Aikido for 09/30/2009

Mike and I started practice with the standard warm-up including ukemi practice. We then worked on the following techniques:

tsuki kotegaeshi omote and ura

tsuki kaitennage two variations

tsuki kokyunage

At the end class I demostrated katatedori yonkyo and rokyu to Mike. The next Aikido class is on Sunday at 2:00 at the Gunnison Community Recreation Center.

Aikido for 09/28/2009

To start Aikido class, Heather and I began warming up including forward and backward ukemi before we started on the first technique of shomenuchi nikyo omote. Mike arrived and after warming up, he joined us for the following techniques:

shomenuchi nikyo omote

shomenuchi nikyo ura

katatedori nikyo omote

seated kokyu-ho exercise

Aikido for 09/27/2009

On 4:00 pm on Sunday afternoon at the Gunnison Community Recreation Center: Mike, Heather, and I started Aikido practice with an extended warm-up. I introduced two step-back exercises I learned at Central Illinois Aikikai from Kris Oneshi. In both exercises, you step back out of the way from a forward attack. The foot-work is basic to Aikira Tohei Sensei opening for the basic techniques on 5th kyu test. We also practiced the irimi-tenkan step and arm swing exercise. Since we had the entire mat to ourselves, we practiced forward and backward rolls along with a shikkyo lap. After tenkan and irimi exercises, we worked on the following techniques:

katatetori iriminage. For this irimi variation, the footwork is stepping back and swinging the free-hand up to break the grip of uke, the same footwork we practiced as an exercise earlier in the class.

Yokomenuchi shihonage omote. For this variation, nage steps and blends with the yokomen strike. This technique depends on proper timing in order to blend smoothly with the attack. The foot-work is the same as the irimi-tenkan exercise we worked on in the beginning of class.

Yokomenuchi kokyunage. For this kokyunage, nage initially blends with the same opening as the previous shihonage but instead of the shihonage, cuts down with the forward hand, and moves up into uke's armpit with other hand and throws uke for a forward ukemi.

When I was in Grand Junction, I purchased two cheap bokkens for use in the second half of class. We started off with a demonstration of the basic shomen cut which we then practiced with 30 cuts. We then practiced the following with the bokken:

happo undo (8-way) exercise

Most of Kumtachi number 3

We finished off with seated kokyu-ho exercise after about 1 1/2 hour class. This longer format allows more time to actually practice compared to the 1 classes at Escalante Fitness Center. Good Stuff.

Brothers Birthday Party

Friday afternoon I drove to Grand Junction for my brothers's birthday party. Jarrett turned 22 on Monday and Jesse turned 28 on Friday and since they are roommates, they decided to throw a party. My brothers Jake and Judd also came to celebrate although Judd had to leave early to work on Saturday. He brought his girlfriend Devon along as well. Jake and Jesse ended up pretty drunk, I was still feeling the after effects from the previous night so I didn't drink that much in comparison. Jarrett didn't drink to level as Jesse and Jake. I had a great time and have many good memories from the weekend.

I then spent Saturday night with Dad and then drove back to Gunnison on Sunday.

Aikido for 09/23/2009

For Wednesday night practice, Mike, Heather, and I started with basic wrist exercises, ukemi practice, and other warm-up exercises. We then practiced the following techniques:

Ryokatatori tenchinage omote and ura

Ryokatatori kokyunage omote and ura (alternatively called standing kokyu-ho)

We finished class with sitting kokyu-ho and I introduced the back stretch. A reminder that Sunday's class will be at 4:00 pm at the Gunnison Community Recreation Center.

Aikido for 09/21/2009

Tonight's class started with the four of us (Mike, Tim, and Heather) warming-up with wrist, arms, torso, and leg stretches. We then practiced forward and backward ukemi. I then demonstrated a kokyu-ho exercise throw before splitting off into pairs to practice tenkan and irimi. We then practiced the following techniques:

katatedori sankyo omote from the Hombu-dojo style ikkyo opening

ushiro tekubitori iriminage. (When I was demonstrating this technique, a sankyo just happened so naturally that I surprised and laughed. It is these small moments that I love)

We finished with seated kokyu-ho exercises. This Sunday we will have class at 4:00 p.m. at the Gunnison Community Recreation Center.

Aikido for 09/20/2009

Today at practice, Mike and I started off with a standard warm-up. I then tried some tenkan exercises from Aikido Exercises for Teaching and Training (175-176) and then practiced forward and backward ukemi and irimi. The mat was crowded today with small children so we didn't practice break falls. We then worked on the following techniques:

morotetori ikkyo omote and ura

surwaza morotetori ikkyo omote and ura

morotetori ikkyo omote and ura with bokken

morotetori shiho nage omote and ura

The last part of class, I introduced shomen, yokomen, and tsuki strikes with the bokken before ending class.

(The photo is from my fishing trip yesterday at Blue Mesa Reservoir. I caught and released a number of small (3-5 inch) trout all along the bank. I also saw one of the largest salmon of my life, a definite fish story)

Aikido 2019

This weekend I read an article by Jamais Cascio on futurist thinking. I decided to answer the broad question, "What will my life be like in 2019?", I broke it down to a sub-question, "What will my Aikido practice be like in 2019?"
In the Scanning the World section, the Aikido world of 2019 will a lot fewer of O'Sensei's original students alive. The third generation of sensei will be involved in more social media, and the presence of much more high-quality, high-def instructional video and audio are available through various video sharing sites. Some dojos will be equiped with complete audio and video capturing technology that allows entire classes to be modeled from every student's perspectives, off-mat analysis and instruction will increase the involvement of Aikido students.
In the Mapping the Possibilities section:

The future is what I expect I am teaching Aikido, attending seminars, and preparing to test for Sandan.

The future is better than I expect I am ranked Sandan in Aikido, teaching at a new dojo in Gunnison county, and attending seminars all over the world. Recently returned from a second Aikido trip to Japan.

The future is worse than I expect I am no longer practicing Aikido, cannot afford dues and have never tested for any higher rank.

The future is weirder than I expect I practice a different form of martial art, not directly related to Aikido.

In the Asking the Next Question, I broke down the analysis of four different scenarios by asking what assumpstions I made for each scenario in the context of my personal choices. In the likely scenario, I continue with my current patterns and trends of my Aikido practice. In the better than expected future, my personal circumstances allow me to travel more and experience Aikido on the world stage. In the worse than expected future, I have given up on practice due to financial and physical reasons. Finally, for the weirder than expected future, I am no longer practicing Aikido but some other martial art, right now I can't conceive of elimating Aikido totally from my life but circumstances change.
In Thinking it Through section, for all four of these futures, my choices matter. For the better and weird futures, external entities have a far greater influence and impact on my circumstances and happiness than I can directly influence. The likely and worse futures most likely causes occur from choices I am making now and will make in the near future.
Aikido practice and life is more important to me now than any time in the past. My growth and depth in this martial art continues although I am only actively practicing in two of the four scenarios for 2019. In ten years, I will have practiced Aikido for 22 years if I keep with my current practice or increase the frequency of my Aikido practice. The challenges in the next few years will be to find time and opportunity to practice given my efforts on other fronts in my life. Aikido provides me so much and I see my roles in Aikido shifting in the next ten years to become more of a leader and teacher while keeping my own ego and perception of ability in check in order to learn and deepen my own budo.

Aikido for 09/16/2009

Last night a new student, Heather, attended class for the first time along with Tim and Mike. After introducing the basic wrist, legs, and body warm-up, we worked on sitting, kneeling, and standing forward ukemi. We then worked on kneeling back ukemi before moving onto tenkan and irimi exercises. We then practiced the following technqiues:

katatedori iriminage

katatedori ikkyo omote (actually we just practiced the opening to ikkyo up until the throw or pin on the mat. The opening to ikkyo we practiced last night is what I call Hombu style, the style the current Doshu demostrates in his book, Best Aikido)

As Western's football game is at 1:30 on Saturday, we changed the class time to Sunday at 2:00 pm instead of the usual Saturday's time. This Sunday class is open to anyone, the only cost is admission price to the Gunnison Fitness Center. I am planning to get a season's pass next month.

Aikido for 09/14/2009

Tonight Tim, Mike, and I started with a warm-up and then ukemi practice. We then worked on the following techniques:

tsuki kotegaeshi ura

ushiro tekubitori kotegaeshi two variations

kokyu-ho exercise

At the end of class we did the blind randori practice with two people. I think the next time we do this, all of us need to know more of the basic techniques. This is more of an advanced technique and the Aikido fundamentals need to be stronger, otherwise nage tries to muscle the technique or nage doesn't even do any techniques and gets frustrated while getting stuck.

Aikido for 09/13/2009

Yesterday Mike called me and asked if we could practice today. We agreed to meet at 1:30 (although I had to leave before the end of the Bronco's game, the Broncos still won). After warming up and with all of the room at the Gunnison Recreation Center, we spent more time with forward and backward ukemi. I then introduced break-falls, first starting with breakfall exercise from the ground, then moved to a full mat, to finally having Mike throw me a couple of times on the regular mat and I threw him a couple of times on the heavier mats in the gym room.

We then practiced shomenuchi ikkyo omote and ura, we then did a series of tanto-tori, first a tanto-tori tsuki kotegashi. We then practice a tanto-tori kokyunage, and finally ended up practicing a katatetori hijnage before the final kokyu-ho exercise.

Aikido for 09/09/2009

Aikido class on Wednesday night ended up being just Mike and I. He arrived late, so before I reviewed both Edger's jo exercises and the basic movement we focused on in last Sunday's weapons class at Boulder Aikikai.

After a quick warm-up, we practiced the following techniques:

yokomenuchi shihonage omote and ura

katatedori shihonage omote and ura

kosadori shihonage omote and ura. I also worked with the different openings, what I feel is my basic technique I learned at Central Illinois Aikikai and the variation Edger showed for the 6th kyu test.

shomenuchi iriminage two variations

At the end of class, I used Jim's randori variation of eyes closed, modified for just Mike and I. Mike went first and while he got stuck a couple of times, it seemed to be a good learning experience for him. When it was my turn, I just did shihonage so that I could work on anticipating uke's direction of attack following Jim's advice on Sunday. Good class and I'll be teaching an Aikido class this Saturday at the Gunnison Community Center at 2:00 pm. The class is free and open to anyone but you'll have to pay admission to the faculty. I'm planning on swimming at the new pool for the first time.

Movie interlude...

Saturday night after a dinner of Chinese take-out, I watched Gran Torino and I Love You, Man with Jill, Lance, and the girls. Clint Eastwood was a joy to watch and the ending was emotionally intense and an appropriate anti-violence statement.

Paul Rudd and Jason Segel were funny intelligent in I Love You, Man while Rashida Jones is fast becoming my new movie crush.

Aikido for 09/06/2009

Sunday morning I visited with Jill, Lance, and the girls before leaving for the 10:30 weapons class at Boulder Aikikai.

The first class was taught by a woman sensei, I have seen her at seminars but I still do not know her name. Her weapons class focused on the basic jo movements and exercises and I quickly realized that I need to work on my basic jo handling skills. I learned how to quickly gauge the correct hand positions on jo tsuki attack (your forward hand should not be further than the length of your forearm) Sometimes, especially with weapon work, I feel clumsy and definitely uncoordinated, all prompting me to spend more time on the mat working on my jo and bokken skills.

The second class was regular Aikido class and the instructor (a different sensei from the first class, and I don't know his name either although I have seen him at seminars) worked on katetdori and kosadori variations of hijinage, kokyunage, iriminage, and shionage. We worked on a particular interesting katatedori variation where uke grabs nage's back hand instead of the forward hand. This changes slightly the opening but the techniques are still present. This class was higher energy and I was able to practice with most of the students attending the second class.

The final class was Jim's randori class I had taken before. While there was only six students this time, we started off with 3 minute randori. I didn't feel like I was going to vomit this time, but by the end of the 3 minutes where I wasn't using my arms to tenkan or irimi, I was huffing and out of breath. Jim said that I need to relax and breath more naturally when doing randori, basic advice for almost any Aikido technique and yet is the first thing to go when under stress and something I always need to work on. We then broke out into two groups of three and continued with a two minute randori practice with nage's eyes closed and the ukes attacks were all grabs. While the two minutes went by quickly and I felt the variety and quality of my responses to the uke's attacks were solid, Jim told that I was too in "my head" and that I wasn't trusting my instincts when practicing. I would start to towards uke and then stop and wait for the attack. Jim said something very interesting in that I wasn't moving towards uke's ki. The final randori was again 2 minutes at a slower 3/4 speed pace of uke's attack and nage could respond with throws. I found this randori the easist, not because of the reduced time or number of ukes, but I took Jim's fundamental randori advice to throw uke into the center of the mat and into the other ukes. I was able to just do ikkyo and keep throwing uke back into the other attacker. I learned more about internal ki awareness and was reminded about basic randori techniques from Jim's class and I highly recommend this type of practice for improving the intensity and honesty of one's Aikido.

Aikido for 09/05/2009

Saturday morning started great, my niece Alexis made sure I had a bowl of cereal and I went out and got coffee for Jill and I.

The first beginner/basic beginner's started at 10:30 and was taught by Edgar Johansson Sensei of Denver Aikikai. Denver Aikikai is rank testing at the end of the month. After warming-up, ukemi practice, we practiced the following exercises and techniques from the 6th and 5th kyu tests:

tenkan exercise

shomenuchi ikkyo omote and ura

shomenuchi iriminage

yokomenuchi kotegaeshi omote and ura

katate dori shihonage. My partner was a taller, stronger, and older male beginner and the style of shihonage opening Edger demonstrated, nage slides the front foot forward, turn in nage's hip and then slide in front for omote and ura. My uke was providing a lot of resistance and throwing strong atemi especially with the ura variation. (For my 5th kyu test, Akira Tohei Sensei had nage step back to a safe position, decreasing the chance for uke to connect with any atemi counter-attacks) I was more aggressive than I needed in my response as nage, letting my ego increase my power to the point that Edger had to remind me to that I was working with a beginner. I felt suitably chastised and told my uki that when practicing, nage's response naturally increases with the uke's power of attack, just continuing the old violence escalation cycle.

yokomenuchi shihonage omote and ura, for this technique I worked with a real beginner and I had Edger show her the yokemnuchi strike. He said that uke should attack the neck with the blade of hand like there is a bug on nage neck. I really worked on having a soft but complete and connected movement through-out the yokemnuchi oval movement and the shihonage throw.

The final exercise was kokyu tanden ho. Edger clearly demostrated a different style of kokyu ho where nage visualizes an orange between his/her shoulder blades and sweezes the orange while bring the hands up with uke. I have never done kokyu ho this way and I didn't quite do it correctly.

Just learning the new style of kokyu ho made Edger's first beginner class memorable for me. This is one reason to seek out good Aikido instruction and practice because you increase your exposure to new ideas and concepts and grow as a martial artist.

Edger taught the second weapons class. We started off using the bokken. Edger went through the basic attacks with the bokken including many exercises that I was unfamilar with. The exercise I was most familiar and enjoyed were the happo undo (8-way) exercises with shomen and tsuki attacks. We then did an exercise where nage exaggerates drawing the sword to protect the head and upper body with the side of the bokken blade. Uke then did a full-strength shomen cut, glancing off the blade and off the body. The senior student I was working with really helped me and other beginner get the angle right although I wavered at one strike and got a glancing shomen strike on my cheek. The full attack requires calm in the face of damanging blow from the bokken. Good training. We then worked on #3 Kumitachi to finish with the bokken exercises.

Edger then moved on to the jo. We went through 20 of the Iwama-style Jo Suburi. Many of these I just had to watch and try mimic Edger as he explained them. This was my first remembered exposure to Iwama-style weapons work and there is a lot to learn. We then worked onKumijo number 5 where nage swings the end of jo around in sweeping arc towards uke's temple. Edger kept emphasizing that the you need to focus on the target of the strike, in the case of these exercises, that was usually the forehead or temple of uke.

Afterwards, I went with my friend Steve to a Japanese Ramen restaurant called Oshima Ramen in Denver. The noodle soup was delicious and the beer helped after getting lost on the way to the restaurant. Steve's iPhone saved the day although the mapping algorithm used had us on a clear detour that we ignored to get the restaurant.

Aikido for 09/04/2009

My original plan was to leave Gunnison at noon and make it to Boulder Aikikai in plenty of time to make both Aikido classes. Joey needed a ride and got out of class a little before two so I arrived in Boulder too late for the first Aikido class.

When I arrived for the second class at 7:00, Tres Hofmeister Sensei was teaching. We worked on katatedori kokyunages, hijinages, shinonages, and for the last kokyu-ho exercise, Sensei called me up to be uke! His classes have a fun, playful vibe and his Aikido is so smooth that working directly with him is a treat.

After class, I drove to my sister's and brother-in-law's house in Broomfield and visited with them and then went to bed. Because I had missed the first 6:00 o'clock class, I wanted to make both the beginner's and weapon's class at Denver Aikikai on Saturday.

Aikido for 09/02/2009

Tonight was a full class. Ryan, Joey, Mike, and a new student Luis.

After warming-up with wrists, shoulders, legs, and torso, we worked on forward and backward ukemi, building up from seated position, to a full standing forward roll. We only worked up to the back roll from a kneeling position. After tenkan and irimi exercises, we worked on one technique, shomenuchi iriminage. I broke down the technique into three parts up until the throw. We then worked in a line to do the full technique with the throw. At the end of class we worked on kokyu-ho exercise and ended class.