'Lo!
Sorry; this forum is supposed to be for showing off photographic artwork but please bear with me - I want to crow about my own art for a while.
I am proud to announce that my new dojo, Great Wave Aikido is now in operation! We just had our first class as a separate dojo this evening.
I've been training in the fighting arts for about 25 years now. Most of that taken up as a soldier/unarmed combat instructor with the Canadian Armed Forces. After I retired (medical) from the Army; I took up traditional martial arts as a way to keep my skills up and learn more.
The vast majority of what I know quite frankly involves killing people - something I don't ever want to have to do ever again. So I began studying aikido - an internal, highly effective and strictly defensive martial art. Over the past few years I've been taking what I've learned at K-W Ki Aikido and made it my own - keeping the softness, grace and peaceful intent of the Ki Society and blending it with the swift effectiveness required for modern real-world defense. The result is what I call Great Wave Aikido.
Last year I began discussing with my teacher (Sensei) about opening up my own school to teach Great Wave. Initially hesitant, she later agreed - and became my first student. Several members of our dojo followed (since I hold my classes in the same gym but on different days) so I was lucky enough to start off with a student base already in place.
Today was Great Wave's first 'official' day of operation - I gave my camera to one of my students and let him snap away. (Most of these pics were taken by Joel, Jill (my teacher)'s son. Typical 16 year old with a wacky sense of humour.)
Here's how it went.
Showing up for first class. Jill, Joel and Paul hanging out the windows. (Yes - first day and I'm late. Go figure!) The club's in a gym in an old factory. Cheap rent, great place to train - very open.
The way up - this is the Great Wave cardio program.
The subject is very serious, but I'm not. I make my classes fun and interesting. My uke is Fraser - who looks way younger than his 56 years.
Demonstrating the first technique of the day - katate-tori ude-kiri oroshi. Fraser's about to go flyyyyyyyyyying.....
One way I differ from other Senseis - due to my Army background; 'good enough' is never good enough. I demand strict attention and make damn sure they understand
why a technique works; not just how to do it.
Joel's been with me long enough to know: when he gets
this look; it's time to shut up.
That's Jill, his Mom - my teacher in Ki Aikdio - beside me.
Demonstrating an over-the-shoulder destabilization with Chris, our resident jock, as uke.
Chris is your typical 'What If Monkey' - one who constantly interrupts with doubts and questions about a technique's effectiveness. He'll often try to make me fail by trying to outmuscle me or fight back. Aikido's not about muscle though - it's about positioning, leverage and movement. So........
...if he wants to fight; that's
perfectly OK with me!
(Note the evil grin.
)
The rest of the pics are
here.
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