Practical martial arts. Practical Self defence. Accessible for all ages. Welcome to an authentically Japanese martial arts experience on the Sunshine Coast!

WHAT IS YOSHINKAN AIKIDO?

Yoshinkan has its roots in traditional Japanese martial arts dating back over 800 years. It is the official style practiced by the Tokyo Metropolitan and Riot Police in Japan. This style of Aikido is dynamic and a very effective system of self defence.  It is a non-competitive system focused around evasion, joint locks, body control, strikes, throwing and pinning techniques. It also includes training with and against weapons.

WHY DO YOSHINKAN AIKIDO WITH US? IS IT FOR ME?

It can be said of Aikido that it is truly for all ages, genders, walks of life and strength levels.  Since the essence of Aikido relies on redirecting the attackers energies back upon them, a focus is placed on technique rather than brute strength.  The elegance of Aikido is in mastery of another’s physical attack by training over time to use another’s force against them.  An Aikidoka (One who practices Aikido) learns how to do this over time by working with their training partners in a non-competitive and mutually developmental setting.  This relationship is unique in Aikido.

The Sunshine Coast Dojo is a Japan Hombu (Headquarters) certified dojo and we are closely affiliated with the top instructors in the world practicing Yoshinkan Aikido today.

Training at the Yoshinkan Sunshine Coast dojo…

• DEVELOPS COORDINATION, HEALTH & FITNESS
• INCREASES FLEXIBILITY AND REFLEXES
• DEVELOPS PERSONAL SAFETY/PRACTICAL SELF-DEFENCE
• INSTILS DISCIPLINE, RESPECT AND FOCUS
• FOSTERS COMMUNITY AND HARMONY

NEW IN JUNE: Budo Body

No doubt you are feeling a little heavier, a little more sluggish than before COVID-19 from being kept in doors more over the last few months.

This is a class introduced to allow all members of the dojo community – family and students – to get back into shape after this period of sedentary living during COVID-19 and do some exercise together!

The class is designed with the twin aims of i. building functional strength and ii. useful health and fitness for a happy life. The class will use martial arts principles (budō) to achieve these aims – but the class is NOT A MARTIAL ART, IT IS A HEALTH AND FITNESS CLASS. I have merged many aspects of my 30 years of martial training across a variety of arts (Tai Chi Chuan & Qigong; Tae Kwon Do; Muy Thai; Hapkido; Jujitsu; and of course, Aikido) to do the following:

1. develop strong, lean and flexible muscle mass (strength)

2. develop lung capacity or cardio-vascular fitness (health)

3. improve balance and coordination (strength)

4. increase circulation (health)

5. develop mindfulness and relieve stress (health)

I’m looking forward to sharing my experiences,

– training in a Chinese Buddhist temple for over 10 years in Qigong, Tai Chi and meditation for your benefit in circulation and mindfulness,

– training over a decade of rigorous fitness and flexibility for national and state fighting competitions for your benefit in cardio-vascular health, and

– training the last two decades in Japanese budō for your benefit in balance and coordination.

Here’s a snapshot of what the class looks like: BUDO BODY

So, let’s get moving together! Register for the class at the dojo.

Dojo timetable for August

Below is the August class timetable. Please note is subject to change in the case of COVID-19 State Government Restrictions changes:

SHINTŌ MUSŌ RYŪ TRAINING CAMP

A Shintō Muso Ryu summer training camp will again be held this January. It will be run on the weekend of Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 January. It will be an overnight stay event at Camp Warrawee with the focus of consolidating and/or initiating members to their next level of kata series in SMR Jo. Plus, the seminar will also include a focus on Kenjutsu. Two full days of concentrated training with experienced budōka will offer an excellent opportunity to rapidly progress your training. For expressions of interest, please talk directly with Sensei.

AIKIKIDS CLASS!

The AikiKids class for Term 3, 2020 is open for enrolment.

If you are interested in your child training in Term 3 of 2020, please enquire at the dojo now as there are ONLY 2 PLACE LEFT is only 1 place left! Term 3, 2020 is now full. Please contact the dojo to be placed on a waiting list for cancellations.

GRADINGS

ADULTS GRADINGS

• No grading at present with COVID restrictions Stage 2

 

AIKIKIDS GRADING

• No grading at present with COVID restrictions Stage 2

STREET-STYLE SELF DEFENCE CLASS

Again in May we will hold a street-style self defence class. In this class students will apply Yoshinkan techniques in shortened and more destructive ways to demonstrate Aikido applications. This type of Aikido training can be more rigorous on the body and hence isn’t practiced every session in general classes.

The class is on the 9 May with a lunch afterwards. Please register at the desk with Sensei as numbers are restricted.

 

CLASS TYPES & TIMES:

The following is a brief explanation of the types of classes offered at the Sunshine Coast Dojo, the requirements for participation in them and the times at which they are held:

AikiKids classes:

Open to children from 5 years old to 12/13 (depending on capability and body condition). Students at the age of 13 will participate in a transition phase from the kids class to the adults class over time.

• THURSDAY – AikiKids class: 4:30-5:15pm
• SATURDAY – AikiKids class: 8:30-9:15am

General Aikido Classes:

Open to all levels from the very beginner to the black belt. Classes always focus on basic fundamental techniques in a heavily structured and modelled way and are accessible to students of all levels.

• MONDAY – 6-7pm

• TUESDAY – 6-7am (morning class)

• WEDNESDAY – 6-7pm
• THURSDAY – 6-7pm
• SATURDAY – 9:30-10:30am

Advanced Aikido Classes

Open to those who have graded to an acceptable level of proficiency (approx. 5th Kyu depending on student) and those who display a good level of fitness. Classes assume students have a solid grounding in Yoshinkan Aikido fundamentals and can explore more difficult techniques.

• THURSDAY –  7:15-8pm
• SATURDAY – 10:45-11:30am.

Shintō Musō Ryū Classes

Open to adult students who demonstrate the desire to deepen their training and life experience. Students in this traditional Japanese weapons class take on significant commitment through endless patience, sincerity and a willingness to learn things that are completely different from what they have done or learned in previous experiences. Furthermore, over time students in this class train with the expectation of developing a life based heavily on the Gojō – a value system with ‘benevolence’, ‘justice’, ‘etiquette’, ‘knowledge’ and ‘trust’ at its core.

• MONDAY – 7:15-8:15pm

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DOJO LOCATION

2/4 Lynne Street, Caloundra. Queensland.

“I opened the Sunshine Coast Dojo to establish a student base that is strong, resilient and disciplined, to enhance people’s lives. I additionally aim to foster community that focuses on the collective needs of the people of Caloundra, and more broadly the Sunshine Coast.”

Upon relocating with his family in 2012 to teach at a college on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, Ryan responded to his instructor’s advice of opening a traditional Japanese martial arts dojo to aspire to the goal mentioned in the opening paragraph above. Still, Ryan continues under the tutelage of Michiharu Mori Shihan at the Brisbane Yoshinkan Aikido Dojo today while directing the Sunshine Coast Dojo. Ryan is one of Mori Shihan’s most experienced ‘uke’ (attackers who receive the techniques).

In addition to his martial arts qualifications, Ryan holds an undergraduate degree in Linguistics, a post-graduate degree in Education (teaching) and a Masters degree in International Relations/Global Politics. Ryan is the Head of Department – Humanities & Social Science at one of The Sunshine Coast’s prestigious colleges where he teaches History, Geography and English.