Griffith Shukan News

Thursday, 20^th November  2008 

CONTENTS:   

1.     Club Grading & End of year party Saturday 29th November

2.     New Dojo – Fortitude Valley

3.     'Harmony in Action' Documentary - Poor kids, rich executives, jet-lagged volunteers and the power of aikido

4.  A Few Words From Danny Sensei

1.     Club Grading & End of year party Saturday 29th November

It has come around very quickly but Christmas is closing fast and another Aikido year is almost finished.  But not before we see some fantastic gradings in the morning beginning with the Aiki-kids, then finishing with the adult kyu gradings which includes 2^nd kyu and 1^st kyu (hakama) gradings. 

Immediately after the gradings we will have our end-of-year parties.  The kids’ party will commence with the aiki-nippers after their class at 9.30am in the grounds of the old School Age Care building (N49) a couple of doors down from the dojo.  They will be joined by the Aikikids at 10.30am. 

At 12.30 -1.00pm the adults will adjourn to a shady spot in one of three parks / shady areas just off Orange Grove Rd / Toohey Rd (Toohey State Forest) at Tarragindi.  We will put our foot on an exact location (i.e. beat the crowd) early that morning and precise directions will be given on the day.  It will be only 1-2km from the Dojo.  If it rains we will stay at the dojo.

The club will supply some basics for both the kids’ party and the adults’ lunch.  But please bring along a plate and some drinks to make it a memorable long lunch.  Please remember that your plate will have to survive for the duration of the gradings so you may need an Esky (which would be handy) or bring something that won’t spoil.

2.     New Dojo – Fortitude Valley

Looking for an extra night’s training during the week?

Training has started at the Endeavour College of natural health, 352 Water Street, Fortitude valley. Training starts at 6:30 on a Wednesday night and the cost is a flat ten dollars for everyone. All levels are catered for and most welcome

Aran Sensei

3.     'Harmony in Action' Documentary - Poor kids, rich executives, jet-lagged volunteers and the power of aikido

As some of you know, in 2007, Paul and I (followed by Dan Carne) travelled to Brazil for 5 months to train and do some aikido volunteer work with a sensei in Sao Paulo.  While we were there a small film crew took some footage to put together a 10 minute film explaining and promoting the project we were working on.  That short film has now been finished and is available on you tube so we thought we would post the link here for anyone interested in seeing it.   

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=TeBbewC3TWU

Cheers,

Gabby

4.  A Few Words From Danny Sensei

Hello Everyone,

This week I find myself in India on the business of research. Being India, in the turn around from Japan, I didn't think there was too much
in the way of aikido so didn't think to pack my Gi. Well that was a mistake just a few hundred meters from my hotel is one of the only
aikido dojos in India (according to my searches on the Internet). So with an evening free I headed out to find the dojo http://aikidoindia.org
located in downtown Bangalore in a French supported facility. (The French government has been a long-time supporter of Aikido in France
and so maybe not so surprising to see the relationship here). The aikido style is Takemusu style which traditionally has a strong focus
on weapons though we practiced open hand last night. The dojo was started by an Australian living here for a few years, the current
instructor is a yoga devotee and the influences are clear in his aiki as well. The movements of the body are soft and there is an emphasis
on joining the centres of uke and nage so that there is no need to throw uke - they just choose to fall. Sensei thought this basics
practice might be considered less martial in the beginning but it leads  to good free flowing technique later.

Practicing aikido in another school brings many superficial differences but the core principles of aiki remain the same. Overcoming my natural
instincts to move hands and body in positions taught by Maruyama sensei and emptying my cup is a challenge but the only way I think to
genuinely learn when visiting and discovering the teachings of another school. Fortunately Sensei was gracious enough to take the time to
explain the approach he takes to understanding aiki and many students were very helpful in giving detailed explanation as we practiced.

Misc pics can be seen here
http://picasaweb.google.com/danjamesanz/India2009#

Looking forward to seeing you all at next weeks grading and catching
up at the XMAS party if not before

Kanso,
Danny

Griffith Aikido Newsletter Editor

Shirin Mohebbi

Email:  shirin(AT)internode.on.net