Peter Kelly Sensei

Reflections on the national seminar – Hobart 2014

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:

Natural posture;
Centreline;
Removing unnecessary muscle tension; and
The importance of using gravity to achieve effective technique.

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

Martial moves – Peter Kelly Sensei returns

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

Training Notes – Shomenuchi Ikkyo

In this video training note Peter Kelly Sensei, Chief Instructor, Aikido Yuishinkai Australia, provides instruction on how to correctly perform shomenuchi ikkyo from the Aikido Yuishinkai syllabus.

The instruction not only includes the shape or outer form of the technique but also covers the inner structural aspects that make it work in a martial context. Key Aikido Yuishinkai principles discussed and shown include “center pole”, sinking, “heaven-man-earth”, centre-line, controlling the space and the “horizontal-vertical plane”.

Ian Grant Sensei
Head Instructor
Aikido Warrior Dojo
Brisbane

Training Notes – Ukemi (Fundamental principles)

This video training note refers to the first in a new series of training videos prepared by Peter Kelly Sensei (7th Dan Aikido Yuishinkai) dealing with the topic of ukemi and uke arts in Aikido Yuishinkai practice.

The Founder of Aikido Yuishinkai, Master Koretoshi Maruyama, has asked that the development and advancement of high level ukemi skills be given a priority focus in our Aikido training in Australia this year. To this end Peter Kelly Sensei, Technical Director for Aikido Yuishinkai in Australia, has been travelling the country to give ukemi (and other Aikido) training to Aikido Yuishinkai members.

In support of this training, Peter Sensei has prepared a series of training videos to assist instructors and students in developing the requisite skills. The below video is Part 1 in the series. Topics covered include:

What is ukemi?;
Responsibility of the uke to give a tangible attack so that the nage has something to work with;
The folly and danger of acrobatic/circus rolling in Aikido practice;
The importance of rolling “like a cat”
Exercises to develop good ukemi skills;
Responsibility of the uke to not anticipate attacks, stay connected and remain centred for as long as possible;
Remaining relaxed when taking ukemi, including when breakfalling.

Ian Grant
Head Instructor
Aikido Warrior Dojo

Training Notes – Munetsuki ikkyo (alternate version)

This training note refers to an alternate form munetsuki ikkyo whereby the nage steps inside the movement and cuts at 90 degrees. This approach to munetsuki ikkyo is a particularly martial application and is most effective for dealing with an intelligent attacker who strikes from a centred position throughout and is setting up for a second follow up strike.

The demonstrated technique forms part of the broader Aikido syllabus and utilises what is sometimes referred to as “forgotten direction” footwork. Significantly, this type of footwork can be used as a martially effective entry point to initiate a wide variety of Aikido Yuishinkai techniques from most attack forms.

The video extract is from a class given by Peter Kelly Sensei (7th Dan Aikido Yuishinkai) at the Aikido Warrior Dojo, Brisbane, on 17 May 2014.

Ian Grant
Head Instructor
Aikido Warrior Dojo