Today we’d like to introduce you to Shawn E Ellingson.
Hi Shawn, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Aikido Mountain West came together about 10 years ago, as a collaboration of seven Aikido instructors looking for a new home in the Salt Lake Valley. Our old Dojo had closed down and we were looking for a space and a new way of teaching and learning our Art.
We set ourselves up as a Board of Trustees, with a President, V.P. Secretary, Treasurer and members, to sit on a Board and run our school like a “School” rather than a traditional Dojo.
We decided to be a non profit as well. (501 c 3).
And hit the ground running. We were very popular within the community and became a place where all are welcome regardless of affiliation. Or other Aikido organizations.
And have been doing so to this day.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Challenges we had from the very beginning, was to come together as a team. We each had “our” way of wanting to do things and a vision of what that should be. It did not always look the same to others. curriculum, classes, what is taught, etc…
We overcame that. With patience, a lot of patience, willingness to listen and check our egos. We all had a common goal.
We elected members to their station on the Board, and invited all in the community to be apart of the whole. Many hands, light work.
After that normal day to day issues that any school or dojo has we considered business as usual.
Then came Covid. We went from 85 plus students on the roster to ZERO.
We were a non profit so we relied on donations and tuition to keep the lights on and rent. We watched our savings dwindle rapidly. In fact, at one point it was illegal for us to be open for business. But yet our Landlords demanded rent, while we were closed down.
We made it through that horrible time by the skin of our teeth. And generous donations by community members that saw the value in our school and keep us going.
We still have not risen to our old roster numbers but we do get by.
Lessons learned there. “Buy and own a building next time.”. Renting space is not sustainable.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Shawn Ellingson is one of the founders of Aikido Mountain West,
He serves as the President and Dojo Cho and senior instructor at Aikido Mountain West.
He has been training and teaching Aikido for almost 30 years, and training and teaching Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for 16 plus years.
He is a professional electrician in his “Day Job.” At Deer Valley resort.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
When teaching or guiding students in Martial studies, there is no room for risk taking. Your dealing with a persons trust.
You teach what the student needs to know. Not what you know.
patience and compassion are the foundation for teaching.
Contact Info:
- Email: ellingson@aikidomountainwest.org.
- Instagram: Aikido Mountain West
- Facebook: Dojo Cho or Aikido Mountain West
- Youtube: Videos under Aikido Mountain West
