Ki
Aikido comes to Chartridge
By Steve
Margolis, 6th Dan, black belt
Ki Aikido is a
martial art unlike any other. 'Ki' is a Japanese word which
means 'life energy' (just like the 'Chi' in 'Tai Chi').
'Aikido' means 'the way of harmony with life'.
Despite being an effective form of self defence, Ki Aikido
is performed without any aggression whatsoever and classes
are fun, friendly and non-competitive. This is because Ki
Aikido develops the natural power that we all have when our
minds and bodies are coordinated. This power has little to
do with physical strength and so Ki Aikido can be enjoyed by
men and women of all ages (my mother was well into her 60s
when she was awarded her black belt). Visually, the art is
graceful and dynamic and has been described as a cross
between karate and ballroom dancing! Practising Ki Aikido is
good for your health, keeps you fit, teaches calmness and
relaxation and, most importantly, helps you maintain a
positive attitude to life.
My own
encounter with Ki Aikido started in 1980 when I answered an
advert in Time Out and went with a friend to a weekend
workshop in Ki. The workshop was advertised as a way to
increase coordination of mind and body and improve balance.
I thought that it might improve my roller skating which I
had recently taken up. I was absolutely blown away by the
simple principles and tests that we were taught and the
changes that it brought out in me. I couldn't understand why
we didn't learn this stuff at school as it would have made
such a difference to my academic (and football) career if we
had. I went on to join the Ki Aikido club the very next week
and have never looked back. Actually, I never roller skated
since.
In the
photograph above right Sensei Margolis demonstrates an
Aikido technique (don't worry, you won't have to do this in
your first week!)
Of course
the reason that we weren't taught Ki Aikido style
coordination was that our society at large didn't (and
doesn't yet) recognize the basic principles involved. These
principles, which enable anyone to attain the coordination
that was previously in the domain of esoteric knowledge
possessed by very few in the East, were developed by Koichi
Tohei Sensei, who was the chief instructor of the aikido
that had recently been invented by the founder of aikido,
Morihei Ueshiba Sensei. They were further developed and
adapted for Westerners by Sensei Ken Williams who is the
head of the Ki Federation of Great Britain and my teacher.
It isn't
possible to understand how the testing method works and how
the principles of Ki lead to the benefits mentioned above by
reading alone. You have to experience the classes. I have
started a new club which runs every Thursday evening in
Chartridge. You are all invited to come along and I'm sure
you'll learn something interesting if you do. The atmosphere
is not at all intimidating and beginners are always welcome.
Classes at:
Chartridge Village Hall (Reading Rooms),
Chartridge Lane, Chartridge, HP5 2TN
-
Children 7-13 yrs: Thursdays from 6.00pm to 7.00pm -
Cost: £7 per class
- Adults:
Thursdays from 7.30 to 9.30pm - Cost: £10 per class
Clothing: Wear
a judo kit or loose, comfortable clothing and please
remember to bring flip-flops, sandals or slippers.
Annual
membership of the Ki Federation of Great Britain is required
and covers the cost of insurance.
Just turn
up or phone Steve Margolis on 07813 108644
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