Applied Aiki in the UK

Dear AikiWeb members,

Could anyone interested in applied or "off-the-mat" applications of aikido, residing in the United Kingdom, please contact me. There are likely to be two informal meets of people working in, or just curious about this field in October.

Examples of applied aiki include, aikido youth outreach, business-aiki, bodywork, academic research on aikido, aikido with the disabled, police training, mediation work, aiki-arts, etc.

Many thanks,

Mark Walsh

To contact, click on my name in blue to the left of this, and use the "send e-mail" function. You could also post on the thread to keep it alive

Building Bridges.

Dates and locations have now been confirmed:

Brighton, Ki Centre,
12 Queen Square (near station and centre of town), East Sussex.

Saturday 1st October 2005
Free (5 pound donation to dojo for those who wish).

2.00 - 4.00 - Multi style keiko.
5.00 - 6.30 - Applied-aiki presentations and discussions/ tea.
7.00 - Meal at a nearby restaurant then pub.


Edinburgh

Sat/Sunday 8-9th October

Lunch times during the large Yamada Sensei course.
This will not be an official event as such, but just interested parties who are at the course chatting.

These two locations are also great towns for a visit, Brighton being 45 min from London Victoria, and Edinburgh not as far away as you might think!

I will also be at the UKA national course in the Midlands the following weekend if this is better for you.

If you think that aikido can be more than just wrist grabbing, and don't mind training with folks from other associations, then get in contact - on and off the mat!

Mark

Sounds good - count me in

Are these going to be a regular event then?

Hi Tom, see you there.

Participants form Brighton's Aikikai, Shodokan (Tomiki) and Ki Society clubs have all now confirmed so it should be interesting at the very least!

Re regular, we'll see how things go this time, but if it takes off, I'll organise an annual (full) weekend event at least.

Regards,

Mark

Teachers attending include:

Paul Bonett, Shodokan (Tomiki), Brighton, 4th dan.
Alex Megan, BAF, Southampton 4th dan.
Robert McFarland - Ki Society, Brighton, 4th dan.
Jim O'Dwyer - British Ki Aikido Assoc, Dorset, 2nd dan.
Simon Whittaker -- UKA, Cambridge, 4th dan.

Iwama Ryu, Airenjuku Brighton and the NAF will also be represented, and it looks likely that another four or five 4th dan + will also be there.

Presentations scheduled include:

Applied-Aiki - An overview: past, present and future.
Aikido and Security.
Teaching Ki in schools.
Running a dojo as a registered charity.
Physical Intervention - Holding and Controlling
Training Across Borders - A conflict resolution seminar in Cyprus.

Mark

Hi Mark,

Would love to attend but I'm not free this year... do let us know of any future events, or if it becomes annual though because I'd definitely be very interested.

Cheers,

Ben

People have asked what the teaching format will be, well it's a little different from normal…

We'll be doing something called "Round-Robin Keiko" that's been popular at Aiki Extensions Conferences in the USA and Germany. Here's how it works:

As host dojo-cho, MacFarland Sensei will lead a warm up. He'll then hand over to one of the other senior teachers present, who will show a technique (say shomen uchi ikkyo). After practicing for few minutes the first teacher claps and asks for a volunteer to teach the second technique. Someone jumps up and demonstrates waza which builds on, or is an interesting contrast to the one before (say, an ikkyo variation, nikyo or irimi nage with an ikkyo entry). People practice for a few minutes then another teacher demonstrates; and so on.

The idea is not so much to learn a particular way of doing waza, or prove that one style of a technique is better than another, but to try out different variations and see the connections between them. It's creative, confusing and really enjoyable.



The applied-aiki presentations will be in the dojo and will consist of short talks, Q & A, practicing applied techniques and probably a short film. Wear a gi or other comfortable clothing. Non-aikidoka welcome, no athleticism necessary -- you can even bring a cushion to sit on!



Ben - I'll add your name to a distribution list for future events, thanks for the interest.

I'm pleased to announce the participation of Piers Cooke Sensei and Quentin Cooke Sensei. They are senior instructors with the Association of Aikido in Daily Life.

From the people who have e-mailed me so far, the training section of the conference is near capacity, please contact me asap if you wish to attend.

I'll keep two places available for "walk ins", but if you want to be sure of a spot then get in touch.

Cheers,

Mark

This event was a huge success, with 30 aikidoka coming from 12 organizations participating.

An e-mail distribution list for folks interest in similar future events is being compiled, please contact me to be added to it.

Photos from the day can be found here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/twhume/sets/1059805/

A second get-together in London is being planned for December. More soon...

Hi Mark,

it looks like you guys had fun there Is there/will there be a flyer for the London date in December? I might be able to make that one, and would like to see if anyone else at my dojo would be interested as well.

Cheers,
Ben

More details on a London get-together soon. Thanks for the interest Ben.

Sorry for the repost, I put this in the wrong thread originally

UKextensions Part Deux

Disclaimer: all delays, misinformation and downright upsets are mine, any kudos for arranging things and keeping it all on-track, please direct Mark's way

• A day of Round-Robin multi-style training, and presentations of "off-mat" aikido. A seminar for people interested in aikido in everyday life, and how the art can be applied to other fields.
• What does aikido have to do with leadership, business, sports science or peace building? Find out here.
• January 21st, 2006, 2-6pm. Charteris Sport's Centre, Kilburn, London, NW6 7ET, £ 10 -- Suggested donation.

We have a broad and enviable group of instructors who have kindly agreed to come along and teach. Not only can you experience the delights of the brothers Cooke and the spectacular Philip Smith but also join in a throw-along with the exuberant Simon Whitaker before happily enjoying the august presence of Terry Ezra.

Please could you confirm attendance before the day we expect to have to cap places. Contact Ian Hurst or Mark Walsh to do this

Now the misinformation and confusion bit (my very own)
- firstly, the times may be changing to a 1pm start assuming the sports centre lets us as Mark would like us to have a break at some point (wuss)
- mats: we have a hall, so a plethora of space, but mats are (as everywhere) in short supply. I will be asking (and generally begging) around the immediate vicinity - big hint, anyone nearby reading this can lend me a hand -- so final numbers we can accommodate are as yet uncertain.

I hope to have more clear-cut information for you all by the end of the week, until then think of Mark as your friendly contact and me as the grit in the machine that is aiki-extensions UK.

[b]UKExtensions - Jan 21st [b], Kilburn, London. 1-6pm + dinner.

A flyer for this event can be found here (under the Dec 15th entry):

http://www.tomhume.org/

UKExtensions - Jan 21st, London

Capacity has increased due to some kind offers of mats, but we've still booked 40 of 60 places, so drop me an e-mail if you're attending (click on name to left). All styles and affiliations welcome

Hi folks,

Looking through the participant list for this course I notice plenty of Aikikai and ki orientated folks, but nobody from Tomiki/Shodokan or Yoshinkan coming - which is a shame. If you read this and this is you (or other interested folks) - then please shout :-)

It looks set to quite a day.
Cheers,

Mark

Link to course info:
http://www.tomhume.org/aikido/index.html

This event is now officially full - If you were set to go but haven't registered please e-mail asap. Alternatively, Katy on the door will probably accept chocolate as a bribe

Report

UK Extensions was a big success last Saturday. 60 people from a wide range of organisations made the journey to London and a good time was had by all

Round Robin Keiko - renamed "tag aikido" by some - was a lot of fun as ever. Many participants mentioned the pleasant atmosphere, and the lack of politics and ego present throughout the day.

Shihan Ezra (congratulations!) and Senseis P Smith, P Cooke, Q Cooke and Whitaker lead fascinating workshops with humour and vigour. Some of aikido's possibilities were examined, including how aikido can be applied to daily life, business and security. DVD's of "Training Across Borders" Cyprus and Acao Harmonia from Brazil were also enjoyed. £155 from the event will be sent to the latter where aikido is used to help street children.

For the future - Expect several more get togethers this year, a UK Aiki Extensions web site and maybe even a trip to the Middle East! More details to follow. I share a belief with many there last week, that aikido has been divided for too long, and that there's a lot we can do with our art to help ourselves and our communities.

Thanks again to our hosts at Kilburn - Ian Hurst and Harris Sensei, the workshop leaders and everyone else who supported the event.

Mark Walsh
Aiki Extensions UK

Hello Mark,

Do any of these groups and/or events have anything to do with Aiki Extensions, Inc., an organization which enhances communication among those who apply the practice and principles of aikido in venues outside of conventional dojo settings?

http://www.aiki-extensions.org/
http://www.aiki-extensions.org/pubs/aen1.doc

David Wilson wrote: do with Aiki Extensions, Inc

No need to reply to my earlier question Mark, I just opened your profile. I'm starting to read up on all the good work that your organization encourages. Bravo!