Bryan Bateman, 5th Dan I first stepped on the mat nearly 32 years ago. I was playing baseball at the time, and had just read the autobiography of Oh Sadaharu, a legendary Japanese baseball player, that practiced Aikido in order to help improve his batting. Coincidentally, a friend of mine mentioned that he was going […]
The club is pleased to announce that following recommendation by Nakao Sensei, Bryan Bateman has been promoted to 5th Dan by the Akikai Hombu during the 2024 Kagami Biraki celebration. http://aikikai.or.jp/pdf/suisen/2024.pdf
2024 Kagami Biraki Promotion Read More »
At the end of our recent trip to Japan, Nakao Sensei asked us to write an essay about the trip. These are the essays that we sent him. Bryan Bateman Due to the pandemic, It’s been 4 years since I last came to Japan. That is the longest time away for me since I first
Japan 2023 Trip Essays Read More »
Dave Barnard, 3rd Kyu One evening last year towards the end of a training session I was asked to do a grading, this took me a little by surprise but I went ahead with it and muddled through, I was awarded the grade but was very disappointed with my performance so I thanked Bryan but
Peter Gombala, 4th Dan What a great trip It’s always great to discover some new details while you training. They’ve been always there but you will discover or shall I say realise them only via continuous practice. More you train more natural movement you adopt. Doesn’t matter what kind of Aikido style you follow the
During our recent trip to Japan, Nakao Sensei conducted two Dan grade examinations. We are please to announce that Peter Gombala has been promoted to 4th Dan Aikikai, and Joe Szmutko has been promoted to 2nd Dan Aikikai.
2023 Dan Grade Promotions Read More »
With the recent relocation of Bryan and Akiko to Scotland, Peter Gombala has been promoted to DojoCho at Milton Keynes. Bryan and Akiko remain involved in the club and Bryan now holds the position of Kaicho. Many congratulations to Peter on his promotion, we wish him all the best in his new journey leading the
The club has 3 newly promoted Assistant Instructors Joe Szmutko 1st Dan, Tony Epps 1st Dan and Hayley Epps 1st Dan have all been promoted to Assistant Instructor after completing their Joint Aikikai Council Coach Level 1 training. Congratulations to all on this new step of their Aikido path.
New Assistant Instructors Read More »
