Having problems with message search?
Griffith Shukan News
Thursday, 4th June 2009
CONTENTS:
1. Review Of Gradings Saturday 30.5.09
2. Executive Meeting Next Tuesday At Nathan
3. Upcoming Events in June/July
1. Review Of Gradings Saturday 30.5.09
Adult Gradings
Our weekend of grading began last Thursday night when 10 very enthusiastic beginners graded to 7th kyu. Congratulations to Jaimie, Natalie, Oslem, Liz, Matthew, Scott, Robbie, Matt, Robert, and Michael. We did invite Matt up three times to grade and finally allowed him on the mat at the last call. It may have looked disorganised but were only trying to keep him awake because he had only 3 hours sleep the night before. Eri did a great job teaching this group and her enthusiasm was infectious. Of the 10 people who started the May beginner’s course, 9 finished it. Robbie joined in the Thursday night’s grading as the 10th person because he had missed an earlier opportunity. Well done guys and girls, that is a new record for beginner retention.
We only had to wait another two days until Saturday morning 30th May, when 21 more members graded and as usual it was fantastic to watch. The morning started with the 6th kyu grading. Bonjana, Andrew, Erwan, Emma and Margot all put in very strong performances. Gabby’s Thursday night teaching and repeated footwork drills certainly showed through. It’s not always easy in the early grades to perform techniques under speed, so juntai level can be a little challenging. But all handled juntai very capably and, with a small lapse here and there, everyone got off the line pretty well and a few even showed some moon shadow-lizard-legs footwork.
Next were the yellow belt gradings (5th kyu). Onto the mat in small groups came Narelle, Stephan, Dean, Natalie, Temarii, Krishna, Emille and Slav. There were a couple of nervous starts but that is what a grading is all about. It shows what you know under a little bit of pressure. Slav and Michael weren’t feeling the pressure though, as they came out of their corners for what looked like the first round of a middleweight contest. Michael was attacking hard and Slav was energetically defending. Meanwhile at there other end of the mat, Evan tore himself away from Shirin and started kissing the mat on a regular basis as he received a vigorous pre-wedding workout as Narelle’s throw-toy.
It seems no time at all since we last saw Peter, Kumar, Mark, Ken, Michael and Sylvie doing their 5th kyu grading. Sybille returned to Australia earlier this year and has rejoined the club and the 4th kyu grading group, who were all back on the mat to demonstrate their orange belt techniques. Of course, attention was immediately drawn to the middleweight rematch between Michael and Slav taking place right in front of the Sensei group. This time ‘two-fisted fury’ Slav was determined to get the better of Michael, but it wasn’t to be as Michael invented a couple of new variations of Nikkyo to keep the challenger at bay. It ended in a draw when Ben Sensei called time. While this spectacle raged on, Sylvie was quietly working away at the opposite end of the mat with Michelle providing a first class 4th kyu grading. Ken gave Dean a vigorous workout, Sybille was graceful with Natalie and Kumar had Daniel Lloyd in a sweat as his Uke. Apparently, raising a sweat is a rare event for Daniel – his mum Helen reckons that he is so laid back that she has to check each morning for a pulse. Peter turned in his usual commendable performance whilst our new club secretary, Mark gave up the minutes to put David down solidly on the mat with some good techniques. Apart from one or two footwork lapses here and there, all who graded turned in good performances.
Reluctantly Shirin let go of hubby-to-be Evan one more time so he could do his 3rd kyu grading. With the entire mat to himself, Evan did a fantastic job! He demonstrated some very cool, calm and crisp techniques which meant that Eric and Chris were two of the hardest working Ukes on the day. However, I did feel that Evan was far too nice when it came to applying Yonkyo. If it had have been his fiancée, ‘Princess Yonkyo’ grading instead, Chris and Eric would have discovered the real meaning of pain control. Congratulations on a green belt grading well done Evan!!
Thank you very much to Eri who hastily organised the very scrumptious after grading lunch. Your work was very much appreciated. It was great to see the handshakes and the congratulatory hugs as everyone relaxed over a well earned lunch swapping yarns. See you all in 3 months time!
Gary
2. Executive Meeting Next Tuesday At Nathan
Just a quick notice to everyone who will be coming to the 2nd class on Tuesday 9th June. Training will be cut down to half an hour this night to allow time for the executive meeting to begin (currently, exec meeting attendees aren’t leaving until 11pm, so if the meetings can begin earlier, this can be avoided).
This will only happen once a month, on meeting nights.
So instead of having a 5 – 10 minute break between the 1st and 2nd class, I’d like to just have a drink break and go straight into tenanzugaki.
Thanks for your understanding.
Paul
3. Upcoming Events in June/July
Saturday June 27th - Bell Misogi
Jim Nicholls sensei and other instructors/seniors from Goshinkan dojo, Byron Bay will lead us in bell Misogi practice at the saturday morning
class at the Nathan dojo, followed by a light lunch. Misogi is an important meditation discipline that I recommend everyone tries at
least once in their aikido careers. If there is sufficient intrest we may look to make it a semi-regular activity.
In the afternoon a strategic planning session for the club will be held by exec committee members.
Saturday July 25th, Sunday 26th - Yoshitake Hashimoto Sensei
Hashimoto Sensei is again visiting Australia to teach in Brisbane and Melbourne. In Brisbane he will present a 2-day aikido seminar on the
weekend of the July 25th/ 26th at the nathan dojo (previously this seminar was advertised for the following weekend but had to be changed).
Places will be limited (last year was full to capacity) and can only be secured by prepaying at the Nathan dojo or by mail. The price for
financial members is $50 and $75 for non-financial and visitors.
Sensei will also teach at one of the aikikids classes.
Danny Sensei
Shirin Mohebbi
Griffith Aikido Newsletter Editor
Email: shirin(AT)internode.on.net
Offline 
Send Email