Newsletter - 1982 No 7

typed in by Lisa McGill


As we are entering the second part of the year I would like to remind all members that the course on the 25th September, is the teachers course and 26th September is a general course for everyone. All Aikidoists irrespective of association are cordially invited to the general course. Juniors over 12 years of age also will be accepted on Sunday course.

The examination for the Teachers Certificate will take place on the† Saturday 30th October for those students who have attended all the courses. The examination will be in three parts.

1) Theoretical (In writing)

2) Oral

3) Practical


Sometime ago I was asked "Why we have a grading at courses when Aikido is a non competitive martial art ?" The answer is quite simple, on the day course one can be assessed on the standard and progress made during the day's practice. Besides meeting other Aikidoists he doesn't normally practice with every week, he is also getting a better practice.

The grading which takes place after the days training is mostly "psychological", which means if you freeze and can't remember during the questioning then what would happen if your life was threatened. As to the item about reinforcing one's ego through examination I donít think that this is correct, even when one obtains Dan grade and does not wish or think that he needs to practice anymore then he may have a black belt around his waist but he has not learned the way of Aikido.

Mr. M Mucha

Principal Lancashire Aikikai