Martial Arts

Goju Kai
The first style of Martial Arts I tried was Goju Kai in Balwyn at Tino Cebrano's Dojo. In the 1980's, I began my career in Martial Arts with this Karate. Not only did it help me locate and exert power but I found eloquence in the katas. I studied for two years and was enchanted by the middle-aged Shihan when he occassionally appeared to give a lesson.
Goju Kai is classified as a hard/ soft Karate and has various blocks, strikes and kicks. Training is orchestrated sequences of combat as well individual shadow boxing, mimicing the instructor. I use a typical Karate-do elbow drill as a warm- up exercise in my programs. The use of elbows is essential in women's self defence as they are useful in close contact. Women usually find themselves very close to their assailant before they realise they are in danger.

Aikido
I have know Aikikai Aikido for longer than 20 years and probably trained 18 years. I consider it my first style. The attraction to Aikido is it's grace and combat Kata's, a form of dance with rolling as an escape from the wrist locks take downs. Movement is imperitive for Aikido as it is very difficult to exercise the techniques if the uke (partner attacking and receiving the technique) is a motionless blob of tense muscles. I tell them that stone cracks but you can't catch water.
The techniques are effective but the system has been devised as an art form rather than for self defence. There is a degree of co-operation which must exist between oponents. This is less dangerous and reduces the risk of injury. Aikido taught me movement to strategic positons and riding the force. The training is an art form and needs years of training before the practitioner becomes competent to apply it as a self defence. The Aikidoka has several principles to apply such as movement in a cicular form to dissipate the force. Locating your "one point" as an energy source and to exert power.
I use the ikio take down in self defence.

Wing Chun
I first discovered this art in Darwin being a Jim Fung's style and was particularly attracted to it because it was devised by a women and suited smaller people. The concept of centreline extended my knowledge of the Aikikai "one point" to finding stability and it is the shortest distance between you and your opponent. Being balanced allows you to exert and withstand force by redirection. William Cheong's academy has a rule that you never fight force with force. You must not try to overpower a force but move out of the way or redirect it.

Brief History of Yoga
Earliest archaeological evidence of Yoga's existence could be found in stone seals which depict figures of Yoga poses called Asanas. The stone seals place Yoga's existence around 3000 B.C. The oldest known Yogic teachings are found in the Vedas. The Vedas are the sacred scripture of Brahmanism that is the basis of modern-day Hinduism. It is a collection of hymns which praise a divine power.
The 200 scriptures of the Upanishads Upanishads (primarily thirteen principal texts of the Vedanta, that are the culmination of all Vedic philosophy) (the conclusion of the revealed literature) describe the inner vision of reality resulting from devotion to Brahman. These explain three subjects: the ultimate reality (Brahman), the transcendental self (atman), and the relationship between the two. The Upanishads further explain the teachings of the vedas
Later, around 500 B.C., the Bhagavad-Gita or Lord's Song was created and this is currently the oldest known Yoga scripture.link with http://www.yogaindailylife.org.au/classes/richmond.htm
Yoga in Daily Life
SVYASA University
http://www.svyasa.org/index.asp

Herstory

Magic Movements was created as an attempt to feminize martial arts so that it became more appealing to women. The founder wants to give women of all ages, sizes and cultural diversity the chance to engage in activity which (she believes) empowers them. Body awareness, physical ability and inner peace are an unbeatable combination for supreme esteem.

Martial arts improves self-esteem so that respect from others is a natural expectation. Eventhough, women now engage in martial arts, there are many that do not want to deal with the physically demanding training, masculine hierachical structure and formality. Magic Movements is casual yet it maintains standards of self discipline and effectiveness in technique.

The founder
Anita Carcour

Initiation into Kaliri Payatt martial art (India)

As A child I was always apt to sport and physical activity. I wanted to engage in martial arts when Judo was becoming popular in Aust (late 60's ) My cultural background prevented me from commencing as it was not seen as an activity, girls /females should undertake by my father. When I ventured from my family home and began to travel, I needed to learn skills in self defence.Goju Kai with Tino Cebrano was the first dojo I attended. I found it easy to adapt to techniques and physical exertion. The grace involved with martial arts movements are a powerful expression which makes me feel invinsible. The self discipline, focus and inner calmness are added benefits of training.

self defence

Self defence is the ability to protect yourself and use physical resistance in violent situations. It is permitted by law (as long as you only use as much physical force needed to stop the abuse/attack. If you use more physical force than needed to defend yourself, then you could be charged with assault/abuse.

class in coburg

The threat or use of physical force against another is not justified:

1. In response to verbal provocation alone.

2. To resist an arrest that the person knows is a peace officer or by a person acting in a peace officer's presence and at his direction, whether the arrest is lawful or unlawful, unless the physical force used by the peace officer exceeds that allowed by law.

3. If the person(1) provoked the other(a) The person(1) withdraws from the encounter or clearly communicates to the other his intent to do.(b) The other nevertheless continues or attempts to use unlawful physical force against the person.

Abuse may come in many forms, emotional, psychological and physical. Self defence for women usually incorporates strategies to deal with adverse situations. The confidence to deal with difficult predicaments or situations rather than compromise or submission, will lead to control over ones life and supreme esteem; the ability to do anything and hurdle over obstacles.