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Dear students and parents, All too soon Summer is once again making way for Autumn. It has been a most enjoyable Summer. Thank you for making the Aikido Warrior Camps at the Gordon Head Recreation Centre a success. With most students now more mature in Aikido, they participated enthusiastically and confidently during the camps. It is also so amazing to see how the students have grown, many taller and on the verge of adulthood. What a fantastic and rewarding journey it has been. We also welcome new students to Ueshiba Aikido, Victoria. To the new students who attended the camp, we hope you enjoyed the Aikido Warriors' Camp and trust that your Aikido journey with us will be an enriching one. As the new academic year begins, I also look forward to another series of Pro-D Aikido Workshops. We will continue to focus on various aspects of Aikido in each of these full day workshops. The dates for the Pro-D workshops have not been published in the Saanich Active Guide. The dates are listed below, so please jot them down on your calendar and register early. The first Pro-D Aikido Workshop will be on Monday, 24 September, from 9am to 4pm. The venue for that workshop will be at Gordon Head Middle School for the entire day. This year, we will also make available to you, exclusive embroidered Ueshiba Aikido polo/golf shirts, T-shirts and jackets - depending on the demand. There has also been some interest in having a "I survived the Aikido Warriors' Camp" t-shirts. We will hold a design contest for that and use the winning design for the t-shirts. We will be taking orders, once again, from students who wish to have their Jo and/or Bokken engraved with their name. Submitting the weapons in bulk will enable us to get the engraving done at a lower price than if it were done one at a time. On a separate note: It is unfortunate that Wednesday morning classes for the present cycle have been cancelled. It is, however, still available if students are interested in attending that morning class. The morning class is still being offered for the next cycle, beginning 24 October, so do register early if you enjoy a nice, refreshing morning workout. What had happened this time was; the day before the class, we were informed by the Gordon Head Recreation Centre that no one had signed up for the Wednesday morning class. And so, for the first time since it was offered, the Wednesday class had to be cancelled. Although classes are on-going and students are already used to the weekly routine of Aikido practice, please remember to register at least one week before each cycle. The management of Gordon Head Recreation Centre has been most gracious to us, in supporting our classes and in allowing me to run Aikido classes, even if only one student signs up. In this case, there was no one on paper for the Wednesday morning class. While the Aikido programme that we offer is progressive and structured, the space we are using belongs to the recreation centre. So, they need to know that people are registered for the classes to continue. It has been an incredibly exciting year so far. For the latest photos, do visit our photo gallery at: http://www.ueshibaaikido.com//UAGallery06.htm Other than that, thank you once again for a most enjoyable summer practice. As we grow and mature as a Dojo, I hope that you will find Aikido practice as enriching in your daily life as it is for me sharing it with you. Have a good Fall season ahead, and see you in the Dojo. In harmony, Rafael Oei Sensei. Ueshiba Aikido (Victoria)

in this issue Pro-D Aikido Workshops Name Engraving Service Ueshiba Aikido Golf/Polo shirts Class Schedules Quick Links: Ueshiba Aikido Website The Glossary Page Back Issues Essentials Books Grading Structure   Founder of Aikido     Morihei Ueshiba O Sensei

Pro-D Aikido Workshops

Following the success of our Pro-D Aikido Workshops earlier this year, we will continue to offer these workshops as a supplement to your regular Aikido classes.

The workshops will begin at 9am at Gordon Head Middle School, and will end at the Gordon Head Recreation Centre, except for Monday, 24 September, which will be held at Gordon Head Middle School from 9am to 4pm.

The Pro-D Aikido Workshops will be held on the following dates:

If you wish to sign up for the workshops, do register at the Gordon Head Recreation Centre reception counter, or online at http://recreation.saanich.ca/reconline/Start/

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Name Engraving Service

Once again as part of our service, we are offering to bring one load of weapons to the engraver. If you wish to have your weapon(s) engraved with your name, do let us know and we will inform you of the collection date.

Please note that this is NOT compulsory.

Submitting the weapons at the same time will save the cost on "set up fees" - which will be changed separately for each weapon if they were to be brought to the engraver individually.

If you wish to have your name engraved on your weapon, please print/write clearly, on paper, the exact name you would like engraved on the weapon.

Samples can be seen in the dojo as some students have already had their names engraved on their bokken.

The cost for the engraving will be announced. Depending on the volume, the cost may be about $20.

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Ueshiba Aikido Golf/Polo Shirts

A series of shirts, jackets and fleece vests will be made available to those interested.

The first line of clothing will be an "Ueshiba Aikido Victoria" golf/polo shirt.

These will be in black with the (kanji) characters "Aikido" embroidered in gold on the left chest, and the words "Ueshiba Aikido, Victoria BC" embroidered on the left sleeve.

The cost for each golf/polo shirt will be announced.

Do let us know if you are interested in purchasing the shirt. Depending on the volume, the cost may be about $30 - $32.

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Class Schedules

Students who are in the following grade levels may enrol in the corresponding class(es).

If you are unable to make it for that class, do contact me and provisions will be made.
As far as possible, do try to enrol in the appropriate class to reap the best benefit from that class:

If you are 16 years and above, do consider enrolling in the Tuesday and/or Thursday Adult classes.

If you wish to also enrol in the 4pm classes to continue improving on your basic techniques, you are more than welcome to join us then.

Gordon Head Middle School

Aikido classes at Gordon Head Middle School will continue during lunch time on Mondays,
unless otherwise announced by Gordon Head Principal, Mr Kelly.

Gordon Head Rec Ctr

Scheduled classes at the Gordon Head Recreation Centre:

Autumn Cycle I (8 classes)

Autumn Cycle II (8 classes)

The highlighted column indicates a Grading Week.

Juan de Fuca Rec Ctr

Scheduled classes at the Juan de Fuca Recreation Centre:

Autumn Cycle I (7 classes)

Autumn Cycle II (6 classes)

Classes are from 5:30pm to 6:30pm.
Classes are for children from 8 to 15 years.
Grade level is mixed.

The recreation centre requires that all students be accounted for from the first lesson of each cycle.

As our Aikido programme is on-going, members of our dojo are encouraged to pre-registered for each new cycle.

Currently, students are reminded to register for each new cycle two weeks before the end of each cycle.
Typically, a cycle lasts two months, with Grading Tests four times a year.

Post-dated cheques may be submitted to me or Mrs. Oei (Kathy).
The cheques are to be made payable to "Corporation of the District of Saanich".

Register at the Gordon Head Recreation Centre reception counter, or online at http://recreation.saanich.ca/reconline/Start/

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Grading Tests

Grading Tests will be conducted four times a year,
in November, February, May and August.

Please Note:

Students are required to practice at least 20hours for 12kyu to 9kyu, 30hours for 8kyu to 6kyu, 40hours for 5kyu, 50hours for 4kyu and 3kyu, 60hours for 2kyu and 70hours for 1kyu.

Practice hours, ideally, should be continuous uninterrupted practice. Hours are not cumulative over weeks or months of inactivity. This is necessary, as with all skills, to enable the student to refine and develop fluency in his/her knowledge, balance and technique in the art. If a student is absent for six months or more, the student will revert back to the level of white belt until the student demonstrates the ability to perform at his/her previous level.

Only students who are ready and eligible for grading will be invited to apply to be graded.

No video recording or photography will be allowed during Grading Tests.

Click here for the syllabus: Grading Structure.

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