ANDY DICKINSON'S BEST TECHNIQUE
The move on this video is a signature Daito Ryu Aiki Ju Jutsu technique. Many other styles now use as Aikido and Hapkido copy this technique. This move is taught in Shinbudo from Black Belt. http://bit.ly/d9sSuQ

ANDY TEACHING AT BALMAIN ON EASTER MONDAY
6.30-8.30PM. All adult students are welcome. No cost.

A Truly good man is not aware of his goodness, And therefore is good.
A foolish man tries to be good,
And therefore is not good.
Lao Tsu

It had been a week or so since my black belt grading and it was time to get back into training. The bruises had faded and the sprains had eased.

The day at work had been busy and I was tired and on the bus on the way home from Town Hall train station to Glebe. My first night back was going to be the Tuesday double at Balmain - joining Rach and Matt in wearing the black gi. I was also a bit nervous and wondered if anything would change in me or in my approach to training. I was daydreaming and distracted.

The bus was full of seated people when it stopped and some more passengers boarded. Alongside me, I half perceived a guy, and I remember thinking - "This man is angry, I can feel it radiating off him", and then I smelt alcohol and a sour smell.

I had a look at the bloke. He was not big, but he looked annoyed, and angry. Spoiling for a fight. Right alongside me.

Across the aisle was an old Asian lady. Frail and small. The angry guy looked at her and said some very rude and racist things, very loudly and then said "**** yeah, I'm a racist". Everything went quiet and he was right alongside me, but I was sitting.

A lot of things went through my head, chief of which was "What do I want my part in this situation to be?" I did not have any huge clarity but I resolved just to observe. But, almost automatically, I took off my glasses and put them in my bag.

When I looked back up the angry guy was staring down at me. He said "You got a ****ing problem mate?".

Pause.

There is a "look" which the black belts have on their faces when they are interacting in a technique. It is a look of intensity and focus and will and purpose. It is not angry but neutral with weight and significance. All the black belts in my lead up to grading with Stan encouraged us to obtain that focus and intensity.

So I gave the angry guy a little of the "look" and said calmly and firmly "No mate, I have no problem, do you?"

Angry guy "Yeah I got heaps of ****ing problems" etc. But he moves away to a seat at the front of the bus.

He then starts to "eyeball" me, but I don't meet his gaze, instead keeping him in the peripheral of my view.

The bus halts at the next stop - Central, Railway Square. The angry guy stands up, says loudly "Come on hard man, why don't you follow me off the bus?"

I just "looked" at him, focused and stayed prepared. He mouthed off some more, but with each phrase he backed away, until he hopped off the bus. The driver quickly shut the doors, and then a few more passengers began to comment about the whole affair.

Outside, the angry bloke, was ranting something like "C'mon hard man" as the bus pulled away.

For a few moments, the heart beat was racing, but very quickly I had shed the whole thing. I was back worrying about whether the bus would get to Glebe in time for me to make 6.30pm class!

Afterwards I reflected that it was little "black belt moment" - nothing too huge, not even life or death. But every element of what we train had come into play. Awareness. Observation. Preparation. Dealing with the needs of the moment. Only doing what was necessary. Neutrality. Coming back to zero.

And it was very automatic, and it works.

Ben.
(Northstar Black Belt)

GREAT NEWS!!!

Andy-Sensei has just been appointed Vice President of the newly formed "International Jujutsu-do Federation." This newly formed organisation is based in Japan and founded by Aso Sensei. Andy will be taking a team to Japan to compete in the 1st International Jujutsu-do Championships in Oct this year.

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SPARRING...Will I make it out alive?

I clearly remember my first sparring session, I had no idea what to expect and I wasn’t sure if I may come out dead or alive or mortally wounded….. Well ok I exaggerate, but despite my perfectly logical internal chatter that of course this is just ‘sparring’ and indeed not life and death, my body wasn’t having a bar of it and was in full fight or flight terror. Alas I discover I am indeed a fighter and despite the fear and trepidation I loved it. Well after I did, when I had survived unscathed and the elation of just, well feeling so relieved and exhilarated at the same time hit me.

Since that day I have sparred many, many rounds. When I face up to students who are quite clearly intimidated by standing in front of me, I reassure them that they are safer sparring me than their class mates. Or at least I tell them after as it's a bit hard to explain all that between rounds with a mouth-guard in…. Some are too frightened to venture any attack at all, others are so frightened they attack me with their full might.

I totally get how they feel because I spar Sensei. So how they feel when they stand in front off me or another blackbelt is just how us blackbelts feel when we have to spar Sensei. We are all students.

Now there’s a lot going on here as quite honestly despite the fear, I know I am safer sparring Sensei than anyone else. So why am I scared? Well, obviously I am scared of hurting Sensei… ha ha just kidding. Seriously sparring Sensei is a very humbling experience. Perfect balance, technique, control, speed, timing, poise. Kicks flying this way and that all around my head. I feel them all passing within (I kid you not) a hairsbreadth of my head. I show willing or is it spirit and have a go back.

Everything I put out is just, well annihilated. I only barely begin to lift my foot or even think about lifting my foot for a kick attack and like a flash I find myself propelled onto the mat at great speed as my legs are swept beneath me. Hmmm, that didn’t work. I barely recover before another attack is upon me and again lighting blows barely touching me, but just enough to show where the many gaps in my guard are.

Now I also hold pads for Sensei and am well aware of the power he can generate. I also know from painful past experience on the street what it feels like to be struck with full intention. The fear is I suspect the all to acute awareness that any single one of these taps could if need be turned into a killer knockout blow. Now that is skill. To choose.

Any reasonably athletic type can go and brawl and beat the daylights out of their opponent. Thats not sparring. But to move gracefully, with balance and apply your techniques to the correct measure, enough to unbalance your opponent without damaging them, that to me is well, poetry in motion. It takes years and years of committed effort to master. Like I say to my friends about watching Ian Thorpe swim. His technique is so smooth, so perfect. He glides through the water and makes it look so easy. The mark of a true champion, a true master. It appears effortless, but it is not with out effort.

Hence you will find me at the dojo this Friday night putting in the time and effort. I fear I started too late to reach a lofty level. However I can improve. I may not ever get to the same wonderful ability of Sensei but, well secretly between you and me i do kind of hope one day to at least, well get him back may be once, twice even, with full err control, balance, poise and timing of course!

Rachael...2nd Dan Black Belt.
email for info on Privates info@northstarmartialarts.com.au

Blackbelt and beyond

We had another blackbelt session on Friday night with Sensei. These sessions are awesome and a lot of fun. Boxing, countless throws, kick sets, headlock defence, defence against a lapel grab, blimey you have no idea how many defences there are. Take your pick. Just like walking down the cereal aisle in Woolworth's. And my favourite, defence against a left jab. Don’t worry, its not the one you’re thinking of, this is the blackbelt version. For two hours Sensei drilled us and drilled us on this and of course, yes, you guessed it, we were all incredibly brilliant. Brilliant at trying and not giving up when it got hard. Brilliant at looking after our partner’s and performing challenging techniques without maiming each other. Brilliant at just being there on a Friday night after a long week at work and teaching……

However brilliant at our techniques? I can’t speak for the others but personally I came away exasperated at my inadequacy. Hugely disappointed at my lack of ability to make the techniques work. This is my own ego putting expectations on myself. This is the real training in martial arts. Not the techniques, they are a means to an end. I spent two hours battling myself, not my partner! Sensei often says blackbelt is only the beginning and as usual he is right. Yes it takes an incredible amount of training to make a technique work. It takes 5-7 years to get to a level where you can even begin to implement these techniques let alone make them work. Obviously these sessions are very challenging for all the blackbelts and what an eclectic bunch we are. Different backgrounds, totally different body types, attributes, temperaments, but one thing in common. We are all blackbelts.

Having achieved blackbelt we are all still training and working hard. Hard to what end? We are already blackbelts….

Most people who do not ‘do’ martial arts perceive blackbelt as the pinnacle. Beginner students think the same, they do not yet understand.

First degree blackbelt is like any other degree or apprenticeship. You continue learning. Its not a destination. Its the beginning of the real work. You really only start understanding when you have got the grounding and the basics reasonably sorted. Growth is never ending. It only stops whey you stop; stop trying, stop learning, stop wondering....

So with this in mind and Sensei’s continued guidance we continue, continue on the path. For me it is never-ending and continual practice of becoming master of myself. Of course it would be nice to get ‘good’ at the techniques one day….

NORTHSTAR MARTIAL ARTS SWINE FLU POLICY.

We will be following the recommendations set out by the NSW Dept of Health as listed below. Please read the following information carefully and strictly follow the guidelines. These recommendations may change at any time.

Regards

Andy Dickinson

********************
Message for parents and staff of schools on exclusion from primary and secondary schools in NSW

Last Updated: 9 June 2009

This policy is constantly under review and parents and carers are advised to check this site daily for the latest information.

Students returning, or arriving from areas where there is a high prevalence of the H1N1 Influenza 09 virus circulating in the community should be instructed to remain at home for seven days following their travel before returning to school. These provisions also apply to before and after school care facilities (BASC).



Students and staff recently returned from affected areas. Students returning, or arriving from areas where there is a high prevalence of the H1N1 Influenza 09 virus circulating in the community, should be instructed to remain away from school for seven days following their travel before returning to school. It is important that excluded students do not participate in after school activities where they will mix with other school aged children (eg sports teams, youth groups, play dates, group lessons).

This includes affected countries and greater metropolitan Melbourne. Please see the Advice for Schools and Parents page(www.emergency.health.nsw.gov.au/swineflu/schools/index.asp) for the current list of affected areas.

If they remain well after seven days they can return to school.

If a school staff member has been to an affected area and has been mixing with local school children (in a group of 10 or more) then they should be excluded from school. Principals should make all efforts to enable staff in this situation to be able to perform some work from home during this exclusion period.

If the staff member has not mixed with a group of 10 or more school children then they may return to school, but be excluded if they develop any influenza-like symptoms.

This includes affected countries and greater metropolitan Melbourne. Please see the Advice for Schools and Parents page(www.emergency.health.nsw.gov.au/swineflu/schools/index.asp) for the current list of affected areas.

Only the individual who has travelled to an affected area is currently required to be excluded from school. This is because it is only that person who has had a potential contact with a person infected with H1N1 Influenza 09.

Family members and other household contacts are not required to remain at home, assuming the traveller is well. This is because they have not yet had any direct exposure to anyone who is affected by H1N1 Influenza 09.

Students and staff members who become ill after recent travel to an affected area
Anyone with flu-like symptoms should stay away from school until their symptoms end, so they can recuperate and to prevent the spread of illness to others.

If you need further medical assistance please call your local public health unit (see below), call your GP or present to an emergency department.

If students develop symptoms at school, the parents should be contacted and advised that their child is ill and should stay away from school until their symptoms end, so they can recuperate and to prevent the spread of illness to others.

If staff members develop symptoms at school, they should be advised to stay away from school until their symptoms end, so they can recuperate and to prevent the spread of illness to others.

The school principal should also alert the local public health unit (see below).

Students and staff who develop flu-like symptoms, but who have not travelled
Anyone with flu-like symptoms should stay away from school until their symptoms end, so they can recuperate and to prevent the spread of illness to others.

If students develop symptoms at school, the parents should be contacted and advised that their child is ill and should stay away from school until their symptoms end, so they can recuperate and to prevent the spread of illness to others.

If staff members develop symptoms at school, they should be advised to stay away from school until their symptoms end, so they can recuperate and to prevent the spread of illness to others.

Schools where there is a confirmed case of H1N1 Influenza 09 affecting school students or staff
NSW Health staff will help arrange the provision of appropriate medication and health care for staff, students and contacts where appropriate.

If the person with H1N1 Influenza 09 is a school student or staff member NSW Health staff will identify any people who have been in close contact with the person while they were infectious and provide them with advice and anti-viral medication, if appropriate.

NSW Health staff will also decide upon the recommended actions for preventing further spread within the school.

Actions may include close contacts being placed into home quarantine with antiviral treatment, increased "social distancing" at school, partial closure (eg, only the affected class or year) of the school, or complete closure of the school.

Any decision to close schools would not be made lightly and full consideration would be given to the social support issues an unexpected closure may create for some families.

Students and staff with symptoms in the school where an H1N1 Influenza 09 case is confirmed
Students, staff and contacts who have reported respiratory illness will be contacted by NSW Health and assessed as to whether they will need to be placed in isolation.

Students, staff and contacts with symptoms will be treated with oseltamivir (Tamiflu) if the onset of symptoms is thought to be due to H1N1 influenza 09 and the symptoms are detected within 48 hours.

Students, staff and contacts who have respiratory symptoms for more than 48 hours before assessment will not be offered oseltamivir (Tamiflu) as it is unlikely to reduce symptoms. In certain circumstances, for example when a person is very seriously unwell, a clinical decision may be made to offer oseltamivir (Tamiflu) even after 48 hours from symptom onset.

Students and staff who reported contact with people with symptoms in a school where an H1N1 Influenza 09 case is confirmed
Public health officials will make an assessment regarding the need to provide oseltamivir (Tamiflu) in the school environment.

Household contacts of people with symptoms in a school where an H1N1 Influenza 09 case is confirmed
These people will be assessed by health authorities. If assessed as a "contact" they must remain in quarantine.

They will assessed and where necessary, will be provided with oseltamivir (Tamiflu) for 10 days as a preventive measure.

If they develop respiratory symptoms, they should immediately call their local public health unit (see below for contact numbers).

This is a great story on how one of the Northstar students used the lessons of martial arts to confront some burgulars with mindfullness.

-Andy-

***************

I also wanted to send you a note re using the skills I have learnt, albeit
outside of the dojo.

There has been an empty block of land behind our house for several years. Recently two town house have been built, albeit the fences between them are not finished.

Last Sunday afternoon, we had just returned home from mothers day lunch,
with my mother and mother-in-law, everyone at our house.

I saw two "gentlemen" climbing over the fences behind us wearing beanies
etc. I guessed they weren't on the way back from Sunday lunch (and I had been
expecting this sort of thing for quite a few years).

As break-ins etc have become quite common, particularly through older houses
around here, "something" kicked in and I decided to act.

I initially ran downstairs and to the back fence, to get a good look, and
they heard me coming and fled down to the street at the back. I anticipated
they would eventually come back up the lane four houses further up from us,
back into my street, and I headed for the top of the lane.

As it turns out I got there first, and had an eight step height advantage,
as well as a sense of presence about me.

They asked "what do you want" and I calmly said "I need to talk to you",
they asked "do you want a fight" and I said "no, I just want you to know
that I saw you, as did others, and its probably not a great idea if you
came back".

They said "so you do want a fight" and I calmly reinforced "no, I don't even
want the lap-tops, they aren't mine. You were behind my house, and I want to
encourage you to not return, that's all".

They turned and went back down the lane. I headed for home, and decided I
would see how much I could use a sense of distance and presence to move them
further from my house (probably not quite as objectively as this at the
time, however it was certainly part of the plan).

I walked after them, maintaining distance down the lane. I walked faster
they walked faster, I jogged a little, they jogged a lot, eventually we were
running a bit and they were leaving my territory, and more importantly my
family.

Interestingly as I followed them it became quite clear what was happening as
a resonably well dressed guy (me) was following a couple of individuals in shorts carrying lap-tops etc. A number of other folks, whose houses had been robbed in the street behind us started to join in and it then involved other residents picking me up in their cars, my visting the police station, and our local drug dealer - whose house they actually
robbed, although I didnt know at the time (another story altogether).

In sharing the story a couple of times this week, including with my mother
who was still in the house, several people have wondered why I would do it.
A couple of things, obviously it was about protecting my family, although I
think that would only have got me to the back fence. The rest, I am quite
confident is about the skills I have picked up at Northstar.

There was no chance they were going to get their hands on me at any stage,
as a sense of distance was always on my side. I also understood acutely
what my message was at the time, and was never intending to draw my sword,
just trying to unbalance them and get them on their way (anybody who has
sparred me knows that my sword still needs sharpening and its not my
preferred choice anyway, still a way to go, smile)

This was no more evident than when I was picked up by one of the neighbors
and we set off "in pursuit" by car. He asked "why didn't you grab them", I
told him "I was never going to do that", not my lap-tops, not my fight. It
was also very apparent by then my job was done. I just rode around for a bit
of fun, to catch my breath as I had a virus at the time, and get a lift home
- the fight was clearly over for me.

Sorry for long note, and thanks.

Cheers


John Cooksey

Great email from Stepthen below. He is at the Inosanto Academy (home of Bruce Lee). Dan Inosanto was one of Bruce Lees first students. I trained along side Brandon Lee there, many years ago. See you at the meeting tomorrow.

Andy

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Hi Andy,

Just thought I'd give a quick run down of my first Filipino Martial Arts class at the Inosanto Academy.

The class was taught by one of the other instructors. Have to say that if I hadn't gone up and introduced myself to the instructor just before the class started he would have had no idea I was a new student, or that this was my first class. Our system at Northstar for new students and the effort we put in to making them feel welcome is absolutely first class. Nothing really brings this home more than when you're a new student again yourself, and you have that feeling of not really knowing what's going on or what you're meant to do, and nobody to show you!

The material itself was good, and the class at a nice pace, well a nice pace for me and my current state so that I could actually get through the class. Luckily I ended up partnering with one of the senior students, who was able to give me a better idea of the basic principles. Started with some double handed stick work, onto the single stick, padded single stick and then empty handed work. Was nice to see the principles from the stick work to the empty hand remaining fairly constant throughout. Some good close in combinations when we got to the empty handed work, catching and parrying punches then attacking, very similar to Shinbudo so I was able to slip right into these combos.

Did notice a few subtle changes in my own training, instead of just concentrating on remembering the moves I found myself more and more trying to understand the principles behind each combination, how they actually work and what they do to the opponent's body and balance.

Will hopefully head back tonight for another class if the body's able.

Cheers,
Stephen

Andy Sensei talks about his time on Biggest Loser and how it relates to martial arts.

Check it out it is a good motivator for grading coming up

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFGpt9uY8nA&feature=channel_page

Our very own Andy Sensei will share his training methods and insights with the contestants on the "Biggest Loser" reality TV show, channel 10 at 7pm tonight. You will see Sensei help the contestants to overcome huge barriers and limitations by using the Northstar Training methods and the board break as a metaphor for smashing through personal limitations. The adaptation of Sensei's teaching methods in Martial Arts to everyday life is evident in the power and passion that overtakes the Biggest Loser contestants.

The Biggest Loser is all about who can lose the most amount of weight over a given period. It takes people that have all kinds of barriers, limitations, confidence and self esteem issues on an incredible journey beyond what they ever thought possible.

Channel 10, 7pm Tuesday 10th March.

Choice. “Well, I had no choice” “They gave me no option” “He made me do it” The choices we make not only define who we are, but, where we are now is a direct result of all the choices we have previously made.
In my very first lesson Sensei spoke about drawing your sword. The minute you choose to call someone on their behaviour or even make the wrong sort of eye contact with some people you are drawing your sword. You made a choice. You probably didn’t realise you did, at least I didn’t. I had been doing it all my life, drawing my sword that is. It was a defining moment in my life and at that moment during my first class I realised Martial arts had a lot to offer me and even way back then I realised it was about self control and how you deal with situations. I remember thinking, oh, so this is what martial arts is and I thought it was all that Kiaiing and breaking boards and stuff. How wrong had I been all my life!
Understanding this and then actually putting it into practice in your life is the cutting edge.

Most of you will be unaware, but I started martial arts purely because of a road rage incident in which I was severely damaged. I lost my job as I couldn’t work for a while and the perpetraitor was sent to jail. I decided I never, ever wanted to be in that situation again.

So last Friday as the car beeped loudly at me and the enraged driver emerged striding towards me, quite clearly drawing their sword. I made a choice. It was a split second decision. In a nano second a barage of previous images flashed in front of my mind, all ugly. Then all those years of training kicked in and I was in my internal “ready stance”. I was completely present and aware of the breath and just incredibly switched on. This gave me a gap. It gave me space to choose. It’s profound. And its just ready stance!

My immediate choice was to not react to the anger in front of me. You see now, I have a very big sword to draw. So as the abuse continued, I obseved keenly the situation, her face contorted in rage, the sound of her voice, my own heart rate rising, my breathing getting faster, the sweat forming on my palms. I heard my voice placating in a calm low measured tone. The abuse continued, more intense, more cutting. My heart rate increased and I could really feel it banging in my chest. By now part of me, a big part truth be known wanted to just latch on in major way. I could take her out easily. But I stayed extremely calm and did not engage. The first decision was quite easy I have to say, (am I making progress? ) but I struggled tremendously as the tirade continued. But I was determined. Unless this person laid a finger on me I was not going to react. It was all over, they drove away. My refusal to react to the provocation saved the day (mine and theirs). This lady is blissfully unaware of just how lucky she is. Not that I was going to hurt her. No not me, not nowadays. This lady is lucky she picked on me. Lucky she didn’t meet the guy I met seven years ago…….

I heard a story about a man out fishing in his little boat. It was a beautiful day and he was enjoying peace and tranquility when another boat bumped into his causing him to capsize and fall in. Clambering back in he was enraged. How rude. How negligent. How stupid. How could someone be so idiotic and just do that to him like that. As he gathered himself to give a big tirade to the other boat captain, gee they were going to get a piece of his mind. He realised there was no-one in the boat. It was empty. It had merely drifted on the current and bumped into him. There was no one to abuse, no one to be angry with. No one to listen to his rage. Realising, peplexed for a moment, his anger disappated, he just laughed at himself and continued his day. So here’s a tip. Imagine every car that invades “your space” “your territory” “your parking spot” is empty. Please, please please, do this. Its not worth it. Unless your life or your loved ones are in danger, imagine everyone bumping into you is and empty boat. I don’t want any of you to bump into my friend from all those years ago. He doesn’t realise it but he did me a big favour that day. I wouldn’t ever be doing this if we hadn’t of met…

I go to Japan Thursday so you won’t see me for a couple of weeks. Keep up your training. (And not just in the dojo eh….) I want to see you all being the best you can be for grading day on the 29th March.

Have a great week.
Rach