Sensei Richard Small 3rd Dan TIA Europe, now teaching Aikijo, North Devon.
Member Instructor of 'Martial Arts & Fitness Coach UK'
March 2012 in Poole, Dorset
I started Aikido in the mid 1970s, at Sensei Aubrey Smith's Wellingborough club, then moving Counties for work, going oh so slowly through the grades until I was awarded 3rd Dan in 2007 at Cambridge by
Sensei Tony Sargeant and Paul McGlone.
Some of the other teachers that I have seen on workshops or seminars are listed below, and in no particular order. Pat Hendricks,6th dan, Toyoda Shihan, Saito Sensei 9th dan, Bill Smith, 5th dan when I saw him, Mathew Hill, Bill Harris, Miles Kessler, Kanetska Sensei, Chiba Sensei 8th dan, Yamada Sensei 8th dan, Tamura Sensei, 9th dan - if not should be ... brilliant, Daniel Toutan, Andre Noquet, Pat Stratford and many more.
I've left a lot of teacher's names out but from each of them I learned something of value, each gave me pieces of the jig saw puzzle ..... and like a puzzle the solving of even small parts are delights of enlightenment ... then a something, from where we know not, gives us the answer that completes that puzzle .... but the shelf is full of new puzzles to enjoy.
I'm not saying I can do what they do ... I just saw what they did ... hoping some inspiration would come my way, some small gem was always be mine to take home.
I trained in Holland, Switzerland, France, Greece, Russia and Jersey as well as the mainland UK, I attended something like 130 courses, excluding teaching and coaching courses. I was lucky to teach at Sensei Sargeant's Orwell Dojo on a regular basis and was invited to teach in Holland while a resident teacher was on holiday. I like teaching, it gives me great satisfaction, and I am honoured to have been invited to teach on 'internal aspects' at
Sensei Mark Allcock's Well springs of the east Dojo in Corfe Mullen, Dorset.
Now living far away from the main group of my association I do not teach Aikido ... lots of excuses, no mats, old age ...... but I particularly like the Jo and the simplicity of its requirements if not its applications makes teaching it as an art opportune.
Jo form being looked at - 20 suburi; 13 kata; 31 kata; 6 kata; partner work for the katas and applications for blending, blocks and parries as appropriate, awase, and an occasional look at Jo nage and dori. Recently we have started to train with the aiki ken, the 7 suburi and a couple of the kumitachi.
However, as far as is possible this is principle based teaching and not just choreography.
Principles should be a constant even if politics, egos, opinions and learning are not.
We train slowly and purposefully in order that our bodies can inform our minds about what feels correct or not ...... and change what is asked.
The idea is to develop, not just a few muscles, but an understanding of who and what we are and can be in life.
Some might say,'you're just waving a stick about.', but we know different, we are on a spiritual journey to visit self.
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Sensei Tony Sargeant and Paul McGlone.
Some of the other teachers that I have seen on workshops or seminars are listed below, and in no particular order. Pat Hendricks,6th dan, Toyoda Shihan, Saito Sensei 9th dan, Bill Smith, 5th dan when I saw him, Mathew Hill, Bill Harris, Miles Kessler, Kanetska Sensei, Chiba Sensei 8th dan, Yamada Sensei 8th dan, Tamura Sensei, 9th dan - if not should be ... brilliant, Daniel Toutan, Andre Noquet, Pat Stratford and many more.
I've left a lot of teacher's names out but from each of them I learned something of value, each gave me pieces of the jig saw puzzle ..... and like a puzzle the solving of even small parts are delights of enlightenment ... then a something, from where we know not, gives us the answer that completes that puzzle .... but the shelf is full of new puzzles to enjoy.
I'm not saying I can do what they do ... I just saw what they did ... hoping some inspiration would come my way, some small gem was always be mine to take home.
I trained in Holland, Switzerland, France, Greece, Russia and Jersey as well as the mainland UK, I attended something like 130 courses, excluding teaching and coaching courses. I was lucky to teach at Sensei Sargeant's Orwell Dojo on a regular basis and was invited to teach in Holland while a resident teacher was on holiday. I like teaching, it gives me great satisfaction, and I am honoured to have been invited to teach on 'internal aspects' at
Sensei Mark Allcock's Well springs of the east Dojo in Corfe Mullen, Dorset.
Now living far away from the main group of my association I do not teach Aikido ... lots of excuses, no mats, old age ...... but I particularly like the Jo and the simplicity of its requirements if not its applications makes teaching it as an art opportune.
Jo form being looked at - 20 suburi; 13 kata; 31 kata; 6 kata; partner work for the katas and applications for blending, blocks and parries as appropriate, awase, and an occasional look at Jo nage and dori. Recently we have started to train with the aiki ken, the 7 suburi and a couple of the kumitachi.
However, as far as is possible this is principle based teaching and not just choreography.
Principles should be a constant even if politics, egos, opinions and learning are not.
We train slowly and purposefully in order that our bodies can inform our minds about what feels correct or not ...... and change what is asked.
The idea is to develop, not just a few muscles, but an understanding of who and what we are and can be in life.
Some might say,'you're just waving a stick about.', but we know different, we are on a spiritual journey to visit self.
******************
Shomen Uchi Komi 6th Suburi.
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The author's version of Katate Gedan Gaeshi
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(Tai Chi has also been a greatly beneficial influence in my life, if not for self defence then for 'health defence',
I also now teach Yang style Tai Chi in North Devon. See, www.taichidevon.weebly.com if you have an interest.)
Why I have chosen to retain the header page supplied by weebly.
I sense a symbolism relating to life and our passage through and beyond it. The seedling offers nature's promise to be.
You may see your own symbolism, or you may see nothing of significance.
I like the idea of the strong hands nurturing the young plant that in turn will grow strong, it will have a longing for life, will grow tall because it has good foundations, it will blend with the seasons, it needs no books nor teacher to achieve oneness with nature ...
.......it is nature itself.
We nurture the tree that in time will nurture us.
We nurture our skills in Aiki that in time will nurture us.
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