Welcome to South Austin Aikido

On Sunday June 5, 2005 we had four tests.  Whew!!  That was a lot to keep up with at one time.  Luar Martinez tested for Rokyu, Mark McDonald tested for Gokyu, Brian Kammerer tested for Sankyu and Tom Giebink tested for Nikyu. 

• Luar looked like he was having fun, which is really the way tests should be.  He displayed a lot of good aikido principles for a rokyu test. 

• Mark had the most amazing randori by switching to hamni handachi for about six throws during the exercise.  Are you sure this was a Gokyu test?  Mark also displayed a lot of improvement from his previous test, by relaxing his movement and overall posture. 

• Brian was simply awesome, with beautiful posture and decisive but unforced movement.  His randori displayed a wonderful use of the mat space and flowing movement. 

• Tom Giebink displayed a lot of growth in his aikido since his last test as well, which shows a lot of dedicated training over the past year. 

Congratulations to all test candidates on a job well done! Thank you to the many students who provided ukemi for this big test day.  Following the test, a large group descended into Buffet Palace for a bulk feeding; after all, the training motto is "eat, train, eat".   We at least got the last two thirds right….

Click here to see the pictures