Having problems with message search?
Thursday August 30th, 2007
1. Maruyama Sensei Seminar 75% Sold - Pre-register
2. Congratulations To Everyone Who Graded On Saturday
3. Aikido and Shinto Ryu Iaijutsu Saturday Sept. 8th 2007
4. Eri’s News This week
5. Duelling with O-Sensei: Grappling with the Myth of the Warrior sage
1. Maruyama Sensei Seminar 75% Sold - Pre-register
I am pleased to report that 75% of the available places for the upcoming Maruyama Sensei Seminar have been pre-sold and would encourage everyone to pre-register for the seminar as places now are very limited. To pre-register please go to http://brisbaneaikido.com/maruyama2007.html. Pre registration is a saving of $20 on the door price. Pre registration closes 21st Sept or when places are full.
It is a rare opportunity and a privilege to have an original student and instructor of Maruyama Sensei's caliber come to
Attached is the National seminar waiver form, it would be appreciated if it can be completed and brought with you to the seminar to save time on the day.
Billet hosts are still required. If you are able to assist, could you please contact Tony Neal Sensei, ph. Tony 0411 150 640 or email anthony.neal (AT)bigpond.com
Danny James
2. Congratulations To Everyone Who Graded On Saturday
What a morning. - Gradings galore last Saturday!
As usual, the kids turned up to Nathan dojo with their parents quite excited and wanting to get onto the mat. This time there was some nervousness in the air. 14 children had been invited to grade. It was going to be a very full hour. Warm ups helped to dissipate some of the tension, but soon enough they were over and it was time for the grading. As usual, the most junior children were grading first. Grading, although very formal, is a safe opportunity to do aikido in a difficult and stressful environment, even for children, as they try to remember form and techniques in front of their parents and the other children, as well as their teachers. It is a very important lesson, and the children did very well, although some are very young. The grading progressed through the ranks, and everyone was able to appreciate the improvement and skill the children demonstrated even though they are probably more motivated and aware of the enjoyment of aikido and the games that they get to play, rather than the confidence and respect and discipline they are acquiring. All the children did their very best, cooperated with each other, and their teachers and parents were very proud and pleased with their efforts.
Adults from all different belt levels then gathered at the dojo for a chance to show what they have learnt for the past few weeks, months or years. The tension, the excitement, the worry, the cheers, the frustration, the smiles, the mistakes and of course the personal triumphs! I bet everyone in that dojo, both grading and non-graders, felt at least some of the emotions mentioned above. I, speaking on behalf of the dojo committee, am happy to see so many potential Aikido students that have stuck with Aikido to give an exciting performance. Furthermore, I felt the atmosphere was very unified as we were joined by colleagues from Capalaba dojo, with all grades mixing together as nages and ukes to put on some impressive gradings.
David Shields from Capalaba dojo did his nidan grading, and it was a pleasure to watch him demonstrating his knowledge and technique and emerge tired but elated. Overall it was a long but happy day of grading.
Congratulations to all the yellow tips, orange tips and blue tip (the kids), and congratulations to all the white, yellow, orange, green and brown belts! Wear your new tip or color proudly. As usual, keep up the good work and we will see you again at your next grading.
I would like to say separately that Aikido, like most martial arts can be dangerous, and accidents can happen between practitioners. To avoid this, uke and nage should always practice at the level of uke’s ability to receive ukemi. The best way to assess this is to start a technique slowly with uke; then built it up gradually once trust is established. Since no two persons are ever the same, so no two techniques are ever the same. Same goes with the train of thought and dojo techniques from dojo to dojo or aikido styles. As the belt level progresses, so does the technique. Aikido isn’t about strength or speed; it is however about the agility of the mind, the stability of the body and the flowing movement or the transfer of energy through the technique from uke to nage and back again.
Ben Tan
3. Aikido and Shinto Ryu Iaijutsu Saturday Sept. 8th 2007
David Dangerfield sensei, friend of Griffith Aikido will present a one day seminar on the relationship between the sword and Aikido at a one day seminar. To be held Sept. 8th 2007 at his dojo in Palmwoods. This is a great opportunity to practice sword with a teacher skilled in both the weapons and aikido traditions. Sensei is making this event available at no cost to our dojo as a part of the Dows/ Dangerfield friendship seminar series.
The Aikido Institute
10am-12 - Drawing and cutting of the sword
1-3pm - Sword and aikido concepts Part 1
3.30-5.30pm - Sword and aikido concepts Part 2
Dinner from 7pm
Bookings Essential for dinner Phone 5445 9116
(Participants are encouraged to bring blades - katana and wakizashi/kodachi or bokken / kodachi if they prefer, note many display weapons are not suitable for training please contact Danny Sensei to check if they are suitable) There are a number of spaces free in cars heading north so ask around
Danny James
4. Eri’s News This week
Hi All
It has been raining pretty much non-stop here so I decided to look for a bigger umbrella, but could not find an umbrella shop in town, wonder where everyone buys their umbrellas.
Work has slowly picked up and I now have a faint understanding of my project. The topic of polysaccharides in diatoms can surprisingly be interesting.
Still no aikido class for me so have been running instead, dodging dog and rabbit faeces. I guess it’s better than in
Had a semi-embarrassing moment 2 weeks ago, when I got invited to a friend’s friend’s house. They offered me some wine and since I hadn’t fainted due to alcohol for the last 5 years, I thought - why not. I only had a glass (though admittedly on an empty/starving stomach) and after an hour or two, when I got up to get my camera, I totally blacked out. When I woke up, they had carried me to a couch and all the kids were looking down on me with curiosity. The event was then followed by me throwing up all night long. Yes, what an impression I’ve made on my first social event with the locals.
Eri
5. Duelling with O-Sensei: Grappling with the Myth of the Warrior sage
Duelling with O-Sensei: Grappling with the Myth of the Warrior Sage.
by Ellis Amdur.
(Edgework, 2000; softcover*)
In a nutshell:
Amdur explores the ideals and pitfalls of the martial arts, particularly Japanese budo in its various forms, from the living fossils of the Koryu budo or old martial ways of
The big picture:
As an accomplished Aikidoka and a consultant in what he calls “crisis intervention” (see links), Amdur is full of insights into the application of Aikido to real-life conflict situations. He also holds menkyo (instructor) qualifications in Araki-ryu and Toda-ha Buko-ryu – two Koryu budo forms from
The book is not afraid to tackle some ornery myths (as the title suggests) nor to confront more serious ethical issues such as physical, emotional and sexual abuse in the martial arts, and the preoccupation of many dojo with force and violence. For the absolute beginner? Perhaps not. But a great read for those who dare to ask themselves, as one of our own distinguished Yuishinkai instructors recommends: “are we just a bunch of oriental fantasists?”. Answer for yourself…
Look out for:
· A harangued landlord known only as “Master of Irimi”.
· Amdur’s story of how he saved his son’s life with kiai.
· Advice on how to respond when you feel threatened by someone in the dojo.
Links:
http://www.koryu.com/store/dueling.html
Ben Hamley
Shirin Mohebbi
Send Email