Article by Russell Pearse and Jason Wotherspoon
Photos by Ann Reekie and Russell Pearse
Yudansha preparing not only for examination, but for ukemi as well. 3rd dan examination requires at least 3 ukes and can be as gruelling for the uke as for the examinee.
On Friday 11 October, Takayasu Sensei's Sydney City Dojo hosted the Summer 2002 grading examinations for the Takemusu Aiki Association. Many Association students, friends and family attended the evening, including the chief instructors of each of the NSW based dojos - Derek Minus from Turramurra Dojo, Daniel Falero of Bondi Junction Dojo, Ian Thomson of Camperdown Dojo, Damian Harrington of Randwick Dojo, Phillip Reed of Wollongong Dojo, as well as many of the leading students of North Sydney Dojo. The highlight of the evening was the grading of three applicants for Sandan - Mark Wilson and Roger Gibson from the North Sydney Dojo and Peter Bolt from the City Dojo.
The peanut gallery!
It was interesting to see the individual style and approach to Aikido of each of the applicants. Mark displayed relaxed and flowing technique and was a pleasure to watch.
Three nice shots of mark getting uke airborne |
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Roger's technique was precise and strong.
| San-nin jiyu waza. Roger is dispensing with the second attack before the first has hit the ground! |
And Peter's technique was fast, powerful and displayed a great use of atemi.
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Russell Pearse demonstrating excellent zanshin at the end of a tachi-dori |
Takayasu Sensei awarded each Sandan and congratulated them on their efforts. Mark, Roger and Peter are all assistant instructors at Association dojos, and our dojos have no doubt been strengthened with their promotions. Overall the three individual styles of Aikido exhibited three different facets of the many faces of Aikido - fluidity, precision and power - and gave those of us watching something to emulate. It was a great demonstration of Aikido at a higher level.
Training always finishes off with suwari-waza kokyu ho
Earlier on the same evening Rory McLeod and Mike Carter of the Turramurra Dojo graded for Shodan. Both Rory and Mike had obviously listened closely to Sensei's comments at their previous grading and had worked on their hip stability and weapons. A grading for Shodan is quite gruelling and a real test of stamina. Despite the heat and humidity, Rory and Mike performed well. Sensei awarded them each Shodan and gave them some tips for future training. Takayasu Sensei commented on the high standard of the kyu gradings, indeed all grading applicants passed, and said that it reflected well on the senior students. He stressed that although senior students should explore variations and applied techniques, they should concentrate on teaching kihon fundamental techniques to the junior students. He said that good and consistent kihon training would lead to strong Shodan students and the correct dissemination of Aikido.
In addition, the following people were awarded Kyu grades:
Ikkyu
Russell Pearse (City Dojo)
Darren McGrath (Visitor)
Nikkyu
Jenny Conway (City Dojo)
Sankyu
Chihiro Negishi (City Dojo)
Rusty Ooi (City Dojo)
Geoff Colman (City Dojo)
Yonkyu
Mark Gehrke (Wollongong Dojo)
Sunali Lewis (City Dojo)
Tom Salmon (Camperdown Dojo)
Terumi Takahashi (North Sydney Dojo)
Gokyu
Jan Depta (City Dojo)
Ben Galloway (City Dojo)
Frank Hartigan (Camperdown Dojo)
Jim Kiaris (Camperdown Dojo)
Mariko Shinohara (City Dojo)
Marcus Trainor (City Dojo)
Stephane Zerbib (City Dojo)