Brothers work hard for black belts
2006-07-27
TO finally get the Aikido black belt is no mean feat, as the brothers Sammy and Neville Julies, 37 and 35 respectively, will tell you.
Says the younger Neville, “To receive this ‘Hakama’ spans a little more than seven years of sacrifice and training, and we both are extremely proud and satisfied.”
“We both started training in this modern Japanese martial art in February 1999, and went through all of the gradings together, from 6th Kuy as beginners up to 1st Kuy and now our Sho-dan or black belt,” says Sammy.
This followed after vigorous examination under fifth Dan international Italian instructor Franco Martufi.
Both the Julies brothers hail from Paarl, are married with two children, Sammy residing in New Orleans and working at the Caltex petroleum refinery in Milnerton.
During the week Neville stays in Vredenburg to be near his workplace at Saldanha Steelworks, but returns home over weekends in Charleston Hill.
He misses weekdays training at the dojo of the Paarl School of Aikido, currently at the Paarl Police College, and therefore had to train extra hard.
The brothers receive their Aikido instruction from Sensei Elroy Goliath who runs the Paarl School of Aikido which was established in 1997.
Sensei Goliath practised with many senior teachers in different countries and also received direct teaching at the Aikido headquarters in Tokyo.
He recently returned from a two-week training seminar with European seniors under the direction of 7th Dan Shihan Yoji Fujimoto.
He wil test in Europe next year for his third Dan under Fujimoto.
“The possibilities of Aikido training are so varied and demand such application of both mental and physical powers that one can continue practising the art indefinitely without ever feeling that you have learned everything Aikido could teach you.
“Practice develops both mind and body in such a way that training becomes a whole way of life,” states Goliath.
Aikido remains a highly martial art, not limited to a sport.
Tournaments are non-existent and instead the clear techniques presentations, presence and calmness becomes the criteria for promotion.
In addition, consideration is given to the student’s character and attitude as well as their seriousness and diligence in practice.
Aikido is open to people of all ages, classes, sexes and races, proven to be highly beneficial to children, teaching them conflict resolution in a non-aggressive way.
Sensei Goliath plans to launch Aikido development projects at schools in the Paarl region, after receiving Lotto funding. Anyone interested in doing Aikido can contact him at 083-463-4187.
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