Winter and Spring Seminars coming up…

imagesWith the REED13 seminar on the horizon (and only a few places left), there are some nice seminars happening in an around this time to get you all tuned up. Don’t forget if you still want to register for REED13 you need to hurry, at this stage we are unlikely to have any spaces available at the door. See reed13.aikidorepublic.com

July, Saotoshi Takeda Sensei, Byron Bay

Firstly in mid July Saotoshi Sensei, Aikido Kenjkyukai is being hosted by friend of the dojo Chicko down at Byron, we managed to get along last time he was in the neighbourhood (See seminar report ).

Seminar details here http://www.aikicosmos.com/2013/01/winter-aikido-seminar-byron-bay-with.html

Augest, William Reed Sensei, Brisbane

William Reed Sensei travels to Brisbane as Maruyama Sensei’s official representative for 2013. reed13.aikidorepublic.com to teach on the theme ‘The Evolution of Aikido Yuishinkai’.

Limited places

Augest, Shinkage Ryu Seminar, Capalaba hosted by Onami Aikido dojo

Yamamoto Sensei  (6th Dan Iaido, 5th Dan Kendo)
Head instructor of the Ichimon Shinkage Ryu Dojo in Sano Japan

Yamamoto sensei has kindly consented to provide a seminar on the principles and features of Ichimon Shinkage Ryu Iaido, Discussion of the Sword and Insights on training.  Location and cost to be advised. details http://www.aikidocapalaba.com/events.html

October, Japanese weapons, Komei Juku

Lastly Craig, “Big Rock”, is helping with a Komei Juku weapons seminar later on in October.  Brisbane Komei Juku Dojo hosting Japanese Swordsmanship and Naginatajutsu Full details are yet to emerge but stay tuned to http://komeijukubrisbane.com

Aikido Seminars: Want to go to an aikido or budo seminar, here are some tips in mind

REED13: Letter from Maruyama Sensei

maruyama-letter

Since the initial seminar announcement we have been busy organising the programme. Maruyama Sensei has  been preparing William Reed Sensei for the seminar to Australian members and this week we received a letter from Maruyama Sensei appointing Reed Sensei as his representative for the occasion. A few changes to the programme have emerged, providing us with even greater opportunity to learn Aikido Yuishinkai and its future directions.

Seminar Schedule Changes

– The addition of a Shindou session on Friday night, where Reed Sensei will also put Shindou into the context of its root arts and why they have been drawn together

– A lunchtime meeting on Sunday for Aikido Yuishinkai senior members

– The Nanba Aikido session will be available now on the Thursday before the seminar.

Please check seminar website for details and to register

http://reed13.aikidorepublic.com (limited early bird places remain <10)

look forward to seeing you at REED13

 

 

 

Solo training in Aikido

Solo training in AikidoSolo training is not a new idea in aikido, when you think of all the taiso at the start of class and the weapons kata there is plenty of it. But what is relatively new (well what’s old is new anyway) is the idea of purpose behind solo training.

“Your aikido will only improve when your concept of aikido improves”
Kenjiro Yoshigasaki
Founder Ki Society Internationale

Any new idea is helpful and the idea of a purpose for solo training as new concept is something that can enrich our aikido practice. Aikido is often included in the list of internal martial arts, particularly those from China. These arts are by and large solo arts and at the interface between these arts the advantages and disadvantages of paired practice of aikido is laid bare somewhat. Local aikidoka doing these solo arts have had some terrific development in their aikido as a result, though it takes some time to integrate and in the short term has led to awkward aiki at times and some disruption to the dojo pedagogy.
So along comes the internal strength movement in the aikido circles, clearly its a new concept , or at least new packaging on elements that are already in our art. The premesis is that we need to understand our own bodys, how they move and generate and recieve power before we can hope to apply that in two person practice. And indeed it would seem to be the case, though only through paired practice can this be learnt and expressed. In this then we see that aikido kata are examples of aiki rather than the definitive set of ‘aiki’

” they see the kata as the art itself instead of a sophisticated teaching tool that is only a surface reflection of an arts core concepts” Yukiyoshi Takumura, Soke Takumara-ha Shindo Yoshin Kai http://www.advdojo.org/shuhari.html

Books like Ellis Amdurs “Hidden in Plain Sight” and “Transparent Power” on the life of a Ueshiba contempory, namely Yukiyoshi Sagawa point the way to solo training as being valuable and an integral part of the founders aiki abilities.

So where does that leave AIkido Yuishinkai?  Through the window of a recent  internal strength seminar and interaction with others in this movement in and outside our school does it become clear that we have this method built into our art.
Maruyama Sensei has been teaching for years through his 10 basic forms and his tanden ball exercises much that we see in the internal strength movement, its just that we didn’t recognise it. Here are Okajima sensei’s (Maruyama Sensei’s successor) exercises we saw in Japan almost a decade ago and more recently in Australia at his first international seminar. Catherine Schnell sensei captured these then and the review of them continues to shed light..

Here we see exercises reminiscent of the wave in Systema, the centring exercises that are a precursor for reeling and winding in many of the chinese martial arts and strongly reminiscence of the exercises in the Dan Harden bodywork seminars (from what we can gather), the universal exercises of Mike Sigman’s method. Through the various testing methedologies for movement and partner feedback we see the Ki Society methods now as a tool, rather than egoic practice to reinforce the status quo or worse a tangent to the etherial adn intangaable (at least in this moment of time anyway). We see shades of theopening and closing of the creases that Bill Gleeson Shihan often  talks about

Further sharing this through the Yuishinkai community Mike Haft Sensei from the UK shares with stunning clarity here are the ‘rites of spring exercises he has been doing for 10years, through the Hikitsuki Sensei that O’Sensei reportly practiced for more than an hour every day.

Mike writes

The first exercise of the Rites of Spring is Shinkokyu which is almost identical to Okajima Sensei’s first exerecise he demonstrates in the video, the difference being that there are four claps when hands are held aloft in the Rites of Spring. Also I don’t think there’s so much leaning forwards in the RoS as Okajima Sensei does.
The third exercise in the RoS is Furu Tama which is very similar to Okajima Sensei’s third exercise, but not quite the same.

O Sensei’s stuff is clearly shinto and shingon buddhism influenced, but I’d bet that if Okajima Sensei’s exercises are DR derived then they contain some overlap. Apparently O Sensei would do practise the RoS daily from anything like several minutes to several hours.

Recentky Stan Pranin shared O’Sensei’s warmup exercises…where you can see some of these in action

http://store.aikidojournal.com/morito-suganuma-o-senseis-warmups-alive-and-well/

So what its taken to get to this point, here at the beginning of the importance of solo practice. This slow learner, by way of the scientific method, likes to know the what and how, rather than just do and copy. The former being the pedagogy of western science and the latter the observational basis that is eastern science. Everything has advantages and disadvantages. But whats most important is here is something new (thats not new) , something to chew on and reinvigirate/reinterpret everything that Maruyama Sensei has been teaching for years but with now an understanding of the purpose and a critical eye that can help cut to some core emelments of the practice.

The Aiki Smorgasboard

bentoToday we teeter on the edge of the 3rd generation Aikido, that is, there isn’t the access to direct students of O’Sense,  by and large. Also many of the boundaries to training widely, such as being locked within rigid hierarchal structures have started to soften or disappear, though there are bastions of expertise, ( and ignorance) running very well. Its, I suspect, a function of the desire to get access to as direct a transmission as possible as well as the influence of global culture pushing into dojo. In fact is possible in Australia to attend seminars, from all kinds of direct lineages to the founder, every month or more. There is at times abundant opportunity to get a wide adn at times diverse views of the founders aikido from many perspectives. Issues of quality aside, it can really enhance our understanding of the art, though important to do this mindfully.

All aikido schools, and indeed dojo within schools have considerable variation on the surface. I imagine its quiet possible to devote a lifetime to studying these differences without penetrating to the core of aikido nor the founders intent. That is, to be so busy with the variation/minutiae in aikido kata, how the kata is practiced in the major schools etc.. that deep learning is somehow ancillary.

Within our own dojo we encourage everyone, once a foundation of core skills and good ukemi has been established to train widely. We think it helps to help develop robust experiences and to see what is common between the various schools and dojos rather than the differences. Its also selfish in that it improves the quality of practice within the dojo. It helps avoids ‘tunnel vision’ , avoids belief in the infallibility of sensei (mostly this is obvious at our dojo) and starts to develop a feeling for the core principles of aikido and with it confidence in practice.

The challenge of running a dojo though is how to embrace the diversity, yet avoid becoming an Aikidoka or dojo that is just based on loosely focused experiences and training pedagogy. This is where the core practice, structure from sensei and teaching team and affiliation is so important. From this we have structure, principally through syllabus and instruction pedagogy. In our school,  after 2nd Kyu the art becomes freer and more accommodating of different ways to move, a ukemi method that is compatible with free flowing training, resistance training and a dojo of thoughtful people open to the expression of ‘aiki’. If someones been to a seminar we generally like to see some review of a seminar or experience undertaken in the dojo as a structured part of information being brought back, through seeing it and feeling it expressed in the uke-nage interactions is probably where the real transmission of it is. Superficial differences aside, considerable care in ensuring it doesn’t detract from the programmed life of the dojo, nor detract from the study of the art, through the vehicle of syllabus needs to be taken.

Were it possible to be a student in daily contact with a master teacher I think the importance of training widely would be less of a consideration. The reflections on this dilemma by Peter Goldsbury are a valuable read. We have seen over the years the negative influences in restricting students exposure to the wider aikido community unduly, ultimately leading to stagnation. But also the dangers in abandoning ones self with no connection/lineage to the source and leads to unfocused aikido. There is a kind of dynamic tension between the two and the importance in having a direct teacher to maintain a particular focus is very important at both dojo and organisational level.

Thus at the aiki smorgasboard we think its wise to not over fill the plate in excitement, but instead to allow time for digestion to take place but most importantly not to go hungry.

Going out West – Perth Aikido Yuishinkai

aikido perth, aikido WA

Aikido WA

Perth Aikido Yuishinkai visit

by Craig Boyd

In my travels recently my partner and myself found the road would lead to Perth WA, so we did a quick search and found there was a Yuishinkai dojo there! So  Gi’s and weapons got packed and off we headed to the west coast. Before heading over we made contact with Sensei David Mathews who wrote a very encouraging email and very detailed instructions on how to find the dojo.

So on a Wednesday night we left Perth to head down to Port Kennedy ( the dojo location). when we arrived we found a dojo full of life and packed with children training on the tatami and Sensei Mathews leading a bunch of very keen young Aikidoka. We were greeted and welcomed in by other club members. The dojo was also a testament to Sensei Mathews dedication as the set up was excellent & had a lot of effort put into it.

We eventually found ourselves on the mat and I realised another amazing thing about the warm-ups and Aiki-tiso in Yuishinkai, in that familiarity dose help maintain a relaxed state of mind and body- doing these familiar exercises amongst other people also doing the same exercises you have only just meet, dose help to put one at ease, here we had travelled over three and half thousand Kilometres and we are all doing the same thing.

Down to training and I found every one eager to get their hands on you, and enter into a very good understanding of the Uke/Nage relationship, and look at developing their own understanding of this, I also was nicely challenged, with a great rolling exercise that warrants some more exploration- rolling over and as going over picking up the Jo as level one and then level 2 was a nice exercise of changing distance where as you walk toward the Jo someone rolls it toward you..then as you get close to the Jo you roll over and collect it. Not impossible on first attempt but I did find myself thinking way too much during this exercise.

What we discovered was a great bunch of fellow Aikidoka in realistically one of the most remote locations in the country getting on with and enjoying their training, while also dedicated to the teachings, style and the motto of Master Murayama- it was great to travel so far and discover something new, but still feel welcome  and have a certain sense of family, the only real problem was we only had one chance to visit and the lesson was great, so it felt like no time had passed before it was over.

Big thanks to Sensei David Mathews and the rest of the Port Kennedy dojo for making Susan and myself most welcome, it’s defiantly a great part of aikido that you can pack your Gi and travel, keep training and also meet great people. Win win win!

 

The Port Kennedy dojo details:

5/12 Endeavour Drive,

Port Kennedy    

They have classes Monday, Wednesday & Fridays nights 

http://aikidoportkennedy.com/Aikdo_Port_Kennedy/Home.html

Shimamoto Shihan Seminar: A Belated Review

scan0104Thanks to the generosity of David Kolb Sensei of Bayside Budokai, a handful from Aikido Republic were lucky enough to attend the recent Shimamoto Shihan Seminar. I’m usually quick off the mark to write something by way of a review (if only for my own records), but this time… well, this time was different. Not because of Xmas or New Year – rather, the seminar, for me, was profound, and I wanted time to digest things, and to find the right words.

The initial conditions for the seminar were quite unique. There are few high ranking instructors in the world who can say they’ve actually trained with O’Sensei. There are fewer still who are also full-time Zen priests. Of these, there are even fewer who are willing to travel overseas to teach. Even fewer who then teach with great insight, good will, and flair. Shihan is remarkable in these regards. Couple these characteristics with a fantastic venue and a small group of participants from various styles, and we arrive at a recipe for something rare.

Before diving straight into Aikido technique, Shihan gave a short night-time lecture on Zazen (seated meditation). We all listened to the fundamental principles, and were given a chance to practice in the sitting position of our choice. Some chose seiza, others required chairs, but a number of us attempted half- or full-lotus. I found this to be a bit challenging at first, but after a while my legs numbed and the bottom 50% of my body lost consciousness, leaving only my spine to wonder what was going on 🙂 At one point, I found a period no greater than a few seconds where nothing happened in my head. However fleeting, this was an absolute gem for me; a glimpse of what might be possible with continued practice. So… the lecture eventually closed, people stretched their legs and went to their cars, anticipating the Aikido of following days.

My observation while seated in front of kamiza prior to Aikido practice: after the Zazen of the previous evening, I wanted to do things a bit better – to kneel and bow just a little bit better. When kneeling in front of kamiza, Shihan exhibited regal posture – profoundly earthed and centred. Moreover, he was patient before committing to the bow, taking his time to do it right. And Shihan took great care when bowing. Posture, patience, and care were to become the central themes of the weekend’s study.

Posture. Shihan put forward an excellent analogy: you should visualise yourself as a wonderful castle, protected by a wonderful moat. Shihan personified this analogy throughout the seminar. He seemed very upright, even during techniques that required a transition from standing to seiza. And his various uke could not reach the castle. They always had to attempt traversing the moat, which was like an infinitely spinning whirlpool of ki.

Patience. I never saw Shihan rush. Despite some spirited attacks from various uke, Shihan would take his time, completing a technique at his own comfortable pace. At one point I saw him perform an almost touchless sankyo, using merely a finger to control his uke. He maintained control for what seemed like minutes before finalising the technique, all in good time. At another point, I saw Shihan lead his partner to the tatami for an ikkyo pin. Many of us tend to rush this. But Shihan had absolute control of his uke for minutes before finishing. Again, this was achieved with only the slightest amount of contact. Shihan’s patience, I might add, was not limited to his performance as nage. He showed great amounts of patience (and humour) when correcting students. This was very much appreciated, especially by newbies like me.

Care. Shihan said that the nage-uke dynamic should involve no more force than a butterfly landing on a flower. This was music to my ears. I had heard something similar some time ago, and I was beginning to think that “minimum effort” Aikido was rare, if not an ever-strengthening myth. So, seeing Shihan absolutely embody this ethos brought a smile to my face. I saw Shihan guiding his uke to the tatami very gently, time after time. Irrespective of the zeal of uke, Shihan guided them downwards, very softly. I never saw Shihan use force. Not once.

It was indeed an honour and a privilege to attend the seminar. All such events, especially those featuring such esteemed teachers, serve to inspire us, challenge us, and hopefully make us want to be better people. Shihan said that Aikido is like a great treasure – we must practice diligently to keep it polished. In saying this, Shihan effectively unravelled a lot of the Aiki mystery. He taught us to maintain good posture, to be patient, to use care, and to practice earnestly.

What a wonderful gift.

Aikido Yuishinkai – Shaken, not Stirred

aikido yuishinkai

Aikido Yuishinkai

Aikido Yuishinkai – Shaken, not Stirred*

This past week we learnt that Maruyama Sensei will be reducing his international seminar touring schedule next year, and unfortunately this means he won’t be visiting Australia in 2013. In the same week Williams Sensei also stepped down from his role as International Chief Instructor of Aikido Yuishinkai. Wot the? In one breath the organisations leadership almost disappears from the radar. So where to from here?

There are lots of questions in our mind such as
– Will Okajima sensei, Maruyama Sensei’s successor, play an increasing role? He visited Australia just a few years ago and certainly has a technical bent and is incredibly gifted, indeed he is the source of many influences to Aikido Yuishinkai in recent years. As any of the steady stream of visitors to his dojo (See Mark and Lisa’s year in Japan)  will tell you, he is an incredibly dedicated martial artist too.
– Organisationally where do we sit? We had, with some reluctance, good support for a national incorporated organisation to take care of all the  very essential stuff like accredditation, insurance etc.. Also in Australia we have a network of senior instructors that can play nice with others and can help keep up the sense of a wider vision adn sharing of knowledge. Looking to other countries some have chief instructors, some not. Some have multiple organisations (like the UK) and governing bodies?

In looking forward its worth perhaps revisiting the legacy of Williams Sensei
1. Unity through diversity
2. Excellence through learning
3. Lineage to the founder
see full article (3 pillars of Aikido Yuishinkai)
These are powerful messages and when looking around the group we see many of these things taking place, the real question is, will it happen in a cohesive manner? and does it need to? Historically our organisation is a mix of folk that have followed Williams sensei for varying periods of time, this includes members from the Ki Society, home grown Aikido Yuishinkai (yes in 10 years we now have dojos of people who have only ever done Aikido Yuishinkai and are run by only Aikido Yuishinkai Yudansha) as well as people that have joined from various other groups or been independent for some time. Will we now continue to develop as a group? With a smattering of high dan ranks in the organisation some may perhaps choose to strike out on their own. For others there is also the access to high levels teachers in other organisations (within and beyond Aikido groups), a smorgasbord as it were – that could sustain a dojo for many years. I suspect that for most though its business as usual and sitting at the crossroads to see what happens

History as a teacher.
Remembering back to the formation of Aikido Yuishinkai I remember the heady days of unbridled commitment, the excitement of learning something new that was developing rapidly (3 editions of the student guide in as many years), getting in at the ground floor and the drug of setting up something new, it brought incredible creativity, goodwill and energy which can really accelerate the personal practice of Aiki. The flip side though is in the broken ground of organisational shifts there were casualties as interpersonal relationships and practice can be set aside in the pursuit of other goals. I remember well the practice at my own dojo at Griffith University, we were for a time supporting 3 styles of Aikido – it was a terrific time for practice, but didn’t last as one by one the organisations exerted their influence to put a stop to it. It included threats, decertification, refusal to grade, and also being asked to leave. At this time only one organisation and person said ‘its Ok just keep practicing’ This was of course Williams Sensei and Aikido Yuishinkai with its light yoke yet compelling vision.

Casting an eye further afield there are historically many other dojo in Australia that have embraced independence, some have a clear vision and there is unified vision in practice, for others the tendency to become a mishmash of previous teaching remembered over the years eventually becomes somewhat stagnant or cloudy. For others that embrace learning there is the quest for knowledge through seminars and networks however there can be a tendency for a unified vision to disappear and an aikido that is ‘bitsa’ starts to appear, (‘bitsa’ this ‘bitsa’ that).

So where does that leave our own dojo. Looking around the mat there are better swordsman, better ukemi, better karate, hapkido, kempo and probably better aikido as well. We also see a mat where most of us have been going for more than 10 years and a few over twenty years interspersed with people new to the art. As first among equals I see our dojo as firm embracers of Aikido Yuishinkai. Its a terrific syllabus (see Reflections on the Aikido Yuishinkai Syllabus ) for creating foundations in static practice much like the Iwama, Yoshinkan schools in detail yet moving toward the flowing of Ki society in the higher levels and then beyond. The formal creation of five levels of technique are tremendously liberating together with a very robust weapons system. In addition whilst not in the grading and published syllabus we have the sword schools of the Kashima, Shinkage Ryu (all of which the founder had taught in his dojo) together with what Okajima sensei has brought from the Daito-ryu, Goshindo (self defence arts) and also the Shindou (healing arts). There is plenty to do!
The freedoms of Aikido Yuishoinkai emerge as somewhat interestingly the formal syllabus almost disappears at 1st Kyu and all examination techniques are freestyle beyond that. So to our Ukemi method moves from the basics Kotai approach to more sophisticated softer Ukemi, that we see manifest in our more senior instructors and is working its way into everyday practice slowly but surely. Maruyama sensei’s focus on how Uke should behave at the most recent seminars was some instruction in how to approach training. Put most clearly in Maruyama Sensei’s doka I think

“Don’t fight. Use ki. Don’t resist. Take ukemi”

So for me, whilst I enjoy many and varied seminars in other schools, I have a terrific framework as an aid to interpret (yet which seldom limits) what I see and together with other seniors can try to bring it back to the dojo in our bodies and minds in a way that is consistent to Aikido Yuishinkai practice. This is  Maruyama and Williams Sensei’s vision of ‘Aikido without Boundaries’. It means to me there are no boundaries to practice, but instead a responsibility to use the foundation of Aikido Yuishinkai and build on that, rather than start anew. Maruyama Sensei’s Doka puts it very well

Every river has a name. However, these names disappear when they flow into the great ocean.

Aikido has many styles, many names, but Aikido is Aikido.

It is my vision and hope that, like the rivers , they flow together and unite as one.

It is though a vision fraught with the possibilities of anything goes, but is tempered somewhat by a sets of taiso to instruct in basic body movements, the syllabus and of course the network of senior instructors to keep us on track. (And if your not sure if you know what you seeing is Aikido Yuishinkai, fortunately we have the grading syllabus DVD’s as well as many, many seminar DVD’s which are progressive marks in the sand of ways to practice rather than prescriptive how to’s).

I look forward to Williams Sensei’s post operative recovery, I suspect that released from organisation responsibility, that his creative Aiki may emerge. I remember a seminar he gave after returning from Fiji (at Cleveland) where his overview and systematic approach to the art, fundamental techniques was one of the finest I have seen. Next year I am back in Japan for business and packing a Gi, hopefully i can get a sense of Maruyama sensei’s practice and the future – any takers on a budo bums tour?.

Anyways look forward to hearing some thoughts from you all

NOTE:  ‘Shaken not stirred’ apparently has connotations of experimentation and breaking the traditional rules of making a martini (see Why did James Bond want his martinis shaken, not stirred?)

Schnell Sensei visits the Republic

catherine schnell aikicentreLast night, owing to dojo renovations, we descended on the Mt Gravatt showgrounds, Eric with a ute full of mats, and in due course dojo members appeared and those from dojos across Brisbane kept coming out of the dark attracted by the bright lights of the showgrounds Pavillion (as our own dojo is being renovated with air conditioning, showers and a hot tub*). I’d say they appeared like insects to the lights, but we had those too, but using creative aiki, and selective lighting we were able to lead them out the shed by nightfall (the ants that is).

Sensei’s first session focused on personal protection and drawing on recent experiences of clients from Melbourne was able to lead us through the processes of awareness, assertiveness – though posture, control of distance voice – and finally physical escape. Drawing on the aiki skills she was able to relate them to personal protection which we all practiced.

Sensei’s second session focused on tanden development (aka core strength) and maintaing that under movement of uke, she related that through maintaining a connection to nage that doesn’t fight nor flee (two typical ukemi behaviours) but rather seeks to maintain a conversation. In this way sensei explained that this is our job in training, not to have winner nor loser but 2 persons working together to find ‘Aiki’. I especially appreciated sensei working one on one with a few of use in the group teaching environment and got to see ideas in action as a method to understand what aikido is able through working with a newer student, an experienced student from another art as well as someone thats been around the traps for a while (i.e. me). in each of these cases she talked through how uke might respond, why that might respond that way and the purpose of her style of response in uke.

In many senses the practice was challenging to our world view of ukemi but something of great importance to our art. Sensei, as a senior instructor (6th dan) in our organisation provided some terrific insights.

Its been great to share a dialogue over many years with Schnell sensei in Melbourne and Brisbane, and for my part been a rich interaction of ideas and insights into Aikido and being about to verbalise and inculcate in to the body. Its something to treasure all the more as we learn that in 2013 Maruyama Sensei won’t be able to visit Australia and that a collegiate approach may help foster continued progress in the art

* NOTE;: Actual renovations may differ from those described

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA IMGP2633

Jutta reflects on a home invasion

Dear Aikido Friends,
Sometime ago you may have heard of the home invasion of Edwin and Jutta and the ensuing altercation. It was well reported in the media initially and followed up here, there was also considerable discussion in the Aikido community. Both Edwin and Jutta are well known in Brisbane aikido circles having practiced for many years, Edwin was a professional scholar of the East who we enjoyed in our dojo for many years, Jutta today holds a senior rank in Aikido Yuishinkai and remains the vice president of my old aikido dojo at Griffith Aikido
I think its fair to say that Aikido dojo focus on the practice of physical techniques as well as striving for a more peaceful daily life. Many are attracted to Aikido for self defence reasons, though altercations are rare in the aikido community. So there is some curosity as well as lessons in any real life encounter from someone in the community. All situations are unique but there is much that can be reflected on.
I asked Jutta if she would mind reflecting on her experiences to share with the aikido and wider community. Despite receiving no injuries its had quite a toll on their otherwise quiet lives and a reminder that violent encounters rarely have a winner. Its an account from the heart and quite sobering

“So, one finds a stranger in ones home while watching Television.   Sometimes there are noises which just need investigation, but does one expect a stranger inside ones Home and Castle.

Being a martial arts student, one should be prepared to handle such situations, but in today’s life, this could also turn out to ones disadvantage, if the intruder is armed.

…

The intruder stormed into my husband  – (and into the knife) holding on to several bags.   I myself was just behind my husband when this person stormed past leaving a trail of blood.   This, of course, was only noticed after the event.

Racing after this person, trying to stop him somewhere, somehow, seemed to be the only option, but he knew where he could get out.  Unknown to us he had unlocked the back door with a large metal pin/instrument.    That is where he obviously came in and this is where he stormed out, jumping down the upstairs balcony and climbing the fence gate – groaning as he did so.

The first realization to what had happened was disbelief.    Doing the right thing I called 000 and mentioned that the person was injured.

Then all hell broke loose.   Before we knew it, approximately 15 police arrived including crime Inspectors, forensic, helicopter with infrared lights, sniffer dogs.  The streets were cordoned off and we were question non-stop (separately) for hours.   Then taken to the police station and again were questions separately by another inspector.  At this stage I felt nauseate and extremely tense.

My nerves were at breaking point.  I tried very much to do some deep breathing, trying to calm myself which was not easy with all the going on and the sight of the blood on carpets and floors plus several items which were dropped in the rush by the intruder.

It was 2.30am when we were taken home by the police.   At 4am we felt the great need of sleep.

At 6am the phone rang and the reporters (7 of them) were outside the door.   And this continued all day.  Every TV station, phone interviews etc.  It was a big surprise to us, that the police had actually informed the media of the event.   But this had its reason to alert the public to be on the look-out.  All the friends and family (some we had not heard from or seen for many years) rang or emailed.   The phone did not stop for two days and this, rather than making one feel better,  caused more stress, as one had to repeat the story again and again, and was faced with the same sudden sensations of dread.

The shock and the harassment by the media made one want to hide.  I did not want to go out at all.  All I wanted was to make sure that everything, including us, were still safe.  Edwin’s attitude, when moving down the hallway to investigate the noise, was extremely calm and composed.

The police was very thoughtful and kind, but had no results to report, in finding the intruder, which caused a great unease, as the thought of retaliation was foremost on my mind.

Knowing there was a master key in my bag, we needed to change all the locks.  Before I knew it, our granddaughter emailed from Taiwan, that she had read that we had changed the locks.  No one had told this to the media or anyone else.  So, the media must have been on the watch and observed the locksmith van.

The carpets needed cleaning and all my cards, which one needs for ones daily life nowadays, needed to be replaced.   This was a real hassle as everyone would know who had been through a similar situation.  Hours were spent on the phone with interludes of music.  “Your call is important to us-please hold”.

The days after the event, I felt very angry with myself.  Asking myself, why did I not do this or that to apprehend the person.   Having been trained in martial arts one always envisages situations where the spontaneous reaction should set in.   The fact that everything happened in a narrow corridor in the dark and with tremendous speed,  may be one excuse.  Would I have reacted differently had I seen the person properly in a more spacious surrounding?

It is only due to Edwin’s training in aikido which made it possible to resist the intruder when he charged into him, as he is extremely unsteady on his feet nowadays.   It is the ki extension which kept him upright and which he used while holding the knife.

I must admit that for several weeks I was unable to approach any dark room inside the house or walk along the corridor unless I saw a light at the end of it.   I was amazed myself to what extend the whole business shattered ones nerves.    I lay awake listening very acutely to every little noise and only slept after taking ½ sleeping tablet, which I am glad to say, I stopped now, knowing the intruder  has been apprehended and put behind bars.    The sad thing is, that there was such an exposure of the house, address, phone number, names etc. that one only hopes, that it keeps other persons with similar ideas away rather than invite them to have a go at the our place also.

Now we have turned the home into “Ford Knox” and are unable to enjoy wide open doors, as we used to during the warm summer days.

Why has the whole story gone so viral, my brother in Germany asked, as these things happen on a daily basis (break-ins).     I can’t answer this correctly.  Is it the age/ the martial training/ the fact that the intruder  got stabbed?    I myself certainly can do without such fame.

Things have settled down now.    We like to live as normal as possible.  Most our neighbors  have added more security to their place in the last few weeks.    It certainly is very sad, that one has to live like this, in constant fear that it may happen again.

I always felt that the ki extension which I trained in over many years has helped me to cope with lots of things in life, has given me confidence and hopefully make me react quicker and more productive in any future skirmishes.”

Jutta Dowdy

22nd November, 2012

It seems like
 – In the moment actions and scenaris hard hard to predict, and while the community may play 20-20 hindsight, our friends are OK at the end of the day
– Keeping calm and centred is important and not in a fluffy bunny way, its a physical thing too
– That after the incident its quite complex and almost as stressfull
 – The after experience is consistent(albeit it in a less severe way) with  documented experiences of PTSD (insert link) and the writings of other professionsals show that the trauma is ongoing.