The Hout Bay School of Aikido
Samurai Karate Hout Bay and Sensei John Shaw, 5th Dan, would like to welcome the Hout Bay School of Aikido and Giuseppe Soffietti Sensei, 3rd Dan, to the dojo from October 2017.
Aikido is a modern Japanese martial art developed by Morihei Ueshiba. He envisioned aikido not only as the synthesis of his martial training, but as an expression of his personal philosophy of universal peace and reconciliation. Aikido is often translated as “the way of unifying life energy or as the way of harmonious spirit. Ueshiba’s goal was to create an art that practitioners could use to defend themselves while also protecting their attacker from injury. Aikido’s techniques include turning movements that redirect the opponent’s attack momentum and various types of throws and joint locks.
The Hout Bay School of Aikido is under the leadership of Giuseppe Soffietti Sensei, 3rd Dan. Giuseppe started practicing Aikido in 1984 in Turin, Italy, under the guidance of Riccardo Negro Sensei. After spending a few years in South Africa, he moved to the Caribbean where he founded, together with Iroaki Izumi Sensei, 5th Dan, the West Indian Aikido Federation. He returned to South Africa and joined Shizentai Aikido under the instruction of Craig Borman Sensei in 2007. He was graded to Shodan in 2010, Nidan in 2013 and Sandan in 2017, all by Franco Martufi Sensei 6th Dan. Giuseppe practices and teaches traditional Aikido, with emphasis on basic forms and correct etiquette. Giuseppe is Chairperson of the Aikido Federation of South Africa
Classes will be held at the Samurai Karate Hout Bay dojo on the following days:
Tuesday: 7:15pm – 8:30pm
Thursday: 7:15pm – 8:30pm
The Hout Bay School of Aikido is a member club of the Aikido Federation of South Africa. For information please contact Sensei Giuseppe Soffietti at houtbayaikido@gmail.com or phone on 0826015111 or visit the Hout Bay School of Aikido’s Facebook page.
