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Thursday, 17th April 2008
CONTENTS:
1. Capalaba Aikido Seminar – Sat June 7th
2.
1. Capalaba Aikido Seminar – Sat June 7th
Saturday 7th of June, Capalaba Dojo is proud to present Sensei Murray Loader for a Seniors class (2nd Kyu and above) Murray Loader Sensei has a long history in
Class Times
09:30 – 12:30 1st Lesson
12:30 – 13:00 Lunch
13:00 – 15:30 2nd Lesson
Cost $20 which includes lunch
Location
Degen Rd
(Located on the Degen Rd & Mount Cotton Rd Roundabout, just behind the PCYC)
More Info, map etc...
http://www.aikidocapalaba.com/
2.
Griffith Aikido is a volunteer organisation currently embracing the concepts of business as it continues to take its fledgling steps into the commercial world. We are finding our new Personal Protection program to be of great interest to schools, companies, government agencies and other ‘not for profit’ groups. Via our powerful and very popular www.griffithaikido.com website we are receiving an increasing stream of enquiries about this non-aggressive aikido-based program that helps people from all walks of life better cope with difficult or threatening situations with no martial training. Apart from our Yellow Pages advertisement we do very little marketing. Such unsolicited interest from the community suggests a very strong undercurrent of demand for personal protection skills.
There is always some debate whether commercialism sits comfortably beside the art of Aikido or indeed any other martial art. One of the many attractions of the art is to be able to come to the dojo for two hours and be totally unconcerned with the outside world of assets and economics. To most of us Aikido represents our own path of personal development and to many it is a very spiritual journey. So is there a place for commercial activity on that path? In my opinion, the answer raises two important aspects.
Firstly, commercial activity is a means to an end. It helps us to achieve our collective goals without having to rely totally on grants, donations, charity, bequests and community benefactors. By ‘pulling our weight’ so to speak, we can get into a far better position a lot faster to provide great facilities, new mats and equipment for everyone to enjoy. It has even helped us to help other Aikido clubs who do not enjoy the same strong membership base and support that we do. Commercial activity won’t provide everything we need, but in time it will help us accumulate ‘our contribution’ to our own property and dojo building. There is no doubt that as a ‘not for profit’ sporting association we will still need to partly rely on our membership, parents and community for assistance to achieve this goal in the next 2-4 years. But one thing is certain; we won’t be a financial burden on the partners and stakeholders we attract. People will want to lend a hand because they can see a professional, goal-oriented, purposeful and financially able organisation.
Secondly, like every other Aikido organisation, we want to expand the art of Aikido and its many benefits into the community. Because dojo-based training is not for everyone, our Personal Protection program allows us to take Aikido-based activities out into the public domain. As we know, Aikido is not only about martial techniques; it has many life applications away from the dojo. It helps develop calmness, relaxation and confidence. It helps kids not to be bullied and not to become bullies themselves. It helps power-disadvantaged people at work to protect themselves from harassment and intimidation. It helps women to protect themselves from assault or sexual assault, which is unfortunately all too often perpetrated by a known person.
Above all, it is important that we do not confuse commercial activity with our dojo training and I think we are getting the balance right. On training nights, one would never know the club had any external activities at all. When the class is clapped in, I for one am not interested in anything else other than the lesson at hand. Once we have bowed in, there is nothing but concentration, teaching and learning, not to mention the immense enjoyment that accompanies each and every class. On Saturday mornings the Aiki-kids, nippers and teens are all full of fun and learning, blissfully unaware of the business of the club. And isn’t it nice to leave it that way?
Shirin Mohebbi
Email: shirin(AT)internode.on.net
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