Brisbane Aikido Republic follows Master Koretoshi Maruyama and his international chief instructor Michael Williams Sensei through our head instructor. Maruyama sensei was a direct and senior student of the Founder of Aikido: Morihei Ueshiba. We are an authorised dojo of Aikido Yuishinkai. Head instructor Daniel James started aikido with the Ki Society progressing to Yudansha level before following Williams Sensei to Maruyama Sensei's Aikido Yuishinkai at its inception and opening Brisbane's first Aikido Yuishinkai dojo.. Yuishinkai aikido represented an opportunity to practice 'aikido without boundaries' and whilst a semingly lighter yoke than other schools carried with it the responsability to continue to learn. Aikido Yuishinkai was a rare opportunity to study directly with one of the few remaing uchi-deshi of O'Sensei and a man commited to further develop his own aikido through the roots of the art he studied as a young man. A big part of learning is studying with high level instructors where possible. below are many of the seminars attended. Thus striving to 'drink from a flow stream of knowledge, rather than a stagnent pool' Aikido Seminars Taketoshi Kataoka Sensei 1995, Goshinkan, Byron Bay Chief Instructor Ki Sociey International and heads the Kiatsu school in Japan. Sensei was our most frequent visitor in Maruyama sensei's absence with the feeling of a 'samurai hiding behind the shoji' on the mat Ken Ota Sensei and Steve Ota Sensei 1995, Mt. Gravatt Showground Senior Ki Society instructors from Hawaii as well as senior Judo instructors. This seminar focused on ukemi, breakfalling..something for which they are famous for William Reed Sensei 4/1997, Goshinkan Training first with the aikikai and followowing Tohei sensei to the Ki no Kenkyukai (Ki Society). Responsable for the translation of many of Koichi Tohei sensei's writing and author of 'Ki a practical guide for westerners' and many other titles. Sensei continues to live in Japan and study with the top masters. He was able to communicate so many aspects of aikido from a western point of view Iwao Tamura Sensei and Ohara Sensei 1997, Goshinkan The late Tamura sensei, listed as one of O'Sensei's 4th generation students brought old school samurai mind to Australia. Heading up ~50 dojos in Japan it was a real treat to have a senior Ki Society instructor not based at hombu come and teach us. Takashi Nonaka Sensei and Eric Nonaka Sensei 1998?, Goshinkan Based in hawaii, Nonaka sensei from the first generation of aikido students is well known for his mastery of the sword Yoshigasaki sensei, Birmingham, UK July 1998, Yoshigasaki sensei, Brighton, UK 1999 Sensei was the head of ki Society in Europe, before establishing his own organisation recently. Trained as a scientist sensei was a unique blend of east and west with a focus on our perception of Aikido Taketoshi Kataoka Sensei October 2000, Goshinkan Kataoka sensei returned to Byron bay focusing on aikido and oneness rhythm exercises to develop relaxed aikido Roby Kessler Sensei Aug 2002 Roby Kessler, appointed as the new Australian Head Instructor of Ki Society gave a weekend seminar in Brisbane Maruyama Sensei's return Koretoshi Maruyama Sensei Sept 2002, Goshinkan Maruyama Sensei, emerging from 10yrs seclusion in a temple returns to Australia to show us what he has been working on. What a mind blowing seminar, and people came out of the woodwork to see and train with him. Restraint and Removal, Joe Thambu 2002, Palmwoods Sept 2006 A well known and senior Yoshinkan aikido practitioner Sensei gave a course for security personal based on aikido principles at David Dangerfields Sunshine Coast dojo Koretoshi Maruyama Sensei Sept 2003, Sept 204, Sept 2005, Goshinkan Marauyama sensei returns and introduces weapons practice of the shinkage ryu, introduces Yuki and hints at and then formalises the daito ryu lineages of aikido and incorperation into Aikido Yuishinkai Taketoshi Kataoka and Iwade Sensei May 2003, Indroopilly, Taketoshi KataokaSensei May 2004, Hill End Kataoka Sensei gives a seminar in Brisbane and introduces Ki Society deshi Iwade sensei. The seminar was focused mostly on Ki development and the oneness rhythms excercises explaining aikid was a path to understand Ki and not a martial art perse |  Michael Williams sensei as Chief instructor for Ki Society Australia, Aikido Yuishinkai Australia and as Aikido Yuishinkai International gives annual brisbane seminars focusing on delivering the syllabbus David Dangerfield Sensei Friendship Seminars 2005,2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 (local organiser and host) Learning Yoshinkan and Shinto Muso Ryu and more recently SMR aiki. David Brown Sensei May 2004, 2005, June 2006, brisbane Aikikai A senior Australian aikikai teacher sensei has reinterpreted the kata of aikido as an art where there are no technique and no throws, instead uke is led running into limbs or falling over. Developed as a result of a long association with Bob Jones, its a unique bunkai to help understand aikido Koretoshi Maruyama, Griffith Aikido, Sept 2006 (Seminar Organiser) Maruyama sensei returned to Griffith University after almost 20years teaching sword arts and original koru aiki techniques as an aid to understanding aikido Minoru Oshima Sensei Yoshitake Hashimoto Sensei, Adelaide 2007 Oshima Sensei, former student of Maruyama sensei and founder of Kodokai Aikido gave aseminar focusing on the syretching of the body through aikido practice. Attended by most dojos in adelaide of all different aikido styles it was a real melting pot experience. Maruyama Sensei 2007, Brisbane (Seminar Organiser) Maruyama Sensei 2008, Cleveland Maruyama Sensei, Okajima Sensei, Williams Sensei, Byron Bay 2009 Maruyama Sensei, Oshima Sensei, Williams Sensei International Friendship Seminar March 2010 (International Co-ordinator) Other Budo A part of studying Budo (or martial way) is a to occassionally draw on experiences in other arts.sometimes developing relationships with these arts. In addition some of the seminars attended in other arts include the following. Wally Jay and Leon Jay, small circle jujitsu and Dillman preassure points, 1998, Hamilton, Brisbane Wally Jay, famous for his development of small circle Jui-jitsu (a juijitsu with very similar aiki type principles) co-taught with his son a senior instructor with the Dillman preassure point seminar. Attended by many different arts - was a fascinating insight into the principles of aikido as juijitsu and the lurking vital point techniques in aikido technique Close Quarters Combat, Glenn Zwiers, 2001, Brisbane One of the military styles popular at the moment this was agreat opportunity to find out more and discover a few new tricks, reality based fighting and to discover aikido skills are a good foundation for doing these things Steffen Messerschmidt, Knife Defence seminars, 2 weekend seminars in 2003 I, II, June 2003 A senior Jeet Kune do and Jujitsu instructor Stefan taught Philipino based knife fighting as a precursor to knife defence. Intersetigly aikido skills with some careful tweaking (to take if from the armor clad samurai and into a back alley) seemed to be similar Target Focused training, Feb 2007, Sydney Target Focused training, March 2008, Brisbane (Host) Personal Safety Concepts Feb 2008, Brisbane (Host) The pointy end of the stick, these session were lead by an experienced aikido instructor who is now an authorised TFT instructor Dojo memberships Finsbury Park Ki aikido, 1998-1999, 2 months Muswell hill ki federation london 1999, 3 months brighton ki society 1998-1999, 1 year Persaidiri silat, tarragindi 1989, 1996, Wesley Clark Griffith university Tae Kwon Do club 1996, 3 months Wu style Tai Chi, London 1999, beginners course Griffith University Aikido Cub 1993- Spring Hill Ki Society 1993-1998 Coorparoo Ki Society 1998-2000 Cleveland Ki Society 1996-1998 Visiting Dojo Whilst travelling i try to pack a dogi, and hakama to train abroard. here are some of the dojos I have visited include Coventry Ki Society 1998 Goshinkan Byron Bay, many times 1995-2005 Rocky Mountain Ki Society, Boulder 1996 Shinmeikan Aikikai, London 1998 The dojo, London 1998 Iwama London 1998 Shindai Aikikai Florida june 2002 Parsons Green Ki Society 2002 Toronoto Aikikai Oct, 2003 Vienna Shumeikan, Oct 2004, July 2010 Clifton Hill Aikikai David Brown, Christmas Hills Feb 2005 Melbourne Aikikai 2004. Mar 2006 RyuShinkan, Melbourne 2004 Shudokan, Melbourne 2004 Tokyo Aikido Yuishinkai Sept 2005, Sept 2006, 2007, 2008 Osaka AIkido Yuishinkai and Daito Ryu AIkiJujitsu Sept 2005 Osaka Ki Society Sept 2005 Shosenji Temple, Osaka, Sept 2005 |