Club Teachers
Sensei Tim Buswell - 5th Dan
When did you start Aikido & why?
I started my Aikido journey in 1981 at the Poole Aikido club my first teacher was Sensei Paul McGlone who at that time was shodan.
Why I started, well there are more reasons than I could write on this CV, but I can write of one occasion that intrigued me enough for me to want to find out more about Aikido.
I used to play squash with a friend every Saturday morning, he was a judo player of shodan level, we had got changed after our match and were going for some refreshments when I noticed a group of men that seemed to be wearing long black skirts I asked my friend and he told me they were Aikido students. They were going to train so I decided to watch I did not know at the time that the hour and a half I spent watching was going to change my life.
The teacher that day was Sensei Hayden Foster who I grew to respect greatly over the years to follow, the course was hosted by Sensei Paul McGlone who became my first teacher in Aikido, a little while later I attended one of his classes and knew that I had found something amazing that I wanted to do.
What are some of your memories of Aikido?
I have so many wonderful memories some amusing some poignant, there is one about the first time I saw Saito Sensei.
It was the end of May beginning of June 1985 at Brunnel university at that time my rank was 3rd kyu we were all knelt waiting for Sensei the feeling in the hall was both tense and exiting we sat straight, still and very quiet, Sensei entered the room we bowed in he then stood and introduced himself he told us who he was and then said “if your knees hurt please sit more comfortably, you can not listen if you are in pain” .
His first concern was for the students, there was a great lesson in this for me and one which I shall never forget, we then went on to have a great seminar and my direction was set, in 2001 I finally got to walk on to Sensei's mat in Iwama which was a fantastic privilege and honour.
What are your personal goals in Aikido?
To remember every day to practice being a happier, healthier and a more helpful human being to those I come in contact with in my life.
To pass on the teachings of those who have taught me as accurately as possible.
To, through example, show the joy and rewards of training and how you discover that the lessons apply 24 hours a day on and off the mat.
To be less self absorbed and more in tune with the needs of others on and off the mat.
For me this will be a lifetimes work, or more.
Why do you think Iwama Aikido is so unique?
The short answer is the lesson of nature is everything is unique, but looking at the methods of training passed on to us by Saito Sensei there are some obvious differences with other aikido schools, such as the strong emphasis on basic static training and the amount of weapons training we do.
It is my belief that these methods of training lead to a deeper level of understanding that might not be found in just open hand techniques executed in motion.
O-Sensei created Aikido and his dojo was in Iwama that is reason enough for me to follow the Iwama way.
What can Aikido offer people, in your opinion?
On a practical level it can teach you tactics for self-defence it is worth noting that Aikido techniques are taught to the police and armed forces of many different countries.
It will improve your fitness on many levels, stamina, strength, suppleness, even the way you breath will change, you can gain confidence if you need to or learn to be honest with yourself about some of your own motives for the actions you take, you will meet people, make new friends.
Surely, this is one of the most important things because as your friendships grow so does your trust and tolerance, and fear and suspicion can be removed.
In my personal experience the Aikido journey is a very joyful one and I intend to carry on with that journey into my future whatever that may be.
How long have you been training, were have you travelled to and when?
I am in my 27th year of training and would welcome another 27 years.
In my desire to train I have visited the USA, Russia, Holland, Japan and in the UK, Wales, Scotland and Jersey. The warmth that I have been shown by fellow students and friends in all these places makes me feel a very fortunate person and I have tried to show the same warmth back when it has been my turn to be the host.
The debt that I owe my teachers and friends can never be repaid but I hope that by passing on the teachings and friendship that were passed to me, in a small way I will be worthy of their warmth and trust.
Sensei Andy Channer - 1st Dan
What are some of my memories of aikido?
I think my first memory was of going to the ashdown leisure centre in Poole, where I met my teacher Sensei Tim Buswell, being a big strong doorman and bodyguard, I watched my teacher do a technique on someone and thought id like to see him do that to me? Well was I stupid or what? I held him with all my strength and ego, and he threw me like I was a paper weight, no effort what so ever, that was the moment I was hooked on aikido, and it was the beginning of a long and strong relationship with a teacher who I respect and regard as one of the best aikido teachers in the United Kingdom, and if you can impress me then you must be doing something special, so I can only say if you want the same experience as I, then please contact the number on the website, I promise you wont be disappointed.
What are your personal goals in aikido?
I think my goals have changed with my maturity, and the adversity I have been through, at first I think my goal was just to be able to defend myself, but as I trained in aikido my outlook on life changed, aikido taught me different values, teaching me I didn’t need to use strength, staying calm when being attacked, being in control more, and feeling a connection with my attacker, my goals changed to become more spiritual, more relaxed, the teachings of O’sensei inspired me to try and follow in his footsteps, as he sought enlightenment and he found it, so if I can experience a fraction of what he achieved I will have reached my goal.
Why do you think Iwama aikido is unique?
Well I have done Shotokan karate, Goju Ryu karate, kickboxing, and they are all about defence and attack, the thing I liked about Iwama Aikido was firstly it wasn’t watered down or diluted it was the original teachings of the founder O’Sensei, that appealed to me a lot knowing I was doing exactly what he did, secondly the word “AIKIDO” meaning the way of harmony, being non confrontational, using the attackers own force and momentum back upon them, to utilise there attack without harming them, as I mentioned before being a doorman and bodyguard for 10 years, I worked with a lot of other doormen that had trained in various different martial arts, and I can sincerely say that my aikido came in handy in numerous occasions when their art failed them, the art was not at fault, you can give someone the tools to do a job, but if they lack in the basic skills to form a good foundation, when they come to build upon their foundations the building will crumble under pressure or scrutinisation, I am sure that’s pretty deep for some people but look deep into what I have said and the answer will become clear.
What can aikido offer people in your opinion?
That’s a very good question, there are many answers depending on the individual, however if I was to take it in the broadest sense I would say that in the original teachings of O’sensei it was the cultivation of ones character, to build a firm foundation for a person to grow as an individual, using Budo the Martial way and Bushido the way of the warrior, the strict code of ethical behaviour followed by the samurai warriors, a student would learn self discipline, meditation, etiquette, he would build life long friendships, and bonds with his teachers or students once he or she had become proficient, so to sum it up you learn a martial art, and all that comes with it, you learn the way of harmony rather than conflict, you become a better person more in tune with the universe now that’s worth achieving don’t you agree?
How long have you been training, where have you travelled too and when?
I have been doing martial arts since I was 12 yrs old, I started Aikido in 1993 under Sensei Tim Buswell, so been doing it for over 15 years now, and without my training I do not think I would have been able to overcome my accident that’s along story you can ask me when you see me (6 years in bed, told I would never stand up again let alone walk) now I am teaching aikido again thanks to my teacher Sensei Tim for allowing me to take some of his classes, I am hoping to teach in Greece next year 2009 at my Teachers Dojo (Sensei Sargeant principal of Takemusu Iwama Aikido Europe) that will be a great honour for me, I have a good friend in Russia too who has offered me the chance to go there and do some teaching which I am also excited about, that’s where Aikido is special you make friends all over the world and you get to visit places you would not normally go too, I have also trained in jersey, Wales, and Cambridge, all before I became bed bound, Cambridge was special because I was able to experience what the Japanese call Uchideshi which means “live in student”, I trained their sometimes for a month at a time, it was very hard but you gained so much experience in that time it was like doing a years training in just 1 month, so I recommend to anyone if you can do this you will learn so much, and your Aikido will flourish that much more, mine did.
Well if you read this far then thank you for you time, if you get to train in aikido and experience half of what I have done then you will not be sorry, I can assure you so don’t take my word for it take the first step on a very long life changing journey, you will not be alone and myself and Sensei Tim will be there to guide you all the way, we look forward to meeting you and changing your life for the better.
Yours in
Sensei Andy Channer