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The Dojo

Named Gen Nei Kan by Chiba Sensei, our japanese Aikido master, at the opening ceremony in July 2007, it’s the place where Peace and Harmony resource.

Mainly dedicated to the study of Aikido and associated disciplines (weapons, japans sword, zazen meditation), with an annual program of classes and seminars (Birankai), it is also opened to other artistic practices.

The dojo occupies the old sheepfold of Malbosc, a 17th century Mas (traditional Provence farmhouse), in the peaceful valley of Mialet, at the foot of the forest covered Cevennes ridge. The river called Gardon de Mialet and its gorges and basins flows by the farm and its bamboo forest. Close to the Stevenson track (GR 70), shepherds trails weave through chestnut groves and pine forests.

In order to offer more classes to the students, the weekly program of classes includes two nights at the communal dojo in Saint-Jean-du-Gard, place Carnot. Saint-jean-du-Gard, small and peaceful town 5 kms away from Malbosc, is one of the gates to the Cevennes Nature Park.

The teachers

Joël BERTRAND, 4th Dan, Shidoin

Ghislaine SOULET, 3rd Dan, Fukushidoin

Both are students of Gabriel Valibouze Shihan, 6th Dan. They register in the school of TK Chiba Shihan, 8th Dan, direct disciple of the founder of Aikido O’Sensei Morihei Ueshiba, and under whom they have been practicing in many seminars and in his dojo.

TK Chiba Shihan is the founder of Birankai International, in which Aikido teaching is based on the complementary Aikido, Iai Batto-Ho and Zazen (Zen meditation).

Gabriel Valibouze Shihan, who studied under him since 1989, is the founder and the technical director of the Strasbourg Aikikai. At the Hombu Dojo in Tokyo, he has studied for six years, under the direction of the second Doshu, son of the Founder, the late Kisshomaru Ueshiba (1923-1999).

Schedule

	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
	Malbosc Dojo GR70 Mialet	St-Jean-du-Gard Maison Pour Tous	Malbosc Dojo GR70 Mialet	Malbosc Dojo GR70 Mialet
08:15-09:15				Zazen (general)
09:30-10:25				Aikido (general)
10:30-11:30				Aikido (general)

18:30-19:25	Bokken & Jo (general)	Aikido (general)	Iai Batto-Ho (general)
19:30-20:30	Aikido (general)	Bokken & Jo (general)	Aikido (general)

A week-end seminar will take place monthly (Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning)

Housing

The Mas of Malbosc, on top of the dojo, offers two holiday lodges (2 to 3 persons each) :

a small stonebuilt house that was used in the past as a chestnuts dryer (“clède”). It has its own roofed terrace (25 m²) and a garden with the panoramic view on the mountains).
An apartment in the Mas with its own entrance. Thick oak doors and a stone sink witness of the past times. The shadowy yard extends to the garden.

Housing rate for aikidokas

Weekly rate

Apartment

in July and August 300 €
June and September 250 €
October to May 200 €

Night rate

Dojo : 5 €

Apartment (3 persons maxi) : 40€ from June to September ; 25 € form October to May

50% paid in advance to confirm booking.

The rates do not include food nor cleaning products, towels, sheets, sleeping bags.

More details on www.gites-vacances-cevennes.com (French website)

Acces to the Dojo

(Google Maps)

By road: highway A9 Exit Pont-Saint-Esprit or Nîmes.

By train: information and booking on www.sncf.com, or by phone on 3635 (direct), losest SNCF train station : Alès (30).

By plane (closest airports):

- Nîmes Arles Camargue - tel 33 (0)4 66 70 49 49 - www.nemausus.com (Ryanair Liverpool - Luton - Bruxelles) et Avignon - tel 33 (0)4 90 81 51 51 - www.avignon.aeroport.fr

- Montpellier Méditerranée - tel 33 (0)4 67 20 85 85 - www.montpellier.aeroport.fr

- Marseille Provence (tel 33 (0)4 42 14 14 14 - www.marseille.aeroport.fr

Acces to Malbosc

At Anduze, before crossing over the bridge, at a round circle, drive around the circle, turn right to Generargues.

In Generargues, turn left to Mialet. After Mialet, you’ll pass by camping les Plans on your left and right after turn left to the little bridge over the river Gardon. Drive uphill on the right side along another camping. After one km. you will see three pine-trees.

Welcome in Malbosc, you made it !

Dojo municipal, place Carnot, 30270 Saint Jean du Gard ~ Dojo de Malbosc, Malbosc 30140 Mialet