Congratulations to Chelsea, Tom and Alastair on their 5th Kyu gradings on Saturday. Also, to Zac for his 4th Kyu grading from last week. Well done guys – it was an honour to be on your grading panel.
Also, a big thank you to all the ukes and Matt Sensei for joining me on the panel.
Ian
Ian Grant
Head Instructor
Aikido Warrior Dojo
This year’s Aikido Yuishinkai national seminar is now in the history books and will be remembered as one of our finest. It’s been 2 years since Master Koretoshi Maruyama, the Founder of our School, has visited Australia and it was great to have the opportunity to once again have the benefit of his direct teachings.
Our school is particularly fortunate to have Maruyama Sensei as our Founder. Sensei has been practising Aikido for close to 60 years and is one of the few direct students of O’Sensei still actively teaching. A brief summary of his remarkable life in Aikido can be found at this page on our site.
The seminar this year was held at Seishin no Shugyo Dojo in Tasmania. It’s hard to imagine a more perfect setting for Aikido training as there is an undeniable sense of martial arts tradition in the dojo. For those who haven’t had a chance to train there, the walls are filled with a wide array of Samurai and martial arts memorabilia that has to be seen to be believed.
Key themes of this year’s seminar included a focus on:
Sensei demonstrated and taught these and other themes through an array of traditional Aikido kata ranging from the basic to the advanced. In addition, there were also some fun segues to explore such things as Bruce Lee’s one inch punch and relaxed palm defensive striking. One of the many highlights for me was the chance to learn the higher level version of Yokomenuchi shihonage which is something I have been keen to explore for some time.
Anyone who decides to host a national seminar in my view deserves a medal. An incredible amount of effort (and accompanying stress) is needed to host one of these events. A big thanks to Peter Kelly Sensei (and his Dojo students) for doing such an amazing job.
Have a great week
Ian
Ian Grant
Head Instructor
Aikido Warrior Dojo
When it comes to milestones in an Aikido practioner’s journey, one’s shodan grading is no doubt one of them. This Saturday, two of our founding dojo members Brendan and Matt stepped up to test for this major achievement. They both performed excellent gradings and exhibited skills more than equal to the task. It was a absolute privilege and honour to sit on their grading panel.
Congratulations to both Brendan and Matt and also to all the ukes that assisted and demonstrated such fine ukemi skills. Also a big thank you to Eden for taking photographs and producing the below slideshow.
Ian Grant
Head Instructor
Aikido Warrior Dojo
While in town for the upcoming Brisbane Aikido Yuishinkai seminar this weekend, our Chief Instructor Peter Kelly Sensei dropped in to the dojo to take our Thursday night class.
To say his teachings were most insightful would be an understatement. I’ve heard the statement sometimes said that Aikido techniques can be divided into 2 categories – “those for go and those for show”. Peter’s motto is more like there are 2 types of techniques – “those for go and those you haven’t figured out yet”.
Anyone with any doubts that Aikido is a powerful and most effective martial art would certainly have had them wiped away on Thursday night. Strong centred attacks were the name of the game. Full kuzushi on contact using traditional sword based movements, a heaven-man-earth body structure and applied yin-yang principles was how it was played. Loved every minute of it!
Big thanks to Peter Sensei for taking the time out of his busy schedule to visit us. As is typically the case, we had a camera and took some photos.
Looking forward to attending this weekend’s seminar.
Ian Grant
Head Instructor
Aikido Warrior Dojo
After 6 weeks of usually being no more useful than a ceremonial hood ornament at the dojo and finally on Friday getting a medical clearance for “light admin duties”, today was the day I had been waiting for – the chance to get back on the mat for an attempt at some serious training.
I wasn’t sure how I would go after 2 abdominal surgeries and some major scar tissue still on the mend, but I figured it was time to give it a go and give things a test. Muscle memory combined with some strategic ukemi landings and the occasional gritting of the teeth, kept me in one piece and I had a great time. Big thanks to everyone for making sure I didn’t end up on the receiving end of a front or awkward breakfall, let alone an unexpected strike to the stomach!
Those who were there know that Eden dropped down to take some photos. While I think by looking at them I appear to have aged 10 years in 6 weeks – they make a nice addition to the dojo’s photo memorabilia.
All the best
Ian
Ian Grant
Head Instructor
Aikido Warrior Dojo
Aikido Warrior Dojo 
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