BKAA Italian study trip with Koichi Tohei, 1987

How many people remember the BKAA's trip to Italy to study at a seminar given by Tohei Sensei in Florence in 1987? I recently discovered a batch of old photos from that memorable event. Take a look and see if you recognise a few faces. 

31 Count Jo Kata Workshop at Hartland Club

The Hartland Club begins a series of workshops on the 31 Count Jo Kata next Tuesday (4th February) with more workshops to follow on the first Tuesdays in March and April. Everyone is welcome. This is a great opportunity to learn this famous kata in real depth. More information on the Hartland Club site: http://hartlandaikido.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/31-count-kata-workshop-next-tuesday.html

Aikido Workshop (multiple styles), Barnstaple - September 21st

The Bideford Aiki Jo Club is organising an Aikido and Aiki weapons workshop in North Devon, to celebrate the closing of International Aiki Peace week. BKAA members (and members of other Aikido associations) are welcome to attend!

Date: Saturday 21st September, 2013
Venue: The Budo Centre, The Ice Factory, Fairview Car Park, Barnstaple, EX31 1JP, North Devon
Registration 12.45.  
Times: 1.00 pm to 5.00 pm
(Insurance required)
Please bring Boken and Jo if you have them.

Teachers are:
Sensei Richard Small 4th dan (Iwama) TIA Europe. Teaches Aiki weapons in Bideford.
Sensei Huw Collingbourne 2nd Dan British Ki Aikido Association - founded and teaches Hartland Aikido Club
Sensei Jenny Herniman 4th Dan Shudokan Braunton Aikido Club
Sensei Mark Allcock 2nd dan TIA Europe of Wellsprings Aikido in Dorset
Sensei Andrew Cullerne 5th Dan Shudokan Barnstaple
Sensei Brian Stockwell 7th Dan Tenchi Ryu Barnstaple

Find out more about International Aiki Peace week. www.aikipeaceweek.org

Aiki peace week is a charitable event
Student fee  £10
All proceeds to charity. ( Macmillan Nurses)

For more information, contact Richard Small (TIA Europe) or Huw Collingbourne (BKAA)

Aiki-weapons class this Monday in North Devon

If you fancy a Bank Holiday trip down to the beautiful wooded valleys and seashores of North Devon, may I suggest that you also take the time to pay us a visit at the Hartland Dojo (at the Bucks Cross Village Hall, about mid-way between Bideford and Bude). This Monday we are pleased to have a guest instructor, Sensei Richard Small (4th dan, Takemusu Iwama Europe) who will be teaching some of the weapons arts of the Iwama Aikido tradition. Suffice to say, everyone is welcome. More information on the Hartland Aikido Club site: http://hartlandaikido.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/aiki-weapons-class-6th-may-dont-miss-it.html

Hartland Aikido Club, North Devon - new class schedule

The Hartland Aikido Club in North Devon is now practising twice weekly in Bucks Cross - a picturesque village close to the sea, mid-way between Bideford and Bude. If you are on holiday in Devon please feel free to join us! More information on the Hartland Aikido blog: http://hartlandaikido.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/bucks-cross-aikido-between-bideford-and.html

New BKAA Secretary & Treasurer

I have now handed over the reins to Matt Pilott in the Malvern dojo.

He will now handle all the grading and membership requirements for the BKAA.

• Group members insurance is valid until early December 2013
• Instructors insurance comes up throughout the year, aligned to each individual

James is looking at getting the BKAA together soon, to discuss the required direction of the Association and the grading syllabi.

Thanks for the support over the years I have been with the BKAA, I may now try other martial arts, but will maintain contact with the BKAA.

Pete Allen

Aikido in Woolsery, North Devon

From the end of February, the Hartland Aikido Club will practise twice weekly at two venues. The regular Thursday classes continue in Bucks Cross Village Hall (between Bideford and Hartland) at 7:00. A new class will practise on Mondays at the Woolsery Sports and Community Hall in Wolfardisworthy (pronounced 'Woolsery'). Monday classes will start at 7:30 and they will be suitable for beginners, men and women, from the age of 18 to, well, any age...

More information on The Hartland Aikido web site. Details of the Woolsery Hall on the Woolsery Community site.

New Members in Hartland dojo

An update to add a few new members that have joined Huw in the BKAA Hartland dojo in North Devon.

• Dermot Hogan - 3rd Kyu
• Michelle Heard
• Dave Bryant

Welcome to you all and I hope you enjoy the journey that you have commenced into the world of Aikido.

Other BKAA news:

Some of the dojo sensei's joined a call a few weeks ago to run through the direction of the BKAA.

During this call the following was decided:

• Potential new syllabus to be circulated
• BKAA meeting in early 2013
• BKAA Facebook page unveiled
• http://www.facebook.com/BritishKiAikidoAssociation
• Further group calls will be arranged in the future.

BKAA Newsletter 20 Years Ago

As this is my first post to the current online BKAA newsletter, it seems oddly appropriate that its subject is the BKAA newsletter itself - but not as it is now.

I recently discovered and old paper-printed issue of the newsletter from on less than 20 years ago. Sadly some of the names mentioned are no longer practising with us. Though I note that Sensei Eileen was busy teaching an intermediate class at the time. Anyway, for the benefit of any old-timers who might appreciate a bit of nostalgia, you may want to read the short article I have posted about Ki Magazine #5 (March 1992) on the Hartland Aikido Club web site.

New BKAA dojo - Tottenham

David Findley has started another new BKAA dojo in Tottenham.

Tottenham Community Sports Centre,
701-703 High Road,
Tottenham,
London,
Haringey,
N17 8AD
Tel: 020 -8801-6401

Fridays at 5.30pm till 7pm

Nearest overground station  "White Hart Lane" (5 mins walking)
Nearest underground station  "Seven Sisters station, Victoria Line " (10 mins  on 149/259 bus)

Swindon Meeting and Recent Gradings

Thanks to all who attended the BKAA day out in Swindon, it was an enjoyable day and good to meet others from around the Association.

During the day two Swindon members graded to 5th Kyu, Yellow belt.

• Lewis Kidd
• Stephen Reuse

Well done to you both for performing under the added pressure of the bigger audience.

Additional gradings that I have omitted from last year.

Congratulations go to the following members of the Orpington dojo:

• Ultan McCarthy - 2nd Kyu - Blue belt
• Richard Georgiades - 3rd Kyu - Green belt
• David Westlake - 4th Kyu - Orange belt

Thanks again to all who made the Swindon meeting a success, during the coming months I will look into other venues to allow more to attend. Could you reply if a whole weekend would be better for these events?

Hartland Aikido Club

Huw Collingbourne has started a new BKAA dojo in North Devon.


He was practicing with the BKAA many years ago with Eileen and Maurice and has returned to us.


The start date for the Hartland Aikido Club is this week on March 15th. 


The venue will be the Bucks Cross Village Hall, between Bideford and Hartland.


Thereafter, he'll be practising regularly on Thursdays between 7- 9 pm.

BKAA Meeting - Swindon dojo - 11th March 2012

To allow some of the BKAA Orpington members to grade to 3rd Dan

The hall has been booked at Swindon dojo

on Sunday 11th March 2012

at 10am - 4pm

at

Haydon Centre,

Thames Avenue,

Haydon Wick,

Swindon, Wiltshire,

SN25 1QQ

The day will be filled with more Aikido for all levels

Please come along and meet others in the BKAA

New BKAA dojo in Grantown on Spey

Just to let all BKAA members know, Jill and James Oni-Orisan are starting a new BKAA dojo in Scotland after their move last year.


Lessons commence on Wednesday 11th January, then also on Saturday's in Grantown on Spey.


After Easter break this will extend to Kingussie Sports Centre, and then after the summer another in Aviemore Sports Centre.  


Jill and James are running it along the same lines as Colchester Dojo, employed by the sports centres.  


A great start to the New Year for them both and the BKAA.  

Martin Wilkins - 2nd Dan

Happy Christmas and New Year for 2012 to all in the BKAA

Just to finish 2011 on an very positive note

Martin Wilkins - Swindon dojo
  achieved 2nd Dan on Monday 19th December.

Congratulations go to Martin in this accomplishment.

Gradings at Bristol - December 2011

I would like to congratulate Hanna and Pete Lord on achieving their 1st Kyu brown belts at Bristol dojo last night.

Along with them, Simon Daniel also became a 5th Kyu, yellow belt and started his path in Aikido.

Well done to them all and best wishes to the BKAA members as we start the festive season.

We will try to arrange further BKAA meetings in the early New Year.

New Members and Gradings

Other things in life have taken my focus away from updating this Blog.

However there have been a few new members over the past months, these include:

Bournemouth
Gary Ward
Dan Trathen
Russell Phillips

Swindon
Lewis Kidd
Steve Rowse

Selby
Andrew Simpson

As always if I have missed anybody, let me know and I will amend

Megan Emms achieved her 5th Kyu Yellow belt in Swindon also.

Swindon BKAA Meeting

Just to let all know Derek has booked the Swindon hall for:

Saturday 8th October
10am - 4 pm

Venue address
  Haydon Wick Community Centre
  Swindon
  SN25 1QQ

All BKAA members are welcome, guests will require their own insurance.

An agenda will be planned closer to the time.

New members and Gradings

Grading from Colchester on Monday 4th July has seen the following promoted to 1st Dan

• Paul Mullins - 1st Dan
• Andrew Harfield - 1st Dan

and Alexander Walsh achieved his  5th kyu

Colchester has more new members and we welcome the following to the BKAA:

• Steve Ellis
• Mark Veeley

Bournemouth has another new starter, which I omitted, so my apologies for that.

• Jadael Martins

The following have just passed their 6th Kyu (Red belt) and congratulations on your beginning step in Aikido.

• Craig Smith
• Steve Ellis
• Mark Veeley

Welcome to the BKAA and your start in Aikido.

Promotions in Bournemouth

For their commitment to the BKAA and the development of Bournemouth dojo, Philippe has awarded the following grades:

• Jim O'Dywer - 3rd Dan
• Derek Underwood - 2nd Dan

Both have grown the Bournemouth dojo from it's infancy and developed many students within the BKAA.

Congratulations to both.