On Sunday March 3rd, Satomi Kai Aikido had the great pleasure of hosting a one-day seminar in Stowmarket with Sensei Bill Harris, and two of his assistant instructors.
Sensei Harris has been training in Aikido for over fourty years, attaining the rank of 7th dan, and is the Chief Instructor / Examiner of the Kai Shin Kai.

The overriding theme of this seminar was weapons, with the first half of the day focusing on sword-work.

Many of the techniques in Aikido have their roots in the Japanese sword techniques of the samurai, and the visiting instructors taught each technique with and without the sword to show the relationship between both versions.  From there we moved on to empty hand defending and disarming from a sword-attack.

In the afternoon we switched from sword to a 4’ staff (or ‘jo’), again working the relation between weapons and empty hand. Toward the end of the day, the two weapons were combined, using the jo staff to practice defence against the sword.

We had a great turn-out on the day, and would like to thank everyone that came along – existing members, and visitors from other local martial clubs, including our friends over at Stowmarket’s own Taipan Combat. Particular thanks goes to everyone that helped out to make it such a successful day.

As well as being an excellent Aikidoka, Sensei Harris is a warm, fun and very friendly instructor, who’s seminars are always extremely rewarding, and we look forward to hosting more seminars in the future.