_A Brief History & Philosophy of Shrewsbury Aikido Club
by Sensei Mick Corten
Shrewsbury Aikido Club was founded by myself and my Sensei, Mr. Keith Hayward (United Kingdom Aikikai - U.K.A.), in September 1987, with the classes originally being at my place of work, Her Majesty’s Prison, Shrewsbury; taking place in the prison gymnasium. The classes progressed to three evenings per week with class numbers averaging around twenty per class. I held these classes in the prison gymnasium for over ten years, with Sensei Heyward and other high ranking Sensei’s visiting our club over this period.
During the years of the Shrewsbury Aikido Club being located within the confines of a prison walls, this was quite a unique situation that we all found ourselves in. Quite obviously, there was never any contact or possible danger to any of my students.
The class has moved to several different venues over the years of the club’s existence, these being as follows:
HMP Shrewsbury – 1987 to 1998
Prestfelde Propriety School, Shrewsbury – 1998 to 2001
Shropshire Martial Arts Centre (SMAC), Shrewsbury – 2001 to 2004
Fitness First, Shrewsbury – 2004 to 2007
Harlescott Grange Sports Centre, Shrewsbury – 2007 to 2009
Shrewsbury Sports Village – 2009 to present day
My initial introduction to Aikido was in March 1980. I was attending the Walker Technical College, Wellington, Telford, as a student at the college studying engineering, serving my engineering apprenticeship; working for a heavy crane manufacturer at Horsehay, Dawley, Telford…A. B. Cranes. It was during this time (1978) that I was recovering from a major R.T.A. (road traffic accident), suffering multiple fractures of my left leg which had put me off work for seven months, having broken my tibia, fibula and femur.
As part of my recuperation, I had several months of physiotherapy, and did a lot of swimming. Having eventually discarded my crutches, I remained on walking-sticks for some time, reducing them to eventually just the one walking stick.
Whilst at college, I was asked by a friend, Mr. Colin Pitchford, if I wanted to come along to an Aikido class that he was attending to see what the class was about. This I did and although during my life, as we all do from time to time, that is to go through periods in our lives that we would rather tend to forget, Aikido has always been there for me.
At the start of my Aikido life, as I have said, I went along and watched my friend practice under the instruction of Sensei Keith Heyward. There were two tatamis (mats), one with the beginners and less inexperienced, being taught by Mr. Mike Narey and the other mat with the higher graded students taught by Mr. Heyward.
Mr. Heyward's sensei along with many, many other students and instructors throughout the world was Mr. William Smith, MBE, Aikikai Shihan and Principal of the United Kingdom Aikikai, until very sadly, Mr. Smith died on the 24th August 2006. Coming into contact with Mr. Smith, one would always benifit from his wealth of Aikido knowledge, understading and kindness. A photo can be found on our Galleries page - Mr. William Smith on the right with Mr. Keith Heyward.
The black and white photo in our gallery is of Sensei Gwynne Jones Shihan and Principal of the Shin-Gi-Tai Aikido Society.
by Sensei Mick Corten
Shrewsbury Aikido Club was founded by myself and my Sensei, Mr. Keith Hayward (United Kingdom Aikikai - U.K.A.), in September 1987, with the classes originally being at my place of work, Her Majesty’s Prison, Shrewsbury; taking place in the prison gymnasium. The classes progressed to three evenings per week with class numbers averaging around twenty per class. I held these classes in the prison gymnasium for over ten years, with Sensei Heyward and other high ranking Sensei’s visiting our club over this period.
During the years of the Shrewsbury Aikido Club being located within the confines of a prison walls, this was quite a unique situation that we all found ourselves in. Quite obviously, there was never any contact or possible danger to any of my students.
The class has moved to several different venues over the years of the club’s existence, these being as follows:
HMP Shrewsbury – 1987 to 1998
Prestfelde Propriety School, Shrewsbury – 1998 to 2001
Shropshire Martial Arts Centre (SMAC), Shrewsbury – 2001 to 2004
Fitness First, Shrewsbury – 2004 to 2007
Harlescott Grange Sports Centre, Shrewsbury – 2007 to 2009
Shrewsbury Sports Village – 2009 to present day
My initial introduction to Aikido was in March 1980. I was attending the Walker Technical College, Wellington, Telford, as a student at the college studying engineering, serving my engineering apprenticeship; working for a heavy crane manufacturer at Horsehay, Dawley, Telford…A. B. Cranes. It was during this time (1978) that I was recovering from a major R.T.A. (road traffic accident), suffering multiple fractures of my left leg which had put me off work for seven months, having broken my tibia, fibula and femur.
As part of my recuperation, I had several months of physiotherapy, and did a lot of swimming. Having eventually discarded my crutches, I remained on walking-sticks for some time, reducing them to eventually just the one walking stick.
Whilst at college, I was asked by a friend, Mr. Colin Pitchford, if I wanted to come along to an Aikido class that he was attending to see what the class was about. This I did and although during my life, as we all do from time to time, that is to go through periods in our lives that we would rather tend to forget, Aikido has always been there for me.
At the start of my Aikido life, as I have said, I went along and watched my friend practice under the instruction of Sensei Keith Heyward. There were two tatamis (mats), one with the beginners and less inexperienced, being taught by Mr. Mike Narey and the other mat with the higher graded students taught by Mr. Heyward.
Mr. Heyward's sensei along with many, many other students and instructors throughout the world was Mr. William Smith, MBE, Aikikai Shihan and Principal of the United Kingdom Aikikai, until very sadly, Mr. Smith died on the 24th August 2006. Coming into contact with Mr. Smith, one would always benifit from his wealth of Aikido knowledge, understading and kindness. A photo can be found on our Galleries page - Mr. William Smith on the right with Mr. Keith Heyward.
The black and white photo in our gallery is of Sensei Gwynne Jones Shihan and Principal of the Shin-Gi-Tai Aikido Society.
_Aikido, meaning ‘The way of spiritual harmony".
_
Ai – Harmony
Ki – Spirit
Do – Way
In the thirty one years of Aikido being part of my life (now being December 2011), I have come across many different people who have observed Aikido classes taking place and have been temped onto the tatami (mat). Many people thank us for the experience of the class and may not return, but others respond by accepting with an open mind the natural movements that we make during our everyday lives in body movement (Tai sabaki) - avoid a falling rock, meaning to step off the line of attack; to the simplicity of picking up a glass of water to your mouth - the same movement of the wrist, elbow and shoulder is applied as the wrist, elbow and shoulder movement when raising a sword above ones head to make shomen.
We all have different agendas in life, wanting different things, having different goals to aim for and hopefully to acheive. As part of our humanistic ability to make choices in life, the majority of people look for and would like to achieve a peaceful life. Although during our lives, we usually do perform more efficiently with a little stress, making us that little bit more alert. In more severe situations where we feel a risk to ourselves or others, our bodies do change internally with the increase of blood pressure, increased adrenaline flow, some of the major internal muscles and organs becoming increasingly more tense and the blood flow increase to them including the senses increasing; the ‘fight or flight’ aura engulfs our bodies. Occasionally, this causes us to struggle with the fear factor of the unknown, and yet attempting to bring a sense of calm to the situation, our selves and to those around us.
Aikido, meaning, The Harmony, Spirit and The Way. Explained briefly, is the unification of all living things. To be at peace and harmony with all. To swiftly bring a peaceful resolution from a critical situation using the practical applications of Aikido techniques as a last resort.
The Shrewsbury Aikido Club has, over the years of its existence, like many other clubs, no matter what the activity, had highs and lows. There is always a hard-core of those who attend and support the foundations of the club and the spirit of what we all try to achieve within the essence and philosophy of what Aikido is about.
Ai – Harmony
Ki – Spirit
Do – Way
In the thirty one years of Aikido being part of my life (now being December 2011), I have come across many different people who have observed Aikido classes taking place and have been temped onto the tatami (mat). Many people thank us for the experience of the class and may not return, but others respond by accepting with an open mind the natural movements that we make during our everyday lives in body movement (Tai sabaki) - avoid a falling rock, meaning to step off the line of attack; to the simplicity of picking up a glass of water to your mouth - the same movement of the wrist, elbow and shoulder is applied as the wrist, elbow and shoulder movement when raising a sword above ones head to make shomen.
We all have different agendas in life, wanting different things, having different goals to aim for and hopefully to acheive. As part of our humanistic ability to make choices in life, the majority of people look for and would like to achieve a peaceful life. Although during our lives, we usually do perform more efficiently with a little stress, making us that little bit more alert. In more severe situations where we feel a risk to ourselves or others, our bodies do change internally with the increase of blood pressure, increased adrenaline flow, some of the major internal muscles and organs becoming increasingly more tense and the blood flow increase to them including the senses increasing; the ‘fight or flight’ aura engulfs our bodies. Occasionally, this causes us to struggle with the fear factor of the unknown, and yet attempting to bring a sense of calm to the situation, our selves and to those around us.
Aikido, meaning, The Harmony, Spirit and The Way. Explained briefly, is the unification of all living things. To be at peace and harmony with all. To swiftly bring a peaceful resolution from a critical situation using the practical applications of Aikido techniques as a last resort.
The Shrewsbury Aikido Club has, over the years of its existence, like many other clubs, no matter what the activity, had highs and lows. There is always a hard-core of those who attend and support the foundations of the club and the spirit of what we all try to achieve within the essence and philosophy of what Aikido is about.