Here is a report in Italian of the seminar earlier this month in Novara.

I have just got back from the First Memorial Seminar for Doshu Yoshigasaki. This was the first occasion where Doshu’s four highest grades, all Ninth Dans, taught together at the same seminar. Understandably the seminar was both well attended and well received. Thank you to Shihan Bruno Maule and the Dojo Ronin Ki Aikido Novara for organising an excellent weekend and I look forward to seeing you soon.

In life, one is either getting better or worse. Unlike with inorganic material which can remain dormant for years without any improvement or degradation.

Aikido can be practiced from cradle to grave. We have students whose ages range from six to over eighty. It is art where one adapts the training to your own physique so no matter what shape or age you are now, you will be able to begin the journey today.

Along with the application in real life which one would expect in a martial art, we also are taught how to unify mind and body. This unification helps greatly with the challenges of daily life and can be used no matter how far you are along the journey.

So don’t wait; start practising Aikido now.

Here are three essays that have been written about What is Aikido?

The first by Doshu Yoshigasaki was written in 2004. Another was written by Sensei Mike Hayes and is also on the new British Ki Society website. Finally, I wrote a short essay a few years ago which can be found here. I purposely used the same title so that the three essays could be contrasted.

Due to worsening conditions related to the pandemic, the “First Doshu Yoshigasaki Memorial” has been postponed to May 13-14-15.

The British Ki Society webpage has been re-platformed and can now be found on www.ki-aikido.org.uk

If you links to the previous sites please could you update the. Also If you would link to your page to the site please could you email webmaster@ki-aikido.org.uk

We will be restarting training at our normal times from Thursday. This would mean the first class back in Ruislip will be this Thursday 6th January 7:30-9:30pm. The first class in the City will be next Tuesday 11th January between 6pm-8pm.

The children’s class will also resume on Sunday 9th January at 5:30pm

We will continue to follow the guidance set by the Government as advised by the British Aikido Board along with any safety measures required by the Queensmead Sports Centre and the Deli Studios where we practice.

Doshu Yoshigasaki graded four people to Ninth Dan, three from Italy, and Sensei Burgess. These Ninth Dans are arranging a seminar next year in Italy to commemorate the passing of Yoshigasaki Sensei. The plan at the moment is that the majority of the seminar will be taught by the four Ninth Dans but an opportunity will be given for younger instructors to teach a small portion of the course as well.

The exact venue and other details are still being worked out. Of course, this is all subject to how things are with the pandemic come February.

In the New Year, Doshu Yoshigaski promoted me to Godan (Fifth Dan). I was presented with my certificate by Sensei Burgess this Saturday during his monthly seminar in Coventry where we have now resumed training.

Sensei Burgess was also promoted to Kudan (Ninth Dan) in the New Year. I learnt that he got his Shodan the same month and year that I was born. There is an article about Sensei Burgess’s Aikido journey in last month’s Ki Newsletter.

Unfortunately, due to the tube strike on Tuesday, 3rd August we will have to cancel the lesson in the City Dojo next week.

The Thursday class in Ruislip will go ahead as planned.