Gyokunenkan Aikido and Japanese Martial Arts

🎉 I earned the emerging talent badge this week, recognising me for creating engaging content that sparks an interest among my fans!

Our first kids combat club had the kids enjoying some foam sword fighting in capture the flag, but concluded in all out war with nerf guns. We had so much fun. Remember its $20 dollars off for GNK students, currently open to 6-11 year olds, but we will stretch it out to 5-12 year olds. Drinks and snacks provided. And for current students parents can drop kids off for the regular class at 0915 and pick them up at 12. Thays nearly 3 hours without them!

I think the kids will sleep well tonight..... I know the Instructors will.

Saturday training was delivered by Brad Sensei from Penguin Budo out of Tasmania, teaching us Yuishinkai Aikido techniques, and exploring the difference between linear and circular Aikido movement. We all practiced panda rolls, which I can assure the kids will continue to practiced in the young samurai classes. The grounding of our centre, and balance between Uke and Nage has definately helped better demonstrate the principals of Seiryoku Zenyo and Jita Kyoei.

For any of our students keen to explore more Yuishinkai Aikido with Sensei Brad, we will be at the dojo today from 2pm.

Tuesday and Wednesday have been fantastic training nights, but tonight Thursday the 25th June we have a special guest Sensei joining us for training. So we are calling all Gyokunenkan students to come along and enjoy a fun and dynamic mix of many Aikido styles. We hope to see you all at 6:15pm straight after the Junior samurai class.

With Australian Gyokushin Ryu Aikijujutsu Federation – I just got recognised as one of their top fans! 🎉

Sensei Yoshie and Sensei Phillip from Nenshinryu Budo are proud to present the 2027 Budo Gassyuku in Japan, in Echigo Nakazato (Niigata), from May 28th - 30th 2027.

Based on the size of the dojo, it will be limited to 100 participants, and Sensei Yoshie has made 35 places available to Australian Students.

The fees for the full 3-day event are ¥30,000 (Roughly AUD$300) per person which includes:
1. All participation fees
2. Lunch bento on May 29th
3. Special dinner on May 29th

The fees for 2-day participation are ¥25,000 (AUD$250) which includes:
1. All participation fees
2. Lunch bento on May 29th
3. Special dinner on May 29th

1-day participation is currently not available.

Reservations will be made on a first-come, first served basis, and as said earlier we have 35 positions available to Australian sensei's and students. If there are extra seats, Sensei Yoshie will let us know as we get closer to the date of the event.

All other costs and fees will be the responsibility of each individual or group including transportation and hotel fees. Please note that the location of the Dojo is near Echigo Nakazato, which is in the middle of the Japanese countryside. It is absolutely beautiful, but also quite remote. Participants should take note in booking hotels, as those nearest to Echigo Yuzawa station are surrounded by the best conveniences, but the taxi fare will be more expensive (we believe it is about ¥3,000 one way from the Echigo Yuzawa station to the Dojo).

Roughly 11 spaces have been allocated for a different Ryu-ha senseis to teach, and all attendees not teaching will be wearing white belts to learn from them. While there will only be Budo sensei’s teaching, teachers or students from other disciplines are welcome to attend if they also are interested in learning “true Budo” together with us.

Sensei Yoshie is planning a special experience at Uonuma no sato, the home of the Hakkaisan Brewery only for those participants interested in visiting there. This will also be for an extra fee, and will follow up separately about this.

Sensei Yoshie has asked Sensei Colin Niland and Sensei Lance Spice to coordinate attendees from the Australian contingent.

So for schools with lineage inked to the following Martial Arts Styles & Organizations, please reach out through our messenger:
• ① Gyokushin-ryu
• ② Jujutsu (ACSI)
• ③ Seifukai Aikido
• ④ Daito-ryu Aiki-jujutsu (Takinokan)
• ⑤ Tsutsumi Hozan-ryu
• ⑥ Nenshin-ryu Budo (Aikido)
• ⑦ Kendokai Karate
• ⑧ Yoseikan Jojutsu Unno ha
• ⑨ Yagyu Shinkage-ryu
• ⑩ Traditional Wushu Kung Fu
• ⑪ Nihon Taijutsu

All fee's will need to be provided in Japanese Yen in the new year - 2027, but more information will be available about this closer to the date.

If heads of schools can please communicate with students and gauge expressions of interest and get back to us it would be appreciated, we will firm up numbers in coming months. Please note attendance is open to Sensei's and students of schools with linked lineage not individuals. And the main theme is to come along with a true budo mindset.

So we are have a tentative start date of the 11th of July 2026. Currently seeking expressions of interest. For all current Gyokunenkan junior students we have a $20 discount. Likewise any kids that decide to join our regular classes will recieve $20 off their first months fee and then will recieve the ongoing $20 off our Saturday Kids Combat class available to our regular students. This is a great saving for a super fun class and gives parents the freedom to shop kid free on Saturday. This class will be run and supervised by a skilled and experienced Martial Arts Sensei (who is also a very senior Safety and Risk professional) and supported by several Martial Arts Sempai.

Our Thursday class was an exploration into Henka Waza, flowing from one technique to another, identifying if atemi enhanced or broke the flow. Overall a very enjoyable class with plenty of smiles. Well done everyone, keep enjoying the journey.