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Press, 25 May 1979, Page 20

As a means of self defence, the martial art of aikido is ideal for those skilled in the craft. Alistair Paterson, a schoolteacher at Riccarton High School, is one such person who has no fears of being attacked by assailants. Mr Paterson is shown using a body throw to send a former pupil of Riccarton High School, David Hood, cartwheeling to the floor.

Mr Paterson, who received his grading and training in the art in Australia, and a handful of “disciples” have been training for about four years. Mr Paterson would like more people to be aware of and educated in the art. Aikido involves no competition or fighting. “It is a passive art with no kicks

and no formal attacking techniques. It tends to relate to the lessaggressive person and is largely used to enable a person to escape rather than engage if attacked,” said Mr Paterson. Movement is the key word. “It involves using a person’s movement and creating movement. The actions are done at speed and the purpose is to

throw and immobilise an opponent.” Aikido is practised throughout the world, but it is still relatively unknown according to Mr Paterson, possibly because it is a “’quiet, gentle art.” The art evolved through a Japanese man, the late Uyeshiba, who was still practising aikido at the age of 85.