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Darren Edwards
(4th dan)
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Darren Edwards with uke David Simmons
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"I started martial arts training in 1987.
The first school I tried was Zen Do Kai in Floreat for a period of six
months. At the time, the school was teaching their own style of karate
which I was not very comfortable with. In 1988, I began training in
a closed school with six people in the art of ninjutsu under Sensei
Andrew Brodalka. The style was extremely demanding and required a high
level of fitness. I had to stop training when work commitments
took me up north for a year. November 1990 was the year I began
training under Yoshiaki Unno Sensei. I received my 1st dan in
1995. After that, Unno Sensei showed me some videos of O’Sensei, and I
asked for permission to train at other schools in the style of Aikikai.
He granted me permission and suggested either Sensei John Langley or
Sensei Brett Nener at the UWA Aikido Club. I began training toward
the end 1995 under Sensei John Langley. During this period, I kept in
contact with Sensei Unno and still trained there occasionally until
his health worsened. My time under Sensei Langley was very rewarding
and I learnt a lot from him and Sempai Shaun Duffy. While training at
the Subiaco Dojo I met up with a senior student of Sensei Unno,
Stephen Nener. Stephen encouraged me to join him at the University of
Western Australia dojo. After being his uke for about four years I
returned back to train with Sensei Unno. Sensei Unno - still not in
good health - allowed me to re-start the dojo as long as he was
present. After 9 months we moved to the dojo at the Scarborough PCYC.
Because of continuing bad health, Sensei Unno was only present for
gradings. After a while, I began training back with Sensei Langley,
while still maintaining the dojo at the Scarborough PCYC as the
primary instructor. The Scarborough dojo formally affiliated with the
Institute of Aikido Australia in 2006 and Sensei Langley awarded me my
3rd dan in June 2006 and my 4th dan in November 2007."
Shaun Duffy (3rd dan)
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Shaun Duffy with uke Wing Chung
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Wing Chung (3rd
dan)
Prior to taking up aikido, Wing trained in wing
chun, jujitsu and karate. Wing has been practicing aikido for about
12 years, having begun with Sensei Brett Nener at the University of
Western Australia aikido club. He joined the Institute of Aikido
Australia at its inception when Sensei John Langley established the
dojo at the Subiaco Police and Citizens Youth Club. He also trains
at Ai Aikido under Shidoin Fredy Appeli on a regular basis. Wing
regularly attends various seminars including Aikido Friendship
Seminars and seminars held by Shihan Igarashi Kazou and Shihan
Kobayashi Yasuo during their visits to Perth.
Wing’s current training focus is on blending
with uke and practical applications of aikido in self defence
situations. Wing currently holds the rank of 3rd dan awarded by
Sensei Langley in 2005.
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David Simmons and Wing Chung
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David Simmons
(3rd dan)
"My first memory of Aikido was while I was at
University in the early 80s. A friend had started Aikido with the
University of WA club and was practicing movement with a wooden
sword. I didn't take much more than a minor interest and continued
training in Jujitsu and other martial arts that I was doing at the
time.
Many years later I discovered the book 'Aikido: The Dynamic Sphere'
in a bookshop. I was so taken by the philosophy and principles of
the art that I bought the book (about $60) despite not having any
place to learn.
In 1993, Wing Chung and I were becoming bored with our regular
social games of squash and decided to restart our interest in
martial arts. We searched around for a suitable option. I had a
preference for Aikido since I wished to see if the practice matched
the theory in the book I owned.
In January 1994 we commenced Aikido at the University of Western
Australia under Sensei Brett Nener. One of my distinct memories of
that time was the size and variety of the bruises that appeared
after each training session. In May 1994 I took six months off from
Aikido after my daughter was born.
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David Simmons with uke Darren
Edwards
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I restarted Aikido later that year and shortly after moved to
Subiaco PCYC in January 1995 where a new dojo was being founded
under Sensei John Langley (5th Dan at the time). Wing had continued
with Aikido during my absence was intending to train with John at
Subiaco and I was happy to join them. After a few training sessions
Shaun Duffy joined us. Shaun had trained with John under Sensei
Yoshiaki Unno. Wing and I knew Shaun from attending the UWA dojo.
Shaun's brother Nathan and his friend Steve Craig joined about that
time.
In those early days classes of three or four were not uncommon.
Slowly the classes grew and my skills improved. When my son was born
in November 1995 I had another eight or so months absence from
Aikido.
When I returned in mid 1996 virtually everyone that I had originally
assisted had surpassed me in skill. I reached my 1st Kyu (Brown
belt) about the time that Wing, Nathan and Steve were preparing for
their Dan grade (Black belt).
I commenced running children's classes in 2002 to ensure that my
children had the opportunity to learn Aikido.
In 2006, the dojo that is the Institute of Aikido Australia, now has
Sensei John Langley, four 3rd dans, six 2nd dans and an ever
increasing number of 1st dans. A long road has been travelled from
the few white belts starting to learn from John Langley in January
1995. What is more interesting is what the future will bring.
The most satisfying aspect is the friendly spirit of the club with
its open attitude to learning. This is a reflection of those who
have been instrumental in its success - specifically John, Shaun,
Wing, Sete, Fiona and Rob."
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Fiona Evans with uke Wing Chung
(and Sensei John Langley in the background)
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Fiona Evans (3rd dan)
"I've been interested in physical fitness
for a long time. Before I started learning aikido at the Institute of
Aikido in June 1998, I used to go the gym nearly every day. I found
that exercise helped me manage the stresses of my full-time career
and part-time study. However, lifting weights and running on the
spot soon became boring, and when I finished my Masters degree, I
decided it was time for a new challenge. Seeking a means of
exercising my brain as well as my body, I spoke to people about
different types of martial arts, and decided that I was more
interested in learning one of the 'softer' martial arts. That is,
one of the arts that rely more on blending and timing than on
blocking and strength.
I was told that it could take at least 10 years
to become any good at aikido. When I passed my 1st dan grading in
June 2002, I realised that aikido was something that I would be
learning for well past 10 years. Aikido has become a passion for
me. Every time I walk onto the mats, I am faced with both physical
and emotional challenges: from the early days when I really didn't
want to punch someone (even knowing that they could easily avoid my
attack), to the first time I used a live blade in practice, right up
to my recent purchase of a 16th century katana. I believe that I'll
keep learning more about aikido for as long as I keep training, and that I'll
train for the rest of my life.
In 2005, I moved to Brisbane to work for a year.
During that time, I trained with Sensei Thom Hansen of Aikido
Yuishinkai. The challenges involved in learning a new style of
aikido were balanced by the realisation that everywhere I go, my
aikido partners become a family to me. The trust required to
practice aikido builds bonds that will last a lifetime. In 2006, I
was overjoyed to bring my two aikido families together when Thom
attended the Institute of Aikido winter school as our guest
instructor.
I was awarded my 3rd dan grading in September
2006."
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