Mal is a genuine, gentle and exceptional leader who does not put himself on a pedestal.
Being originally from Japan, I knew some philosophy about Aikido but Mal has taken this to another level and shows us “Ki” in action.
It is something I have never experienced or seen before and it still amazes me even after a few years of training with him.
His students are also very helpful and encouraging, for that reason I felt safe to practise while I was pregnant. I am not a competitive or super fit person, I’ve never done any form of martial arts in the past, I am small and in my forties.
If Aikido is all about physical strength, I would have lost interest very quickly or could get intimidated by other students.
Instead Mal teaches holistically and I am learning a philosophy through Aikido to apply in everyday of my life including parenting.
The documentary “The Secret” comes to my mind often when Mal is showing technique to us. His way of using your mind in cultivating “Ki” is very real and honest (and light hearted too, I laugh a lot in class) I feel very lucky to be one of his students.