About Aikido
What is Aikido
Aikido – ai (harmony), ki (energy), kokyu (breath)
Aikido encompasses the fundamentals of kuzushi (unbalancing), seika-no-itten irimi (entering), one point tsukuri (positioning), and tenkan (turning.
The premise in Aikido is to neutralize an attack to effectively control the attacker’s movement. Throwing techniques are used to subdue the attacker. A defensive technique, such as striking vital areas, is effective as a defense from incoming attacks. Timing is particularly important using positive or negative defensive movements to neutralize the attacker.
Fundamentally, your own centre of balance must be very grounded; controlling another’s centre or posture will only become possible if your centre is lower than your opponent’s. This means lowering your sense of gravity from your hip to your legs to the knees, then your feet to the floor so the whole surface area around you becomes your strength.
This allows your upper body to be free and to move more fluidly while you can feel your opponent’s actions. However, the key is to keep this state of mind and body while in full movement defending yourself from multiple attackers.
Aikido in Western Australia – a short history
In 1974, Yoshiaki Unno came to Perth to teach Yoseikan Aikido at Jan de Jong in Perth. Yoseikan Aikido was the first school of Aikido in Western Australia. Unno also taught Iaido, Kobudo and karate. Yoshiaki Unno is a direct student of Sensei Minoru Mochizuki, 10th dan. Mochizuki was a direct student of Aikido’s founder, Morihei Ueshiba.
Unno held the grades of 7th dan Aikido, 7th dan karate and 6th dan kobudo (weapons). He also held dan grades in many other disciplines. Sensei Unno started the Aikido branch of the UWA Martial Arts Club in 1977. Unno left the UWA club to open his own dojo, Yoseikan Budo martial arts club in William Street, Perth. Head student of Unno, Brett Nener, 4th Dan in Yoseikan Aikido, continued leading the UWA Aikido school but is now affiliated with Butoku Ryu Aikijujutsu under Fujimori Akira Shihan, a student of Tanaka Shihan, the founder of Butoku Ryu Aikijujutsu. Fujimori Akira was awarded a 7th dan directly from the Morihei Ueshiba.
Philosophy
Martial Arts are more than just a sport or physical activity. Here, Sensei Stephen Nener offers his insight into another side of Aikido:
My years of training have culminated in the search for something greater than the physical realm. The journey of any martial artist is to learn your own physical strength, boundaries and limitations. Once you have achieved and understood your physical boundaries, you’ll start to understand your inner spirit and mind, and the different perspectives of the art.
Over the years, I have gained so much from some of the most disciplined martial artists in the world, and feel I have much to offer those who seek to learn this unique art of Aikido.