Alan Ruddock Sensei Memorial Weekend

Dear Aikidoka,

Preparations for the Alan Ruddock Memorial Weekend are well underway and there is much anticipation of a great weekend’s training among those that I have been fortunate enough to talk to from around the country. The times for the weekend sessions will be as follows:


Sat April 5: 10:30am - 1pm   &     2pm  -  5pm

Sun April 6: 10:30am - 1 pm &     2pm  -  4pm.


I have asked a number of instructors from around the Island, and beyond, to contribute from their experiences with Alan, and would have asked many more of you had I the sessions to offer. I am very grateful to those instructors who have kindly agreed to same, including; Martin Mathieu (2nd Dan- Downpatrick), Fiona McCauley (2nd Dan- Dublin), Esther Voort (3rd Dan- Leiderdorp, Holland), Ken Waters (3rd Dan-Limerick) and John Meldrum (3rd Dan- Cork).

UCC AC look forward to welcoming as many of you as possible for this special event and would greatly appreciate it you would confirm attendance by email to n.oleary@ucc.ie so that we can finalise numbers for admin forms for Mardyke/food details for Sat night.

All the best,
Niall O’Leary

Alan Ruddock Sensei Memorial Weekend

UCC Aikido Club is proud to host this year’s

Alan Ruddock Sensei Memorial Weekend
Training course

April 5th & 6th, 2014

Venue: Mardyke Arena, Cork.

Following on from the success of the inaugural event organised last year by the Circle of Harmony Aikido dojo Limerick, it is our hope that we will have the opportunity to welcome as many members of the Irish Aikido community as possible again to this year’s event.

The weekend will celebrate Alan Ruddock Sensei, a humble and inspiring teacher, whose fascinating life in Aikido many were lucky to share in. Session instructors will be drawn from across the country to reflect his commitment to the spread of Aikido, and the strength and vibrancy of the legacy he has left behind.

In the current economic climate, we envisage a total cost of €30 for the weekend. The Mardyke has top class facilities (including saunas, steam room, relaxation suite etc) and a fully matted studio will be available all weekend. Get together on the Saturday night will be in the Hayloft, above Cork’s infamous Long Valley Bar, in the heart of the city - (Party food incl). Rates for local accommodation are being negotiated and will be posted out to all asap.

All queries please contact n.oleary@ucc.ie

John Meldrum in Aikidojo Leiderdorp

John Meldrum sensei will teach a course in Aikidojo Leiderdorp from 7th - 10th November 2013. For more information and registration, please visit www.aikidojoleiderdorp.com. Thanks

UCC Course - 6th/7th April

A very enjoyable weekend was had by all in attendance at the first grading weekend of the Irish Aikido Circle in UCC this weekend. Thanks to all in the club in University College Cork for organising a great weekend.

Here are some photos from the course:

Some of the weekend participants



Paul Bregazzi

  

Aureli Osle



John Meldrum

Congratulations to all who graded, and put in a very good performance:

UCC Aikido students (and Tommy) who graded at the weekend

IAC Weekend Course and Grading - April 6th and 7th, 2013

We are pleased to announce a training/grading weekend with the Irish Aikido Circle, details as follows:

Date: April 6^th and 7^th, 2013.

Instructors: John Meldrum, Paul Bregazzi and Aureli Osle.

Venue: Studio 7, Mardyke Arena Sports Complex, University College Cork.

           (please visit http://www.mardykearena.com/ for details)

Times:   Sat 10am-12:30pm, 2pm-4:30pm.

             Sun 10:30am-12:30pm, 2pm-4:30pm.

Costs: €20 for full weekend /€10 for students/unwaged.

           €5/per session /€2.50 for students/unwaged.

This weekend is open to all who wish to train and grade in the continued spirit and traditions of the Aiki No Michi style of Alan Ruddock sensei.  All are welcome. Visiting Aikidoka will be accommodated if possible.

Please note - for those wishing to grade, attendance for the full weekend is required. For further details on the grading structure within the Irish Aikido Circle, please see the Grading Structure page above. Gradings will be based on the Aiki No Michi grading syllabus.

Also, we appreciate the fact that this course clashes with another event organised in Limerick on the same date. Due to circumstances outside of our control regarding facility bookings, we cannot move this date at this point. We wish the Limerick Circle of Harmony (with whom we have been in contact about this matter) the very best with their course.

Courses for 2013

The following courses will take place in the coming weeks/months:

Saturday, 26th January - Aureli Osle will teach a half day course in the Aiki Dojo Downpatrick, 12pm-5pm, Bridge Centre, Killyleagh. For more information, please visit http://www.add.aikidoinireland.org/.

16th/17th March - John Meldrum will teach a course in the Aiki Dojo Leiderdorp. For further information, please visit http://www.aikidojoleiderdorp.com/.

We will be announcing further courses in the coming weeks to facilitate gradings. Further information will be posted on this site once available.

Happy New Year!
Irish Aikido Circle

Irish Aikido Circle

Dear Aikido friends

This is to let you know that following representations from a number of clubs, we have decided after much soul searching to put together a loose Aikido grouping to serve in some way to fill the grading vacuum left by Alan's passing. 

The Irish Aikido Circle will endeavour to carry forward what we understand of Alan's teaching as absorbed in our own ways over the years. We don't claim any exclusivity in this and other people are of course free to join in or take whatever path seems best to them.

The 'circle' will try to follow Alan's legacy of practical aikido carried on in an open welcoming manner with all clubs and individuals having complete autonomy in their own affairs, including gradings as they see fit. It is envisaged that courses to include gradings up to and including Shodan will be offered at a number of occasions during the year. Gradings would be based largely on the Aiki-no-Michi syllabus as we understand it.  

If this seems of interest to you let us know and we can have a chat to see what we can do together.

For further information, please contact info@irishaikidocircle.com.

John Meldrum                                        Aureli Osle                                                 Paul Bregazzi