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Darren Edwards (5th dan), Senior Instructor Scarborough Dojo

"I started martial arts training in 1987. For six months, I trained in Zen Do Kai in Floreat. 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 of only 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.

In November 1990, I began training under Yoshiaki Unno Sensei. I received my 1st dan in 1995.

Darren Edwards with uke David Simmons

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 of 1995 under Sensei John Langley. During this period, I kept in contact with Sensei Unno and still trained with him 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, 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, 4th and 5th dans."

David Simmons (4th dan), Senior Instructor Subiaco Dojo

David Simmons with uke Darren Edwards

"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.

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."

Wing Chung (4th dan)

Prior to taking up aikido, Wing trained in wing chun, jujitsu and karate. Wing has been practicing aikido since 1993, 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.

David Simmons and Wing Chung

Wing’s current training focus is on blending with uke and practical applications of aikido in self defence situations.

Fiona Evans (4th dan), Senior Instructor Bridgetown Dojo

Fiona Evans with uke Wing Chung
(and Sensei John Langley in the background)

"I've been interested in health and 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 ten 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 ten 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 4th dan grading in June 2008."

Stephen Nener (5th dan)

Shaun Duffy (3rd dan)

Stephen Nener with uke Russell Bentley

Shaun Duffy with uke Wing Chung