1.       Maruyama Sensei Seminar – National  Indemnity Form

Attached is the National seminar waiver form. This form needs to be filled out by every one attending the seminar.  It would be appreciated if it can be printed, completed and brought with you to the seminar to save time on the day.   For anyone under the age of 18, this form needs to be signed by a parent or guardian.

2.       Class Cancellations  At Nathan Dojo During Maruyama Sensei Seminar

There are a few changes to classes At Nathan Dojo during the seminar. The following adult classes are cancelled:

-         Saturday 29/9/07 – Adult class 10.30-12.30 is cancelled. The Kids class will still be held at Nathan Dojo as per normal 9.30 – 10.30 am

-         Tuesday 2/10/07 – The regular adult class 6.30-8.30 is cancelled. However the beginner’s course will continue with Ben Sensei.

There are Seminar Sessions available for these times.  All aikidoka are encouraged to attend the seminar. For more information on the seminar please go to http://brisbaneaikido.com/maruyama2007.html and follow the links to the seminar flyer for a full list of class times at the seminar.

3.       The Art Of Swordlessness

In the 16th Century, the great swordsman, Yagyu Munenori wrote the following in "The Book of Family Traditions on the Art of War".

"Being sword less does not necessarily mean you have to take your opponent's sword. It also does not mean making a show of sword-snatching for your
reputation. It is the sword less art of not getting killed when you have no sword. The basic intention is nothing like deliberately setting out to snatch a sword.
It is not a matter of insistently trying to wrest away what is being deliberately kept from your grasp.  Not grasping attempts to avoid having it taken away is
also "swordlessness." Someone who is intent upon not having his sword taken away forgets what he is opposed to and just tries to avoid having his sword
taken away. Therefore he will be unable to kill anyone. Not being killed oneself  is considered victory.  The principle is not to make an art of taking people's
swords. It is learning to avoid being cut down by others when you have no sword yourself.  Swordlessness is not the art of taking another's sword. It is
for the purpose of using all implements freely. When you are unarmed, if you can even take away another's sword and make it your own, then what will not
be useful in your hands? Even if you only have a folding fan, you can still prevail over someone with a sword. This is the aim of swordlessness."

Yagyu Munenori's life depended on his sword, yet he understood that an encounter takes place between one person and another person, not a sword
and an empty hand.

Submitted by Gary Weigh

Griffith Aikido Newsletter Editor

Shirin Mohebbi

Email:  shirin(AT)internode.on.net