Rising Sun Aikido

Traditional Ueshiba style Aikido self defence club

Weston-Super-Mare, North Somerset, England

Sensei Says

What a great success 2008 was for RSA and UTA.

• Increase in membership
• Rokyudan joins Rising Sun
• Four Nidan's
• Three Shodan's
• Six days of training now available
• Rising Stars grow to two sessions
• UTA Celebration day
• Sensei Pierre & group gave a weekend course
• Hosted a multi-style Martial Art Course

Georgina 'George' Harris promoted to 'Kohai'

I am pleased to report that at a recent meeting of some of the senior members of the UTA it was agreed that Georgina Harris should become the club's new 'Kohai'.

In simple terms this means that George will now become my new apprentice. She will be pushed both physically and mentally by the club's senseis to gain as much knowledge of Aikido as possible.

Being Kohai means she will be expected to take responsibility for certain tasks within the club such as looking after the low kyu grades and ensuring that beginners are looked after.

This title was given to me by my Sensei/Sempai when I was a 2nd kyu and is a great honour. For clubs to grow and develop we need to look to the future and students like George are the future of our Aikido legacy.

The clubs & UTA will continue to grow as long as we remember our core values.

• Be open and welcoming
• Respect each other
• Be open to new ideas and ways of training
• Pool our resources
• Develop our Aikido
• Have Fun

Phil Benge San Dan
Club Senior Sensei