Members awarded their first degree black belts

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Scott McMurtrie, left, and Shayne Garbes, partially obscured, far right, during their successful 1st-degree black belt grading at the Rangiora Aikido Dojo. Photo: John Fahey
Scott McMurtrie, left, and Shayne Garbes, partially obscured, far right, during their successful 1st-degree black belt grading at the Rangiora Aikido Dojo. Photo: John Fahey
Two Rangiora Aikido Dojo members achieved Shodan (first degree black belt) ranking during end-of year grading last Saturday.

The grading was undertaken by Nobuo Takase Shihan, chief instructor of Aikido Shinryukan and technical director for New Zealand Aikikai, at the Rangiora Aikido Dojo headquarters in Rangiora.

Shayne Garbes and Scott McMurtrie both began practising Aikido to get fit and gain confidence.

''I find it good for fitness and it has also been an asset and good skill to have now I am a police officer, being a less aggressive style, but I am now confident in dealing with an aggressive person,'' Scott says.

Shayne found learning Aikido suited his temperament, helped him gain fitness, confidence and find comradeship.

The Aikido adult grading system is divided into six Kyu (beginner) grades and nine Dan (black belt) grades.

Rangiora dojo head Chris Clarke says if a student trains regularly and makes good progress they can attain Shodan level in about four years.

''Obtaining Shodan is a significant event for students, requiring a large investment of time and effort, so the achievement is worth celebrating,'' he says.

''Also, we should acknowledge the input of training partners, teachers, and the support of families and friends, as together they make this success possible.''

However, although there is a general perception that obtaining a black belt makes the student a master in a martial art, the meaning of Shodan is literally ''beginner degree''.

Chris says gaining Shodan is like finishing an apprenticeship where you have completed the basic training, and are acknowledged as capable of performing the work.

''You are not yet a master but you have the foundation on which to build experience and become one.

''There is definitely a developmental progression beyond Shodan, and it is important that students don't see it as an end point in their training, but the start of a new and more advanced undertaking.''