Yamashima Shihan arrives in Christchurch on Thursday 24 September on Singapore Airlines eta at 9.30am. We hope to have the following additional classes with him:

Thursday 24 September 6 – 7.30pm [this class is dependent on how well he travels]
Monday 28 September 6 – 7.30pm
Tuesday 29 September 6 – 7.30pm

All these classes will be held at the Burnside Dojo.

The school holidays are nearly upon us. We have the final kids classes for the term as follows:

Rangiora Dojo Last class was on Saturday 19 September.
Linwood Dojo Last class Tuesday 22 September
Burnside Dojo Last class Wednesday 23 Sept [note: there is no Kids Class this Sat 26 Sept]

We return for Term 4 as follows:

Rangiora Dojo First class was on Saturday 17 October. [Note term 4 fees are due first week back.]

Between 27 August to 3 September I [Andrew Williamson] travelled to Singapore at the invitation of Club Aikido. As Technical Advisor for Club Aikido I travel to Singapore at least once a year to conduct a seminar and grading. Club Aikido consists of 9 dojos and is led by Koh Nai Sing Sensei.

It was great to meet the Singapore members once again and see their progress over the past year. It is also fun enjoying their hopsitality - the food is fantastic. I hope some ASC members can visit with me in times to come.

Some training photos from the sessions over the week can be seen here:

We will hold a mini seminar this Saturday 2 – 4 pm at the Linwood Dojo. The mini seminar is free. However, if you feel so inclined please bring a non perishable food item. We will collect all of these and take them to the Christchurch City Mission.

SENIORS:
Wednesday 19 August Burnside Dojo, 6.00pm 5th – 4th kyu
Wednesday 19 August Burnside Dojo, 7.30pm 3rd - 1st kyu
Not this time - Yudansha.

KIDS:

Tuesday 18 August 4.45pm Linwood Dojo
Wednesday 19 August 4.45pm Burnside Dojo
Saturday 22 August 10.30am Rangiora Dojo

NB: the P.T. should not take up the whole class so please if you are not testing come along, do uke during the tests and then train afterwards.

This was held today at the Burnside Dojo and I think it already is a success from the feedback we had. The Open Day was led by Irene and the senior women: Susi, Elissa, Miria and Cecilia, with Shane and James as the "crash test dummies" [uke]. About 15 women watched and then tried out their first session of aikido. Sarah McNeill also came along and is planning to attend all the Open Days until she has enough training time to sit her first grade.