Below are some photographs of Sensei John Foster's Aikido Shodan (first-degree black belt) grading, which was held in May 1999. You can click the smaller images to view larger ones. Please use the "back" button of your browser to return.

Here Mr Foster executes a take-down from a cross-hand grab. John began his Aikdio training in 1992. His first Aikido instructor was Sensei Bill Collins, who was the first person in Canada to receive a black belt in this style, back in the early sixties.

With this take-down, John's Ukei is moving downward in a circular motion. The founder of Aikido, Morihei Ueshiba (1883-1969), trained under Takeda, Sokaku (1860-1943), the grandmaster of Daito-Ryu Aiki-Jitsu. Hapkido is an outgrowth of Aiki-Jitsu.

Mr Foster gets ready to throw his opponent.

Mr Foster's opponent executes a side break-fall. Break-falls are also an vital component of our Hapkido-Karate system.

Photos on this page courtesy of Don Cummings © 1999 - 2007