Notices and Courses

This area will be used for any and all club news. It’ll include upcoming course information, details of upcoming and recent gradings. Also any general club news (Like price changes, social events, etc).

Last Updated 08/01/10

Classes resume
10th Jan 2010
Normal classes resume following the Christmas break.

1st Onami Dojo class in Bury St Eds
12th Jan
Onami make their move from Rougham to Bury Leisure Centre
19:30 - 21:00

Kai Shin Kai Course
Roy Chandley + Guest Instructor
24th Jan
Meadowcroft Aylesbury
10:30 - 15:30

Kai Shin Kai Course
Vincent Sumpter
14th March
Meadowcroft Aylesbury
10:30 - 15:30

Ikkyu & Dan Gradings
18th April
Meadowcroft Aylesbury
10:30 - 15:30

Doshu Course
Current Head of Aikido Moriteru Ueshiba, is accompanied by Mitseteru Ueshiba, Waka Sensei and another Hombu dojo Shihan (TBC) for a rare visit to the UK.
(N.B. Must be pre-booked. Numbers are limited and bookings stand at 580 people already)
18th, 19th, and 20th June
Welsh Institute for sport, Cardiff, South Wales

I’d be grateful for any contributions by way of reviews (shown on the left here). Please email reviews if any relevant courses, books, DVDs etc so that everyone can benefit from your experiences. The more recently written reviews will appear toward the top of the list.

DVD - Principles of Aikido (Mitsugi Saotome)

This is a great DVD for beginnners and experts alike. It shows many of the core techniques. Everything is explained very clearly, and names of techniques are shown as well as pronounced.

For more experienced Aikidoka, this is worth having just to see Saotomi Sensei's Aikido, which can only be described as breathtaking. Watching him move is pixel-perfect stuff.

Book - Aikido & The Dynamic Sphere

As far as I know, this is the most comprehensive book on the market.

It is based on Ki Aikido which, being at one extreme of the aikido spectrum, won't appeal to all styles. However, Aside from giving a throrough explanation of the application of Ki, the whole book is actually very mainstream in its presentation.

It has wonderful, clear illustrations throughout which have almost cult status. If you've seen an illustration or diagram of Aikido, it was probably pinched (legally or otherwise) from this book.

A fascinating read, and an almost essential reference work.

DVD - Oyo Henka Waza (Mitsugi Saotome)

This DVD concentrates on dealing with resistance to technique. In Aikido, it's easy to get used to the (normally useful) cooperation of your partner, so that it is easy to get stumped when ssomeone suddenly starts resisting technique.

This DVD teaces how to deal with this through Aiki principle such as blending etc., without resorting to force.

Book - Aikido for Life (Gyakku Homma)

This is one of my all time favourite books about Aikido.

It doesn't go into a huge amount of detail about anything in particular, but the Author appears to have such a enthusiastic and positive approach to Aikido (and apparently to life) that the book practically oozes it. I can't help but get carried along with it, and getting humbled by it.

I'd particularly recommend it to instructors or senior students who think that they can't learn much else from a book. If anything can stop you disappearing up your own arse after getting your black belt, this is probably it.