London Aikido Club News October 2008 Oct 2009 Volume 1, Issue 5 London Aikido News

That Commitment Word

What do Janice, Phil, Paddy, Tony Wilkinson, Keith Meredith and Keith Bentley have in common? Janice isn’t a male and only two of them are called Keith. Try again. They all study aikido, but (front L to R) Phil Croskin, Keith Meredith, (behind that’s a little obvious… Keith standing) Paddy Bergin, (centre front) Tony Wilkinson, (foreground right) Keith Bentley The answer is that they are all (centre back kneeling) Janice Hemmings, (standing) the longest standing students of Lyn Gameson, (back extreme right standing) Sensei Cornish the club still training on our mat, each with 20 years and over of times. They bought me flowers and training experience. Training for that both came to my mum’s funeral – two length of time requires a commitment blokes who would have never entered which is not so easy to come by in my universe otherwise, nor I theirs. these times of myriad distractions and There’s also the warm welcome I fast, easy paths. In this issue we hear receive at the LAC, a base to return to from Phil, Paddy and about how they in what is a somewhat nomadic life. started in aikido. We also go on a short trip down memory lane with a So that’s the people. The other aspect INSIDE : brief history of the dojo. which draws me back is that training puts me in the right place or orienta- As the newsletter was being compiled I tion, in other words it keeps me in the Our dojo’ s journey got to thinking about commitment. As now. Whatever else is going on in my and a tribute you may have noticed, it’s been a life, being on the mat snaps me into while between newsletters. A combina- focusing on the here and now. Interview with Phil tion of geography, injuries and be- These are not the reasons I started Croskin reavement have meant I haven’t trained since last year. The momen- aikido, but they are what has kept me training long beyond the desire for a Tony and Paddy on tum of regular training has always carried me along and it was surprising new rank or better technique. starting aikido how easily and quickly it is to lose both I asked Paddy and Phil about staying Featured technique the momentum and the enthusiasm, with aikido. Paddy said, “You learn a until not training becomes the routine. lot about sticking on the path and not Diary of a Would be So what has drawn me back to the giving up. The reason I train now is Fencer mat? Two things – people and place. I because I can, just about, physically.” realised I’d made some good friends in And for Phil, “The impact aikido has on Destination Iwama aikido, friendships which could only your own internal environment is very ever come from the experience of powerful.” Kids Corner training together. I think of my two We are fortunate to have the opportu- “aikido buddies” from my training in nity to learn from these long-term Message from Australia. One gave me his biggest students. In the end, the essence of Sensei Andy compliment – I was “okay for a girl” – aikido is the doing of the aikido itself, and the other, my first instructor, who nothing more, nothing less. saw me through lots of challenging Jenny Lawther

Page 1 of 22 London Aikido Club News October 2008

Our Sensei, Andy Hathaway, was inter- administered by Yvonne Tabaillou, a ested in things martial from an early nidan who had joined as a student at The Way age and practised a variety of martial the Bath Street dojo in the late 1980s. arts before his interests crystallised into Students still remember her lovely We Were: pure aikido. smile and welcoming manner. It was a The dojo, as we currently know it, was great loss when she passed away on formed in 1977 when Andy was looking Valentine’s Day 2002 after a long our dojo’s for people to train with on a regular battle with cancer. basis. In 1978 Andy also began teach- journey ing classes at the East West Centre, 188 Old Street and also at the Vauxhall Mejiro and in 1980 Andy began to study under the late Morihiro Saito Sensei. In 1983 the dojo moved to 18 Middle 1977 Street in EC1 near the Barbican and classes continued to run at the nearby Dojo started East West Centre for a short period of time. Paddy Bergin, Phil Croskin and Janice Hemmings began their training at 1980 this time. As Phil recalls, the Saturday morning classes with jiu waza were Saito Sensei notorious. “On Saturdays”, Paddy explains, “There was a black belt class from 8-9, followed by a general class 1983 from 9-12. If you turned up at 8 you were expected to stay.” Middle Street dojo Around 1986 the dojo was moved to nearby Bath Street, not far from the Old 1986 Street tube station, and Keith Meredith commenced training there. The dojo has Bath Street dojo always had a busy timetable with classes being held every day of the 1989 week to accommodate the varying needs of students, including some lunchtime classes. Stoke Newington dojo In 2005 Aikikai recognition was given At Christmas in 1989 the dojo was when the club joined Paolo Corallini 1990 moved to the first floor of the Windus Sensei and Ulf Evenas Sensei, the two Road premises in Stoke. “I remember shihan appointed by Saito Sensei opening the door down the stairs to the Acton dojo before his death in 2001. dojo, hearing Andy’s voice shouting, turning around quietly and going For 3 years the dojo expanded to home,” recalls a now braver Janice. include premises on the ground floor 2002 and extend the upstairs mat area. In In 1990 the satellite West London dojo 2007 the first floor premises were Yvonne passes away was started in Acton and for a long time developed as residential flats and the classes were run by Eamon O’Keefe, ground floor premises were remodelled 2005 then Clive Munroe. Today Allan Cowie is to form what is now the current dojo. the head instructor at Acton dojo. Some The club’s ethos has been consistent Dojo expands classes were also run at Middlesex Uni- versity around this time by Louis Hyde over its entire life. In the 1970s and a club was run at BT by Yvonne students would bow, clap, turn around 2007 Tabaillou. Andy Murdoch joined around and start training just as we do today. late 1992, taking over the reins from Regardless of location the business of Dojo moves downstairs Yvonne some time later, until it closed the day is always, “Please may I in late 2004 when Andy relocated to train”. Scotland. Onegai shimasu The dojo at Stoke Newington was

Page 2 of 22 London Aikido Club News October 2008

my income. After a few months into my plan, I got a phone call from Yvonne. “Haven’t seen you in a while Irreplaceable Louis..everything ok?”. That phone call was like a therapy couch, Yvonne the therapist. Before I knew it, I was laying on said imaginary couch telling 18 months ago I changed jobs, her my inner most thoughts. “So you thereby my route to work. On my new are not going to train until you have route I always walk pass a single By Louis enough money to train all the time, is storey white building. The building that the plan?”, said Yvonne, after a had a large signage across the door- Hyde while. “Yes” I said. “Training, even if way that read: LONDON SCHOOL OF it’s a few times is better than not SHIATSU. When I read the sign, training at all, don’t you think Yvonne came to mind. Yvonne prac- Louis...?” continued Yvonne. I felt 7 ticed Shiatsu massage, along with years old again, as our wise Aikido Aikido. A few weeks ago, the building club mother gently showed me my was sold and the signage removed. errors, as she always did on the mat. Gone is my daily reminder of Yvonne, That conversation showed me that: “It as I walk to does not matter work. how slowly you Yvonne taught go, so long as on Friday eve- you do not stop nings with Andy training1” Also, Murdoch. She “The key to was at the club realizing a every day. She dream is to looked after the focus not on club records, success but the bills, filming significance - grading events and that even and the club’s the small steps film archives. along the path She was a point will take on of contact for greater enquirers’, new meaning I’m beginners and a sports masseur to the ”. club’s veteran’s physical aliments. I still trying to apply these principles never saw her angry, she never had a many years on. This is why the bad word for anyone, but was frank inscription in the LAC membership and no push over. She always loved a book, means so much to me. chat and gave sound advice. You could From Yvonne I learnt so much to put hear her laughter from the bottom of into words, particularly the power of the stairs. She put you at ease. the smile. Mother Teresa quoted: Yvonne’s Aikido techniques were “Peace begins with a smile”. Behind gentle, powerful and real. Yvonne’s memorial plaque Yvonne’s smile she hid her battle with which is located opposite the “If I stand here all day nothing is going cancer well. Some people who die kamiza to change, if you don’t”. She used to deserve eternal life. That is why there say to me as I tried to do Tai-No- is a plaque above the mirrors in the Henko with her. “Relax…no tension” dojo: To commemorate Yvonne’s was her favorite phrase. My best contribution and dedication to the club. memory was in the first year of To celebrate her life and the positive training. Freelance work dried up and I impact she had on people and, above was wondering how to pay for my all, to say thank you Yvonne. I am training. I foolishly thought a plan: get grateful to have met you and I miss a job, make lots of money and then I’d you. be able to train all day, every day. My Sources of quotes:1. Confucius, plan involved staying away from Chinese philosopher & reformer (551 training whilst I focused on increasing BC - 479 BC) & 2. Oprah Winfrey,

Page 3 of 22 London Aikido Club News October 2008

INTERVIEW with Phil Croskin by Jenny Lawther How I started Aikido

Phil completed his studies at RADA in The first time I 1975. At that time he had a friend, Pe-

ever trained with ter Woodward (son of actor Edward Phil I dropped a Woodward), who was a walking, strut- tanto on his head. “It wasn’t that hard”, ting, alpha male and a superb swords- I reasoned as I ran, late, through the man. He was also an equity registered rain to the café for our interview, “And fight director. He would often call up it wasn’t on purpose…” I was hoping Phil and say he needed an assistant to he’d forgotten. The warm welcome I work with a famous actor or opera received made me think he was either a singer, one who wasn’t a psychopathic good actor or a very gracious aikidoka. idiot. So Phil supplemented his acting It turned out he was both. work by assisting Peter and also occa- sionally covered for him. Phil Croskin has trained “on and off” in aikido for around 25 years which makes As an actor Phil had a lot of free time in him one of the club’s longest standing the days so he took action performance members still on our mat. He’s also an workshops to universities. Presenting actor and, I learned, very easy to talk physical violence on stage to represent to, as he told me about his aikido jour- reality requires lots of tricks so there is ney. a certain kind of style and methodology. He began with well educated middle As a young, naïve, “country boy”, Phil Phil with a female student class students at universities so the came down from the Midlands to study during a university workshop… teaching was easy and fun. It became is that unarmed combat Phil? acting at RADA in 1973. Part of his more challenging as he moved to fur- stage training included armed combat ther education colleges working with such as sword fighting, rapier and dag- kids who had left school at 15 or 16. ger under an elderly goatee-bearded Groups could be comprised of students sword master. The unarmed combat ranging from the nervous, “Oh God, was taught by a brilliant and inspira- what’s going to happen?” type, to the tional teacher named BH Barry. Phil mildly psychotic ones who thought they really looked forward to his classes. He were going to become Bruce Lee in a created fantastic games and was able to day. “I had to devise some clever exer- get even the most recalcitrant and ordi- cises”, Phil recalled. “I used strategies nary of students to perform extraordi- to bring them together using knowledge nary feats such as diving blindfold from gained from Aikido”. He then shifted to a piano into the arms of other students. the more lucrative corporate work doing He was handsome, cool, thirtyish, had activity based workshops to develop great spirit; and he did aikido. teamwork and trust within an organisa- tion. Phil’s first real contact with all things Japanese was a trip to Japan in the early eighties with Peter Woodward to promote the British Tourist Board. They were performing sword fighting skills – “a little like taking coals to Newcastle”, Phil reflected with his big cheeky grin. Kyoto was amazing. Japan was very mountainous. “I liked the neatness, the tidiness, all the etiquette – I loved it all. Sword fighting as I never recovered from jet lag so I part of stage would go and sit in the paddy field at 3- training. Love the 4 in the morning and watch the geishas expression Phil going to work. I didn’t like the food. I

Page 4 of 22 London Aikido Club News October 2008 attempted to eat it for about four days had to go out and vomit. I thought, and then gave up and ate in the hotels.” ‘Yeah, this is it!’ Later we moved dojos to somewhere in Old Street. I was in So Phil was inspired. He wanted to do a awe of many of the people I trained un- martial art and liked the idea of learning der. I remember a guy called Tim who Japanese sword. He had continually used to do amazing high breakfalls, he heard about using someone else’s en- was like a hero to me.” ergy to deflect an oncoming attack and liked the concept. So an enthusiastic After about five years of training Phil Phil set out to find some aikido training. graded for shodan. “Even though it’s He was in his late 20s, early 30s. “I basically passing your driving test, it’s can’t remember where I saw the ad- still a big deal,” Phil recalled. “I was vert”, he said, “but I started training really scared on the day, really nervous. during the day with Roger Tebb, who Actors at least get the chance to re- was also an actor, at the dojo in Middle hearse! I don’t remember much of it Street. It was a small space and the except I did it with Les who was a taxi changing room was the mat cupboard. driver. He had wonderful spontaneous Occasionally a strange, scary, frighten- technique and I was pedantic and nerv- ing figure would come – yes, it was ous. Sensei Cornish was there. I was Andy.” waiting for some words of wisdom from “I found aikido very difficult”, Phil recalled, “It wasn’t how I imagined it at all. All the mythical fan- tasies which are partly pro- moted through movies and martial arts clubs are a load of bol- locks. The fan- tasy work is fine in the world of acting and I was as naive as the next person about it all. Reality hit in Taken at a tea ceremony in Suzuka the first class I did with Andy.” Gardens near Nagoya, Japan “Physically I’m quite confident,” Phil confided. “I thought, “Yeah, I can go 600 years of martial arts, something and do three hours.” He chuckled. “I epoch making…. Sensei Cornish made was probably one of the most inexperi- two points – when you bow, put your enced people there. I was terrified of heels together; when you lean, your Andy. I used to get into trouble for hav- sword should be handle on the floor to ing an opinion. This confused me be- protect the point. cause I thought I was interesting! The I bowed, left with my girlfriend, went to best tip I can give is to keep your the Canal Bridge up the road and cried. mouth shut and just smile. Don’t have It was partly cathartic and partly, an opinion on the mat, don’t show ‘What’s he on about’? It’s taken me you’re in pain and don’t disagree.” twenty years to understand how impor- Phil trained during the day two to three tant etiquette is. It’s taking care of times a week. “I remember Claire using every aspect of your life, to do with me as her uke. I was hung over and awase, awareness of what’s going on - after doing some forward breakfalls I on a battlefield you’d look after your sword.”

Page 5 of 22 London Aikido Club News October 2008

All that was fifteen years ago. Today fact they’ve got worse. I find it strange Phil is a 4th dan. “So what else has when people look up to you as though aikido taught you?” I asked. you have special insight into the world.” “You’re only as good as your last train- I reminded Phil of our first encounter on ing session,” replied Phil, “And it’s not the mat. He looked nonplussed and paid just about technique, but attitude and for my coffee. Very gracious. Yes, spirit. My shiho nages have never aikido can bring out the best in you if improved in the last twenty years, in you let it.

How I started aikido

By Tony Wilkinson

After my 40th birthday a lot of often accompanies competition. After a changes happened in quick succession. few minutes I slipped back out through (Did you say “mid-life crisis”?) The the sliding screen, my mind made up first seed was planted by someone I to have a go. met on holiday who talked enthusiastically about something called aikido, a word I had not heard although I had flirted with the idea of ...the atmosphere was learning judo many years before. Then I saw one of the long-running Time serious, ordered and Out ads for the club and thought I completely without that would take a look. slight air of menace In a now familiar alley in a run-down which often part of North London I saw “Aikido” accompanies over a door which opened on a steep set of stairs. Fighting back an inner competition voice which suddenly insisted that this couldn’t really be of much interest I

went up and saw a man dressed in When the beginners class started a pyjamas (unusual style: white top, few weeks later the same man with black trousers) standing alone holding the shaved head (have you guessed a very young baby. From behind tall yet?) introduced himself, said a few panelled doors I could hear shouts and words about aikido and proceeded to thumps. The baby-carrier explained throw another person from one end of about classes and asked if I wanted to the mat to the other. The missile take a look. He slid back one of the simply rolled and stood up. I can’t doors and told me to stand (shoeless) have been the only person kneeling in on the mat. More pyjama-clad people a new white suit who felt a little were listening intently to a man with a apprehensive, until it was explained shaved head explaining with a wooden that this was not quite how we would stick something I didn’t understand, start. Then the class teacher, who had twisting first one way then the other been kneeling respectfully in the line as two others struck downwards at with us novices, took over and began him. But everyone else seemed to take to explain how to stand in hanmi. And the point, efficiently paired off and the rest, as they say, is history, began to practice. There was no eighteen years of it to be precise. I struggle, I noticed: the atmosphere only wish I’d got there ten years was serious, ordered and completely earlier. without that slight air of menace which

Page 6 of 22 London Aikido Club News October 2008

Keith Meredith on Why I Keep Training While training can at times be painful, tiring, demeaning and frustrating, I do feel that there are underlying benefits - physical, psychological and philosophical - which have made the effort worthwhile. I am, after twenty-two years of regular practice, reluctant to give up on the not unreasonable objective of official recognition of a basic level of competence that translates from Japanese to English as "beginner"! I appreciate the social side of Tori: Jodi McLean Aikido, its camaraderie and the good Uke: Keith Meredith people that make up the club.

Memories of training Uke: in the dojo at Dave no. 4 Bath Street, Nichol London EC1

From Left to Right: Roger Tebb Tim Soar Victoria Phil Croskin Lincoln Laurie White

Page 7 of 22 London Aikido Club News October 2008

“How did he do that?” This was the fight How I started Aikido where the master swordsman, Kyuzo, (played by Seiji Miayaguchi) kills his By Paddy Bergin opponent with a single stroke, having reluctantly accepted the challenge to I started Aikido training in 1984 after duel. I thought it was this that seeing a bit of film about an elderly man motivated me to start Aikido. dealing with continuous attacks from several people. It got my attention It took years of Aikido training to find immediately and I was very curious out that what he actually did was the about how he was moving. It looked first Ken awase, stepping back to make and felt that there was no clash of the cut rather than forwards. One strength and what he was doing was move. effortless. About 5 years ago I was asked to speak In that moment I knew that I wanted to to a group who were starting on an NLP find out more about this Martial Art Master Practitioner course, about my which I learned was called Aikido and work. I did the usual verbal profile and the only way to do that was find whilst enlarging on this found myself somewhere to train. talking about learning and learning how to learn. I looked through Floodlight, a directory of Further Education courses and found a class once a week just off Bunhill Row and also started at the London Aikido for me it was the Club the next year. curiosity to ask “how I had always been interested in learning a martial art but Karate was the only ne do you do that?” I was aware of and it had never appealed to me. I had done some boxing at school and was OK but there were always kids who were bigger, I reminded the group that the whole better and stronger both inside and field of NLP came from having a sense outside school. It was the same when of curiosity and fascination about what playing rugby and football but at least I people are doing in order to be had ball skills, speed, and balance and effective. It wasn’t that they had a god- evasion techniques. I thought it was given talent but rather that they were this that motivated me to start Aikido. employing certain strategies in their thinking, their internal state and their Many years later when I saw Aikido I actions to succeed. These strategies can realised that there was a way to acquire the skills to deal with strength and size without having to be bigger and stronger myself. I thought it was this that motivated me to start Aikido. I remember the first time I saw Kurosawa’s film “Seven Samurai” in about 1969 and after seeing the sword fight asking myself

Page 8 of 22 London Aikido Club News October 2008

be modelled and taught to others – the Time gives us the ability to take “the study of excellence. longer view”, a different perspective and looking back now I can see a whole I went on to explain that I thought this series of cause/effects connecting back interest in NLP probably came from my to my childhood. It was only when I was father. He came from a poor telling all of this to the group that I background in rural Southern Ireland realised that my own sense of curiosity and he and his brothers learnt to be self was modelled from my father and his reliant. They had to be able to build and quest to find out “how” so he could it mend things and if they didn’t have the himself. For him it was about survival, tools they would make their own. Out of for me it was the curiosity to ask “how adversity came resourcefulness and do you do that?” and that is how I many skills so there was always the started Aikido. curiosity in how something worked so they could learn to do it themselves. As a kid I spent many hours in the evenings holding the Uke: Batu Onver lamp while my father hunched over his car engine. This was boring but later paid off when I needed my motorbike mending.

Paddy performing his shodan grading in the Bath Street dojo in 1989. Uke Victoria Bottom photo with Phil as uke

KEITH BENTLEY

Paddy works as an NLP Trainer, Personal Coach and Eriksonian Hypnotherapist and runs 5 day NLP Programmes for Middlesex University Summer School. He has a private practice where he does NLP change work as well as helping people with more strategic coaching. He works in Business, Education, Sports, NGOs etc.

Page 9 of 22 London Aikido Club News October 2008

FEATURED TECHNIQUE KOSHI NAGE Koshi Nage or “hip throw”. The tori uses his own hips as an axle for rotation and drops his outside shoulder. The uke’s body is projected over tori’s body in a wheel like motion and onto the mat. Koshi Nage is a way of “passing below” and is a very important technique for learning about articulation of the hips. It is most useful for passing out of a circle of multiple attackers by passing under, through and away. This technique is ideal for a short person to use on a taller attacker. Key points to remember: Right x O’Sensei stressed that the two bodies should KOSHI NAGE: Using the form a cross when contact is made with uke’s hips as an axle for torso. rotation. Tori: Janice Hemmings x The hips should be positioned under the Uke: Nick Reignier uke’s centre. To attain this proper foot positioning is crucial. x Koshi nage is not a lift, but a rotation. Uke is rolled over not lifted up. No muscular strength is required. The attacker is “floated”, then carried by the force and momentum of his movement to be turned upside down in flight, landing on his back.

CONGRATULATIONS to all those who have passed Grading Results 28 March gradings this year. Well 2009 done! Special 6th kyu congratulations to our Paul Adams three new shodans. Hamish Mackay Abdul Aziz Janice Rossabi Grading Results 8 August 5th kyu 2009 Marco Scata Matthew Svenson 6th kyu Samuel Mackanzie 3rd kyu Tomasz Jedrzejiko Jo Wheeler Maja Kardum 5th kyu Keith Forward Abdul Aziz “Young” Matthew! 1st kyu 4th kyu Evelyne Faury Marco Scata Sam Akopian Matt Svensen Shodan 2nd kyu Jochen Encke Batu On Asari St Hill Jo Wheeler Aya Phipps Simon Beer

Page 10 of 22 London Aikido Club News October 2008

Eighty Years 2008 Young

In December 2008 members of the dojo joined Sensei Cornish on the Sunday after Christmas to celebrate his 80th birthday at the Haikksun Chinese Restaurant in Church Street, Stoke Newington. Everyone had a lovely evening and were treated to free dessert by the restaurant. Keith Meredith also baked and decorated a cake which was enjoyed at the regular Tuesday night weapons training. Although the candles did rather join up with the icing the inside was still delicious! Sensei John Cornish trained for 6 years in Japan under O’Sensei and other Hombu Sensei. He returned to Britain in 1964 and set up his own club, the Budokwai, where he taught both Judo and Aikido. He was the founder of the UK Aikido Federation and now joint head of UKTAF (United Kingdom Takemusu Aiki Federation). He is the Source: www.zoominfo.com only non Japanese to have demonstrated Kata for the Emperor.

Page 11 of 22 London Aikido Club News October 2008

From time to time we will feature one of the THE OTHER MARTIAL ARTS: Fencing various martial arts. Although they are all different in form, each one requires discipline and commitment from its practitioners. One of the greatest differences from aikido is that most other martial arts have formal

Janice Hemmings, 4th dan in aikido, explores what it is like to be a beginner again in her entertaining Diary of a Would Be Fencer

Beginners course for decorative purposes. Knees a is because everything above the bit dodgy, but not too bad. What waist is a target in sabre, and some Week 1: “First class nerves” next. Advancing and retreating. things need more protecting than First class nerves - wondering Advancing and retreating with a others. Men do not need any what on earth was going to happen. partner, taking turns in leading and protection because no-one should Would my legs and knees hold up following. Lunging. Staggering be aiming below the waist. We will under the strain? Fellow Aikidoka back out of the lunge. Lunging. also wear a glove on our sword Phil Croskin (an experienced Bouncing out of the lunge. hand once we have some idea of fencer and stage fight director) Advance, lunge, recover, retreat what we are doing. The instructor had already warned me about the (stagger). Now do it faster. Now assures us that if we hold our hand fencing stance. do it leading and following with in front of the target area we your partner. Faster. Keep your deserve to get it hit. He also tells In the event, my friend Mary and I distance and lunge when they hold us that the upper body should be arrived at the gym of a boys school their hand up. End of class, end of loose and the abdominals and legs with plenty of time to spare and to legs. It was only half an hour - should be engaged. Heard that see who else arrived. There were what happens next week when its before. more than 20 people of varying the full hour? ages and levels of fitness and two- The 'on guard' position is thirds of the class were female. Week 2: “I am introduced to the different to last week with the We pulled up benches and sat down sabre” left arm just hanging down. For to listen. the last five minutes of the class I develop burning lungs and hacking we line up opposite each other in The first half of the one hour cough during the warmup. Mary full regalia and practice clonking class was an introductory talk by has forgotten her trainers so is each other on the top and sides of Tim Gadaski about the history of watching smugly from the side (too the face mask with a sabre. It fencing, what was expected of us much risk of injury for a beginner sounds metallic from the outside, and how the course would progress. in bare feet she is told). This is but is quite echoey and a bit Different types of antique swords followed by a game of tag which alienating on the inside. We then were passed around so that we quickly turns into a strategic game take turns raising our sword arms could get the feel and weight of of ganging up and goes on until the so that our partners can whack us 'real'swords and guess what dif- last person has been cornered. on the ribs (or flank as its called ferent sorts of attack and defence We are introduced to our here). The kit gets peeled off and they could be used for. After equipment. The jackets are blue, put away, and we wobble off to the being warned that we would not and mine is a large and my mask is changing room. get to pick up our swords till Week a medium. The jackets zip up the 2, we stood in two lines facing each The intermediate class have been back, so as its not possible to other to start the exercises. arriving during our class and their fasten your own, and a lot of co- warmup started whilst we were First the on guard stance, operation goes on. The sabres are threatening each other with hmmmmmmmmm. Feet heel to the same for everyone, and no one sabres. They all look very fit. heel, knees bent, one arm is left handed. After we beginners leave we line pretending to be a sword and the We ladies get to wear a large up outside the gym windows and other one waving around the ear plastic bra under our jackets. This look down into the hall at the

Page 12 of 22 London Aikido Club News October 2008 intermediates doing their drills. We our striking drills. I have no balance, face masks are filtering out all exchange glances and sigh. and no explosive energy. germs), I win.

Week 3: “I make unrealistic We are introduced to three parries, We are running out of time and the plans” tierce, quatre and cinque (?). teacher calls the final. Its me and Confusion breaks out as we try to the big bloke. I offer to give in, but Mary is off sick with a viral eye practice the new routines. he thinks I'm joking. I don't see infection,so I am on my own. how I can get close to him, without The mood is unsettled in the ladies being hit. I clutch my sabre as hard We start straight away with drills, changing room, as we realise how as I can (which is wrong, wrong, and paired work then into our kit. technical fencing is...... We are shown briefly how to do a wrong as all you sabreurs will know) salute, and touche is explained Week 5: “I am tired” and hope for the best. I can't tell (acknowledge when you are hit and how its going, but the teacher I am tired. My brain thinks it is don't lie). We are then in pairs and announces we are 4 all so we have to going to fencing, but my feet are trying to lunge at each other with salute someone (each other? the taking me to liverpool street sabers. Inside the kit and face ref? the spectators? no idea) station. Brain wins and my empty mask, I am getting hotter and before continuing for the last point. husk turns up late at the class. The hotter, and have to take my mask Big bloke does an extravagant teacher appears to be speaking off occasionally to let some of the salute, and I do an embarrassed english, but its not sinking in. We steam out. I realise my fitness has flick. have new routines and I flail about to improve by at least 200% to in a confused manner. Luckily my He wins the point, we shake hands, stand any chance at all of surviving partner has a sense of humour and and its over. I have had an a fencing match. My partner and I is also tired so we shout unexpected near-victory and feel commiserate with each other, then encouragement and instructions to enthused about the idea of fencing we move on to our next partners. each other. again. My next partner has arms twelve The numbers are the same, but times as long as mine, and looks like another turnover of people. We he knows what he's doing. I remain Advanced beginners class stop - I go home stunned. calm and do my best to kill him - unfortunately it doesn't work and I Week 6: “I have an unexpected lose horribly. We shake hands and near victory” “I have an invitation to dance” take our masks off. I am pleased to I have joined. see that he looks just as hot and The last week - I don't know if I sweaty as I do. want to do this any more. I felt This is my first class in the completely demoralised after the ‘advanced beginners’ class. It The intermediates have arrived, and last two weeks classes, and I have doesn’t start until 7pm so I go via we hang our kit up. My jacket is been boring people at work with my Marks & Spencers, Moorgate. soaking wet, and I hope no one else woes. plans on wearing it this evening. I sit and wait with the others for We are going to have a little the new beginners class to finish. I I leave feeling both energised and beginners competition, but before don’t recognise any fellow students wiped out at the same time. On the then we are going to warm up. so I watch the new beginners with way home I make unrealistic plans There is an odd number of people interest. Some of them have to improve my fitness. and I have drawn the short straw. I obviously done something else am training with an instructor. He Week 4: “It gets a bit technical” before and some of them are very, seems to think that my feet are very fit. One of them can not only 8 people! Not all the same people as under my control, and wants me to jump from lunge to lunge, he can last week however, three of them do something about them. I keep also do a handstand between the haven't been for a week or two, so nodding, but my feet aren't two. I wonder which of them will there may be a pool of 13 people. listening. still be there in the last class.

Warming up exercises - grasping We start the competion - my first Someone from my beginner’s class forearms and trying to unbalance partner doesn't feel well. I win. has arrived, so there are two of us. your partner, picking up the glove. My second partner has missed some We huddle. The beginners’ class classes. I win. My third partner We put our kit on, and continue with finishes and our warmup starts with doesn't feel well (I do hope the Jacopo. We run round the room.

Page 13 of 22 London Aikido Club News October 2008

We run forwards, we run Free fencing starts. Tim takes He is being kind and I am doing my backwards, we run sideways, we do pity on us and explains the rules to best. My feet still won’t move, so that strange sidestepping front fellow student who missed the last I advance slowly. All goes well and back thing that fencers do. class. We start with Tim until I hit him in the groin. I take We do bunny hop jumping in the air refereeing – I can’t tell which my mask off and ask him if he is things. Eventually we stop, and points count and which don’t. ok. He obviously isn’t, but this is followed by timed very fast Presumably it becomes clearer continues. How brave. stepping routines using the with time. I lose. It seems I am On the way home my left calf is tramlines marked on the floor as a too static. My excuse is that my turning into concrete- I dread the guide. We lead and follow in a feet got lost in the warmup. Tim morning. My left foot is aching as pair. There is a break and we put instructs us to blend in with the I wake up, and as I walk about my our kit on. Fellow student and I others, and have a go with some Achilles tendon feels tight. practice clocking each other on the other people. I chat to another head and side. student, she did the beginners When I get to work the next course before ours. I asked her morning I have an email giving me The practice becomes more how much she had improved and my assessment (introductory complex, involving one partner she didn’t felt that she had. We private lesson) date. Its next holding the sword out in a line, had a match and neither of us Thursday at 6pm with Jacopo for whilst the other side parries the could really tell who won the 40 minutes. That gives me a 20 blade attempts a strike and is points, so we just carried on. We minute break between the stabbed by the defender. We are came off and continued chatting. assessment and the class. I really confused and we take our masks am going to die..... off. Help eventually arrives and we I have an invitation to dance. I get going. warn my partner and we start off.

nage class, I cut my nails off. Nail Painting As for the nail varnish, it just doesn’t look right on such short nails and if you I stopped painting my nails soon after wear it on your toenails it comes off on starting Aikido. We have to have our the mat. And then you have to try and fingernails cut short so that we don’t get it off take chunks out of other people’s skins with nail or inadvertently stab them or poke their varnish re- eyes out. Nails also get twisted in cloth- mover and ing and torn off. Toenails have to be toilet paper short for the same sort of reasons. I whilst Andy have been stabbed in the foot more gives you than once by partners with long toe the full nails and badly scratched by someone benefit of who thought their guitar playing was his opin- more important than their partner’s ions. It’s safety. At some point in their Aikido car- really not rer most people will have had to ask worth it. someone to go and cut their nails However, I am going off on a month’s (scissors and plasters by the door) be- holiday soon, and when I was in Boots fore continuing. thinking about what I needed to buy, I When I started Aikido I used to have surprised myself by buying some nail talons which I was very proud of— varnish (3 for 2 actually) and then Janice Rossabi however after taking a core of skin out painting my nails as soon as I got of someone’s wrist after doing kote home. No-one else has noticed—but I gaeshi on them (getting flesh out from keep looking at my painted nails and under one’s fingernails is not for the smiling. I will be painting my toe nails squeamish) and being shouted at by before I go and not cutting my nails for someone else for taking chunks out of a month—but it will all be gone before I the back of their neck during an irimi am back on the mat again.

Page 14 of 22 London Aikido Club News

in through security there was nothing more to be done but relax and have a Destination good old English breakfast, the last we would enjoy for a month.

Iwama Tell us about getting to Iwama We should have practised our Japanese Joe Rossabi and Louis Hyde on the 12 hour flight, but instead make a pilgrimage to the watched lots of movies until we arrived Ibaraki Prefecture (PART 1) on 31 March at Narita Airport. We were due to arrive as new recruits in Iwama Louis Hyde tells Jenny Lawther on All Fools Day which, we decided by What made you decide to make the the time we got there, was most trip? appropriate. Andy told Joe he thought he should As it was a 6-8 hour train journey to make a trip to Iwama and I was Iwama we stayed overnight at a town interested so Joe said, “If you go, I’ll enroute where it was time to deal with The “last breakfast” go.” Eventually Joe got the time off one of the most stressful elements of work and after a year’s planning there the journey—the Senseis’ present. was nothing else stopping us. Andy Andy had bought a really nice whisky came back from a weekend seminar and which meant we had to come up with told us we’d been invited to stay for the something else. We chose nice silver Tai Sai Festival. We said, “Great – pocket watches but, being regular guys, whatever that is!” we were lost on the gift wrapping. We’d We’d paid for our tickets, worked out gone as far as buying a scarf at the our budgets. All I was worried about airport just so we could get our gifts was insurance as imaginings of scenes wrapped, but it was a rubbish job so we from Angry White Pyjamas* filled my were back to square one. thoughts. After hearing Perry’s After asking in the hotel lobby for help experience we decided we needed to we eventually managed to get the liquor train hard for it. So we wrapped, but the watches were a both trained as much as problem. Major stress! We went back we could, such a mixed with the watches but the lady politely bag of emotions – it refused. She gave us some pink was quite exciting but wrapping paper and we tried to do it also scary. Those ourselves but that didn’t work out – scenes from Angry we’re both better at aikido than gift White Pyjamas kept wrapping. lurking… We made it our first task when we arrived in Iwama to find a shop which would do it for us. Major stress turned Louis outside the jinja When did you leave? into major relief. Who would have We were due to l eave early on Monday thought gift wrapping was going to be 30 March 2009. There had been a our first major challenge – they never grading the day before so there was a had that problem in Angry White fair amount of desperate last minute Pyjamas. packing. It was at the airport that the nightmare began. We’d both packed way too much. Andy How did you find settling in that “Angry White had said, “Wear a suit”, so I had two first week? Pyjamas” is the true suits, too many shoes and at least As we pulled up to the dojo and I saw story of an twenty gis. We had to go and buy extra extremely funny and the shrine (jinja) on the other side bags and do some strategic repacking. unlikely urban quest edged by trees I though, “Beautiful”. in which Oxford After checking our weapons into the Little did I know how much of a trial poet Robert Twigger oversize section and checking ourselves those trees would be to us… trains with the Tokyo Riot Policy in their year-long intensive Yoshinkan Aikido course. Page 15 of 22 London Aikido Club News October 2008

Enzo, the head uchi deshi, came out to charisma. His morning 6am classes meet us and other uchi deshis seemed were the “full menu” and the mantra to appear out of the woodwork. There became, “No pain, no gain”. That first were two guys from Burma, Christian Thursday morning was a shock! (from Germany), Artur (from Poland) First there were yokomen uchi strikes to and his girlfriend and another Polish a rope covered pole, then forearm girl. smashes with a partner. This was The Burmese students train directly followed by really under Inagaki Sensei and are selected fast sets of 3 to come and train in Iwama. It is punches to a Where O’Sensei’s considered a great honour and they board held very cooking pot used to have to do really intense training, which low by a partner. stand includes physical blows, and their It hurt! My left training is more intense than the other hand is still not uchi deshi. We found them to be the the same. It most valuable to train with as they were wasn’t long before nearer to the source. Joe had open wounds on his We were given the tour of the knuckles. Maybe I dojo. It was such an awe- wasn’t punching as inspiring experience to see hard as I managed where O’Sensei used to stay to escape that. and where some of his After this form of possessions are still stored. It’s torture Inagaki kept really clean; that’s where Sensei would perform Dosshu and his son stay and kokyu nage throws on only the Burmese students are Some of O’Sensei’s possessions everyone. There were allowed to clean it. After press ups (with a lot stocking up on food we learned about of cheating) and then the training times and we were itching weapons. The to train. Burmese students That first training session reminded me would train some of starting out in Aikido. We just tried to students in the observe and fit in as we couldn’t evening in weapons as understand the Japanese. That’s when many Japanese we felt the mat for the first time. It’s students were working not a mat, it’s a bit of wood with fabric and couldn’t attend on it. It’s hard and you slide. It’s really the morning classes. hard. There was blocking, we were quietly tested, but there were no new techniques. It was more a matter of meticulously observing etiquette. After the preliminary bowing in, warm ups, lining up in correct hierarchical order, we would spend a very long time facing the kamiza in silence. I learned I The makiwara used for bokken practice was holding my breath a lot. The rest of the one hour class consisted of the Class would finish at 7am and Inagaki usual demonstrations and training. Sensei would leave. Regular tasks were Toshihiro Isoyama Sensei took that first then performed – lots of sweeping – one hour evening class. Joe and I had and breakfast or bed would be fitted in to go up the front and introduce somewhere. ourselves.. From 8-9am was time to clean the jinja. Inakagaki Sensei took the morning That’s when we grew to hate those classes. He has a dry, beautiful sense of trees because they shed leaves like no- humour and a huge amount of one’s business. We would then put the

Page 16 of 22 London Aikido Club News October 2008

charity box with a little book for expanded since then. The best laid TAI SAI FESTIVAL recording contributions outside the plans… as they say. This is held at the Aiki jinja. This was for Iwama people to shrine in Iwama every make donations towards a statue of year to honour the foun- O’Sensei. Carrying on from Saito Tell us about the Tai Sai Festival der. Sensei, this is the responsibility of the The highlight of April is the Tai Sai The doors are opened Ibaraki dojo. Then it was rakes and wheelbarrows. Sweep the leaves in a Festival. During the two weeks of that on this day for the shrine line, rake the gravel in a Zen like month the cherry blossom is in full to be open in communi- manner. Sweep. Sweep – the jinja, the bloom – very picturesque, much cation with nature. dojo – sweeping, sweeping. I learned to celebrated, but very transient. I thought sweep with my hips. It would take that’s what the Festival would be The special demonstra- about.; We had a lot to learn… tion by Dosshu is called around two and a half to three hours ho no embu or demon- depending on the number of volunteers. Next Issue: Part 2 of stration offering. For the first week it was a special experience, then after that… We so Destination Iwama The social gathering envied Hitohiro Sensei’s students who afterwards to celebrate don’t sweep the jinja as they’re no is called naorai. longer allowed on the land. If it was windy or raining there was some respite, otherwise it was us versus the leaves. In Iwama there are three different Aikido schools. There is our Ibaraki dojo., The second school is that of Hitohiro Sensei. They have a 3 story building next door which is used as their The dojo area where we trained and living quarters and they train down the slept road. The Aiki School or “Aiki House” is run by Nemoto Sensei. When Perry visited Nemoto Sensei taught at our dojo but he’s no longer doing that, although in the evening his students would come and train with us.

Tell us more about the daily life? Joe, Chris and I slept in the dojo on the mats as the uchi deshi house was full. It was a bit disjointed as our clothes were in the house and we were in the dojo. Every morning we would have to O’Sensei in his younger days meticulously roll up the futons, fold the blankets and store them away. There was, as with everything else in dojo life, The kamiza a certain way this had to be done. There was an “urban legend” that if you sleep on the central mat you’ll hear O’Sensei training and someone slapping the mat. I made sure I counted out the mats and found the central one but, rather disappointingly, I didn’t hear anything but the occasional snores of Joe and Chris! Eventually I was told that, despite my calculations, Christian was actually sleeping on the location of O’Sensei’s weapons the original central mat. The dojo had

Page 17 of 22 London Aikido Club News October 2008

Other contributions in that thread noted that doing service in the dojo is as much a part of the experience as taking lessons. One contributor quoted Walking a the “Rules of the Dojo” (ASU Training Handbook 3rd ed) which, in spirit, can be read as though coming directly clean path from the founder: “Cleaning is an If this article had been titled active prayer of thanksgiving. It is each student’s responsibility to assist in cleaning the dojo and to cleanse his ‘Cleaning the dojo’ how many of you or her own mind and heart.” The foun- would have moved on to something der believed wholeheartedly in misogi else immediately? No doubt most may – purifying the mind, body and spirit. be considering this now you’re fairly He believed: “Sweating is misogi; certain it is about cleaning the dojo. cleaning is misogi; fasting is misogi; Try and stay with it, it may be more keiko (training) is misogi.” interesting than A very interesting you think. perspective is You may recall added in an article from the last on cleaning the issue the article dojo from the about Perry’s Senshin Centre, trip to Iwama Santa Barbara, in and just how which it is noted important a role that cleaning has cleaning is given long been regarded in the study of in Japanese culture aikido and, as a method of self indeed, in all cultivation. Four martial arts. major aspects are Everyone is highlighted: responsible for 1. Centred and pur- the cleanliness poseful movement of the dojo, no – giving the matter the rank. student an oppor- It is not simply a matter of hygiene tunity to practise what he has just but is also meant to contribute to experienced in class in relation to one’s character – patience and being alertness, good breathing and centred grounded are two which readily spring posture. to mind. But it is also about cultivating humility and responsibility. Sensei 2. Awareness of our relationship with, George Ledyard in a thread entitled “Is and impact on, the environment cleaning the dojo a part of training?” in enables us to put into practice the Aiki News speaks about getting out of social philosophies of Aikido. something what you put into it so that 3. A way to practise paying finer and the place becomes yours in a very real finer attention to detail. way. When you invest emotionally in something you develop a relationship 4. It helps us to mark the dojo as a with it. special place just as we do when we remove our shoes and bow upon entering.

Page 18 of 22 London Aikido Club News October 2008

There are two children’s classes a week: Here’s what some of the club's regular kids Thursday think about aikido... 6.30-7.30pm and Saturday 2-3pm.

Seyi Karriem I’ve been doing aikido for 14 weeks now and it’s good exercise. You also get to make new friends.

Natha n Gonella I like bre

akfalls Mai a G I onel ’ve b la een t and raini I like ng f al or 83 do m l of i les y th t. I’m sons fo ird t ab r my ag an out t

grad d I p o

my ing ract da so ic d m e at etim home es w . ith

Page 19 of 22 London Aikido Club News October 2008

KIDS CORNER

What we Roxanne Hatton think about aikido

Asia Abbatiello Eogan Litten Aikido is fun and it Beatty ls helps you with skil I’ve learnt loads of and I’ve made new techniques and my 45 friends. I’ve done favourite thing is lessons so far. training with the

Lili Ricketts I ’ve been tra ining for 6 weeks now tructor and I’ve le Lili, ins ho arnt nd w to defen lyne Fury, a Luca d from Eve punch ing. I also l Luca ike backwards b reakfalls.

Page 20 of 22 London Aikido Club News October 2008

Follow the maze .. Follow the happy faces to find the correct path through the printed maze. Frowning faces are off the correct path.

KIDS CORNER

Page 21 of 22 London Aikido Club News October 2008

London Message from Sensei Andy One of the most neglected classes in is from the Omoto ryu which is where the dojo is the Sunday afternoon class O’Sensei found his enlightenment. So it Aikido between 2.30-4.30, taught by Janice was very interesting to have a small Hemmings who holds the rank of taste of this. yondan. Club Maeda Sensei said that Waraka Budo is Janice has been in the dojo for over 20 the brother of Aikido, that is, it comes years and has attended the majority of from the same source. I know from Ulf Find us at: my tai jitsu and weapons classes in that Evenas Sensei that Saito Sensei asked 60A Windus Rd time. She frequently repeats material O’Sensei on more than one occasion if Stoke Newington taught earlier in the week with more he should join the Omoto Ryu and London thorough explanations than I am practise the kotodama to further his N16 6UP inclined to give. She’s also made a quite aikido. O’Sensei’s reply was that he was specialised study of ukemi and delights what he was as a result of all his experi- in improving students’ ukemi in a very ences and that he had put everything Phone: sympathetic manner with a series of that we needed into his Aikido. drills. 0208 806 3219 A good dojo Most people are not aware that, apart Saito Sensei was once asked by Bill from me, Janice had the most experi- Email: Witt, an American shihan, “How do you ence of Saito Sensei, having trained in iwama@londonaikido know if a dojo is a good dojo?” Saito his seminars on seven separate club.co.uk Sensei answered without a second’s occasions. thought. “Firstly, the sensei’s This Issue I also want to remind students of the techniques work. Secondly, sempai take Co-editors: 12.30-2.30 class taught on Sundays care of kohai and, thirdly, there is a Janice Hemmings which is now being taught by Joe Sealey good atmosphere.” Jenny Lawther and Asari St Hill. It is geared towards assisting with grading but don’t wait Lyn Gameson until you are thinking of grading to Children’s Correspondent rd attend it. This is a great opportunity to Lyn Gameson, 3 dan, has trained with Jo Wheeler look in detail at anything you are having LAC for over 20 years. Students have Contributions of all kinds difficulty with or to just explore enjoyed her invigorating classes and are welcome – articles, techniques in detail from two dynamic aikido. Due to severe long- short pieces (humorous enthusiastic instructors. standing knee problems she has recently retired from the mat. Her or otherwise), photos Visit from Sensei Hiramasa Maeda presence in the dojo will be greatly etc. Please email all In September we had a surprise visit missed. Lyn is currently ‘flat out’ contributions or queries completing her dissertation. We hope to to Janice Hemmings from Sensei Hiramasa Maeda. I thought he was a very remarkable, charming hear more of her in the next issue. care of the above email and inspiring man. He treated us to a address. We should thank demonstration of his own Budo her for her Nothing from this Waraku. What this is about can be invaluable newsletter may be investigated by checking out his website support and con- reproduced without the http://www.walaku.com tributions to the permission of the His demonstration included Shinto dojo for so many London Aikido Club. prayers and chanting (kotodama) years. I never accompanied by very interesting and knew anyone beautiful body movements. He told us who practised that, “Shinto secret is kotodama”. His with such joy chanting was extremely impressive and and exhilaration. the resonance could be felt as well as I am happy that heard. It is no exaggeration to say that she at least the dojo vibrated. retires as a yondan (4th dan) We have often heard that O’Sensei’s – although she chanting and kiai would make the paper doesn’t know it walls in the dojo vibrate. Maeda Sensei yet.

Page 22 of 22