Shukan News 7th Mar

Monday 7th March 2011

If you have any contribution for the Shukan News (story, photograph, video), please send it via email to gary@garyweigh.com

1. Management Committee Nominations

Just a reminder that our AGM will be held at 8pm on Thursday evening 17th March, after an early finish to class. Nominations for Management Committee positions close on Tuesday 15th March. We have received 2-3 new nominations this year. It is very pleasing to see that members are interested in the future of your club.

2. Adult grading last Saturday

I love grading day. Not only is it a demonstration in front of peers, it is the culmination of a lot of hard work and practice. The nerves, the last minute practice, the pressure of solo kata and the struggle to relax, are all part of the exciting atmosphere of grading day. Nine of our members graded on Saturday and all of them acquitted themselves very well.

5th kyu (yellow belt)

Jason’s 5th kyu grading was the first of the morning. It is never easy being the first onto the mat and up there all alone. Jason has worked hard since his last grading demonstration and it showed.

He maintained an upright posture; his techniques were very good and when he relaxed, the true potential we see in class started to shine on through.

Very well done Jason!

3rd kyu (green belt)

Kylie, Bartek and Danny excelled in their 3rd kyu grading. They all appeared relaxed and were very smooth in their technique. They maintained good posture and moved very well around the mat; in control throughout. It was pleasing to see that they dictated the speed of the techniques which was often much slower than the attacks. They also maintained good connection with Ukes. Congratulations to all of you on a first class grading!

2nd Kyu (brown belt)

Jason, Slav, Natalie and Rick all performed very well in their 2nd kyu grading. Jason’s grading has been a long time coming, but worth waiting for! It was very smooth and relaxed. I hope Jason’s next two gradings occur a little sooner than his last. I would like to see his Shodan grading in my lifetime.

Meanwhile, Natalie went about her demonstration in a very quiet and relaxed way. She moved well and maintained a good upright posture. She showed a good variety of techniques and her taninzugake was very smooth as she maintained calm composure all the way through.

Rick and Slav also did very well. Both of these guys have good martial awareness, good control and are technically very sound. Both have also fought a determined battle in recent months to relax and soften their technique. Their performance in this grading was a huge step forward and pleasing to see. Congratulations to you both on your hard work and tenacity. The journey is never without a few challenges.

All four students did a very good job with weapons. Their Tanto Tori and Bokken Tori performances were very sound and their solo kata showed good form.

At the end of a long grading, they were performed with a high degree of calmness and confidence.

Congratulations to all of you on very good performances!

Shodan (black belt)

It is always a treat to watch Yudansha grading demonstrations and John didn’t disappoint us. He has trained with us for the past 2 years or so but his early training was undertaken at Byron Bay Aikido club. We were delighted that Jim Sensei traveled from Byron Bay to oversee his grading.

As we expected, John was relaxed, smooth and efficient, showing a good variety of technique. For me, the most impressive part of his taninzugake demonstration was his unbroken connection with Uke and his ability to use the entire area of the mat to his advantage.

Even when he wasn’t in contact with Uke, John was in total control. He positioned Uke exactly where he wanted and used his own movement to shorten Uke’s attack or lengthen it as he pleased. As a result, his Ukes were often on the back foot and worked very hard. It was a wonderful demonstration of relaxation, control and power.

John showed great composure through his weapons kata, and then immediately seized the initiative in his Saningake demonstration by taking control of his three Ukes from the start. Overall, it was a very competent and most entertaining grading. Congratulations John!!

Grading day is never complete without a social gathering afterwards. Many thanks again to Jutta and Narelle for buying and preparing the food.

A special thanks to Jim Sensei and Ty for coming all the way from Byron Bay to participate.

I would also like to say a big thank you to everyone who participated as Uke. It is always hot work on a humid February day in Brisbane.

Until the next grading at the end of May!

Gary

3. Michael Williams Sensei weekend seminar 26/27 March

Michael Williams Sensei, International Chief Instructor and Australian Chief Instructor, Aikido Yuishinkai Australia will be conducting a weekend seminar on 26th & 27th March, 2011.

This seminar is proudly hosted by Byron Bay Aikido Club and will be held at Goshinkan Dojo, 46 Melaleuca Drive, Byron Bay.

Saturday March 26th 10.00am – 4.30pm General classes

Sunday March 27th 10.00am – 12.30pm Special weapons class

Cost: Full seminar $55 / $45

1 day: $40 / $35

Per session: $20 / $18

Beginners, intermediate and advanced students are welcome to attend this seminar.

Come meet and train with Michael Williams Sensei, the founder of Goshinkan Dojo.

4. Cheese and crackers for the soul

“A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves.” Lao Tzu