Aikido News:

22 July 2008 AFSA GRADING PROMOTIONS!

The following members were graded to the mentioned grades during AFSA`s Aikido Winterschool 2008: YONDAN (4th Dan) Corrie Human (Heidelberg Aikido) Bruce Allemann (Fishhoek Aikido Club) NIDAN (2nd Dan) Jawaid Babamia (Wits University Aikido Club) Niel van Niekerk (Sakura Stellenbosch Aikido Club) SHODAN (1st Dan) Rudi Becker (Mizu Aikido, Waterkloof, Pretoria) 1st KYU Johann Enslin (Seiko-no-Tanden, Centurion, Pretoria) 3rd KYU Lerato Allen Malefo (Wits University Aikido Club) 5th KYU Mauritz Holtzhausen (Bloemfontein Aikido Club) Cornelius Opperman (Bloemfontein Aikido Club) 6th KYU Willem-Dirk Van`t Zand (Potchefstroom Aikido Club) AFSA is also happy to report that Elroy Goliath (Paarl Aikido) has been awarded Sandan (3rd Dan) on 12/07/2008. Congratulations to all!

6 July 2008 In Memoriam

It is with sadness that AFSA has to report the passing of some of its members: Kenneth Cottier Shihan (7th dan), the AFSA Honorary President and a direct student of O`Sensei, passed away on 08/06/2008 at the age of 74. Cottier Sensei was laid to rest in Plymyard Cemetery, not far from where he lived in Eastham Village, Merseyside in England. The AFSA also commemorates the life of Warren Braam (Shodan), the club instructor of the Bloemfontein Aikido Club, who passed away in his sleep on 20/01/2008 at the age of 34. May they rest in peace.

6 July 2008 AFSA Executive

Congratulations to the following 3 AFSA members who have been chosen to lead the way for AFSA for the next term of office: CHAIRPERSON Mr. Colin Beyers (Port Elizabeth Aikido Club) 1ST VICE-CHAIRPERSON Mr. Umesh Bodalina (Wits University Aikido Club) 2ND VICE-CHAIRPERSON Mr. Brian McMahon (Mushindo School of Aikido, Cape Town Central) Be assured that you have the fullest support from each member in AFSA for the task ahead!

6 July 2008 AFSA technical officials for 2008-2009

The following members have been charged by Franco Martufi Sensei ( AFSA Chief Instructor) to serve AFSA in the mentioned capacity from July 2008 until the end of June 2009: TECHNICAL COMMITTEE Paul de Beer (Pretoria Aikikai) - Chairperson Bruce Allemann (Fishhoek Aikido Club) Etienne Venter (Sakura Stellenbosch Aikido Club) Craig Borman (Shizentai Aikido Club, Bryanpark, Johannesburg) Denzil Beukes (Rhodes University Aikido Club, Grahamstown) Paul Musto (East London Aikido Club) AFSA SHIDOIN Paul de Beer Sensei (Godan) - Pretoria Aikikai Corrie Human (Yondan) - Heidelberg Aikido Bruce Allemann (Yondan) - Fishhoek Aikido Club AFSA FUKUSHIDOIN Etienne Venter (Sandan) - Sakura Stellenbosch Aikido Club Craig Borman (Sandan) - Shizentai Aikido Dojo, Johannesburg Ghalib Galant (Sandan) – UCT Aikido Club, Cape Town Colin Beyers (Sandan) - Port Elizabeth Aikido Club Sam Olivier (Sandan) - Seiko-no-Tanden, Centurion, Pretoria Denzil Beukes (Sandan) - Rhodes University Aikido Club, Grahamstown Paul Musto (Sandan) – East London Aikido Club Umesh Bodalina (Nidan) – Wits University Aikido Club, Johannesburg Saud Anderson (Nidan) - Mushindo Aikido Club, Cape Town Central Johan Greyling (Nidan) – Mizu Aikido, Waterkloof, Pretoria Note that the grading powers of these instructors have been adjusted as follows: Godan can grade up to Nidan Yondan can grade up to 1st kyu Sandan can grade up to 2nd kyu Nidan can grade up to 4th kyu