I have spent over 20 years in the field of martial arts and as I have become more passionately involved in the training and expanding my knowledge of the “budo spirit” and Japanese martial culture I recognise it as an effective way to build our physical, emotional and physiological strength.
I trained in my late 20’s to my mid 40’s in Karate and achieved Shodan level, qualified as an instructor and sports coach, under the founder of Goshin Ryu Karate, Sensei Richard Bradford for 15+ years.
Upon changes in work situation and some ongoing injuries I retired from Karate in my late 40’s and “enjoyed” more relaxing past times. It was a couple of years into my retirement from teaching that I realised that I had really missed the physical, mental and emotional grounding that training in the martial arts had contributed to my life and so at the age of 63 I went seeking a new challenge. I tried Karate again but found the aggressive winner/loser challenge of kumite no longer did it for me and so I continued to seek out an alternative – AIKIDO. The non competitive art of blending and utilising the innate energy of the attacker to defend oneself and not necessarily “taking out the aggressor” made so much more sense in a society rife with physical, mental and emotional aggression.
The chance to train with so many kindred spirits including Michael Williams Sensei and founder of Aikido Goshinkai, Elisabeth Andel Sensei, Mark Evans Sensei and Mark Albrecht Sensei has broadened my knowledge and understanding in ways that constantly amaze me.
One of the early enlightening Aikido learning situations has been the opportunity to train extensively with Carl Albrecht Sensei and Blake Albrecht Sensei who I had only previously met when they were pupils at the local primary school at which I worked – the teacher had become the student and student the teacher – the Aikido circle closing.
The opportunity to train regularly with incredibly talented and inspiring instructors from the local regional, the country and even internationally based dojos is unique and sets the perfect platform for my Aikido journey.