Open class at Clogher Road Centre.
Last night we had the first of a series of open classes at various Dublin Aikido Clubs. This was the result of a suggestion by Jean Pasley, at the meal after Gaku Homma Sensei's class at Heron Dojo last month, which was part of a 3-class midweek Course organised by Mariusz Ferenc and the Public Service Aikido Club. (PSAC).
Representatives of PSAC's 3 dojo were at Gaku Homma Sensei's class: (1) St. Andrew's Centre, Docklands (2) St. Catherine's, The Liberties, and (3) Rathmines. There were also students and teachers present from Dublin Aikikai's Foley St. dojo, as well as Fiona McAuley's Newmarket Co-op Dojo, and from 3 Aikikai Ireland dojos: (1) Athboy Aikido School, (2) Phoenix Dojo and (3) HeronDojo.
Jean's suggestion at the meal afterwards was that we should all go to each one of the above dojos for a class, once every couple of months - to a different dojo each time, so that we could have a nice big class and enjoy training with different people, and trying each other's styles of Aikido.
Unfortunately it was not possible for Jean to host the first session, as her dojo space was not available last night, but Eddie Murray of Phoenix Dojo has a regular 7pm-9pm class on Tuesdays in Clogher Road, so he agreed to host the first session instead. As Heron Dojo and Phoenix Dojo use the same venue, Eddie, Barry and Fiona agreed to share the teaching of the first session, rather than asking people to go to the same venue twice.
It was a great evening! Afterwards everyone was saying how much they enjoyed it. Again, we had representatives of all the above-mentioned dojos, and despite the fact that there were not many mats, we managed fine - some of us training on the wooden floor, and not taking ukemi.
When Jean asked at the end of the class if people would like to do it again, there was great enthusiasm, with everyone opting for only one month rather than two between each session. So Jean suggested that we all go to her place in Rathmines on the first Tuesday of next month - exact date, time and directions to be circulated by her, by email.
Thanks again to everyone for coming, and to Eddie for welcoming us all into his class, and especially for his courtesy in sharing the teaching with me and Barry.
Representatives of PSAC's 3 dojo were at Gaku Homma Sensei's class: (1) St. Andrew's Centre, Docklands (2) St. Catherine's, The Liberties, and (3) Rathmines. There were also students and teachers present from Dublin Aikikai's Foley St. dojo, as well as Fiona McAuley's Newmarket Co-op Dojo, and from 3 Aikikai Ireland dojos: (1) Athboy Aikido School, (2) Phoenix Dojo and (3) HeronDojo.
Jean's suggestion at the meal afterwards was that we should all go to each one of the above dojos for a class, once every couple of months - to a different dojo each time, so that we could have a nice big class and enjoy training with different people, and trying each other's styles of Aikido.
Unfortunately it was not possible for Jean to host the first session, as her dojo space was not available last night, but Eddie Murray of Phoenix Dojo has a regular 7pm-9pm class on Tuesdays in Clogher Road, so he agreed to host the first session instead. As Heron Dojo and Phoenix Dojo use the same venue, Eddie, Barry and Fiona agreed to share the teaching of the first session, rather than asking people to go to the same venue twice.
It was a great evening! Afterwards everyone was saying how much they enjoyed it. Again, we had representatives of all the above-mentioned dojos, and despite the fact that there were not many mats, we managed fine - some of us training on the wooden floor, and not taking ukemi.
When Jean asked at the end of the class if people would like to do it again, there was great enthusiasm, with everyone opting for only one month rather than two between each session. So Jean suggested that we all go to her place in Rathmines on the first Tuesday of next month - exact date, time and directions to be circulated by her, by email.
Thanks again to everyone for coming, and to Eddie for welcoming us all into his class, and especially for his courtesy in sharing the teaching with me and Barry.