Hi everyone,
Instead of Hall 3, we will be training in the old gym, below Hall 3. Entrance though will be from the bottom carpark at the Sports Centre.
We will train at our normal times although we have the possibility of shifting the times if they are too early or too late. Let’s decide on Thursday.
28 – 30 November will be the Summerschool in Stellenbosch.
Regards,
Ghalib
I was recently asked, given South Africa's relative isolation over the past 30 years, who I
considered to be my teacher(s). And given our relative isolation, the degree of exposure to aikido on the world stage has been relatively small - especially at the time when I started my journey along the aikido path.
But undoubtedly, a strong influence in my formative years has been, and will always be Sensei Ken Cottier - recently promoted to Shihan 7th Dan. He will however will always be Sensei Ken to me.. Or even Gramps to some of us. Sensei Ken was very important to the development of aikido in South Africa, signified also by his election as Honorary Life President of AFSA. But even more important, he was somehow a direct connection to O-Sensei as one of the few gaijin (foreigners) permitted to train with O-Sensei. And yet, as those of us who trained with him still at our 20th anniversary celebrations, it was his humility that always struck one - his huge heart and the time he always had for beginners.
On a personal level, Sensei Ken embodies the spirit of rei, or
respect - especially for one's training partner, regardless of their rank. Sensei Ken always demonstrated the mindfulness that in training with you, your partner was giving you a gift, the gift of your development.
Sensei Ken missed our 30th anniversary celebrations in December last year due to ill health. His absence then is only surpassed for me now by the sense of loss I already feel knowing that today he was checked into a hospice in England, knowing his passing is imminent.
This moment comes to us all and what we can do is to remember him in our prayers, and in our remembrance of him make his passing easier.
Hamba Kahle Sensei Ken
And given our recent gradings in Cape Town and Hamburg and the upcoming gradings at our winterschool shortly, perhaps some thoughts from Sensei Ken are appropriate....
Some Thoughts on Grading Examinations
From Ken Cottier Sensei
First Published in the British Aikido Federation Newsletter, December 2002, No.43 - All Rights Reserved
I have been surprised on a number of occasions by just how badly some students take a failure. On the other hand I have been happy with the mature way in which some have reacted to a disappointment. (I should point out that I have never given a grading in Britain and am referring to my experience in Hong Kong.) I remember that there was one fellow I failed and I actually expected that he would give up Aikido when I informed him. On the contrary, he responded with a smile as though saying "Not to worry: there's always the next time".
Some may feel that they have been treated unfairly in that they have held their present grade much longer than some who have advanced to the next one. But have they been practising, say, just twice a month as distinct from, say, two or three times a week as in the case of those who have moved ahead of them? Another important factor to consider is what level of instruction is one receiving. In other words, some may be under the watchful eye of a senior yudansha, whereas others receive their instruction from perhaps a 2nd or 1st kyu. Some, too, use class time more constructively than others and may even practise at home.
Once, on failing a lady, I asked her how she felt she had done. Since I felt she had not been even near the borderline I did not expect her answer "very well". So what does this tell us? Well, to me, that the examiner sees a lot more than the examinee.
Let's advance on this. Student 'A' makes a number of mistakes in the techniques but get everything else (distance, timing, coordination, manner, etc.) right. Student 'B', on the other hand, makes no mistakes in the techniques but gets everything else wrong. If we observe a 3rd kyu, shodan, sandan and rokyudan executing shiho-nage, although basically they are all doing the same thing, there are differences between them.
Then there are those who almost demand to be graded in spite of having reached a stage where they do not seem to be able to progress any further for reasons such as past injuries, age, attendance or attitude. In the case of such people I sometimes wonder why in practising with people of the same grade or of lower grades, they cannot evaluate themselves. Then there is the opposite of this when students of a certain grade refuse to go further. In the days when I practised Judo there was one fellow I remember who stopped taking grades at 1st kyu although he probably reached nidan level. He used to delight in flinging dan grades around!
In awarding grades I do take into consideration age, in that I do not expect a 58 year old student to perform in the same way as a 20 year old. As for yudansha I look for a lot more than technique as I feel that a hakama in the wrong hands, so to speak, can do a lot of damage to Aikido, especially in areas where a shodan grade is quite significant.
Some years ago we had in Hong Kong a very good, very big, very strong student whom everyone enjoyed practising with. In other words, nobody was afraid of him. To me this said a lot when I came to grade him shodan. In Hong Kong all those wishing to try for shodan must first discuss it with a senior grade (we have 5 yondan) - usually the one who has most influenced them.
Hong Kong is often referred to as the crossroads of Asia, it being the stopping-off point to Japan, Taiwan, China, Thailand, the Philippines, etc. On visiting the dojo I have often found that we had a visitor from abroad. Over the years some that sported hakama in my opinion were not of dan grade standard. Nevertheless I have always welcomed them and not made them feel uncomfortable. After all, it is those who awarded such grades who should be accountable. I constantly tell our students that if they visit another country and are below par, it is me that it reflects on.
In conclusion let me say 'do not worry about grades unduly: they will come with the
years'. Some of you may feel - as once I did - that you will never wear a hakama. But excluding accidents or other unforeseen circumstances, you will.
Held at the Mushindo Dojo in Cape Town, space was crowded on the tatami, the nerves and the sweat showed, but the standard of aikido was very pleasing.
We rounded off the session with some wicked ice-cream combinations from Sinn-full in Camps Bay. Autumn in Cape Town is still a special time....
Orientation Weekend in Hall 3. This event was also the first joint month-end training session of the Western Cape Aikikai. Over the course of the two days, new students and old explored various aspects of the art of Aikido. From learning how to walk and turn again (didn't we know how to do that???) to getting to grips with the challenge of making the ground your friend while learning the graceful art of rolling.
i Regina introduced
everyone to the notion of keeping centred while moving or rolling; Sensei Ghalib stretched our tired muscles and overflowing brains with operating in three dimensions and the evolution of aikido from armed styles of martial arts.
Also instructing was Shihan Yoji Fujimoto (7th dan).
Fujimoto Shihan was born in 1948 in Hagi in Japan. His teachers were Tohei Koichi Sensei and, later on, Masuda Sensei. In 1971 Fujimoto San who was at that time Sandan, went to Italy where he met Tada Sensei. He lives in Milan where he established Dojo Milano and became Vice Instructor of Aikikai d'Italia.
Fujimoto San teaches Aikido in Milan, but almost every weekend he holds seminars in other towns and for many years, a Summer Seminar in Laces in the wonderful mountain region of North Italy during July. Moreover he assists Tada Sensei in the main Italian Aikido events: an Easter Seminar, Summer Seminar and a Fall Seminar. He also teaches in Yugoslavia and Ireland and he is often invited to hold seminars in Germany, Switzerland, Ireland, Russia etc. Since 1994 Fujimoto Shihan has held the rank of 7th Dan. Fujimoto Shihan was chief instructor at AFSA’s 25th anniversary in 2002.For more information about Fujimoto Shihan please visit his web site.-----
Another instructor with warm ties to South African aikido is Sensei Mitsuko Minegishi (6th dan).
Minegishi Sensei started her aikido career at Hombu dojo in 1972. She was educated in Japan and the United States. She received her 1st degree black belt from Hombu dojo and taught aikido at Smith College, Amherst College, University of Massachusetts, Keen State College and the University of New York. She received her 6th dan from Hombu dojo in 1998. She founded and is the chief instructor of Kiribati, Saipan and Guam Aikikai.
She started visiting countries such as Sweden, Singapore, South Africa, Italy and South Korea upon invitation. Minegishi Sensei took part in AFSA’s 25th anniversary in 2002, and has frequently visited us since then.For more information about Mitsuko Minegishi Sensei please visit her web site.
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Rounding up the international instructors was Sensei Franco Martufi (6th dan).
Franco Martufi Sensei started aikido at the age of 14.
He trained extensively with Veneri, Hosokawa, Fujimoto and Tada Sensei.
He is today 6th Dan Aikikai and the AFSA Jokyushidoin and conducts classes at the annual AFSA Aikido Winterschool and Summerschool.
For more information about Franco Martufi Sensei please visit his web site.--------
From South Africa Sensei Paul de Beer (5th dan) shared his experience and training as one of the founder members of AFSA.
Sensei de Beer has more than 30 years experience in aikido and other Japanese martial arts and still trains actively. He carries the honorary title of Shidoin within AFSA and instructs at
national seminars.
Mr de Beer started his martial arts career in 1966. He studied karate under
Richard Salmon sensei (5th Dan, Budo Ryu) and to a lesser extent also with Stan Schmidt sensei (now 8th Dan, Shótokan), the charismatic fathers of SA Karate.
Although the pioneering years of South African aikido were extremely tough, Mr
de Beer was fortunate to always be under the constant influence of instructors with direct ties with the Hombu dojo in Japan and also even with the Founder. His teachers are named below in chronological order: Messrs C Smart (3rd Dan, Aikikai), K Cottier (now 6th Dan, Aikikai Shihan), G
Veneri (6th Dan, Aikikai; Former Chairman of the IAF), F Martufi (6th Dan, Aikikai), Mrs M Minegishi (6th Dan, Aikikai).
While this was by far the highest concentration of senior dan grades ever seen in South Africa, the celebration owed its success in a large part to the spirit of all of the participants on the mat. Old friends reconnected, new friendships were formed, every pairing on the mat offered new lessons to be learnt and different approaches to be explored.
In Aikido, one owes so much to one's uke, one's partner, without whom it is virtually impossible to uncover the intricacies of the technique. And with the range of ukes on the mat, one was often stuck for choice.
On Saturday 01 December, an embukai - or public demostration - was held to share that spirit and the beauty inherent in aikido also with the general public.
After the final training on Sunday 02 December 2007, with weary bodies, sore muscles but also with a soaring spirit, we went our separate ways - richer for the experience, sad that it was over, and touched by all with whom we had come into contact. That is the true meaning of "training together under African skies".
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