Seiichi Sugano Shihan 1939 -- 2010 Aiki Kai Australia Founder Seiichi Sugano 8th Dan Shihan President: Tony Smibert 7th Dan Shihan 179 Mole Creek Rd., Deloraine, TAS, 7304 Aikido in Australia Tel: (W) 03 6362 3326 (H) 03 6362 2474 Vice President: Tristan Derham Aiki Kai Australia National Newsletter [email protected] M: 0420 336 134 volume 3 number 1 Technical Teaching Committee Tony Smibert, 7th Dan Shihan, Hanan Janiv, 6th Dan Shihan, Humbly dedicated to the memory of Robert Botterill, 6th Dan Shihan, John Watson, 6th Dan, Seiichi Sugano Shihan Andrew Dziedzic, 6th Dan. TTC Contact address: c/o National Coordinator for the TTC , Andrew Dziedzic, 5 Bertram St. Eastwood, NSW, 2122. Tel: 02 9858 5241 e-mail: [email protected] Area Representatives ACT: Hanan Janiv, 6th Dan 23 Crest Rd., Queenbeyan, ACT 2620. Tel/Fax: 02 6297 8258 NSW: Austin James, 5th Dan, 29A Yarran Road, Oatley, NSW 2223. Tel:02 9580 2627. M: 0417 435 949 email: [email protected] NT: Marie Petery, 6th Dan. PO Box 131 Alice Springs, NT 0871. Tel: 0413 376 299 email: [email protected] QLD: Chris Seto-Payne 4th Dan. 11 Ortive St. Yeronga, Qld 4104. Tel: H. 07 3892 7551. W. 07 3379 1831. SA: David Scott 6th Dan.. PO Box 81. Norton Summit, SA, 5136 Tel: 08 8390 3322 TAS: Kaye Jenkins, . GPO box110 Hobart Tas, 7001. Ph: 03 6229 7743, 0418 569 314, email: [email protected] VIC: Linda Godfrey, 4th Dan.. Tel: 03 9802 7211 M: 0418 381 674 email: [email protected] WA: Satyavan Reymond, 3rd Dan.. Acting Area Representative: Nick Archbold 53 Allanswood rd. Greenwood WA, 6024. Ph: 08 6262 2996, 0422 920 206 General Editor and Publisher John Litchen. PO Box 3503. Robina Town Centre, QLD, 4230 Tel: 07 5578 8748 E-mail: [email protected] Registrar Kathy McCarthy. Registrations and information: PO Box 799 Warwick, Qld, 4370 Webmaster: John Rockstrom. phone: H 03 9757 2926, W 03 9788 7776 mobile 0411 115 235. Aikido Foundation senior teachers and advisers hold Rokudan certification or above. ACT: Hanan Janiv. NSW: Andrew Dziedzic, Roger Savage, George Lo, Steven Armfield. NT: Richard Barnes, Mike Petery, Marie Petery. QLD: Graham Morris. SA: David Scott. TAS: Tony Smibert. VIC: Robert Botterill, David Brown, Felica Birman, Ray Oldman, Geoffrey Savage, John Rockstrom, John Watson. WA: Hugh Derham. Aikido in Australia — is the official journal of Aiki Kai (Australia): National Aikido Association Inc. ABN 18 611 543 976. Website: http//www.aikido.org.au/ Print Post Publication number:PP424022/00903. Address for official documents: GPO Box 2783. Melbourne, Victoria, 3001. Copyright of material remains with each individual author. Opinions expressed are those of the authors and not that of Aiki Kai (Australia) Incorporated. Aiki Kai (Australia) is the sole qualifying organisation for Aikido with the Federal AIKIDO IS A WAY Government National Coaching Accreditation Scheme. THERE IS COMMITMENT AND THERE IS OBLIGATION All members are advised that Aiki Kai (Australia) is a signatory to the anti-doping policy developed by the Australian Coaching Council and consequently all students DO NOT ABUSE OR MISUSE THE ART OF AIKIDO are bound by the rules of the policy. A copy of this policy is available on Coaching Council website. STUDY CAREFULLY, HONESTLY AND HUMBLY RESPECT YOUR SENIORS NEW EQUAL OPPORTUNITY POLICY Aiki Kai Australia has had an equal opportunity policy drawn up. The policy TAKE CARE OF YOUR JUNIORS contains procedures to be followed should, for example, any person feel that they have been victimised or sexually harassed. This policy is posted on the website. Should anyone experience or have a matter of concern, they should contact Andrew Dziedzic to find out the appropriate officer to speak to. All Seiichi Sugano Shihan 8th Dan enquiries will be handled with the strictest confidence and should discussion be needed Andrew will phone back at Aiki Kai Australia’s expense. Aikido in Australia page 2 Of all the titles bandied around within the martial arts these days, the word ‘master’ is among the most common. Nevertheless it is a word that should be used sparingly, as it bestows upon the recipient attributes that are by no means common. Being a master is a little like being famous, if you have to tell people you are: you’re not! Seiichi Sugano was a master of aikido. He never used the word in relation to himself of course, but that said, his skill in the dojo and his personal conduct outside of it left me in no doubt; when I was in his company I was in the presence of a human being who had mastered his martial art, and to a great extent, the art of living. The aikido that Sugano sensei developed here in Australia, from humble beginnings in Sydney back in the mid-1960’s to the national organization it is today, has grown and flourished in every State and Territory due in no small way to the calibre of the students, as well as the quality of their teacher. Seiichi Sugano sensei’s physical presence in the dojo is no longer possible; and he will no longer ‘step onto the mat’ to sit in silent contemplation for a moment before engaging in vigorous training. Nevertheless, his spirit remains in the aikido of all those who shared it with him. Mike Clarke Shinseidokan Karate Winter School 2010 at Tallebudgera Group shot by Darren Love ... other images by Winter school 2010 Grading list: Shodan: Nidan: Yusuke Komiya (Qld) Justin Bree (Vic) Yondan: George Osvald (NSW) John Jamieson (NSW) Sandan: John Litchen (Qld) Marcel Tjandeaatmadja (Vic) Tony Naughten (Vic) Tristan Derham (WA) Darren Love (Qld) Greg Tonowicz (NSW) Linda Whelan (Tas) Rae-Ming Ong (Qld) Lis Van Papenrecht (ACT) Lauren Walsh (WA) Lance Wilson (Qld) Aikido in Australia page 4 Winter School 2010 a brief report text and photos by John Litchen I can say unequivocally that this was an interesting winter which resulted in a number of minor injuries when people school. collided with each other or fell on top of someone else. At first it seemed we were not going to have as many A number of times during the week Smibert Shihan attendees as expected, because there were few actually booked phoned Sugano Sensei and during a call from the dojo all to stay in the camp. But in the last week a number of people of us gave him a resounding cheer to send him some of our indicated they would be coming, and on the Sunday and the energy. Hopefully our enthusiasm communicated itself via the Monday morning before the first class quite a lot more turned phone connection to make him feel better. up. Most of these were staying outside the camp, coming in I thought the teaching throughout the week was each day for training. The end result was we did have the structured in such a way that we covered a broad area of numbers on the mat to make it a successful school. training from beginner to reasonably advanced both with Right from the start Smibert Shihan explained what weapons and without weapons. The teaching was of a high the situation was with Sugano Sensei’s ill health. Just as standard and the attentive student would have gained a lot. Sensei himself did when he came to winter school at Collaroy Highlights for me were Goldsbury Sensei’s classes in Sydney three months after his amputation, to forestall too plus his two lectures on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. I many questions he explained what had happened and what his particularly enjoyed his futari nin gakko as this is something situation was. I have reported on this in a previous newsletter we do not do much of. He brought to us a different perspective as well as on Aikido Online. This time unfortunately Sensei from what we usually experience. Janiv Shihan’s Koshinage was quite ill, and had to have dialysis treatment which class was a delight. I’ve always liked Koshinage. Botterill obviously precluded overseas as well as local travel. There Shihan’s explanations during his weapons training were were also other problems and he needed to rest. He was, invaluable and will give me a lot to think about, and as always, however, in good spirits and wished us well with our training. Smibert Shihan’s classes were full of energy as he got us to The teaching for the whole school was, on behalf of focus on instantly changing direction both while being Nage Sugano Shihan, shared primarily by Smibert Shihan, Botterill or Uke. Shihan and Janiv Shihan, with some afternoon classes taken There was so much that happened that it is difficult by other senior students. We also had a very special guest to write about so this issue contains more photos which I hope instructor, Dr Peter Goldsbury from Hiroshima in Japan taking will show those who couldn’t make it just how much fun we class on Monday Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. Almost had and how good the whole school was. everyone attended every class throughout the week and trained Note how many people in the group photo on page 4 are enthusiastically; perhaps at times a little too enthusiastically smiling! Of course we all know Sensei has passed on since the above report was written a few days after winter school. Many of us will miss him, his wisdom and teaching. However, those of us who knew him and who had experienced training with him directly in one of his many classes, or indirectly by being at his national schools must continue training, and continue to express in our training those ideals that Sensei often spoke about.