Full-Time Students

The Melbourne Yoshinkan Aikido dojo welcomes its first two Full-time students.

Sophie Harle

Quang Kwanon Truong

The dojo wishes them luck on this next intense phase of their Aikido Journey.

Gambate Kudasai!

From our touring Aikido student, Andrew

I'm training at a small Yoshinkan dojo called Rickmansworth Aikido, aka "Ricky". Like most English dojos, it's borrowed space for the classes - ours is in a very expensive girls school sports centre, and we have to put the mats out before training. We train twice a week with Sensei Andy and the class structure would seem familiar... The class size is quite small, normally seven or eight, but we have three dan grades in our ranks to learn from, even though they rarely agree. Andy has been to the Yamanashi dojo several times, and went to Canada on holiday with Diane to train with Takeno Shihan. In line with English aikido tradition since Sensei Abbe first came here in 1959, everyone goes to the pub after training.

 

Photos: The snow in our garden. Dogi bag.  The juniors (with mats in background). The adults (Mike and Peter) and the dan grades not being serious (Rick, Diane and Andy) . 

Andrew

On the mats, he's superman...

..but with his glasses on, he's even brighter than Clark Kent...

University’s Brightest Continue To Shine

[ The University of Melbourne Voice Vol. 3, No. 9  10 November - 8 December 2008 ]

By Janine Sim-Jones

Research that could lead to brighter LCD screens, more efficient solar panels and improved biomedical imaging and high-tech security sensors is among work by University of Melbourne doctoral candidates awarded a 2008 Chancellor’s Prize for Excellence in the PhD.

Dr Daniel Gomez, who completed his PhD thesis in the School of Chemistry, has shed new light on the properties of semiconductor nano-crystals, particles only a billionth of a metre long.

He is now expanding on his work as a Research Fellow at CSIRO where he is part of a team working to develop new sensor applications.

Dr Gomez is working on the fundamental science aspect of the project – determining how to tailor the optical response of semiconductor nano-crystals to use them as highly sensitive components in a variety of sensing applications.

With this sensing technology, it would be possible to detect very small amounts of particles – such as biological agents or explosives – in the air or a liquid. 

Outcomes could include more sensitive pathology such as detecting minute amounts of drugs or hormonal changes in urine tests.

Dr Gomez’s doctoral research examined the optical properties of nano-crystals of cadmium selenide, an element commonly used by the semiconductor industry.

“When pieces of matter become smaller they change color,” he says. “If you look at them individually against a dark background they blink like stars against the night sky.

“Typically this blinking is random, just like the night sky with the stars twinkling in green, red and blue.”

Dr Gomez’s thesis aimed to pinpoint the factors that contributed to this blinking and determine which chemicals could be added to switch off the blinking.

It was hoped that by modifying the surface of the nano-particles they could eventually be stabilised to emit a single, brighter source of light.

Although Dr Gomez has yet to completely achieve his goal, his research was the first in the world to show that the blinking of nano-crystals could be controlled.

During his PhD candidature he published nine articles in premier scientific journals and an international examiner described his work “as one of the best studies I have ever seen”.

Dr Gomez, an international student from Venezuela, set his sights on studying at Melbourne because of the international reputation of his supervisor, Professor Paul Mulvaney.

He was supported during his studies by a Melbourne International Research Scholarship and a Melbourne International Fee Remission Scholarship.

His Chancellor’s Prize for Science and Engineering was presented at the University’s Menzies Oration earlier this month.

Congratulations Camilo!

Proving that determination and perseverance in the face of adversary is the path to true self knowledge.

Omedeto Gozaimasu!

A few words from Dom

You guys are 2 good, I got home 2day and there on my front steps is a magnificant, huge bunch of colourful flowers.
my first thought was that it must b valantines day, and i've intercepted flowers sent to my wife from a secret admirer.

this colourful collection of flora is so big that i had to send trackers into them to retrieve the card!

u dont know how it made me feel to read your kind thought and again i was left speachless by your gift. (and its not often im lost for words!).

thank you(Arigato)to u all,thank u ,Keyla & Daniel,Andrew, Matty(the punisher),Madelaine,Brian,Wilson,Kelly and Soph.

last but not least thank you sensei,u have tought me to trust ,not only others but myself, Osu Peter.

God willing i may return, but what ever happens, whichever way the cards fall,i have had the good fortune to have known u all. god bless you

Dom


(members - Doms contact details are available by emailing the dojo)