The group spent the weekend of May 28th−30th at the Casa Rachado Resort developing their minds, bodies and spirit through a host of activities. These included not only martial-arts training but also yoga, pilates and teambuilding exercises.

“Building individual and team spirit is a very important aim of Yoshinkan aikido,” according to Sonny Loke Sensei, YAM’s chief instructor.
“Performing techniques properly is very important, but so is a proper attitude. This begins with teamwork and friendship. After all, we train better when we train together,” he added.

Students received expert instruction in a variety of aikido locks, throws and self-defence techniques, including the use of hanbo or short staff. On a lighter note, the group held aikido-based party games in the evenings, as well as a water-drenched session in the resort’s pool!

“We wanted to give our students a chance to learn things they wouldn’t otherwise learn during normal classes. And we wanted to do it in a different setting—in the outdoors, with people they wouldn’t normally train with,” said Sonny Sensei.

Other activities the group enjoyed included a jungle walk, which included a visit to local historical sites like “Hang Tuah’s footprint”, Parameswara’s grave and Malaysia’s oldest lighthouse.

Yoshinkan aikido is often referred to as a one of the “hard styles” of the martial art founded by Morihei Ueshiba in the 1930s. Its highly structured approach makes it easier to learn than many other forms of aikido. The Tokyo Metropolitan Police chose Yoshinkan aikido in the training of their elite riot police squad.

Yoshinkan Aikido Malaysia was established in 1995 to promote the art of Yoshinkan aikido as well as Japanese culture among Malaysians regardless of age, race or gender. It is affiliated to the International Yoshinkan Aikido Federation (www.yoshinkan-aikido.org) and has members from across the country.