Festive Greetings and Dates for 2010

I hope you all had an enjoyable 2009 and enjoyed the past few weeks of weapons training.

From the New Year, start back on Saturday 9th January, we are in the Squash courts.

Another couple of dates to remember are the BKAA Seminars:

Saturday 13th March 2010 11.30am-5.30pm

Sunday 14th March 2010 10.30am-1.30pm

Saturday 9th October 2010 11.30am-5.30pm

Sunday 10th October 2010 10.30am-1.30pm

I may look at extending the Seminar Sunday times, although will have to consider the number of attendees this year.

Swindon dojo are looking at running an afternoon session on either a Saturday or Sunday in late January, I will let you know once dates have been fixed.

Hope you all have a good break over the Christmas and New Year and see you all refreshed for 2010.

"Our survey says"

To give you all access to the survey that I carried out on the format of our Aikido class and the Techniques that I adopt and pass onto you all. Here are the results:

First about the Class and Tuition Style:

And then I asked questions to see whether there were techniques or elements of the class which you thought I could improve.

As you can see Multiple Attacks and Randori come up as the main focus area, therefore I will concentrate on this in each class moving forward:

As always please approach me, if you want more of something, or you wish to continue running through a principle to really embed it in your mind. Otherwise there is so many options and little time to get you comfortable with all.

December Dates for Warmley Aikido

As this year has quickly moved passed and all the ambitions at the start have drifted into the past and now become plans for 2010. I would like to let you know of some dates to end 2009.

The last few weeks I have enjoyed running through weapons katas and hope that it has given you a grasp of some of the techniques.

I have found with the survey that I sent out that many of you want to see more Randori and Multiple attacks in the class, therefore this will be introduce for 2010.

• 5th - Grading at Bournemouth, so no Warmley class
• 12th - Early class 9-10:30, Zenshin party at Fry's Club, Keynsham
• 19th - Normal class, drink after at The Griffen, Warmley (Bridgeyate)
• 26th - No class
• 2nd Jan - No class
• 9th Jan - Start again in The Grange Squash Court, 10:30-12:30

I will post more before the end of 2009, although again it has been an enjoyable year.

Search for a Suitable Hall

With the charging of mats, per mat, the Grange School has become non-cost effective for the Aikido group.

I have found another hall that is available on Saturday mornings for a reasonable cost, however our club may have to resort to multiple weapons classes over the coming weeks before Christmas, as I will find it difficult to instruct techniques which involve breakfalls until I find another source for mats.

Also getting mats that meet our needs and storage of them is another issue I have to look at.

Please bear with me in the following weeks, I will endeavour to continue as a club. These things are planned to test our resolve.

Another option is for us all to join ranks with Zenshin dojo :o)

To add to this post, I have looked into the cost of the Grange School Squash Courts and this with the hire of some mats is more cost effective than purchasing our own mats, storing and transporting them and moving to a new venue.

Therefore from the New Year our class will be in the Squash Courts, so turn right instead of left. We may find it more noisy due to the Netball in the hall, although we'll work that out.

BKAA Winter (Autumn) Seminar 2009

Small turn-out this time, the recession, Autumn bugs or timing of this year's BKAA Seminar took it's toll on the numbers, although those who attended again enjoyed their time and the nuances of Aikido that was learnt by all.

Focus on wedges and braces was the theme of the weekend, and I will try to pass on during our weekly classes, although my memory is certainly getting worse the longer I leave it.

The Bath sports village judo dojo is certainly an impressive event venue and I will be looking for the next seminar to be before Easter 2010. This will depend on the availability of instructors and venue, as soon as date is set I will be notifying all BKAA members.

I have also attended the Yuudansha meal with Zenshin dojo karate, very enjoyable evening and good to socialise with others with similar interests.

Betsy has survived Freshers week at Reading and is now starting her Uni life, although continues to visit us at the Warmley dojo during the weekends. Oscar has started his apprenticeship at Rolls Royce and is enjoying the move into working life. (Unfortunately that ends long summer holidays, although sabbaticals are available for us older types.

I am still trying to arrange a drink over lunch, maybe November is good for that.

BKAA Seminar Next Week - 3rd/4th October

Next week is the BKAA Autumn / Winter seminar at the University of Bath, all BKAA members are welcome, or come along to watch the event on either day.

Times are :

Saturday 3rd - 11:30am to 5:30pm

Sunday 4th - 10:30am to 12:30pm

Prices are £30 for the weekend, £20 for Saturday and £10 for Sunday.

Hopefully I will see you at sometime during the weekend.

Karate - Zenshin dojo trip to Japan

This week sees Kate, Pete, Hanna and Zoe venture off to Japan as part of a Zenshin dojo visit to the Japanese karate masters.

I'm sure they will all have many stories to tell when they return.

I see many similarities in techniques between those we practice as part of my class and those that Rob and the Zenshin dojo practice.

Just to remind their is no class this week - 19th September

I would also like to give Betsy all our thoughts as she begins her adventure in Uni next week.

Zoe goes for Orange

To show that progress for Aikido students is attainable.
I would like to congratulate Zoe Reeves on achieving her 4th Kyu (Orange belt).

This level brings many new aspects of the Aikido techniques, immobilisations and movements and therefore is not a simple tick in the box to achieve.

Another demonstration to show that the journey we begin will take perseverence and patience.

Dates for the remainder of 2009

As this year has speeded past us, I am trying to plan for the remainder of 2009, prior to the end of year break.

Dates to remember:

• 19th September - No Aikido class - I'm away
• 3rd and 4th October - BKAA Seminar, University of Bath
• Sometime in October, early November, dojo drink at lunchtime
• 26th December - No Class
• 2nd January 2010 - No Class

I will be holding Orange and Yellow belt gradings before the end of the year, although yet to decide when.

Also look out for Blue belt trip to Bournemouth or Swindon :o)
Always good to meet others from other BKAA dojos.

New members and Summer here already

A long time has passed since my last entry and since then we have had a new starter in Tony Bromiley, he has taken to Aikido quickly and passed his Red belt at the end of July. Another beginning on the journey which we pass through.

This year seems to be sailing past me and all the plans at the start have vanished and blurred. We are now looking at the summer holidays, although I will be continuing classes throughout August, I may take a break in September.

Before we know it the BKAA Winter seminar will happen and then we will be into 2010, where did the Millenium bug go, that doesn't seem that long ago.
This year before the nights draw in and the evening get their Autumn chill, we will go out for a drink together, probably after a class for a lunchtime. As arranging any other time is like herding cats.

The class is working towards their next grades, and we may see the pressure increase in September as the seminar draws closer.

BKAA Spring Seminar

The last weekend saw the BKAA Spring Seminar again at the University of Bath.

Hope you enjoyed the day and learnt from the others in the dojo.

As always it is best to try different partners while you have the opportunity and see how all groups have slight changes and adaptations to the techniques.

We are looking at running the next seminar in October or November, although a beach trip may come in the summer months.

February and March events

Seems a long time since I have written anything. Time certainly is speeding up this year.

Couple of early starts this month, one just gone, and second in a couple of weeks. Also the BKAA Spring Seminar is at the University of Bath in March.

Here are the dates for you to remember:

28th February - normal time 10:30 start

7th March - early start 08:45-10:30

14th March - normal time 10:30 start

21st & 22nd March - BKAA Spring Seminar at the University of Bath

28th March - No Aikido

Also remember you can view all the dates in the
"Warmley Aikido Google Calendar"

New Year - Fresh Start

Welcome to 2009 and I hope the New Year finds all refreshed and ready to start again.

I'm sure the first couple of weeks back will feel the strain. Hopefully there won't be too many aches and pains, and the obvious lack of stretching over the festive season is bound to be evident.

I have my goals and challenges this year and although I will be looking at my personal stuff, will not lose the focus of getting you all moved on this year. I have plans to do more with weapons, both kata and techniques.

Just to get us back into rolling about the mat, I will plan to run through kokyunage and projections exercises this week and possibly end with some randori, although all could change on the day.

Two weekends to note in the diary are the 21st/22nd March and 5/6th December, this is when the BKAA seminars have been booked. These are again both at the University of Bath, Claverton Down.

Usual start time this week of 10:30 and hope to see you all then.