Hello Everyone,

A while ago we advised all Dojo’s we would be aligning our Kyu and Yudansha rank testing requirements to those used by Hombu Dojo. This was after consulting with our Technical Director and discussing amongst the senior Aikido members.

Attached is a new master test list which reflects those requirements.The list of techniques have fewer items than before and the minimum time between grades is shorter. Chief instructors of Dojo’s are free to add requirements but the ones listed will be considered the primary and absolute minimum needed.

In addition while there are fewer techniques for each rank the quality of the demonstration will be held to a higher standard. That may well require longer training times than listed and in fact would be expected for most people.

Lastly, the time between ranks is a “minimum” period of time the CAF requires to process a promotion. It does not mean students are automatically eligible for promotion upon reaching the minimum training times.

All the best,

Douglas Mathieu, Secretary
The Canadian Aikido Federation
La Fédération Canadienne d'Aikido
56 Somerset PK SW
Calgary,  AB  T2Y 3H4
Ph: 403-201-7108
E-mail: dmathieu@telus.net
Web Page: www.canadianaikidofederation.ca

The Japanese Canadian Association of Yukon (JCAY) is pleased to announce the upcoming Japanese Film Nights. Thursday & Friday, January 12th & 13th at the Yukon Arts Centre.

Thursday Jan. 12 at 7PM - Paprika by Satoshi Kon - When a machine that allows therapists to enter their patient's dreams is stolen, all hell breaks loose. Groundbreaking animator Satoshi Kon directed this visually spectacular adaptation of a science fiction novel by Yatsutaka Tsutsui. 2006 - Rated R - Japanese with English Subtitles - 90mins

Friday Jan. 13 at 7PM - Maborosi by Hirokazu Koreeda - Winner of the 1995 best director award at the Venice Film Festival, Hirokazu Koreeda's feature-length directorial debut "Maborosi" is a hauntingly beautiful film about a young woman who faces an inexplicable death of her husband. 1995 - Rated PG - Japanese with English Subtitles - 110mins

The children and youth schedule for the next session is set, classes run from January 3rd to March 2nd, (adult classes run all the time, with changes, see below). The days and times are the same as the fall session. Existing students can pre-register now, with new student registration starting Dec 27th.

I'm pleased to welcome Charlie Wilson as instructor for the monday 4-5yr group. She is first Kyu and a student of Gaël Marchand in Whitehorse since 2006. She has also Studied with Tama Sensei (Shoheijuku Aikido, Vancouver, during 2010); James Constable (Lunenburg Aikikai, Nova Scotia).

During Christmas break adult classes are just tuesdays and thursdays, with a possibility of a full day seminar at some point. Contact us if you want to know hear about it. There will be more adult class changes in the new year.

On behalf of everyone at Aikido Yukon, I wish you and your families a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

--matt wilkie
president, aikido yukon

Santa Samurai image found by way of http://dragonwritingprompts.blogsome.com/2008/12/24/christmas-songs-for-shrinks/. I was unable to locate current information on the artist.

Just a general reminder to everybody that there are no children or youth classes this friday as it is Remembrance Day. There is a lunch time adult class (and youth 13+ with clearance to attend adult classes).

In that context, here is a little bit of Aikido history: The birth of modern-day Aikido, "the Way of Harmony" took place during the years of World War II. O'Sensei's system had been called Aikijutsu, then Aiki-Budo, and was still primarily a martial art rather than a spiritual path. From 1942 (when the name Aikido was first formally used) to 1952, Ueshiba consolidated the techniques and perfected the religious philosophy of Aikido. (ref) Some say it was because of the war that the focus of Aikido changed from merely winning, defeating one's opponent and surviving, to one of harmony and peaceful resolution.

Some classes have been consolidated, check the new adults schedule: Adult Classes

Please join us this Friday, September 23rd to remember and honour the life of Rich Claxton. Those of us who have been fortunate enough to have known Rich will be gathering at the Yukon Artists at Work studio, 120 Industrial Road (map), at 3:30pm.  There will be a tribute from the aikido group and the other communities that Rich was a part of beginning at 4 pm. Rich has been a member of Aikido Yukon for several years, serving on the board as vice president as well as instructing classes.

To honour Rich's dedication to Aikido, Aikido students can attend the gathering wearing their uniforms (and sandals).  During the formal part of the ceremony we will sit in a line in seiza at the front of the audience. There are bathrooms to change in.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Rich’s memory may be made to Yukon Artists Relief Fund, c/o YAAW, 120 Industrial Road, Suite 200, Y1A 2T9.

We hope that you will be able to join us.

Matt Wilkie,
for Aikido Yukon

(click through to view a photo gallery of our last time on the mat with Rich, July 25th 2011, a mere two months ago.)