On Monday 17 July, Martha passed her exam for 5th kyu. This took place in our dojo in Utrecht. Thanks to all who helped in the preparations. Martha, congratulations!
Training with Jelena Vrzić, 7 and 8 June
As of Saturday June 3rd up and until Sunday June 11th, Jelena Vrzić sensei will be hosting again several guest trainings in the Netherlands, amongst others also at Sanshinkai Aikido Utrecht. Vrzić is from Serbia and holds the rank of 6th dan and is a student of Tada sensei, 9th dan. Her trainings are exceptionally inspiring, with returning focus on flow, placement and relaxation. The theme is this time kaeshi waza.
The training sessions at Sanshinkai Aikido Utrecht are scheduled on Wednesday, June 7th and Thursday, June 8th and admission is open for everybody. The trainings start at 19:30 and last until 21:15 on both Monday and Thursday. Admission is € 12.50 for a single training and € 20.00 for two trainings. For a complete overview of Jelena’s trainings in the Netherlands, discounts and a combination ticket, please look at the (on 30st of May updated) poster below.
Free parking on the grounds at Tamboersdijk 9 and the dojo is also quite easily reached by public transport. Kindly pay your trainings cash on arrival at the desk, and make sure to arrive well in advance.
Sander promoted to aikido teacher level 3
On May 13th 2017, Sander has completed his education at Aikido Nederland for aikido teacher with a practical exam. He is now a by the NOC*NSF governmental recognised aikido teacher level 3. During his education he followed many practical and theoretical lessons at Sportcentrum Papendal, gave trainings in Amsterdam in the Sho Shin Aikido Dojo of Paul Jansen and in his own dojo he organised several activities such as seminars, kyu exams, guest trainings and development for assistants. Sander, congratulations!
Jan passes practical exam aikido teacher level 2
On March 11th 2017, Jan finished his training at Aikido Nederland by passing his practical exam. He is now a by the NOC*NSF governmental recognised assistant aikido teacher level 2. During this training at Sportcentrum Papendal he followed many practical and theoretical lessons, e.g. didactic, anatomy & physiology, aikido history, injury prevention, kyu degrees, First Aid for Sports and children and youth aikido. Furthermore he got lessons in: How to make a teaching plan? What are the different learning styles? How to give and receive feedback? And, more important, how do you as a teacher make sure the training is safe? Jan, congratulations!
Photograph: Jacob Uythoven
Seminar Eric Graf, 21-23 April
Eric Graf sensei holds 5th dan aikikai aikido and is a student of Michele Quaranta sensei and Masatomi Ikeda sensei. He currently practices aikido full-time, manages three dojo in Switzerland, writes books on aikido and gives seminars in Switzerland, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Serbia and the Netherlands. Eric will be giving a seminar for the seventh time at Sanshinkai Aikido Utrecht on 21-23 April 2017. The poster can be downloaded as PDF and PNG. See also Facebook and register now.
Member interview with Sander
| name | Sander |
| year of birth | 1973 |
| grew up in | Tilburg until 13 years old, then Nieuwegein and Montfoort |
| aikido since | 1994 |
| rank | 4th dan and shidoin |
What do you find beautiful or inspiring in aikido?
The philosophy of aikido doesn’t contain “yes but” because it is a martial art. I find it beautiful that in the practice of aikido people can no longer hide behind excuses. And you discover a sincerity, dynamic and flexibility to make the world for your and others a little bit more enjoyable and at the same time release what you would like to do in your life.
What is your favorite technique and why?
My first love was shihonage, much later iriminage and genkeikokyūnage were added. I like the complexity and feeling-wise attunement of these techniques. Another example is a hip throw on one leg. More and more I actually find all techniques interesting.
Attack with which I like to work are yokomenuchi and katadorimenuchi because of the respectively intensity an complexity. I like mainly katadorimenuchi iriminage on katanote because it can fail easily. For a good execution, both person have to work acurately on all aspects such as posture, distance, exchanging interaction, timing and contact.
Also zantokokyunage is fascinating for me. The attacker has a lot to give and to give away at the same time and there is completely no time to think. When performed properly both the attacker and defender can experience feeling part of a greater context. This technique is part of our logo for a reason.
How do you apply aikido in your daily life?
By timely seeing what cannot be altered and I have to accept and what can be altered and how I can do that in a pragmatic way. In aikido, I have learned a lot about emotions of myself and others and how to cope with these. That is how you get results in a respectful cooperation. Results which you would have never achieved on your own.
What do you do in daily life?
After a technical study, I have build a career in information and communication technology (ICT). Since 2008, I am a self-employed entrepreneur under the name Hellebaard. I do assignments which are related to business and information analyses, open source software, open exchange formats, open data, spell checking, education and typography. Meanwhile I have gained experience in many several industries and try to get the best out of the combination of being a human and technology. From time to time I also write and publish books, a part of those are aikido related. Ah, and I am the main teacher of Sanshinkai Aikido Utrecht.
What makes you laugh?
Currently Plinkett Reviews and Steward Lee and Bill Murray, before a lot of Jiskefet.
What is your favorite quote?
“I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.” Frank Herbert, American writer in Dune.
What else should we know about you?
I love hobbies.
Training with Jelena Vrzić, 6 and 9 February
As of Saturday February 4th up and until Saturday Februry 11th, Jelena Vrzić sensei will be hosting several guest trainings in the Netherlands, amongst others also at Sanshinkai Aikido Utrecht. Vrzić is from Serbia and holds the rank of 6th dan and is a student of Tada sensei, 9th dan. Her trainings are exceptionally inspiring, with returning focus on flow, placement and relaxation.
The training sessions at Sanshinkai Aikido Utrecht are scheduled on Monday, February 6th and Thursday, February 9th and admission is open for everybody. The trainings start at 19:30 and last until 21:15 on both Monday and Thursday. Admission is € 7,50 for a single training. For a complete overview of Jelena’s trainings in the Netherlands and a combination ticket, please look at the poster below.
Free parking on the grounds at Tamboersdijk 9 and the dojo is also quite easily reached by public transport. Kindly pay your trainings cash on arrival at the desk, and make sure to arrive well in advance.
