Grading Certificate Presentation – Loughborough Ki Society
Sensei Andrew Marriott presenting Agnieszka Stefaniak with her certificate for her Shokyu Grading on 23rd March 2023. Congratulations to Agnieszka.
Grading Certificate Presentations – Coventry Ki society
Sensei Burgess presented grading certificates to the successful students at a seminar on 14th January 2023.
Dave Wheatley received his Shoden certificate, Andre Brewster and Richard East received their Chuden Certificates and Andrew Marriott received his Okuden certificate.
L to R: Andre Brewster. Andrew Marriott, Dave Wheatley, Richard East
You can see more photos here.
Grading Certificate Presentation – Rhondda Ki Society
Certificates in Ki Development were presented to students at the Rhondda Ki Society by sensei Neil Davey. Gareth Evans and Martin John received their Shoden certificate, and Rhys Brabham received his Okuden certificate.
Gareth Evans Rhys Brabham Martin John
1st January 2023
Shihan P. Burgess has announced two promotions for the New Year.
Sensei Roy Cliff (Alness Ki Society) has been promoted to the rank of Hachidan (8th Dan) in Aikido, in recognition of his sustained practice and teaching of Aikido over a period of 50 years. Sensei Cliff is the second highest ranking student in the BKS.
Sensei Mike Lebens, who teaches in Goteborg, Sweden, was awarded the rank of Rokudan (6th Dan) in Aikido.
29th October 2022
Two students at the Rhondda Ki Society achieved the grade of Shoden earlier this month. Martin John and Gareth Evans were graded by Sensei Neil Davey at the Rhondda dojo on 4th October. A third student of Sensei Davey, Rhys Brabham, was graded Okuden by Sensei Burgess at the Coventry dojo on 22nd October. Congratulations to all three.
L to R: Martin John, Rhys Brabham, Sensei Davey and Gareth Evans.
22nd October 2022
A grading was held at the Coventry Ki Society dojo on Saturday 22nd October, conducted by sensei P. Burgess, Chief Instructor of the British Ki Society.
Students being graded were:
SHODEN – Dave Wheatly and Andrew Niven
CHUDEN – Andre Brewerton and Richard East
OKUDEN – Andrew Marriott and Rhys Brabham
Certificates will be awarded at the seminar on 14th January 2023.
21st September 2022
The British Ki Society will be holding a national Seminar at the Alness dojo, Scotland in November. The seminar, which will include gradings, will be conducted by Shihan Philip Burgess. Details can be downloaded below. Further information can be obtained from Sensei Roy Cliff.
10th September 2022
Alness Ki Society Grading
A 1st Kyu Aikido grading was held at the British Ki Society Alness Dojo on the 10th of September 2022. The grading was conducted by Sensei Duncan Henderson 3rd Dan and Sensei Roy Cliff 7th Dan. Congratulations to the students Saul Tait, Graham Bull and Andrew Snelling, who all passed and now hold the grade of 1st Kyu in Aikido.
10th September 2022
Sensei Mike Hayes (Burton Ki Society) received his 6th Dan Aikido certificate from Shihan Philip Burgess. Shihan Burgess, chief instructor at the Coventry Ki Society and of the British Ki Society, is one of the 12 official examiners appointed by Doshu Yoshigasaki
The certificate is written on handmade Japanese paper called Kochi and has Shihan Burgess’s personal seal, applied using shuniku, a red ink paste that has to be specially prepared before use. The traditional seal, or hanko, has been obtained from a government authorised hanko craftsman, Daisei Tanaka, from Kyoto. The seal is a jitsu-in, which means it has been officially registered with the Japanese government.
August 31st 2022
Aikido Seminar in Croatia
Shihan Bruno Maule will be the main instructor at a seminar to be held in Croatia from September 30th to October 3rd.Details can be downloaded below.
August 16th 2022
New BKS Certificates
The British Ki Society has finalised the arrangements for producing new certificates for gradings in Aikido (Shodan to Yondan) and Ki (Shoden to Okuden).
Shihan Burgess has obtained a hanko (personal seal) from Japan to use when he signs the diplomas. The traditional hanko has been obtained from a government authorised hanko craftsman, Daisei Tanaka, from Kyoto. The seal is a jitsu-in, which means it has been officially registered with the Japanese government by Shihan Burgess for use by the Ki No Kenkyukai UK.
The certificates (shodo) for 5th Dan and above are written on handmade Japanese paper called Kochi and the seal is applied using shuniku, a red ink paste that has to be specially prepared before use.
The certificate is registered and continues to have the Ki No Kenkyukai International seal that Doshu Yoshigasaki. This certificate number, confirming this registration, will also be on all certificates.
In this way the British Ki Society is helping to maintain the traditional standards of quality and authenticity which were followed by the late Doshu Yoshigasaki.
August 13th 2022
Sensei Kevin Towers received his Godan (5th Dan) Aikido certificate from shihan Philip Burgess at Coventry Ki society.
August 2nd 2022
International Aikido Seminars
Two new Ki Aikido seminars have been announced for this year.
In September Shihan Bruno Maule and Sensei Mirco Angeletti will hold a seminar in Enkoping, Sweden, and in October Shihan Maurizio Volpe and Shihan Bernhard Boll will hold a seminar in Trebur, Germany.
Details of both seminars are available below.
June 27th 2022
British Aikido Board National Course
Sensei Jayesh Karadia (London Ki Society) will be one of the instructors at the British Aikido Board’s National Course this year. Details can be found below.
Application for the course can be made using the form below
May 18th 2022
First Doshu Yoshigasaki Memorial Seminar
Doshu Yoshigasaki First Memorial Seminar took place last weekend. This was the first opportunity where Doshu’s four highest grades, Shihan Peloni, Shihan Volpe, Shihan Maule, and Shihan Burgess, who are all Ninth Dans, taught together in the same seminar. They were supported by a few younger teachers who were also given a chance to teach to an audience of over a hundred participants.
The seminar was very well received. Having a wide range of teachers allowed everyone to experience very international teaching, which although varied, all built upon the teachings of Doshu Yoshigasaki.
Shihan Maule and the students of Dojo Ronin Ki Aikido Novara were excellent hosts and made everyone welcome.
An interview (in Italian) with Shihan Bruno Maule can be seen here: https://www.facebook.com/mirco.angeletti.3/videos/561488835418299/?fs=e&s=cl
April 5th 2022
First Doshu Yoshigasaki Memorial Seminar
The revised details of the first Doshu Yoshigasaki Memorial seminar in May have been announced. The instructors include shihan Philip Burgess and sensei Jayesh Karadia from the British Ki Society.
April 5th 2022
The Future of Aikido
Following the death of Doshu Yoshigasaki, Aikido Dojos have to decide how they wish to carry on his legacy in the future. Shihan Philip Burgess and Shihan Bruno Maule were both appointed 9th Dan by Doshu Yoshigasaki. They have released the following joint statement:
“Aikido as ‘Art of Life’ is an activity to make one’s life as an art. The whole activity of one’s life must become an art. You must try to understand your own imagination at each moment by knowing what you are doing. Aikido training must help develop this ability.”
Doshu Yoshigasaki
1) Ki-Aikido is a Martial Art. Both the martial and the art aspects of the practice must be respected and considered of equal importance.
2) As with any art, establishing a school provides a solid foundation where the practitioners can develop through the teacher-student relationship. This is reflected in Japanese culture where a hierarchy is fundamental, experience is valued and a lineage can be established. This ensures not only that high quality will be maintained but also that we can improve and progress with each generation as there is a structured transmission of skill.
3) We do respect and want to build relationships with the other clubs that would like to keep a more European structure. It is essential to encourage exchanges, through shared seminars where we work together. We are open to assisting any other clubs as it is important that nobody is left isolated. By creating a strong collaboration we can ensure Ki Aikido has a future.
March 13th 2022
Two promotions were announced today by Shihan Burgess:
Sensei Kevin Towers (Coventry Ki Society) has been promoted to Godan (5th Dan)
Sensei Mike Hayes (Burton Ki Society) has been promoted to Rokudan (6th Dan).
These grades were awarded by Shihan Burgess and endorsed by Shihan Maule. Shihan Burgess and Shihan Maule are both Kudan (Ninth Dan), the highest grade awarded by Doshu Yoshigsasaki and two of his appointed examiners.
We congratulate Kevin and Mike on their promotions.
January 26th 2022
Aikido seminar in Italy on 29th April – 1 May 2022.
Please note this is not the re-scheduled memorial seminar for Doshu Yoshigasaki.
January 12th 2022
First Doshu Memorial Seminar Postponed
Due to the worsening COVID 19 situation the seminar has been postponed until 13th, 14th and 15th May 2022. further details will be announced nearer the date.
January 2022
First Doshu Memorial Seminar announced
The first seminar held in memory of the late Doshu Yoshigasaki will be held in Novara, Italy. Classes will be taken by the four Ninth Dans, including Shihan Burgess, and a number of other instructors, including Sensei Karadia from the UK. Details can be found here.
November 2021
Grading Seminar at Alness Dojo
A grading seminar was taken by Sensei Burgess at the Alness dojo on the 21st November. Gradings were passed by the following students:
Graham Bull awarded Jokyu
Duncan Henderson awarded Okuden
Nicolette Austin awarded Nidan (2nd Dan Aikido)
Malcolm Aldridge awarded Nidan (2nd Dan Aikido)
We offer our congratulations to these students for their well-deserved achievements.
August 2021
Sensei Jayesh Karadia awarded 5th Dan
Sensei Jayesh Karadia, senior instructor at the London Ki society, was presented with his Godan (5th Dan) certificate by Shihan Burgess at the Coventry Ki Society Dojo. Sensei Karadia was promoted to 5th Dan by Doshu Yoshigasaki in the New year, when such promotions are traditionally made.
Sensei Burgess presents his certificate to Sensei Karadia
January 2021
Shihan Burgess awarded 9th Dan
Shihan Philip Burgess was awarded the rank of Kudan (9th Dan) in Aikido by the late Doshu Yoshigasaki in the New Year. The award was made in 2021 but only made public after Doshu’s death. Shihan Burgess is the Chief Instructor and Secretary of the British Ki Society. The photo shows Sensei Burgess together with Sensei Jayesh Karadia at the Coventry Dojo. We congratulate Sensei Burgess on his achievements in Aikido.
Sensei Burgess (right) and Sensei Karadia (left)
The British Ki Society 