Sheffield Aikido - February newsletter

Dear all,

Well done to all our members who turned up last week and trained for our Kangeiko challenge! We broke a record this year with a massive 17 people completing the challenge of training over 24 hours in 7 days and attending all 7.30am weekday sessions. Superb effort, well done guys. We've put up the attendance on the dojo noticeboard.

Upcoming events:

We will be holding our next grading - for students and city members - next week on Tuesday 26th from 6.30pm (students as well).

The next grading after this will be before the exams (late April). Students grading for 3rd kyu and above, please note! Only students who have taken part in the students nationals will be eligible to grade then. THe following grading will be at student boot camp in June after the exams.

On 5th March, we are welcoming Yamasaki Fumika, 4th dan, female aikido champion from hombu in Japan. Any of us who has trained at hombu knows how sound Fumika's aikido is, how fierce a competitor she is, and how fun-loving she is! I have attached pictures she has just sent us and copied below her impressive competition record of the past 10 years. She has consistently been in the top 3 at all world championships she has taken part in the last 10 years! She is an incredibly strong role model for women, and men alike.

She will be assisted by current all aikido student female champion Nakashima Ayaka.

So, we will welcome them in the dojo on Tuesday 5th March for 3 sessions from 5pm until 9.30pm (5-6.25; 6.30-7.55; 8-9.30pm).

THIS TRAINING IS FOR BOTH MEN AND WOMEN! Do not miss this opportunity to train with a female international aikidoka of this calibre! This will prove a great addition to the instruction we get from our resident former world champion Scott.

Costs: as we need to help cover the cost of airfare from Japan to the UK, we will be charging £7 per session or £15 for all 3 sessions. But if you buy the tickets by Tuesday 26th, the cost will be £5 per session and £10 for all 3 sessions. Get in touch!

Fumika and Ayaka will be training around the UK, including at the EIS on Sunday 3rd March, and in York on Monday 4th March. See attached poster for further detail. Many thanks to Paul Bonett and Vanda Fairchild for organising this UK tour.

Fumika and Ayaka will be staying at ours until they leave for Edinburgh on Wednesday. Any suggestion of sightseeing on Tuesday, and anyone wanting to join me will be greatly appreciated! On Monday we will be heading off to York.

The student national annual competition will be held on 16-17th March in York. Non students cannot take part in the competition itself, but you could come and cheer for the students, help out and generally see what an aikido competition looks like.  

See you on the mats soon!

Celine

Visit the brand new Sheffield Aikido

website: http://sheffieldaikido.org.uk/
Or see us on our Facebook Steel City
Aikido page: www.facebook.com/#!/groups/114767211892689/

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Yamasaki sensei
Competition Record:
2001 International Aikido Tournament (Osaka, Japan)
2nd place: Women Tanto Randori Individual

2002 Kansai University Aikido Tournament (Osaka, Japan)
1st place: Women Tanto Randori Individual

2002 Japan University Aikido Tournament (Osaka, Japan)
3rd place: Women Embu

2003 Kansai University Aikido Tournament (Osaka, Japan)
2nd place: Women Tanto Randori Individual
2nd place: Women Embu

2003 Japan University Aikido Tournament (Saitama, Japan)
2nd place: Women Embu

2003 Kansai Aikido Tournament (Osaka, Japan)
2nd place: Women Tanto Individual

2004 Kansai AIkido Tournament (Osaka, Japan)
3rd place: Embu, dan grade

2005 International Aikido Tournament (Chiba, Japan)
2nd place: Women Tanto Randori Individual

2005 Kansai AIkido Tournament (Osaka, Japan)
1st place: Women Tanto Randori Individual
1st place: Embu, dan grade

2006 Kansai AIkido Tournament (Osaka, Japan)
3rd place: Women Tanto Randori Individual
3rd place: Embu, dan grade

2007 Kansai AIkido Tournament (Osaka, Japan)
1st place: Women Tanto Randori Individual
3rd place: Embu, dan grade

2008 Kansai AIkido Tournament (Osaka, Japan)
2nd place: Women Tanto Randori Individual
1st place: Embu, Tanto 17hon, dan grade

2009 International Aikido Tournament (Kyoto, Japan)
3rd place: Women Tanto Randori Individual

2009 Kansai AIkido Tournament (Osaka, Japan)
1st place: Women Tanto Randori Individual

2010 Kansai AIkido Tournament (Osaka, Japan)
1st place: Women Tanto Randori Individual
1st place: Embu, dan grade

2011 Koshiyama Cup (Geneva, Switzerland)
1st place: Women Tanto Randori Individual
1st place: Embu, Goshin no Kata

2011 Kansai AIkido Tournament (Osaka, Japan)
2nd place: Women Tanto Randori Individual

2012 Kansai AIkido Tournament (Osaka, Japan)
2nd place: Women Tanto Randori Individual
2nd place: Embu, weapon

Instruction Record:
Higashi-Kishiwada, Osaka (2004-)
Shinkanaoka, Osaka (2004-)
Komyoike, Osaka (2004-)
Shodokan Hombu Kids class (Mon), Osaka (2004-)

Other Information:
Performed Aikido Randori on Kansai TV in 2010
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Ms. Ayaka Nakashima
Competition Record:
2012 Japan University Aikido Tournament (Kyoto, Japan)
1st place: Women Tanto Randori Individual
Instruction Record:
Shinkanaoka, Osaka (2011-2012) as Instructor's Assistant