Consciousness, compassion and cooperation. Steger, a Downey High School graduate, opened the Modesto dojo in May after earning his black belt from New School Aikido founder John Smartt of Stockton. Steger's dojo has about 40 students, both adult and children, and his goal is to see enrollment swell to 150 by 1992. Steger was studying photography at Modesto Junior College and working at the college's art supply store in the mid-1980s when he became fascinated with aikido. Steger also credits aikido with helping him stay fit and overcome a chronic intestinal illness he's suffered since age 10.
Fitness is a big part of aikido.
Aikido, Steger explains, is the culmination of 2,000 years of evolution of martial arts in Japan. Aikido is not just a set of combat techniques for self-protection. That philosophy of compassion for one's opponent and inner harmony is evident in its physical techniques. Aikidoists avoid meeting the force of an attack head-on. There are no bone-crushing punches or roundhouse kicks.