Schedule and Training
Locations
Schedule
Beginners workshops: Please check the home page announcements area or the News and Events page for details.
Children’s classes are held during school term:
- Mondays at Deakin:
- 3.30 pm-4.30 pm, 5-8 years old.
- 4.45 pm-5.45 pm, 8- teenager.
- Tuesdays at O’Connor:
- 3.30 pm-4.30 pm, 5-8 years old.
- 4.45 pm-5.45 pm, 8- teenager.
- Wednesdays at Deakin:
- 10 am- 10.45 am; 3-5 years old; Preschool;
- 3.30 p.m.-4.30 p.m, 5-8 years old.
Adult classes are at 13th Canberra Scout Hall, Hovea St, O’Connor ACT :
| Wednesday | 7-9 pm |
| Thursday | 5-7 pm (arrival by 5.15 is okay) |
| Sunday | 9-11 am, the first hour is Aikido Weapons |
| Sunday | 11-12 am, Shinto Muso Ryu Kenjutsu Study Group |
Fees
Adult classes
There is no membership or joining fee.
$10 per two-hour class and $15 for the Sunday three-hour class
$7 per two-hour class for full-time students and part-time workers, $10 for the three-hour class
Children’s classes
Fees for a school term = $110, and $100 for siblings.
Orders for uniforms (Gi) will be taken during the first session, or can be arranged with the instructor beforehand. A Gi is typically around $38.
What to wear
Adults
Until you know that you want to stay there is no point in buying specific Aikido clothing or weapons. Recommended clothing is a strong top/rugby shirt that will not rip when pulled. Additionally, track suit pants or similar to cover and protect the knees will be needed. Training is performed in bare feet.
Women should consider clothing that will provide them adequate modesty, e.g. a t-shirt under the top garment. Note that no jewellery can be worn whilst training.
Later, you will want to acquire a judo gi (jacket, pants, belt). Weapons such as the jo, bokken and tanto will not be required initially, although many people get them at the same time as their first gi. A Judo gi costs around $80, and a basic jo or bokken around $45 each.
Children
Children usually wear a uniform (Gi), but can start in “activity” clothes.
What to expect
When you introduce yourself you will be briefed on what to expect during the lesson. This includes the courtesies exchanged (bowing etc), and, if time permits, a senior student will show you some of the exercises prior to the class. You or your parent or guardian will also be asked to fill out your contact details, sign a copy of the Student Code of Conduct, asked to fill out an indemnity, and asked about any relevant health conditions.
It may all seem a bit strange at first – the exercises look a little unusual and it will take 4-6 weeks before your mind and body make much sense of the techniques. Just remember – everybody on the mat with you had a first night/week/month etc. They know exactly what you are experiencing and will without exception be friendly and helpful. There are no egos or attitude on the mat or off it. Everyone is a beginner.
There is no requirement whatsoever to memorise or to “get right” anything taught during a lesson. Instead, the learning method is to let knowledge sink in over time, revisiting material in the knowledge that you will learn more each time.
There are no expectations whatsoever placed upon you, except to smile a lot and enjoy yourself.
Instructor Information
Head Dojo Instructor
Murray Loader (6th Dan)
Murray studied Matsubayashi Shorin Ryu, a form of Okinawan Karate, for seven years in New Zealand. This was fairly intensive training – six times a week, with often two classes a day. Whilst in NZ he visited a 4th Dan in Aikido who had returned from studying in Japan and who had set up a dojo in Auckland. Murray was very impressed by the technical, and particularly the mental, aspects of Aikido, and he decided that if he were to ever do another martial art it would be Aikido.
After moving to Brisbane, in 1988 he started studying Shinshin Toitsu Aikido (Ki Society) under Wayne Murray Driver, as there was no dojo of his style of Karate available. An additional impetus was that learning the spiritual side to Karate was difficult outside Japan as few instructors had been taught it, whilst Aikido seemed to live and breathe it. Wayne was a gifted instructor and provided Murray with a solid foundation in both ki understanding and technique.
Since then Murray has studied and taught at the Spring Hill and Cleveland dojos, and is now resident and teaching in Canberra.
Murray attended several seminars with Maruyama Sensei while Sensei was still in Ki Society. For Murray, Maruyama Sensei formed the very model of what students should aspire to. At this point Sensei resigned from Ki Society and entered a temple for extended study. Whilst a major blow, this also meant Australian students were exposed to a series of excellent teachers such as Reed, Kataoka, Nonaka and Tamura Senseis.
Tamura Sensei (9th Dan) in particular had a very strong influence on Murray. His blend of a strong martial component and advanced understanding and use of ki perfectly suited Murray’s own inclinations. Tamura Sensei’s dojos were a living example of a how to live a life with ki, and were simultaneously skilful, joyful, tolerant, committed and serious. Advice and guidance from Tamura Sensei and also from Kataoka Sensei (8th Dan) have played the major part in Murray’s development.
Due to his strong connection with Tamura Sensei Murray did not immediately join Yuishinkai when it formed. However, after Tamura Sensei’s untimely passing Murray was welcomed into the Yuishinkai community. A synthesis of Maruyama Sensei’s own formidable understanding and the best of O Sensei and Tohei Sensei (Ki Society), Yuishinkai has proved an excellent home and vehicle for growth and understanding.
In addition to Aikido, Murray also studies a traditional Kenjutsu ryu, a sword style formed in the early 1600s with roots in an even older style from the 1400s.
Children’s Aikido Instructor
Louise Wills (2nd Dan)
Louise has been studying Aikido in Melbourne and in Canberra.
Louise is also a qualified fitness coach.
As a mother and an aikido student Louise has a passion for passing on to children the many benefits aikido can provide children in daily life.
She has a comprehensive approach to teaching children, utilising the martial techniques in aikido, the many forms of exercises, the concepts and philosophies inherent in the art, and a lot of fun. Skills-based games are also part of the carefully structured syllabus.
Louise’s objectives for the children include martial skills, confidence, awareness and perception, focus, balance, coordination and agility, and an increasing ability to live a positive, joyful life.
Louise sought an effective and practical martial art that didn’t contain the aggression and “hardness” of some other martial arts. She was particularly drawn to the powerful techniques that come from being relaxed and natural, where using force is a disadvantage. Louise found the Canberra dojo approach suited her well, with keen attention to detail, a supportive environment that encouraged students to push themselves beyond their boundaries, powerful, assertive, realistic, but non-aggressive technique, and a focus on using ki in daily life and technique. She found her training became one of joyful and serious commitment. Louise’s growth and understanding have led to a strong desire to provide children, teens, and other women the many benefits of Aikido.