Attended a TTC meeting at Low Sensei's Puchong Dojo to review the MAA Aikido grading syllabus.
The syllabus was first drafted in 2000 and since then it has stayed the same through the years. As MAA has been given permission by Hombu Dojo to conduct Dan grading locally up to 4th Dan level starting from 2013, the TTC committee feels that it is timely to review the 13 year old syllabus.
The outcome of the meeting was the removal of many of the repetitive techiques in the 2nd and 1st kyu grading syllabus. The committee felt that lower kyu techniques eg 5th and 4th kyu techniques need not be repeated in the higher level tests. Because of so many repetitive techniques in the current syllabus, the grading for 2nd and 1st kyu candidates can take more than 1 hour to complete. The committee felt that there is scope for shortening the grading time at the same time maintaining the essence of our aikido training. On the other hand with the removal of the lower grade techniques the committee felt that more advanced techniques could be introduced to enhance the higher grade tests.
The committee also deliberated on the 1st to 4th Dan grading syllabus.
Naturally being the person who was responsible for compiling the original syllabus in 2000, I was asked to compile and publish the new syllabus. Just submitted the first draft of the new syllabus for peer review.
Iwas getting ready to leave the office at 5.30pm when the phone rang. "Low Sensei has been promoted 5th Dan by Hombu!" The caller was Dr Leong Sensei who broke the good news to me. He told me that Hombu had also announced Low Sensei's promotion in its official web site.
Just 4 days ago during the EXCO meeting on Sunday we were wondering quite pessimistically if Low Sensei's 5th dan promotion would go through as the association has not yet received any communication from Hombu Dojo.
I immediately fired a sms congratulatory message to Low Sensei. I had also wanted to send a congratulatory message to Low Sensei via Facebook but decided to hold until Dr leong Sensei officially announced it in the MAA website first. Proper protocol and etiquette require that the announcement must first come from MAA before others do the same. The official announcement came via Facebook at 11.10pm. After it became official I sent the congratulate message to Heaven & Earth Dojo FB Group and also posted it on my FB wall.
Congratulations Low Sensei. I'm happy for you.
Cheers
Iwas thinking of paying Low Sensei a visit next week to sort out the 2011 expenses of MAA, when I received a email from him today.
In his email reply to my earlier request for information Low Sensei clarified all the expenses of MAA for 2011. After two weeks of no communication I was getting quite pessimistic if he would reply my queries. That is why I have been mulling about a personal visit next week to sort things out face to face.
Now that I have received a response from Low Sensei, I could at least resume the work of balancing the books.
Thank you Low Sensei for your timely reply.
