Here are some pictures of our new dojo
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After 18 happy years at Spelthorne School of Gymnastics’s hall behind Brooklands College in Ashford, we’re moving to the hall at Staines and Laleham Sports and Leisure (SALSAL).
SALSAL is a 7 Hectare/17 acre site located between Staines Town Centre and Laleham Village. The club is home to Staines Hockey Club, Staines and Laleham Cricket Club and Laleham Archery Club.
Address: Worple Road Staines, Middlesex, TW18 1HR (opposite the Angler’s Retreat pub).
Training will still be on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8pm-10pm
We’ll be moving on 11th August 2009.
Directions:
From The M25 - Junction 13:
Take the A30 towards Staines/London. At the Crooked Billet roundabout, head towards Staines Town Centre (this is a nightmare junction, traffic lights on a roundabout!). Go straight across the first set of traffic lights, then left at the second set. Go straight across the next roundabout, approximately half a mile away, then right at the next one just after the parade of shops. This is Worple Road. Carry on down for approximately half a mile, the entrance to the club is through a gateway, about 75 metres back from the T junction at the end of Worple Road.
From Sunbury Cross - Junction 1 of the M3:
Head towards Staines from the Sunbury Cross, down the dual carriageway. Go straight across each set of traffic lights, then turn left at the first roundabout you come to, which is approximately two miles from Sunbury Cross. Turn right at the mini-roundabout (about 50 metres on), then keep going for about one mile - straight across the traffic lights to the third mini-roundabout. Turn left at this roundabout, you are in Worple Road. Carry on down for approximately half a mile, the entrance to the club is through a gateway, about 75 metres back from the T junction at the end of Worple Road.
From Staines Bridge (Chertsey/Egham side):
Go across the bridge and turn right at the lights. Get into the right hand lane to head towards Laleham. Keep going down the Laleham Road for approximately one mile. About 150 metres past the Threshers Off Licence (on the right hand side), there’s a mini-roundabout next to a pub (The Anglers Retreat). Turn left and you are now in Worple Road. About 75 metres down on the right hand side, is the gateway into SALSAL.
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The gymnasium is shut this week, so there will be no aikido classes.
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When the Founder of Aikido was asked to define the dojo regulations, he wrote down these six guidelines :
- Aikido decides life and death in a single strike, so students must carefully follow the instructor’s teaching and not compete to see who is the strongest.
- Aikido is the way that teaches how one can deal with several enemies. Students must train themselves to be alert not just to the front but to all sides and the back.
- Training should always be conducted in a pleasant and joyful atmosphere.
- The instructor teaches only one small aspect of the art. Its versatile applications must be discovered by each student through incessant practice and training.
- In daily practice first begin by moving your body and then progress to more intensive practice. Never force anything unnaturally or unreasonably. If this rule is followed, then even elderly people will not hurt themselves and they can train in a pleasant and joyful atmosphere.
- The purpose of aikido is to train mind and body and to produce sincere, earnest people. Since all techniques are to be transmitted person-to-person, do not randomly reveal them to others, for this might lead to their being used by hoodlums.
They were updated by his son to suit more modern language:
- Proper aikido can never be mastered unless one strictly follows the instructor’s teaching.
- Aikido as a martial art is perfected by being alert to everything going on around us and leaving no vulnerable opening (suki).
- Practice becomes joyful and pleasant once one has trained enough not to be bothered by pain.
- Do not be satisfied with what has been taught at the dojo. One must constantly digest, experiment and develop what one has learned.
- One should never force things unnaturally or unreasonably in practice. He should undertake training suited to his body, physical condition and age.
- The aim of aikido is to develop the truly human self. It should not be used to display ego.
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“The art of the sword consists of never being concerned with victory or defeat, with strength or weakness, of not moving one step forward, nor one step backward, or the enemy not seeing me and my not seeing the enemy. Penetrating to that which is fundamental before the separation of heaven and earth where even yin and yang cannot reach, one instantly attains proficiency in the art.”
Takuan (1573-1645)
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“Budo is not the felling the opponent by force; nor is it a tool to lead the world into destruction by arms. True Budo is to accept the spirit of the universe, keep the peace of the world, correctly produce, protect and cultivate all beings in nature.”
Moreihei Usehiba
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We’ve just received this email:
I’m just writing to inform you that we have looked through all of the evidence provided and we are happy to recommend you for your bronze accreditation to Active Surrey. I will email Active Surrey informing them of the news and they will then post your certificate to you!
%20website.jpg "Active Surrey Bronze logo")
What is Active Surrey Club Accreditation?
The Active Surrey Sports Partnership (ASSP) is one of a network of 49 County Sports Partnerships (CSP) in England. It has taken all the criteria required for Clubmark and divided them into three easy to achieve levels: Bronze, Silver and Gold.
Clubmark is a nationally recognised symbol for quality clubs. By working through Clubmark, club leaders are provided with a clear and structured approach to improving and developing clubs, ensuring that they are providing a truly quality sporting environment for all.
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The gymnasium owners are carrying out refurbishment of the gym over then next two months. Part of this work includes:
- Closing the bar and opening a café. Mike the barman will be moving back to Wales next week
- Installing new showers, carpets and benches in the changing rooms
- Redecorating and re-carpeting the reception area
They said changes to the gym and the first floor will follow shortly afterwards.
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The Heads from the various clubs that form part of the Shinwakai association met up for one of its regular meetings on Saturday. I was told the following:
1. There have been some changes to the insurance cover provided via the British Aikido Board. Insurance cover was now provided for students practicing up to 80 years of age, but permanent disability cover was only available up to 65 years. There was no age restriction for Instructors PI. It is now possible to claim for up to 6 physio sessions (limit £30 per session) under BAB policy. See the BAB and Perkins Slade (the underwriters) Web sites for details http://www.bab.org.uk/newspad/sb_newsletter.asp?article=50
2. The BAB is setting up a register of Dan grades. Shinwakai will be charging a small fee (of £10) for administering this registration.
3. See BAB Web site for latest insurance cover on attendees at Courses for (a) Non BAB students (b) non BAB Instructors and (c) Overseas Instructors.
4. Sensei John Jenkin will be teaching at the BAB National course in the autumn.
5. Sensei Merill Poole will be teaching a 1st aid course on 31st October in Holtspur, Beaconsfield.
6. Sensei Joe MacEnroe will be running a coaching course in the upcoming months.
7. Sensei Keith Holland referred to the opportunity for Coaches to study the units required for their next level by undertaking units run by Sports Coach UK. In fact with the exception of the practical coaching session, all the units could be done this way. Benefits included (a) easier to find a local course (b) much cheaper option (c) receive both a ScUK and BAB award.
8. Child protection/CRB checks (and renewals) will now be managed by the BAB.
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Despite the variable weather, the Ashford on the Map event was a success. In addition to having a pitch, we were able to provide a short demonstration on defending against knife and sword attacks.
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