Having just read the above book; there were certain items that appealed to me in the manner phrased and I list these quotes.

'What you have observed, you must polish by repetition. Repetition is a great teacher and will show you your mistakes. For instance, if you are practising suburi, or repeated cuts, with the sword, you do not have to swing the sword well if you only cut five times. To do a thousand cuts poorly is impossible; your body will tire long before you have completed them. But if you persist in your determination to do a thousand cuts without stopping, you will eventually learn the correct and efficient way to use the sword, for to perform the movement properly is the only way it is possible to accomplish such a large number of repetitions.

Only through practice will your level of comprehension of techniques increase. Your teacher cannot answer through your intellect the questions of your body. To learn Aikido, you must perform the movements shown again and again until your own body teaches you the natural wisdom of movement and allows you to absorb the knowledge that your instructor gives you."

In Aikido the goal is to tame and control animal instincts, not to stimulate them. This is why, especially for beginners, we often use various kinds of grabs as attacks. The beginning student is not equipped to deal with real attacks - like strikes or kicks - with either mental calm or proper physical movements. Grabs allow the beginner to study techniques without fear for physical safety's interfering with learning the correct responses. Instead of engaging in struggle and competition, the student polishes both movement and mind."

"A small bird may fly in a gale, but not by struggling against the wind. It must use the force of the wind to aid it. So too in Aikido, the student seeks to learn to receive force and transform it into his ally rather than to fight it. This is the wisdom, and this is the reality of Musubi."

Musubi translates as unity or harmonious interaction. In practice it means the ability to blend, both physically and mentally, with the movement and energy of your partner."

'Why train with swords or other old weapons. Weapons increase the intensity of your practice. It is much more painful and dangerous to be hit with a bokken or jo than an empty hand. It is possible to slip into egotistical toughness in empty hand practice. You may begin to be rougher on your partners than you should and become blind to the pain you are causing them. When you are training with weapons, you become conscious very quickly that the consequence of careless or aggressive behaviour can be disastrous.

'The presence of Suwariwaza in Aikido is rooted in history, and further evidence of Aikido's origins in the martial arts of the samurai. Seiza and shikko were very much part of the samurai life style. The people in the household sat on the floor either in seiza or cross-legged. They often moved from place to place using shikko, rather than rising to their feet, walking upright and sitting back down again. Because much of their time indoors was spent sitting in seiza, the samurai had to learn to defend themselves from that position. The Suwariwaza techniques of Aikido evolved from samurai's necessity.

Today we do not have the same need to defend ourselves against hostile sword bearing gentlemen who have come into our households in the guise of guests.

Why not do away with Suwariwaza techniques some will ask? 'They are obsolete and very uncomfortable and difficult to perform.' So they are, but they have great physical benefits for the student of Aikido if practised diligently. Suwariwaza will make your feet and legs strong and flexible.

Because you are moving so close to the ground, you will gain an increased connection with gravity and a deeper sense of stability. Suwariwaza will improve your sense of centre and therefore your balance. Because the mobility of your legs is much more restricted in Suwariwaza than in standing techniques Suwariwaza forces you to improve the relaxation and flexibility of your upper body. It is also very difficult to walk in shikko if your upper body is stiff. If you become comfortable and effective in Suwariwaza it will improve your standing techniques. You will find that the strength, flexibility and increase in centeredness that you gain is worth the effort of practising Suwariwaza."

Why seven pleats in a hakama? They symbolise the seven virtues of budo

Jin (benevolence)
gi (honour)
rei (courtesy and etiquette)
chi (wisdom, intelligence)
shin (sincerity)
Chu (loyalty)
koh (piety)

A BAIRD - 3RD DAN

Clubs

Chorley Budo Club: Community Centre, Railway Street, Chorley.

Wednesday: 7.00 - 8.00 pm (Special), 8.00 - 10.00 pm (General)
Thursday: 7.00 - 8.00 PM (Juniors) 8.00 - 10.00 pm (Seniors)
Principal: M Mucha, Instructor: R Spence 5TH DAN

Hazel Grove: Bramhall Moor Lane, Hazel Grove.

Wednesday: 7.30 - 9.30 pm
Sunday: 10.00 -12.00 noon
Instructor: Keith Downs 3RD DAN

Altrincham: Fitness Unlimited, Woodfield Road, Broadheath Altrincham.

Friday: 8.00 -10.00 pm
Sunday: 7.30 - 9.00 pm (Leisure Centre)
Instructor: A Baird 3RD DAN

Marple: Marple Bridge United Reform Church, Hollins Lane, Marple Bridge.

Tuesday: 7.30 - 9.30 pm
Instructor: Graham Harrison 3RD DAN

Lancashire Polytechnic: Corporation Street, Preston.

Saturday: 10.00 -12.00 noon (Jun/Sen)
Instructor: Ian Cherry 1ST DAN

St Helens: Peter Street Community Centre, Peter Street, St Helens.

Tuesday: 7.30 - 8.30 pm (Jun/Sen)
Instructor: Mike Lloyd 1ST DAN

Poulton: Poulton Community and Youth Centre Breck Road, Poulton.

Monday: 8.00 -10.00 Pm
Instructor: Richard Kacperek 1ST DAN
Tel No: 0772.712809 or
Secretary: Mark Taylor

GRADINGS

ALTRINCHAM - 14 JULY 1991

POULTON

ALTRINCHAM - 8 NOVEMBER 1991

WEAPONS COURSE - 6th October 1991

Grading details were published in the paper version - Not published online under Data Protection Provisions

CLUB NEWS

ALTRINCHAM

Courses at the Leisure Centre are proving to be popular and have resulted in big courses and a feed to the main club night. The new venue for Fridays at the Fitness Centre is much better than the last venue and should prove to be quite successful

Things are going so well that consideration is being given to a third night (Possibly a Tuesday).

As well as this junior classes have now started on Sunday evenings before the seniors.

MARPLE

Marple is open for business! The club started with a demonstration/practice and attracted about half a dozen beginners. This coupled with support from Altrincham is providing a good start in a new location, and in a superior building, i.e. the church!

The Club would welcome visits from any members of the AIKIKAI, who will no doubt find the practice interesting on the very small mat!

However, there is plenty of space so the wooden floor is sometimes used!