Griffith Shukan News

Thursday September 6^th , 2007

CONTENTS:

1.       Maruyama Sensei Seminar 75% Sold - Pre-register

2.      Griffith Aikido Goes “Totally Wild”

3.      Reminder - Aikido and Shinto Ryu Iaijutsu This Saturday Sept. 8th 2007                   

4.       Bokkens On The Beach – Saturday 17^th November

5.      Steve Mitchell’s Report on Recent Demos                  

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 Brisbane to teach for a week. Training with a world renowned master teacher doesn't come any more convenient or cheaper than this! This year is also Maruyama sensei's Golden Anniversary (50th) of Aikido, which we will be celebrating in style at Saturday’s seminar dinner. I encourage everyone, particularly senior students and instructors to come and celebrate this with Maruyama Sensei, partners and families are welcome.

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.       Griffith Aikido Goes “Totally Wild”

Would be media stars and Griffith Aikido Black Belts  Ben Tan and Charlie James took time out from their busy jobs to appear in an upcoming story on Channel  10's 'Totally Wild' http://brisbaneaikido.com/pic/totallywild2007.jpg

 This appeared as a part of Danny's research into sports performance assessment at Griffith university - http://www3.griffith.edu.au/03/ertiki/tiki-read_article.php?articleId=11341

We'll let you know when it goes to air.

Danny James

3.     Reminder -  Aikido and Shinto Ryu Iaijutsu This 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

3/5 Briggs St Palmwoods, September 8th 2007 (next Saturday )

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.      Bokkens On The Beach  - Saturday 17^th November

Capalaba Dojo  Invites you to the perfect wind up to our Aikido 
Yuishinkai year

SATURDAY   17 November    Over night and Over seas

At  Sea Shanties Resort  Amity Point  Stradbroke Island 
(www.seashanties.com.au)


Guest Sensei       Murray Loader Canberra Yuishinkai


THE  DEAL
We have booked out the entire resort, its only us relaxing on the 
water’s edge
The accommodation is bungalows and bunk beds.
BBQ dinner on the Saturday night
Sunday Bacon and Eggs breaky
At about 8.30 we go down to the beach and Murray teaches us some 
interesting weapons for a couple of hours
dress  is T shirt swimmers hat etc.

This is meant for all the parents, wives, husbands, sons, daughters, 
girlfriends, boyfriends etc who tolerate us going to training, to 
join in and / or observe
a little of what we do as well as meet the nice people we train with.

Cost is $35 per person,     this includes accommodation and meals

YOU NEED
Bokken and Jo
Sleeping bag
BYO Beers Wine etc

Getting there
Stradbroke Ferries depart Middle St Cleveland 
(www.stradbrokeholidays.com.au/transport)

Swimming, snorkeling, fishing, tour the island or just relax under 
the shade trees at the resort.
If you have a dog / puppy they are welcome as this is a pet friendly 
resort.

Fliers and more information to follow.

Tony Neal

5.      Steve Mitchell’s Report on Recent Demos

As I have reported before, both in Shukan News and in class, the club is increasing its efforts in distributing aikido to the community.  This is taking the form of demos/classes/workshops.

These activities are an opportunity to do some aikido outside the dojo, raise our profile, demonstrate what we do, and perhaps also attract some members.  There is also some income as we charge a small fee per student attending, to cover costs to the club.  As these activities increase this small income promises to become more significant, which is important as our club continues to plan for growth, and continues to plan our own dojo in the years ahead.  If you ever want to get involved in these activities, please let me know.  You’re most welcome.

The most recent activities have been a series of classes at St Peter’s Lutheran College at Indooroopilly and a one-off morning at Ipswich Grammar School.

The St Peter’s College workshops have consisted of presenting a self-defense workshop to approximately 300 Grade 10 students over 3 Thursdays.  Those participating so far have been myself, Rod Nixon-Smith, Jutta Dowdy, Gary Weigh and Ben Hamley.  These young adults have been doing a party safe program at school, so we spoke about the roles of individuals engaging in conflict, escalation, and the value of taking responsibility and avoiding conflict and  dangerous situations.  These are all aspects of aikido so we were able to discuss this with them.   We also talked about calmness and confidence.

We did some exercises (thanks Jim Sensei from Byron dojo for some ideas) with the students in small groups, including using the voice (kiai) in which the spirit and energy of the voice are used.  It’s actually quite difficult to get teenagers to yell out loud when you want them to, but they warmed to it.  We then introduced a simple technique, essentially using the voice then a loose ikkyo tenkan.  The feedback so far is that the workshops were enjoyable and the students really appreciated the opportunity and permission to just shout.

Ipswich Grammar School asked us to conduct a series of classes for about 80 Grade 8’s, which Steve Dows Sensei offered to undertake.  He was joined by Rod Nixon-Smith and myself for a Wednesday morning two weeks ago.  The first class looked at Bokken, the second got stuck into some munetski kotagaeshi, and the third got to do some jo 1.  The kids who got to do weapons certainly enjoyed the opportunity to cut and slice the air, as boys do.  I’m not sure they were too thrilled with not actually getting to hit something, but we all survived unscathed.  The second group were quite taken with the munetski kotagaeshi, delivering their punches with some gusto, but were not quite so sure about receiving kotagaeshi, although they seemed appreciative of the lesson anyway.  Finally, the last group got to play with jo’s.  Everyone managed to avoid everyone else while swinging their stick, and the kids got through to about move number 12 without too much problem.  Overall, an enjoyable morning, and Rod got to revisit his school which he attended in 19… oh, OK Rod, I won’t tell.

Steve Mitchell

Griffith Aikido Newsletter Editor

Shirin Mohebbi

Email:  shirin(AT)internode.on.net