magic movements

2013-03-06T14:16:00.003+11:00

One month of Iwama Aikido is of value to me especially since practicing Gokkyo and Rokkyo is more frequent than in Aikikai. Each technique executed in Iwama is distinctly step by step which is a reminder of all the parts. Awareness enriches practice but I find it difficult to capture the follow and energy. Falling to the ground was break falls and not many front rolls which I missed. Still one month is only a sample and I hope to engage again in the future. Even with variation in the instructions and training program, the techniques are the same.
Always enjoy the weapon work but had to adapt to allowing the sword (Bokken) and stick (Jo) fall down along the back for a more forceful strike. In Aikikai the strikes keep the weapon elevated above the head for protection and faster response.

2012-12-28T18:45:00.003+11:00

Judo 29/12/2012

Very unfortunate that my club for the last 10 years or so, decided to sack and replace the founder. Well, I consider him the founder as he established the club from the dwindling Victoria University dojo. I have frequented this club since the Vic Uni days so feel like a senior eventhough I only attend a 6 months of the year. I wonder about my relationship with the club in the future. I'm peeved by the insensitivity that demotes a man who has given so much of his life and time to a club. Now a pensioner, he is without official status anymore. Well done lads!

Alas, It is always great to re-engage in the load and throw, as well as trips, reaps and sweeps. Admittedly this new crew aren't as patronising and I get thrown ect. Really need to spend time in Japan to grade as it is becoming a block to my advancement, not being allowed in the higher level class. My knee only dislocated once this year. I'm very particular who I contest in Randori, usually I stress we are not competing but training with intention. The left shoulder is also a bit worst for wearing as I insist to train both sides. I hope I will be able to continue to do so. I'll still keep in touch with my sensie friend!

Siberia here I come for some Systema

2012-09-05T12:17:00.000+10:00

Systema in August 2012
Just completed a month with Russian Systema,Grab and escape fundamental to the training systema. I enjoy the warm-up exercises as they are different and focus on core strength on the ground. Adam's a wonderful trainer and only intervenes to add point or strategy to the tussel. He allows you to work your way and doesn't insist on correcting as in the other arts. Push punches and the leg work is an added experience and of course The Wave, I will continue to explore.

June 2012, Another season over

2012-07-06T11:20:00.000+10:00

June 2012

Another season over, unfortunately I didn’t grade but there’s always next year. Somehow didn’t feel encouraged so I wasn’t too confident and had a tight schedule that Saturday. The only problem is the older you get the more difficult to give time and commitment. Having gaps between Aikikai training always re-enthuses me and I make new discoveries each time I return.

Aikikai delves into higher levels of energy transmission, dissipitating force and collecting/steering it to your advantage. I would not recommend it as a self defence because it is very dependant on cooperation and that’s not combat. Yet the training is geared to experience and develop “blending with the uke.”

Personally I take it one step further and ride the force so that I’m the driver and in control. It is exhilarating to say the least.

Aikikai

2012-05-23T14:27:00.001+10:00

23/05/012

Had a better session last night. I felt that perhaps I was a little more appreciated for my abilities and there was reciprocated understanding and respect. I guess people were concentrating on developing their own skill to worry about directing me. The concept introduced bought to mind the liquidity of water and the Russian Systema wave of energy flow. Something I look forward to exploring when I'm back with Systema. In the mean time practice for the Aikido grading.

19/4/012

I s the only discourse/discussion amongst warriors , criticism. All my Ukes comment to tell u what you should be doing. There’s no mutual respect. Is this the warrior spirit or is it the predicament of masculine regimentation and rank. Being a female I should be more submissive. Something I’m not so good at. Oh, lady of the fight, give me strength to continue to stay in their face. They shake me away. What pisses me off the most is when they only know the procedure to a technique and have no explanation energy, movement, structure and balance which generates force.

Aikikai 2012

2012-04-18T15:58:00.003+10:00

I've decided to use this blog as a record of my training and discussion on Martial Arts. Six months of the year I train Aikikai Aikido. This year, I was fortunate enought to go to Hotham for mountain training. The terrain was rough so we mainly engaged in boken combat, ie sword work. It seems over the years Aikikai has included more weapons training, a preference of mine.

At the dojo, the rolling sends energy into a whirlwind pouring across comfortable mats. I'm often disappointed at the patronising when the boys withhold their energy to throw me. Some can also become motionless, like a rock, to make it difficult to execute a technique. Aikido needs movement to be effective.

Training in the kimberleys

2008-08-06T12:47:00.003+10:00

Tae Kwondo is popular and the only martial art in the Kimberleys. In Broome, Eskrima (phillipino sticks) is also available. The head instructor Tony Familari demands respect and students address him as "Sir". There are women training which is always a credit of the instructor. Sparring sequences with restraints were part of the training. I was honored when he told me that the Eskrimo session was championship training. I managed to keep up with it. I have not practised Eskrima very much.

Kununarra also has Tae Kwondo, these sessions are geared for competion sparring with double kicks to increase point scoring.

Travel 2004

2008-08-04T21:19:00.004+10:00

This is an old article but with blogging it has to come up in order that u post
August 2004, Bangalore, India

Hello there MM,
I’ve resurrected from a month of spiritual confinement in yogic practices at Prashanti Kutri, Kanataka India. Yoga as was often stressed is a way of life not just asanas (postures), so
I’ve been lectured in Indian philosophy
chanted songs of praise and worship
Om ed until my aveoli have shivered with the vibration
breathed strength from the divine
sat in painful positions with a smile
meditated to see the light
and stepped closer to samadhi (super consciousness).
I feel rebirthed, ready to taker on the world again. I have been totally cared for in the last month. Something I haven’t experienced since I left my parent’s home.
What will I bring to you?
Pranayama: concentration on the breath as a cleansing and purification of the body. It’s also an entry point for vital energy (not just O2 ) and perhaps the divine(god), if you’re lucky. I already use a couple of the techniques and with limited time it is hard to include more.
Meditation: calming the mind to silence and bliss so as to reach an altered consciousness in direct communication with the divine (if you’re one of the choosen ). You never know what truths reach you at this stage. Your own or another soul’s, perhaps revelations from the divine.
I’d like to include 10mins in programs, but you know with the rush and noone has any time, this may be problematic.
To clear your mind and fill it with nothingness is a very difficult practice.
Asana the postures, yes, what we believe yoga to be. The stretching and toning of muscles and joints. They have qualified me to reach these but prefer me to enlighten people on yoga and use the integrated approach. Asana is only one of eight limbs of yoga. I already include these in the programs.
BUT I may have a 1 hour session to include all the above and no –selfdefence as one of the MM programs
Interested, I’ll be back in Nov.
Next I’ll do a month of Kalirippayatu, an Indian martial art. I’ll be in touch.

2008-04-29T17:09:00.004+10:00

Women have an aversion to power and force, perhaps because they are considered masculine concepts, attributes and characteristics. Yet they must deal with these in every aspect of their lives whether at work, play, domestics or relationships. They may be physical in the sense of lifting, pushing, pulling or interpersonal in the games people play. Power is an absolute strength to dominate while force is an insistance or persistance to secure submission.

The way women regard, undertake and deal with force and power should not measure her femininity. Physical resistance as compared to submission is a right; an obligation to future generations so that those who wish to abuse power by using force are punished and dissuaded, social expectations are reversed and standards of femininity change.

Strength is not necessary for physical resistance. All martial arts work with the diversion/redirection of force.

In Aikido opponents learn to ride the force until they can gain control. The attacker co-operates when a technique is administered on them to prevent injury and can escape by rolling out. It's the movement which absorbes the force and can revert it against the attack.

Wing Chun's sticky hands works on a touch component where contact with the opponent allows the redirection of force and sliding past it to take control. Karate deflects force with turning of the hand-arm at the last minute.

In all martial arts there is no clashing of force.

exercise

2008-03-12T12:16:00.011+11:00

Exercise is very important for the bodies immune system and the cellular exchange of body fluids to cleanse the body. Massaging and stimulating the organs while directing prana, chi, ki around to locations in the body is also important. Muscle toning and improved circulation are added benefits.

Aerobics has become a popular form of exercise, everyone hopes to sweat the calories away with minimul effort whilst jiving to tunes.
The Martials combat fatigue is an aerobic program with martial arts movements.

This program introduces participants to martial art concepts through movement which tends to dance, especially since there's music. Women are more attracted to this program as it doesn't deal with force and can be fun.

The program begins with breathing exercises then moves into light jogging, leaping and stepping to warm the body. Stretching exercises to limber the body for the drills and sequences that follow. Abdominal and back muscles are the focus eventhough all major muscle groups of the body are given attention. Blocking and striking sequences are then introduced. In the final sequence women move around the circle approaching and swiftly moving past another women going in the opposite direction. The aims of the activity is to define personal space and glide past a force. The program finishes with a warm-down of standing yoga asanas.
When the music begins everyone concentrates on themselves . Step by step instruction is given which makes the exercise easy. The music is continuous and with western and multicultural songs.

Qualification

2008-03-12T11:57:00.002+11:00

2005 Certificate 4 competencies (personal Trainer)
2004 Yoga Instructors Course (India)
2003 Certificate 3 fitness Instruction (see attached sheet for results)
Gymnasium InstructressGroup fitness instruction
Martial Arts
Goju Kai (Melb) 2yrs Wing Chun (Melb 2yrs) ( Darwin 1yr) Aikido (Melb 6yrs) (Japan 3mths) Tae Kwondo, Judo, Wu Shu (1year)Tojinkai Jodo
Workplacement for Cert3
Brunswick Swimming pool Gymnasium 26.5 hrsCoburg Leisure Centre 32.5 hrsGroup fitnessUnderbelly (bellydancing) 5hrs
2000-2002 Melbourne University Post Graduate Diploma in History
1997 Kangan T.A.F.E. Melbourne - Small Business Management
1982 RMIT Batchelor of Social Work

Martial Arts

2008-02-27T14:20:00.010+11:00

Goju Kai
The first style of Martial Arts I tried was Goju Kai in Balwyn at Tino Cebrano's Dojo. In the 1980's, I began my career in Martial Arts with this Karate. Not only did it help me locate and exert power but I found eloquence in the katas. I studied for two years and was enchanted by the middle-aged Shihan when he occassionally appeared to give a lesson.
Goju Kai is classified as a hard/ soft Karate and has various blocks, strikes and kicks. Training is orchestrated sequences of combat as well individual shadow boxing, mimicing the instructor. I use a typical Karate-do elbow drill as a warm- up exercise in my programs. The use of elbows is essential in women's self defence as they are useful in close contact. Women usually find themselves very close to their assailant before they realise they are in danger.

Aikido
I have know Aikikai Aikido for longer than 20 years and probably trained 18 years. I consider it my first style. The attraction to Aikido is it's grace and combat Kata's, a form of dance with rolling as an escape from the wrist locks take downs. Movement is imperitive for Aikido as it is very difficult to exercise the techniques if the uke (partner attacking and receiving the technique) is a motionless blob of tense muscles. I tell them that stone cracks but you can't catch water.
The techniques are effective but the system has been devised as an art form rather than for self defence. There is a degree of co-operation which must exist between oponents. This is less dangerous and reduces the risk of injury. Aikido taught me movement to strategic positons and riding the force. The training is an art form and needs years of training before the practitioner becomes competent to apply it as a self defence. The Aikidoka has several principles to apply such as movement in a cicular form to dissipate the force. Locating your "one point" as an energy source and to exert power.
I use the ikio take down in self defence.

Wing Chun
I first discovered this art in Darwin being a Jim Fung's style and was particularly attracted to it because it was devised by a women and suited smaller people. The concept of centreline extended my knowledge of the Aikikai "one point" to finding stability and it is the shortest distance between you and your opponent. Being balanced allows you to exert and withstand force by redirection. William Cheong's academy has a rule that you never fight force with force. You must not try to overpower a force but move out of the way or redirect it.

2008-02-20T15:45:00.003+11:00

Brief History of Yoga
Earliest archaeological evidence of Yoga's existence could be found in stone seals which depict figures of Yoga poses called Asanas. The stone seals place Yoga's existence around 3000 B.C. The oldest known Yogic teachings are found in the Vedas. The Vedas are the sacred scripture of Brahmanism that is the basis of modern-day Hinduism. It is a collection of hymns which praise a divine power.
The 200 scriptures of the Upanishads Upanishads (primarily thirteen principal texts of the Vedanta, that are the culmination of all Vedic philosophy) (the conclusion of the revealed literature) describe the inner vision of reality resulting from devotion to Brahman. These explain three subjects: the ultimate reality (Brahman), the transcendental self (atman), and the relationship between the two. The Upanishads further explain the teachings of the vedas
Later, around 500 B.C., the Bhagavad-Gita or Lord's Song was created and this is currently the oldest known Yoga scripture.link with http://www.yogaindailylife.org.au/classes/richmond.htm
Yoga in Daily Life
SVYASA University
http://www.svyasa.org/index.asp

2008-02-20T14:33:00.005+11:00

Herstory

Magic Movements was created as an attempt to feminize martial arts so that it became more appealing to women. The founder wants to give women of all ages, sizes and cultural diversity the chance to engage in activity which (she believes) empowers them. Body awareness, physical ability and inner peace are an unbeatable combination for supreme esteem.

Martial arts improves self-esteem so that respect from others is a natural expectation. Eventhough, women now engage in martial arts, there are many that do not want to deal with the physically demanding training, masculine hierachical structure and formality. Magic Movements is casual yet it maintains standards of self discipline and effectiveness in technique.

The founder
Anita Carcour

Initiation into Kaliri Payatt martial art (India)

As A child I was always apt to sport and physical activity. I wanted to engage in martial arts when Judo was becoming popular in Aust (late 60's ) My cultural background prevented me from commencing as it was not seen as an activity, girls /females should undertake by my father. When I ventured from my family home and began to travel, I needed to learn skills in self defence.Goju Kai with Tino Cebrano was the first dojo I attended. I found it easy to adapt to techniques and physical exertion. The grace involved with martial arts movements are a powerful expression which makes me feel invinsible. The self discipline, focus and inner calmness are added benefits of training.

self defence

2008-02-13T13:33:00.007+11:00

Self defence is the ability to protect yourself and use physical resistance in violent situations. It is permitted by law (as long as you only use as much physical force needed to stop the abuse/attack. If you use more physical force than needed to defend yourself, then you could be charged with assault/abuse.

class in coburg

The threat or use of physical force against another is not justified:

1. In response to verbal provocation alone.

2. To resist an arrest that the person knows is a peace officer or by a person acting in a peace officer's presence and at his direction, whether the arrest is lawful or unlawful, unless the physical force used by the peace officer exceeds that allowed by law.

3. If the person(1) provoked the other(a) The person(1) withdraws from the encounter or clearly communicates to the other his intent to do.(b) The other nevertheless continues or attempts to use unlawful physical force against the person.

Abuse may come in many forms, emotional, psychological and physical. Self defence for women usually incorporates strategies to deal with adverse situations. The confidence to deal with difficult predicaments or situations rather than compromise or submission, will lead to control over ones life and supreme esteem; the ability to do anything and hurdle over obstacles.