Having problems with message search?
March 8th 2007
Contents:
- Friendship Seminar with
David Dangerfield Griffith University - Grading
- Aikikids Class
Helper
- ‘Interview with Seiseki
Abe by
Stanley - More News From Gabby
- Previous news (but good news)
– worth another read!:
1. Friendship
Seminar with
I
am pleased to announce a FREE
friendship seminar with
Saturday
4-6pm
Introduction to Shinto Muso Ryu Jojutsu (with
7pm
Dinner at a local Thai restaurant (booking essential)
Sunday
10am
SMR Jojutsu (continued)
12noon
lunch
1pm
Ki development/coordination/aikido (
3pm Questions/Discussions/Technique
Workshop
3.30pm
Afternoon Tea and Drinks
Cost: Free
Accommodation: Free
(aikidoka may sleep at the dojo overnight)
Transport: Approach
your instructors or senior students or raise it at the end of class if
you’re interested but don’t have transport. Someone will be
going that you can catch a lift with.
This
friendship seminar is an event which I have arranged with
Flyers
are available at each dojo. For more information about the Palmwoods
dojo, please visit: www.aikidoinstitute.com.au/tai.htm
2.
Dear members,
This past week has seen many
I would like to thank the efforts of Steve M, Ross,
Charlie, Keita, Dominique, Eri, Ben H., Gary, Gus, Tim B, Tonia and Steve D
for turning up to talk to new students and preparing the material we
handed out and the subsequent enrolment procedure (Jutta). I would also like to
thank everyone that was there that turned up early on Tuesday night to handle
the administrivia and mats, for giving them a warm welcome and making their
first experience of aikido such a positive one.
For all the new people that have just tried out aikido
for the first time, I hope you had an enjoyable time trying the various aspects
of aikido, that your bodies are adjusting to aikido movements and look forward
to seeing you next time. If you have any questions or concerns please discuss
with an instructor or any member of the club you feel comfortable talking to.
Kanso,
Danny
3. Grading
The
club will have its next grading on Tuesday night, 20th March.
Beginners
should be aware that the process consists of Jutta drafting a list of possible
candidates for grading pretty much based on the number of classes they are
likely to complete by the time of the grading. This will then be
considered by Danny Sensei as the Head Dojo Instructor. While classes
completed is an important consideration, it is not the only one. A list
of those being invited to grade will then be announced in class.
It
is not good etiquette to ask to be graded. It is OK, however, to ask
Jutta how many classes you’ve completed (and it’s OK to quietly ask if she
thinks you might
be invited to grade). It
is good etiquette to accept an invitation to grade when it is made as the Head
Dojo Instructor has made a determination that you have the proficiency required
to grade to the next level and you are therefore ready to grade. This decision
is not made lightly and grading is a privilege. In the meantime, if you
think it is likely that you will be asked to grade, it is a very good idea to
know the techniques required for your next grading and start to practice
them. Ask a senior to help you out. They appreciate the chance to
be more useful! You will get time to practice in class before your
grading, but it’s always good form to practice.
4.
Aikikids
Class Helpers
The aikikids class on Saturdays is currently experiencing
significant growth, which means there is space to include an extra
helper. If you would like to help with Aikikids class on Saturday morning
from 10.30am till approx 11.30am, please let me know soon.
5. Interview
with Seiseki Abe by
It
seems true that all real great art is in not what you can see, but what is felt
and what is conveyed through one's intent.
High
art is invisible. The following is an exert from an interview with Seiseki Abe
by Stanley Pranin, Aikido Journal #114 (1998)
"One's
growth as a calligrapher comes in a number of stages. To begin with, you learn
how to work with the "form" or "shape" of the characters.
Fortunately,
there are so many examples of beautiful form --going all the way back to the
Han Dynasty in
Where
I started to run into trouble was in my exploration of "line"
(although "line" may be too simplistic a term),which is what you work
on after you've mastered form to a certain degree. When it comes to line,
concepts like "thickness" and "thinness" are easy enough to
understand, but in addition to these you also have to work with
"depth" and "shallowness." Shallowness is easy enough to
understand as well, so what I was having trouble with had to do with adding
depth to my brushstrokes. Such depth is more or less invisible to the eye, yet
it is still one of the qualities that gives life to a calligraphic work. So
much so, in fact, that it may be considered the very heart and soul of Japanese
calligraphy.
The
degree of thickness or thinness is a relatively visible quality that determines
whether a line conveys the intended degree of energy or vigor, but qualities
like depth (and also "height") are invisible to the eye and therefore
much more elusive."
6. More News
From Gabby
Hey guys,
Filmed a few short messages to GUAC from the main
people we are hanging out with from the dojo.
First is Marcos - really cool dude, just about to do
his nidan (and he's been training 3 years longer than me), yoga practitioner,
mad keen surfer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnCAyY_2IaU
Secondly, Marco's girlfriend, Renata. She lives down
the road and we have been doing some girly shopping/coffee things and today we
start a Portuguese/English exchange class. These two are the closest I have to
Sheree and Aran.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_zcySiG9UU
Last is Guido's message to Daniel Carne. Guido is the
most senior student (nidan) and has been training since he was 15. He is
teaching us his amazing soft breakfalls. Will try to get some video of him
ukeing for Bueno sensei when he gets back from
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiSX1ZUSo9g
My aim was actually to video some of last
night’s class, taken by Guido, but it was such a good class I got too
caught up in training! The only bit I got was some forward ukemi practise at
the beginning of class. It's not the most exciting of videos, but it shows
where we are training and that aikido practise is not so different here in
Brasil.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3asEemZxjWc
Had another great class the day before where the 4
blackbelts present (paul and myself included) all taught a couple of techniques
each. They are not so fixed in their ways and arrogant that they don't want to
learn new things from a different style. We are loving the aikikai here - it's
different enough to be a challenge and soft enough to be comfortable.
Didn't think it would be cool to email the
Miss you all!!
Gabby
7. Previous
news (but good news) – worth another read!:
Club Sponsorship
We
have a sponsorship arrangement with
Danny James
Steve Mitchell
--
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.5.441 / Virus Database: 268.18.7/713 - Release Date: 7/03/2007 9:24 AM
Offline 
Send Email