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Thursday, 11th December 2008
CONTENTS:
1. 3 Week Christmas Break - Nathan Dojo
2. Monthly Training Fees For December - January
3. Thank You For A Great Year
4. David Brown Sensei Seminar Review – Chris Cobban
5.
6. Training At New
1. 3 Week Christmas Break - Nathan Dojo
Our last class for the year will be held on Sunday 14th December, after which we break for 3 weeks. The first class back in 2009 will be on Tuesday 6th January. Please note that the dojo will be closed for this period to both adults and children. If you need an Aikido fix during that time, you will have to gather a couple of friends and practice your weapon katas in a park (at your own risk). For safety sake and as a condition of our insurance cover, nobody will be permitted inside the dojo over the break to practice, even if you have an instructor with you. As you can appreciate, the dojo is a place for formal classes only.
2. Monthly Training Fees For December - January
Adult monthly training fees are due and payable as normal in December whether you pay monthly by cash or online via Pay Pal (i.e. $70 unlimited training or $35 once a week). However, because of our 3–week break, the fees you pay in December will include your January training as well. That means two part-months for the price of one! Those who pay by direct debit do not have to do anything – your January payments will automatically be put on hold. There will be no change for those who pay casually – you will continue to do so whenever you attend a class through December and January. This also does not affect Aikikids who pre-purchase classes and have their class card clicked at each lesson. Although no adult monthly training fees are due in January, everyone must pay their 2009 membership in January ($30 online) and complete a new membership form. That includes both adults and children.
I look forward to seeing everyone at the grading and year end party
Best wishes
3. Thank You For A Great Year
I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who helped the club in 2008 and made it such a good year. Thank you to my colleagues on the Executive (Jutta, Danny, Steve and recently Rod), the regular instructors (Danny, Ben, Steve D, Rod, Steve M) and the part time instructors (Gabby, Jutta, Aran, Paul, Ben H, Andre). These people did the lion’s share of the work required to provide the consistent and reliable Aikido instruction service that you saw and experienced throughout the year. Danny, as you know, is our Head Dojo Instructor and does a great job maintaining content and quality of our Aikido. Jutta is our Vice President and (dare I say it) much loved Matriarch of the club. She has put in another huge effort this year both at the dojo front desk and behind the scenes in administration. Steve Mitchell is both the Association Secretary as well as Aikikids Head Instructor and does a fantastic job of both. Rod teaches a regular class at Everton Hills on Mondays nights and teaches part time at our Nathan dojo. It should be remembered that no one is paid to provide instruction or to do the administration work behind the scenes. Most of your monthly fees pay for the training facility, equipment and expenses of running the club, whilst a small part each year is added to a growing term deposit and will eventually contribute to our own premises in the future.
I would like to thank Shirin for her week-in-week-out effort in publishing the Shukan News all year. She does a very good job. I would like to thank Eric Ohlsen for his efforts this year, quietly stocking the fridge, helping out on Saturday mornings and joining Rod, Steve and Aran to transport mats. Eric was also the winner of the very prestigious and coveted President’s Award for the person who trained the most (i.e. most classes) during the year. The club catering throughout the year was provided courtesy of Sheree and Aran. Without them we would have starved and certainly wouldn’t have had such a well catered end-of-year party last Saturday. Thank you Sandy and Craig for your superb design and illustration work on various projects throughout the year. You guys added the professional touch to our brochures and booklets, as did Gabby with some very stylish booklet manufacturing. Thank you to Gabby also for assisting with the library. Thank you Keita, Chris, Karen, Amelia, Anthony and Adam who helped out earlier in the year on our stands during the O-week market-days handing out brochures. It is something that we have to do as part of our agreement with the University and we do appreciate the volunteer help.
A huge thank you to members and parents who have helped Steve out with the kids classes on Saturday mornings, including Rod, Chris, Keita, Eric, Mark, Peter, Matthew and Brad - putting the mats out and assisting Steve on the mat, it has been a great team effort and I know that Steve is very appreciative! Thank you to Chris and Jutta who both helped Steve to do his mid-week classes teaching school children with ASD. Thank you Karen who kindly helped me with every Sunday Self defence class.
If I have forgotten to mention you by name I am sorry but thank you so much to all who gave their time, expertise and assistance in 2008. For the benefit of our newer members we do have a strong volunteer culture in Griffith Aikido, as you can see. In fact, selfless effort for the greater good is part of the journey of Aikido. We will very much appreciate your help in 2009.
Finally I would like to wish all members, parents and supporters of Griffith Aikido a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New year in 2009. I look forward to seeing you all next year.
Best wishes
4. David Brown Sensei Seminar Review – Chris Cobban
I was really grateful that I went to the seminar looking back it was a worthwhile experience. Luck had it that Aaron sensei was going to the seminar which for me was a fortunate affair as I was able to receive a free ride with him. Carpooling rocks! When we finally arrived down the street from the hall we could see the sea in the distance and opposite to us loomed the Bayside Budokai Dojo. It was a beautiful scene. A Kodak moment!
Upon entering the dojo I was nervous, for me it was the feeling of entering uncharted territory. I had heard many things about the Aikikai style and was uncertain what to expect. Like the other students we helped in placing the mats down. I should note that prior to this seminar I had never trained with David Brown Sensei. At that point my knowledge of this sensei was of only a respected name heard every once in a while in our
After bowing in I was worried about the prospect of training, hoping that I would be capable of enduring what could be the sufferable experience of the wrath of Aikikai techniques. What I found was well – quite the opposite. The techniques were only slightly different and to my advantage I was quickly able to adjust. This was thanks to learning to be soft like a rag doll which when being moved was an ease. I observed that Aikikai, though I cannot be certain given the seminar conditions, seems to have a little bit of force to it though not as much as I had imagined. In my opinion, training there was great by allowing me to see things such as a technique from a different or new perspective I hadn’t thought of before. During the class as I moved further across the mat to train with everyone, I found that behind those tough looking techniques were friendly people with warm greetings, big smiles and a willingness to learn.
The seminar’s emphasise was directed mainly towards ‘Ikkyo’ techniques, in particular, how they can be found from any other technique. As I discovered with my partner’s help this created a free form blend that would result back into Ikkyo and the neutralisation of the other. But you had to trust the movements of the katas. It was really amazing stuff! Slightly limping from his sore hip, David Brown Sensei explained throughout the class that any technique should be able to transform into another. He expressed that this transformation is only possible if you do not use force and instead move from your centre. Other side notes were to completely cover your ‘uke’ by what can only be called ‘being all over them.’ Other things of special interest were his extensive use of strikes. Strikes he lectured intimidate the uke and allow you to gain the others’ mind. In other words distract them. Also big high was being picked to be demonstrated on. I must say don’t be fooled by David Brown’s old age. If you do, you’ll be quite surprised! I now understood and could see why this name carried so much respect when mentioned in the dojo back home.
After noticing my driver was changing, I knew it was time to leave, I thanked the sensei and hurried off, wishing I could have stayed longer. Bowing and walking out the class doors I felt as though I had gained some interesting insight, new ideas to play around and venture with in my Aikido. In total I had gained so much, the class was for me a breakthrough. Plus I got to see what Aikikai is like. The experience was ‘tops’! Anyways, to conclude, the next time David Brown sensei is up, attend! You may enter the class with some worries but you’ll definitely leave with something positive. I know I did.
Chris Cobban
5.
Everton Hills Dojo will have training sessions up to and including Monday, 22 December 2008. After the Christmas/new year break, classes start back in the New Year on Monday, 5 January 2009. That’s just in case there are any members who are desperate for an “Aikido fix” while Nathan is closed!
Rod Sensei
6. Training At New
Hi everyone,
In case you didn't know there is a new dojo open in
Training dates at the new Dojo - Wednesdays 6.30pm - 8.30pm
Wednesday 17th December
Wednesday 7th January
Since we don't want anyone to get lazy over the holiday period we would like to include a "it's Christmas time and I am going crazy not being able to train" special class." We are yet to finalise the exact date but if you are around on the weekend of the 27th and 28th of December make sure you have a clean gi ready.
We will hopefully have some special guest instructors (perhaps even from interstate!) to help you work off those Christmas dinners! If you think you might be interested in this *special* class please email me to so that we have some idea of interest at brighte_99@...
If you are interested in training at our new dojo the address is:
Endeavour College of Natural Health (formerly Australian College of Natural Medicine)
352 Water St
Fortitude Valley
(cnr Brunswick St)
Phone 0410 278054
Class starts at 6:30pm on Wednesday and the cost is $10 dollars. There is parking at the college. Look for the hall at the back of the college - please feel free to call me for directions on 0410278054.
Cheers,
Aran Sensei
Shirin Mohebbi
Email: shirin(AT)internode.on.net
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