Sempai Aki
Home Management
Pilates Teacher
20 Yrs in Practiced Health & Wellness
Unschooled 3 Children
Certified in Permaculture
B.A. Sports and Recreation
Co-Founder of Awaken
Sempai Aki has spent the last 25 years raising and homeschooling her 3 children, raising animals, growing food, building a strawbale house, fostering sustainable living skills and creating fermented and nutrient dense foods. Recently, she has taken a year long teacher training program to become a Pilates Instructor.
Aki, along with Sr Professor Shizumi co-founded Awaken in 2016; a women’s empowerment community that specializes in Life Coaching and Women’s Retreats.
Martial Arts
Hikari Ryuza Bujutsu® Instructor
Nidan (2nd Deg.), Hikari Ryuza Bujutsu®
Sempai Aki has been training with Senior Grandmaster Crimi and Professor Crimi since 2012, and earned her Shodan (1st degree black belt) in Hikari Ryuza Bujutsu in 2017. She continues to move forward and received her Nidan (2nd degree black belt) in April, 2019. She teaches at the Hikari Ryuza Center, assists in teaching classes for Nevada County’s volunteer deputies
and retired law enforcement, and volunteers her time assisting in the Women’s Self Defense course (Hikari Ryuza Fujin Goshin No Maki®), which has trained over 1,000 women.
“I feel honored to have gotten my Black Belt under Senior Grandmaster Crimi. Becoming a part of the Dojo Family has been one of the best decisions I’ve made.”
-Sempai Aki Hays
Compliments from:
Wendy W., RNMedical Case Manager
In July, 2012, my ten year old daughter had the opportunity to join a summer camp for a very minimal fee for the week. I was intrigued as it was something different, wouldn’t cost an arm and a leg and would keep her busy (and out of boredom trouble) for five full business days. As I am a full time working Mom … this seemed like a good thing to do. She didn’t know anyone else going to the camp so she invited a friend along. They had the time of their life … going to Martial Arts Camp for a whole week with the last day being spent on a 18 foot blow up water slide. They were so happy to be there and experience this camp for the week. Little did we know this would turn into a life change for her.Hannah is now eleven and has been in Hikari Ryuza Bujutsu since that camp let out. She attends classes twice weekly although she has the opportunity to join classes three times weekly in her age group. She has developed strength and independence since joining. She has developed confidence and leadership qualities. Whenever she is in a down mood we tease her that she needs “mat time” and it brings her out of her funk everytime. She is a well rounded individual but before starting these classes was afraid to try new things. She now considers the opportunity rather than shying away from it. She is being taught respect for others, timeliness and tactfulness.As a Mother I am thankful that we found this program. Although it is often difficult to get our daughter to the classes due to long work days, etc. I have never once regretted getting her there. The energy at the Dojo is amazing. What I am providing her with as a parent by exposing her to the life, these teachers, these peers … makes it all worth it.She has just recently been asked to be part of the Leadership Program which, essentially, is a Junior Black Belt Program. She is expected to attend every Leadership class (within reason). She is expected to keep her grades up, be a role model to others, buy her own kit for the program (Mom and Dad may not purchase it). All of these things provide her with independence, confidence, a sense of maturity. Exactly what she needs. My daughter is one that responds to these expectations in a very positive way. She loves to perform for the ones that love her and she does not want to disappoint. This will lead her to be a Black Belt as she also is developing expectations of herself.Although Hikari Ryuza Bujutsu is a Self Defense program that was developed by Grand Master Crimi 40 years ago … I feel Hannah is getting much more out of this than learning self defense techniques. All of the qualities mentioned above have much more to do with her spirit, her mind and her determination that her physical capabilities. I guess I have only touched the surface. As a Nurse, taking care of the mind, body and spirit are all very, very important to me and I am thrilled that my eleven year old daughter is learning this from an outside source.On the fun side of things … they are in the fair each year to demonstrate their school, they have summer camp, they have movie night once monthly, they have a Halloween Party and a Christmas Party. When the students are promoted to the next belt (quarterly) they and their families all go to pizza afterward. The teachers and the students (along with their families) have formed their own family through this school. I commend Grandmaster Crimi, Professor Crimi, and Sempai Floyd for doing such an amazing job extending their skills and education to these students that are like sponges … and I thank them for keeping my child safe as she learns at their facility.I look forward to many more years to come as my daughter works toward her black belt.Wendy Weidler, RNMedical Case Manager2013
Kathi D.Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor
When my husband suggested we enroll our son in martial arts, I hesitated. I had been in martial arts years ago and frankly, I didn't think it was worth our time, money, and adding one more thing to our already busy family schedule. I knew it was good exercise, but he was already involved in multiple sports. I knew he may learn some self defense moves, but I doubted that my quiet, shy son would really learn anything that he could use to defend himself. And I just didn't like the "factory production" impression I got, justified or unjustified, when I thought about martial arts schools.The daughter of some friends of ours had been attending Hikari Ryuza for a couple of months and they kept telling us about this great program. We lived near Penn Valley, but they didn't - and there were plenty of schools closer to where they lived. They invited us to watch a class with them and we decided to go see what this school was all about. My husband went with hope and anticipation - I went with skepticism. What I saw that night changed my mind and my attitude!Fast forward three months, and our son is thriving in this class. His confidence is growing and he is learning the meaning of respect, hard work, and responsibility. We are more than thrilled with the way both Professor and Grandmaster work with the kids. One can easily see that their first priority is the success of these kids - success in life as well as self defense.Kathi DaughertyCertified QuickBooks ProAdvisor2013
Buddy M.Retired Teacher and Coach
I became acquainted with the Hikari Ryuza dojo as a result of my volunteer work with the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office. We were encouraged to take Dr. Crimi’s self-defense course designed for law enforcement officers. The program turned out to be much greater than learning some basic techniques in a few weeks; it has stretched into nearly 12 years. The lessons learned are greater than physical techniques. They include mental toughness, building self-respect and self-confidence, as well as developing respect for fellow human beings. I highly recommend participation in the activities at the dojo for the knowledge, integrity and honesty that is forthcoming from Dr. Crimi, Professor Crimi, Sempai Floyd and all the assisting staff.Buddy MillerRetired Teacher and Coach2012
Hugh R.Professor of French Literature, Exeter UK
My first encounter with Grandmaster Crimi and Hikari Ryuza Bujutsu was, like so much since, astounding. I was tasked with being Grandmaster’s interpreter during his visit to the school in Paris where I first learned ju jitsu from Grandmaster Stefano Surace. When my French friends and fellow students returned Grandmaster’s bow with a Gallic shrug, Grandmaster’s explosive reaction not only got everyone’s full attention, but gave me a particular, and doubtless unique, set of linguistic challenges completely to convey his meaning! Of course, Grandmaster got his message across fully without any assistance from me and, now I come to think of it, this was an early lesson that, while it is obviously good to learn other languages, martial arts are a universal human language with no need of interpreters.Since that first meeting, in spring 2006, I have become an interpreter in another sense, as Grandmaster’s teachings slowly gained a hold on me and as I began to ponder these more and more. Another key moment came a year or so later, when Grandmaster visited Paris again, and we spent the best part of the day talking in a cafe that boasted striking interior design and authentic Parisian plumbing, a perfect choice to give Grandmaster unexpected insights into la vie parisienne. As Grandmaster covered life, the universe and everything, I remember having the simple yet astounding thought that things may well be very different to how I imagined them to be. I now think of that thought as the seed for all the adventures that have come since; it’s a thought I’m still pursuing and will carry on pursuing for the rest of my life and I can’t thank Grandmaster enough for having planted this seed in me. I don’t know how I would have had the thought and what has followed without meeting my teacher.Some part of me then felt the call to California and I first visited what has since become my home from home in 2008. I have been coming back with increasingly regularity since then, initially as a guest and subsequently as Grandmaster’s student. I’m deeply grateful to Grandmaster, Professor, the yudanshas, and the family at the dojo and beyond for welcoming me with such love. Each visit has been different and I never know where Grandmaster is going to take me but I do know that the experience will be unforgettable. Indeed, the most extraordinary experiences of my life have taken place with Grandmaster.I read recently that ‘What the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the master calls a butterfly’. Grandmaster has of course seen thousands upon thousands of caterpillars like me yet he gives his all to help me progress, to become better in all ways, since his teaching is all-encompassing. Naturally, being a caterpillar, I often struggle even with the thought of change (which can indeed seem like the end of the world from the caterpillar’s point of view), yet when I look back to the man I was and how I have changed under Grandmaster’s guidance I feel my spirit strengthen for the path ahead.It is remarkable to meet the kind of martial arts master – the sage on the mountaintop, so to speak –who I used to think was the stuff of legend, even more incredible that he should accept me as a pupil. Yet, as I am beginning to realize, this really has nothing to do with me but it has everything to do with a spark we all share, a spark that a true teacher like Grandmaster sees in others and can help coax out, for the benefit of all, so that more of us can let go of whatever strand we are clinging to, and learn to spread our wings.Hugh RobertsProfessor Of French LiteratureExeter University, UK2013
Murray A.Retired Business Owner, Volunteer Deputy
I have been part of the Dojo for nearly 14 years now, and I still look forward to coming every week, especially for the camaraderie. I know its made me a better person not only mentally, but physically as well; after all I'm only turning 88 this year!Through the years I've observed what Grandmaster Crimi, Professor Crimi, and Sempai Floyd do for young people, how they make it fun and help them grow into mature, confident, young adults. They teach them leadership, and provide an environment to safely explore their skills. I think it would be nice if every young person could take our Martial Arts. It would make America a better place to live!Murray ArnoldRetired Business Owner and Volunteer Deputy2013