern Virginia Ki-Aikido Instructor/Student Handbook.
[Word Version]
[PDF Version]