Aikido Yoshinkai

NOTICE to all Students regarding  December  Dojo class times for Maple Ridge.

December 27th and December 29th dated Classes are arranged to be held at the Maple Ridge Leisure Centre Dojo and not at Sensei’s Unit.

Also please note all Tuesday classes  from this point forward have been changed from a 7:00pm start to a 7:30pm start time.  Class will end as usual at 9:00pm.  Tuesday class  will now mirror the format of  Thursday with all levels welcome.

So to summarize.

1.  No beginner’s class on Tuesday from 7:00pm – 8:00pm.  Replaced by item 2.

2.  Regular class times for Tuesday until March 2012  from 7:30pm – 9:00pm and available for all levels.

Congratulations to Eric Schenk and Patrick McCready who took their sandan (3rd degree black belt) test on Saturday 11 June.  The test is gruelling, both physically and mentally, as it requires high level performance of empty hand and weapon (staff, sword, and knife) techniques.  The examination is based on over 150 basic empty hand techniques, of which 6 are demanded from each candidate.  The sandan test also involves performance of 11 weapons techniques, some solo and some partnered.  The test culminates with 2 demonstrations of freestyle techniques (jiyu waza) and a 3:1 attack, with attackers using a sword, a knife, and an empty hand.  Thanks to the test partners Henry Lagas, Tony Rodney, and Connor McIver, who participated in the 3:1 portion of the test.

The members of Sokushinkan Dojo (Vancouver) bid farewell to Miyoko Ae, who returned to Japan this week.  Miyoko had been in Vancouver on a working holiday sojourn since May 2010.  She met our teacher Ikuo Watanabe Sensei by chance while they were on the airplane together in May 2010.  She joined the dojo shortly thereafter and trained with us on many occasions, including assisting at some of the children’s classes.  She attained 7th kyu with us and will receive a certificate to that effect by mail.  We hope that she will continue to train in aikido in her home town.  We expect to see her again in the future, in Japan or Canada or elsewhere.  Best of luck in your new adventures, Miyoko-san!

The members of Sowakan Dojo (Maple Ridge) and Sokushinkan Dojo (Vancouver) had the pleasure and honour of a second visit from Blackwell Sensei of South Carolina.  Five members, including one taking his first ever aikido class, enjoyed 2 hours of training with Blackwell Sensei.  Although his techniques and precise methods are a little different from our usual techniques and methods, we were all able to see the similarities of our different forms of aikido.  As Blackwell Sensei said during class, “there is really only one aikido”.  We also experienced two other of his basic lessons: “get out of the way” and “go with the flow”.  During the class, we practised katate mochi shihonage (omote and ura), ushiro ryote mochi ushiro nage, shomen uchi ikkajo, ryote mochi kokyuho, a form of kokyunage (connection/breath throw), and a seated wrist grab throw.  Blackwell Sensei was in Vancouver to do kyudo (archery training) with the kyudo group at the Vancouver Japanese Language School.  We thank both Blackwell Sensei and the Kyudo group for taking the time from their training to share Blackwell Sensei with us.

Greg Pun (4^th dan) and Andrew Prest (1^st dan), the children class instructors, closed the fall term of kids aikido at Sokushinkan Dojo (Vancouver).  Thanks to the children and parents who have supported the class this term.  Thanks also to the various adult members of the dojo who have assisted in the classes this term.  Congratulations to all the children, in both the junior class (ages 3-7) and senior class (ages 8-13) on their accomplishments over the last three months.  The new term will start Saturday 8 January 2011 at the usual times (1:30pm for junior kids, 2:00pm for senior kids).

Congratulations to Greg Pun, who was successful in his 4^th degree black belt test before Watanabe Sensei (8^th dan) on Sunday 28 November at Ayase Dojo, Tokyo.  Thanks to test partner Darren Skelton (4^th dan), of Watanabe Dojo (Perth , Australia) who was Greg’s test partner and who also passed the test.  We offer our congratulations also to Ian Lawrence and Stuart Walsh, of Watanabe Dojo (Perth, Australia), who succeeded in their 2^nd degree black belt test, and to Horiguchi-san, a member of the Ayase Dojo, who passed his shodan test.  The test was the culmination of Greg’s and Patrick’s trip to Japan.  Their trip included attendance at the 55^th annual Embukai and participation in the special seminar given that day by Takeno Sensei (9th dan, saikoo shihan) and the special seminars given by Payet Sensei, Sonoda Sensei, and Chino Sensei at Hombu Dojo the next day.  Greg and Patrick also trained at other dojos with various teachers, including the Irumagawa Dojo of Sonoda Sensei.  Greg and Patrick thank all their old and new friends for helping to make the visit, the training, and the testing successful and enjoyable.

We are pleased to report that two senior members of Sokushinkan Dojo (Vancouver) are on their way to Tokyo, Japan, to train and meet old and new friends.  Greg Pun (3^rd dan) and Patrick McCready (2^nd dan) will be visiting Watanabe Sensei and his dojo in Ayase, Tokyo, as well as other teachers and dojos in the Tokyo area.  During their time in Tokyo, Greg and Patrick will attend the 55^th annual Embukaitai (international demonstration) and the associated seminars.  They will also be meeting old friends and teachers such as Sonoda Sensei (8^th dan) at Hombu Dojo.

Congratulations to several members who took and passed the test for shodan (first degree black belt) this month.  Chief examiner Keith Taylor (6^th dan, head of dojo) was assisted by senior students Sheldon Verbeke (3^rd dan, Sowakan dojo) and Greg Pun (3^rd dan, Sokushinkan dojo).  All members of Sowakan Dojo (Maple Ridge) and Sokushinkan Dojo (Vancouver) congratulate Alan Brown, Connor McIver, Tony Rodney, Tygh Runyan, and Jaret Swanson, on their accomplishment.  The attainment of a shodan is not the end of one’s training but, rather, the true beginning of training – it opens a path to greater knowledge and achievement in the art that is Yoshinkan Aikido.  Omedetou gozaimasu and Osu!  Thanks also to Andrew Prest who participated as uke (test partner).

Congratulations to Zak of our senior kids class at Sokushinkan Dojo (Vancouver).  Zak was awarded his green belt (4^th kyu) after taking a surprise test.  His achievement is a result of much careful training and marks his entry into the intermediate level of aikido.  Omedetou gozaimasu, Osu!

Sokushinkan Dojo at VJLS is pleased to open a new term of kids classes on Saturdays (September – December 2010). The instructors welcome many returning and new students in both age groups (age 3-7 & age 8-14).

Sokushinkan Dojo of Vancouver is pleased to expand our class times on Wednesday evenings to create two one-hour classes: 6:30pm-7:30pm and 7:30pm-8:30pm. The first hour is open to older children/youth from our Saturday classes, with instructor permission.

Congratulations to Tin of Sokushinkan Dojo on attaining his 4th Kyu (green belt). This is a significant achievement after much hard training by Tin and his partner Tygh.

The members of Sowakan and Sokushinkan Dojo thank Shihan Ikuo Watanabe Sensei  (8th dan) for visiting us May 31 – June 10. We all greatly enjoyed his interesting teachings and his kind and generous spirit. We also thank Robert Mustard Sensei and Judy Remedios Sensei of Aikido Yoshinkai Burnaby, who joined us for a farewell dinner to Watanabe Sensei on June 9.

Congratulations to Andrew of Sokushinkan Dojo who took and passed his shodan (1st degree black belt) test today.

The members of Sokushinkan dojo thank Aaron Blackwell Sensei of South Carolina for his guest seminar on Monday March 15, 2010.  Blackwell Sensei was in Vancouver to teach kyudo at the Vancouver Japanese Language School.  He is a 6th dan in kyudo and the highest ranked kyudo practitioner in North America.  He also practices Aikikai style aikido, which he has done for 35 years.  Blackwell Sensei showed us a number of techniques, demonstrating the flow and power of Aikikai aikido and the essential similarities of Aikikai and Yoshinkan  styles of aikido.  Our thanks also to the kyudo group at  VJLS, for kindly allowing us the chance to meet and train with Blackwell Sensei.