Archive for category: Griffith Aikido News

Self defence shouldn’t be a totally new concept to anyone. We are all born with instinctive protection mechanisms. All of us have an inbuilt fight or flight response to acute stress and all of us are endowed with 6th sense or intuition.

In addition, we have been working at protecting ourselves for years. Some of our most common protection strategies are built around our personality traits.

For example, some use charm or humour to deflect trouble. Others use avoidance, while others use aggression to scare people away. It shouldn’t be necessary but some people use total submission to defend themselves from the possibility of a worse fate.

Everyone has the right to go wherever they want whenever they please. That’s the freedom we expect in Australia. Unfortunately, a small minority want to stand in the way of that freedom.

Whether they have a cause, are full of hate, or are simply at the mercy of their own fragile ego and inflated sense of self importance, we don’t know. Nor do we really care!

It doesn’t alter the fact that we all have the right to live our lives in peace and without fear, and without threats, bullying, or intimidation.

It is such a negative view of life to avoid going to certain places, to never go out alone; to never go out after dark, or not be able to dress as we please. That’s not freedom!

Freedom is a much more positive and optimistic view than that. It is having the right to peacefully walk, drive, cycle, or ride public transport anywhere at any time. It is having the right to be in any public space at any time; all without being interfered with in any way.

But with freedom comes personal responsibility. From a personal protection point of view, it is also our responsibility to be aware of our environment, be able to assess risk and to control our own behaviour.

Personal protection requires a commitment to our own safety. It means developing strategies to protect our right to freedom. Therefore personal protection means a whole lot more than learning to fight.

Enacting personal protection strategies is about empowerment & prevention, taking control and being assertive and non-compliant when someone else is trying to aggressively impose control. If that is not done peacefully then we become the same as those who seek to impede our freedom.

For Brisbane martial arts and practical non-aggressive self defence, come train with us at Griffith Aikido. For class times go to https://www.griffithaikido.com.au/class-times

The Aikido Journal is a source of rich history and valuable information about Aikido. Stanley Pranin is the Editor of the Aikido Journal and writes many brilliant articles found on the site http://www.aikidojournal.com

One of the many articles that I particularly like is titled “Cultivating a martial spirit”.

The article emphasizes the importance of training with martial focus and points out that etiquette is one of the cornerstones of proper dojo behaviour.

On etiquette, he writes, “The customs we observe before, during, and after training are designed to establish a controlled setting where dangerous techniques can be practiced safely. Etiquette should not be dismissed as an empty set of forms performed merely out of habit.”

On being Uke, Stanley Pranin explains the importance of Uke’s role in paired practice.

“It is important for uke to attack cleanly and with intent without anticipating nage’s response based on his foreknowledge. Nage needs a committed attack in order to understand matters of balance, body mechanics, and energy flow. Uke’s martial attitude will protect him from injury and promote his own progress and that of his training partners.”

On being Nage, he explains how Nage benefits in the long run from the ‘known attack’ method in paired practice.

“In the kata-like approach described above, nage knows the nature of the attack so he can concentrate on proper body displacement, distancing, and unbalancing his partner. The element of emotional stress that typically would accompany a real-life confrontation is largely absent in this basic training context. Nage’s initial movement should unbalance his partner because uke will be powerless to resist if he has lost his center of gravity.”

Stanley Pranin also answers the often asked question, “Why study aikido and not something of more immediate applicability to incidents of urban violence like the use of firearms or street fighting skills?”

I highly commend this article to you. To read the full article follow this link to the Aikido journal: http://www.aikidojournal.com/article?articleID=362

As an aid to learning here is slow version of Kumijo – paired Jo practice

Monday 28th March 2011

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

1. Safety part 3 – behaviour at class

Self discipline and self control are two of the cornerstones of Aikido. Like any other martial art, Aikido starts and finishes with respect. These attributes, together with the expectations set out below, form the foundation of safe practice for everyone.

• Griffith Aikido institute Inc. exists to practice and foster the Art of Aikido. We believe that Aikido is for everyone. We do not discriminate on the grounds of gender, race, religion, sexuality, ethnicity, disability or age
• Our values include committed training, safe practice, loyalty and respect. That is, loyalty and respect to the dojo, instructors and each other
• Aikido is a highly participative art, learned by ‘doing’. Focus and concentration are required to practice effectively and safely. For that reason, you are encouraged to keep any talking during practice to a minimum, and any talking that is done should relate to Aikido
• Aikido skills are learned by cooperative practice. Unless otherwise instructed by your instructor, you should not resist techniques because part of your learning is feeling and experiencing the technique being applied and learning to go with the flow towards a safe outcome
• It is good manners to sit in silence while receiving instruction you’re your instructor. If you have a question, please do not interrupt, but ask it after Sensei has finished talking and demonstrating
• Inappropriate behaviour inside or outside the dojo, or on the mat will not be tolerated. This includes abuse, harassment (including sexual harassment), bullying and intimidation
• Wrestling on the mat or any other form of clowning around, roughhousing, horseplay or physical competitive behaviour will not be tolerated
• If you are practicing with a student who is lower in rank, you must practice to their level. That usually means going slower; not forcing the person into a forward or backward roll and not causing pain
• Everyone is different when it comes to applying wrist locks and pins. Be aware that many people are inflexible and cannot take much joint pressure. Apply pressure very slowly. Be alert to Uke tapping the mat or tapping them selves. This is your signal to release the pressure immediately. Joint lock pressure should never be applied to anyone under the age of 18 years.
• Griffith Aikido is a female friendly Aikido club. Please take care when practicing grabs and holds on females. Shoulder grabs are performed wide at shoulder level, not at lapel or chest level. A bear hug from behind is not a wrap around grab. It is performed just below the shoulders with hands joined and extended to the front
• Just as cooperative practice is the key to increased skill and competence, cooperation and teamwork gets the mats laid out, vacuumed and rolled up again.

2. The art of Nanba Walking by William Reed

Nanba is the Art of Physical Finesse. It begins with our most common form of movement, walking. Its applications range from martial arts, to dance, to music, to physical exercise.

7 secrets of Nanba Walking

1. Turn without twisting
2. Step with hands and feet together
3. Connect your upper and lower body
4. Step softly and swiftly
5. Keep your feet in rhythm
6. Take small steps with good alignment
7. Practice walking to music

William Reed
http://www.EntrepreneursCreativeEdge.com

3. Thought for the week

Today, students of the martial arts have what can be called a “TV mentality”, turning off or changing channels whenever something fails to appeal to them. Instead of facing the challenge of training, they have become accustomed to simply tuning out or waiting for a better “show” to air.

‘KODO Ancient Ways, Lessons in the spiritual life of the warrior/ martial artist’ by Kensho Furuya (p45).

Many people ask whether Aikido training is effective self defence. The answer depends on whether you want to learn to fight or want to learn skills to cope with life’s difficult moments.

Fighting is never the solution. People fight only because they can’t remain calm and they can’t control their ego.

If you want to learn to fight then there are other martial arts that will provide some useful skills earlier. Aikido takes longer to become proficient.

I have seen a lot of beginners leave because they have no patience to learn the art. They are searching for more immediate results.

So if you don’t want to fight but you want a martial art that teaches non confrontational self protection skills, then Aikido is for you!

Let me give you a few examples of what I mean:

• If you are a female in a domestic argument whose partner has just grabbed you by the wrist and is threatening to strike you with his other hand then Aikido training will enable you break free and escape.
• If you are a female jogger grabbed by a bikeway stalker then again yes, aikido training will again help you break free and escape, regardless of how big and strong the attacker is.
• If you are mugged at gunpoint or at knifepoint, then yes Aikido training will help you – not to do anything stupid like trying to disarm the assailant, but it will give you the calmness and presence of mind to give them your money and walk away safely.
• If you are threatened by a gang then yes Aikido will provide the awareness skills to sense the danger early, or the calmness to try to find a peaceful way out, or the courage to run like hell.
• If you are bullied at school then Aikido training will give you the confidence and self esteem boost you need to walk anywhere in the school yard without being harassed. Since starting Aikido training not one of our club’s many school children has been bullied and not one has ever been drawn into a fight.

Awareness is your greatest protector. A calm mind enables you to think clearly under pressure. Aikido develops those and gives you some useful escape skills. It also develops many more martial skills over time but they should never be used unless life is threatened.

If your are looking self defence or for martial arts in Brisbane, give Aikido a try at Griffith Aikido. We are located at The Hills PCYC on the northside, and at Nathan Campus, Griffith University on the southside. Students and non-students welcome. For class times go to https://www.griffithaikido.com.au/class-times/