Griffith Shukan News

Thursday, 7^th August  2008 

Amendments:

1.     Billeting Required for Japanese Visitors

2.     Review Of Hashimoto Sensei Seminar

1.     Billeting Required for Japanese Visitors

We have four (4) people coming from Japan that will need Billeting. These visitors are students of Maruyama sensei from Tokyo or Osaka regions. Japanese people are wonderful house guests being almost invisible at times, very clean and polite. It is a great  opportunity to get to know some aikidoka from across the water and 
probably will be invited to visit them at some stage

Two (2) Males and two (2) Females, I know that one has reasonable English as for the rest I have no idea. They each need single accommodation.

If anyone can help much appreciated.  Please email aikido@...

Thom Hansen

2.     Review Of Hashimoto Sensei Seminar

Two weekends ago Griffith Aikido hosted a seminar by a visiting Japanese instructor -  Yoshitake Hashimoto Sensei. Although Hashimoto Sensei maintains his independence from any other style or school, he comes from long history training in the Ki Society and his aikido strongly reflects this style.

As someone who trained in old days, before we became Aikido Yuishinkai, this seminar was reminiscent of old times, a revisiting of some of the roots of our style, but came with a fresh perspective. I came away with a new appreciation of Ki Aikido, and, as with all good seminars, a revitalisation for training.

As an English teacher, Hashimoto is in an excellent position to offer clear, direct instruction without the usual limitations of the Japanese/English language barrier. The generational barrier was no obstacle either – like when he pointed out the incorrect way to do something and told us “This is not cool.” His unpretentious, friendly and approachable personality combined with good humour helped us to practise in a relaxed manner, which was fortunate for us as it was a major focus during the seminar.

Another major focus of the seminar was Sensei’s thoughts on ukemi.  The emphasis was on following fully and remaining light, not leaning on nage, not burdening nage with our full weight.  The techniques that followed encouraged uke to maintain this form and thus highlight the relationship between giving ukemi and performing technique.  Uke was encouraged to continue giving energy and to keep moving (until they literally have no option but to fall), but at a safe speed for all to practise. I thought this was an excellent training tool, particularly for the development of junior students - leading to higher-level ukemi (as uke) and for dealing with higher energy attacks (as nage).

One of the most impressive things about the seminar for me was that nearly all of the techniques taught were relatively uncomplicated and many of which we had all done before. His emphasis seemed to be on training, for the long term, rather than “let’s learn this new flashy move”. Young students were encouraged to train hard and with vigour – their “gas mileage” was tested as Sensei threw them again and again until they could take no more. Older students were reminded of their responsibility to pass on the art to the younger ones – sharing the benefits of aikido for the body and the mind and for the pure joy of training itself.

With his emphasis on relaxation and Ki extension, Hashimoto Sensei provided an important opportunity to re-visit a way of training different from our usual practice.  Part of the reason for his visit to Australia was to build a relationship between himself and Australia. In doing so he opens a door to some of the roots of our style where other doors, for political reasons, remain closed.   I think we are very fortunate to have the capability and the will to help create this type of opportunity and look forward to the next instalment.

Written tag team by Gabby and Paul

Griffith Aikido Newsletter Editor

Shirin Mohebbi

Email:  shirin(AT)internode.on.net