Location

13th Canberra Scout Hall, Hovea St, O'Connor ACT

Schedule

Tuesday           4-5 pm [Children’s class]

Wednesday      6-8 pm

Thursday          5-7 pm (arrival by 5.15 is okay)

Sunday 9-11 am

 

Fees – Adult Classes

There is no membership or joining fee.

The first lesson is free.

$10 per class

$7 for full-time students or others not in full-time employment

Fees – Children’s Classes

Fees are for a term of 10 classes = $100.

 

Orders for uniforms (Gi) will be taken during the first session, or can be arranged with the instructor beforehand. A Gi is typically around $35.

 

 

 

What to wear – Children

Children will need to wear a uniform (Gi).

 

What to wear - Adults

Until you know that you want to stay there is no point in buying specific Aikido clothing or weapons. Recommended clothing is a strong top/rugby shirt that will not rip when pulled. Additionally, track suit pants or similar to cover and protect the knees will be needed. Training is performed in bare feet.

Women should consider clothing that will provide them adequate modesty, e.g. a t-shirt under the top garment. Note that no jewellery can be worn whilst training.

Later, you will want to acquire a judo gi (jacket, pants, belt). Weapons such as the jo, bokken and tanto will not be required initially, although many people get them at the same time as their first gi. A Judo gi costs around $80, and a basic jo or bokken around $45 each.

 

What to expect on your first lesson

When you introduce yourself you will be briefed on what to expect during the lesson. This includes the courtesies exchanged (bowing etc), and, if time permits, a senior student will show you some of the exercises prior to the class. You or you parent or guardian will also be asked to fill out your contact details, sign a copy of the Student Code of Conduct, asked to fill out an indemnity, and asked about any relevant health conditions.

It may all seem a bit strange at first - the exercises look a little unusual and it will take 4-6 weeks before your mind and body make much sense of the techniques. Just remember - everybody on the mat with you had a first night/week/month etc. They know exactly what you are experiencing and will without exception be friendly and helpful. There are no egos or attitude on the mat or off it. Everyone is a beginner.

There is no requirement whatsoever to memorise or to "get right" anything taught during a lesson. Instead, the learning method is to let knowledge sink in over time, revisiting material in the knowledge that you will learn more each time.

There are no expectations whatsoever placed upon you, except to smile a lot and enjoy yourself.

 

Head Dojo Instructor

Murray Loader (5th Dan)

Murray studied Matsubayashi Shorin Ryu, a form of Okinawan Karate, for seven years in New Zealand. This was fairly intensive training – six times a week, with often two classes a day. Whilst in NZ he visited a 4^th Dan in Aikido who had returned from studying in Japan and who had set up a dojo in Auckland. Murray was very impressed by the technical, and particularly the mental, aspects of Aikido, and he decided that if he were to ever do another martial art it would be Aikido.

After moving to Brisbane , in 1988 he started studying Shinshin Toitsu Aikido (Ki Society) under Wayne Murray Driver, as there was no dojo of his style of Karate available. An additional impetus was that learning the spiritual side to Karate was difficult outside Japan as few instructors had been taught it, whilst Aikido seemed to live and breathe it. Wayne was a gifted instructor and provided Murray with a solid foundation in both ki understanding and technique.

Since then Murray has studied and taught at the Spring Hill and Cleveland dojos, and is now resident and teaching in Canberra.

Murray attended several seminars with Maruyama Sensei while Sensei was still in Ki Society. Although quite early in his learning cycle (yellow to brown belt), and therefore not quite sure of his own judgement of what he was seeing, Murray was astonished at the level of skill, perception and personal development displayed by Maruyama Sensei. For Murray , Maruyama Sensei formed the very model of what students should aspire to. At this point Sensei resigned from Ki Society and entered a temple for extended study. Whilst a major blow, this also meant Australian students were exposed to a series of excellent teachers such as Reed, Kataoka, Nonaka and Tamura Senseis.

Tamura Sensei (9^th Dan) in particular had a very strong influence on Murray . His blend of a strong martial component and advanced understanding and use of ki perfectly suited Murray ’s own inclinations. Tamura Sensei’s dojos were a living example of a how to live a life with ki, and were simultaneously joyful, tolerant, committed and serious. Advice and guidance from Tamura Sensei and also from Kataoka Sensei (8^th Dan) have played the major part in Murray ’s development.

Maruyama Sensei’s re-emergence from the temple was a very exciting event. Due to his strong connection with Tamura Sensei Murray did not immediately join Yuishinkai when it formed. However, after Tamura Sensei’s untimely passing Murray was welcomed into the Yuishinkai community. A synthesis of Maruyama Sensei’s own formidable understanding and the best of O Sensei and Tohei Sensei (Ki Society), Yuishinkai has proved an excellent home and vehicle for growth and understanding.

 

Children’s Aikido Instructor

Louise Wills

Louise has been studying Aikido for 3 years, both in Melbourne and in Canberra .

Louise is also a qualified fitness coach.

As a mother and an aikido student Louise has a passion for passing on to children the many benefits aikido can provide children in daily life.

She has a comprehensive approach to teaching children, utilising the martial techniques in aikido, the many forms of exercises, the concepts and philosophies inherent in the art, and a lot of fun. Skills-based games are also part of the carefully structured syllabus.

Louise’s objectives for the children include martial skills, confidence, awareness and perception, focus, balance, coordination and agility, and an increasing ability to live a positive, joyful life.