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Thursday, 4th December 2008
CONTENTS:
1. Spectacular Saturday Grading
2. Aikikids Gradings
1. Spectacular Saturday Grading
Last Saturday a record 20 people graded and what a feast of talent we saw! In the 10-strong 6th kyu group there were some very strong performances. Paul Dale came back from injury and without much class-time practice did a sterling job. Terri also carried a painful neck injury into her grading and did very well. Kristie was a picture of focus and concentration as she ably threw Brad around the mat. Mike, Ken, Vincent and Daniel all carded very fine performances while Sarah and
Then came the yellow belt boys – Brad, Joel, Michael, Kumar and Peter. All gave really good performances and it is great to have a new batch of coloured belts on the mat, not to mention some new throw toys at Tuesday night Taninzugake. Welcome to the House of Ukemi, fellas! Then, after weeks of breathless anticipation we saw one of the gradings we have all been waiting for – Janet’s orange belt grading. Wow, didn’t she do a good job – precise and confident. Those QR union boys had better be careful who they mess with. Great job Janet! We were disappointed that Eric and Mary couldn’t do their green belt grading on Saturday. Both have been hampered with injury and long hours at work recently which has interrupted their training. You are both such valued members of our club and we hope to see you in action in February.
Enter the seniors for the finale! Eric Ohlsen graded to 2nd kyu (brown belt) and Daniel, Eri and Brendon graded to 1st kyu (brown belt with hakama). All were super strong performances. What an absolute treat to see four senior gradings on the same day. Congratulations to you all – it was thoroughly entertaining to watch you. It is wonderful to have three more hakamas in the dojo, even though you all had to disappear overseas for a while before doing it. And what about ‘Ironman Eric’? He did at least four stints as uke and started his own grading like most of us finish – looking red-faced and tired. But that didn’t worry Eric – all that was just a warm up to a wonderful performance. No wonder, he was the one who trained most often in 2008 and it showed!
Finally, as Steve Dows Sensei reminded me, the purpose of grading is to practice overcoming hurdles, a lot like the hurdles of life outside the dojo. Aikido is a journey, not a destination. The purpose of aikido training is to train both mind and body and to develop sincerity and empathy in a calm, peaceful and well integrated person. The development of a positive mind and wisdom are all invaluable skills in today’s world. The movement of aikido is the movement of nature and the Universe, making it such an exquisite art to learn.
Congratulations to everyone who graded!
2. Aikikids Gradings
The aikikids grading was held on Saturday before the kyu gradings. The weather was hot and humid, and parents and kids crowded in for the grading. Rod and I were looking forward to some strong gradings, and we weren't disappointed. The younger children started first, being the earlier class. We were treated to some great yellow and orange tip gradings. Chris and Rod gently helped some of the younger kids who had nervousness complicate their demonstration of techniques. I was also very impressed with the efforts of those who graded as well as the patience of the children waiting and watching at the edge of the mat. It is not an easy thing for children of the 5-8 age groups to remember techniques one after another when they are in front of a crowd, or to sit still and quiet for so long. Well done, nippers.
The older kids were next, which included the teens. Again, the gradings were very impressive. Not only were the kids confident, the demonstrations from each child grading were very good, and the ukes understood their role in the grading and contributed very well. The kids classes have now been running for a couple of years, and we now have a few kids moving into upper aikikids grades, which is very rewarding and satisfying for the aikikids instructors. Jadyn and Keelie Perry graded to green tip, followed by Lachlan Kendall grading to blue tip. At these levels, as with adults, it can be expected that application, preparation, understanding and awareness are all reflected in the techniques being shown, and this was certainly the case. They all performed very well. This also went for Jade Kendall, who was grading to brown tip. While her whole grading was very good, Rod and I were particularly impressed with her futarigake (2 person attack - adult ukes), and the adults who had gathered for the adult gradings, as well as the parents, thought so too and gave her a well deserved warm round of applause.
We always follow a gradings Saturday with a games Saturday. It is a reward for the kids, as well as being important to their aikido. This coming Saturday, the kids will receive their new belt and certificates, and join in a whole session of aikido games. Aikido games always have a strong purpose, and every game develops one or more aspects of aikido in a fun and active way. After working so hard towards their new belt tips over the past few weeks, though, I'm sure they'll be coming just for the fun. Just don't tell them Rod and I will be there just for the fun too :).
Steve Mitchell
Shirin Mohebbi
Email: shirin(AT)internode.on.net
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