It is all in the mind for Wasyl

Wasyl KOLESNIKOV: “I have been taught to have an open mind and not take life for granted”

AN Oldham man has published a third book based on his mind and body development teachings.

Wasyl Kolesnikov, a seventh dan in aikido, has written Point of Consciousness, Extension of Creation, to build on the success of Return to the Source and Transformation.

He is national and international sensei (teacher), specialising in mind and body co-ordination, aikido and tai chi.

For 40 years Mr Kolesnikov, from Salem, has made his living practising his arts, creating his own style which focuses on energy and calmness, rather than physical strength.

The headquarters of his movement — www.universalaikido.com — is at Booth House, Featherstall Road, Werneth, and he also has nine other branches in the UK and clubs in Ukraine and Canada.

Aikido is a Japanese martial art in which practitioners defend themselves while also protecting their attacker from injury.

He said: “Aikido is performed by blending with the motion of the attacker and redirecting the force of the attack rather than opposing it head-on, and completing with a joint lock, immobilisation, or a throw.”

His books build on his dynamic relaxation methods and are illustrated with assistance from co-author Guy Gardner.

The aim of all the exercises is to cultivate calmness and relaxation, and cope with the mental and physical stresses of daily life.

Mr Kolesnikov started to learn Aikido as a hobby while studying to be a psychiatric nurse in 1970. Two years later he gave up nursing, three months before his finals, to study Aikido as a full-time student in South Wales.

Three years later his teacher sent him to Plymouth to develop the Devon area, which he did successfully with a number of clubs opening.

He added: “The essence of this art is based on calmness, relaxation, power of mind, harmony and non-aggression.

“Ever since I began this art it has given me a lot of enjoyment. It has taught me more understanding of life in general. It has given me determination to succeed in life in whatever I do — and not be put off by obstacles which come only too frequently.

“I have been taught to have an open mind and not take life for granted. The mind has no limits, only the limits you set yourself.”

Wasyl’s ambition is to establish a Mind and Body Development Centre which will allow people to teach and learn different arts which will promote development in life and health.

He concludes: “Good and bad situations are happening to us every day. The important thing is how we react to these situations. By getting to know and understand ourselves better, we can control our reactions to the environment and not let our environment control us.”