Instructors

Chief Instructor Ray Eder, 5^th Dan

I started training in the martial arts in 1979 with Chidokan Karate, which I did for a few years. In 1982 I started Aikido with the late sensei Ron Russell and was graded by him to Shodan in 1987, Nidan in 1988, and Sandan 1993. Sensei Haydn Foster, Sensei Russell's teacher in England, graded me to Yondan in 2001 and Godan in 2006.

I have been head of the Kyu Shin Do style of Aikido in New Zealand since 1994. I first heard of Aikido while doing Karate. Some classes would be dedicated to 'self defence' and we would learn different techniques from the usual Karate moves, which we were told were Aikido techniques. I decided to find out more about this 'mysterious' art, and here I am twenty five years down the track still learning.

My approach to teaching is to apply the principles of Aikido. Thus the safety of all taking part is paramount. The environment should be non threatening and conducive to learning, allowing people to develop their own way. One of my favourite quotes from the founder of Aikido is 'It (Aikido) is not for correcting others; it is for correcting your own mind.'. I try to live by this precept and it is reflected in my style of teaching.

Gail Eder, 4^th Dan

I practised Karate from 1979 until the end of 1988 and reached the rank of 2nd Dan. In early 1988 I began to practice Aikido as well. By the end of that year it was clear to me that Aikido was what I wanted to focus on.

Although I had had many teachers over the years there are 4 Aikido teachers who have been most influential in my training. They are: The late Ron Russell, my first teacher, loved Aikido above everything and was a skilled and dedicated teacher. Mr. H. Foster Chief Instructor of the Institute of Aikido (UK) was Ron's teacher and mentor and who, through visits to New Zealand and Summer School in the UK has shared his vast reservoir of knowledge accumulated over 50 years in Aikido. Richard Moon who taught me that Aikido is so much more than technique. My husband Ray who has many more years Aikido experience than I and who "walks the talk" in his daily life.

My ideas in presenting an Aikido class are first that it should be safe and fun for everyone involved. My quest in teaching, learning and my day to day life is to find better ways of smoothing the paths of human interaction.

Eddie Wrench, 3^rd Dan

I've been training regularly at Aikido since November 1994 - all at Kyu Shin Do (North Shore) Aikido, though I've been lucky to visit the UK Institute of Aikido (under Sensei Foster 7th Dan) a couple of times.

I had dabbled a bit with Judo as a teenager, decided to have a go as an adult and turned up at the dojo on the wrong night. Rather than waste the opportunity I had a go at Aikido and enjoyed it so much that I never went to Judo.

I enjoy the Kyu Shin Do Aikido community and applying aikido analysis in real life conflict situations. My classes emphasise the integration of basic weapons and hand to hand techniques.

I aim to promote a thoughtful, safe, energetic and humorous environment where all participants can learn from each other. I like the idea of a dedicated group of people starting the new week with a positive Saturday morning's Aikido!

Tana (John) Pungatara, 2^nd Dan

In March 1986; I was attending an Aikido demonstration given by a Japanese instructor and his wife. The amount of control they displayed while handling their opponents, and how fluidly they moved while applying their techniques was very impressive. I decided there and then that this was the martial art for me.

Junichi Nishimura, the Japanese instructor and his wife Kouru, became my first teachers, I studied with them until their return to Japan in 1988. I was also training with the Yoshinkai club in Mt Albert headed by Sensei Eddie Wong.

In 1998 my wife and I decided to enrol our son in martial arts. Because I already had an understanding of Aikido, we decided to go with that. After making initial enquiries we signed him up with the Kyu Shin Do Aikido club. As a parent observing from the side, I guess I was learning more from those classes than the children were. Though I had been taught Aikido in the past, what I had learnt were advanced techniques, and I realised I had no understanding of the basics. Six months after my son joined so did I. How ironic that one of the reasons I left Aikido, was now the main reason I went back.

Each of the instructors in this club has a different approach to their lessons; Aikido has wide variety of concepts that can be covered by each individual instructor. My classes focus on the basics, for the basics are the foundations for any martial art, and without them there would be nothing on which to build.