Grading Essays

Published essays from members after grading.

GRading Essays

5th Kyu Essays Nazia Bhuyain I began Aikido on a whim right at the start of 2023, choosing a club within walking distance of my house and am immensely grateful for it. I was initially hesitant about my presence at the dojo, with both being an amateur, and being significantly younger than the other members, …

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Dan Grade Essay

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 …

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Kyu Grade Essay

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 …

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Dan Grade Essays

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 …

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