AUSTRALIA AiKIDO. Information for Takemusu Aiki students at the Ku-ring-gai Aikido Dojo in Sydney, Australia. See: aikido.com.au
I have been a student of Aikido for over 40 years. In 1980 I was an uchi-deshi in the Ibaraki Dojo in Iwama studying O'Sensei's final Aikido form of Takemusu Aiki with his longest serving student of over 23 years, Saito Sensei 9th dan shihan. Before then I had spent 5 years studying Aikido with Takayasu Sensei 7th dan shihan the only English speaking Japanese student of Saito Sensei living overseas, who is still my teacher in Australia.
I provide instruction in Aikido 4 times each week at my Aikido dojo in Ku-ring-gai, Sydney, Australia. Now in a COVID-19 'lockdown' for the 3rd month and unable to practice, I have decided to post all of my 500 or so videos of Saito Sensei performing the Takemusu Aiki curriculum for the benefit of my students and others. I will also provide detailed commentary on the correct practice of these forms and identify problems with incorrect understanding.
My sole aim is to support the mission of my teachers, to keep the true understanding of this wonderful art of Aikido as taught by O'Sensei in Iwama, alive for the future.
Derek Minus 6th dan member of the Aikikai. Sydney, Australia 21-8-21.