End of year wrap-up...

I looked over my 2010 New Year Resolutions and I while I rate myself "successful" for two of them (Aikido practice and increased social life), I failed in regards to improved diet, Japanese language, and painting resolutions. Granted, I wrote these resolutions before all of the changes that occurred in my career and life (accepting a new job and then moving to Colorado Springs) that are not reflected in these resolutions. Two out of five is not great but I have decided to change how are I try to accomplish much of these same goals for 2011 but with a different approach and perspective.

Aikido for 12/23/2010

Tonight Tip taught class and after warming up we worked on the following:

• katatetori kokyunage
• shomenuchi sankyo
• shomenuchi kokyunage two variations
• shomenuchi hijinage
• jo-waza kokyunage
• jo-tori kokyunage
• jo-tori shihonage

Aikido for 10/22/2010

Last night I covered Ken's Aikido fundamental class. Only one new student, Keith, showed up for class. He had practiced Aikido before with a 2nd kyu rank so instead of strictly beginner's class, we worked on the following:

• katatetori iriminage
• katatetori kotegashi (tenshin and irimi variations)
• katatetori ikkyo omote and ura
• Kumitachi number 2
• Kumitachi number 1

Tonight's Aikido class with Tip will likely be my last Aikido class of the year. 2010 has been a good year of Aikido but while I thought I would be testing for my shodon, that looks like it will hopefully be a 2011 event. Long ago I resigned myself to the situation in my Aikido practice that my own ranking is on a different time scale than most people. It takes me about three-four years for every year that most people progress in their Aikido rank. With that realization, my own growth in Aikido is not not necessarily stalled but the social and cultural legacy of the "black-belt" makes it feel that I the slow kid on the mat, that I am not good enough or some other reason why I can't seem to even get the chance to test. I realize that most of the reasons why I haven't tested yet are external to my Aikido, it is just getting old and I do have some frustration that it has taken me so long to test.

Aikido for 10/21/2010

Last night I was the guest instructor for Ken's class. Only two students showed up although we had two other visitors observe practice. After warming-up, we practiced the following techniques:

• shomenuchi nikkyo omote and ura
• shomenuchi shihonage omote and ura. For the shihonage, I realized too late that we really don't practice this from a static start. I modified it so nage absorbs the attack and redirects from the hips, a much more advanced technique than I realized

Aikido for 12/14/2010

For tonight's class Ken had a visiting instructor, Bill, from Boulder Aikikai teach. After warming up we worked on the following techniques:

• katatetori kokyunage
• katatetori ikkyo omote and ura
• shomenuchi ikkyo omote

It was a good class and I enjoyed myself.

Aikido for 12/11/2010

For Saturday morning's class, Garry had us practice kumitachi 1-5. It helped to go over all of them and practice some more. I feel more comfortable but I still need practice.

Friday night I went over to Cossitt Gym and waited fifteen minutes but nobody showed up for class. I did receive an e-mail the next day from one of the student's who couldn't attend. This week I'll be in Denver Thursday and Friday for training so I doubt I'll be able to make it back to Colorado Springs in time for class. I'll try to reschedule Saturday night.

Aikido for 12/07/2010

Tonight Ken started class with a warm-up and we worked on the first couple of the 13 tai chi movements. It is enjoyable and a good warm-up for the rest of class. Tonight we worked on breaking uke's balance, a kazitza(and my Japanese and memory are at fault here). We started from katatetori kokyunage and then worked in a dynamic attack that Ken had the five of us practice in a line. We worked on a number of different variations before ending with a munetsuki with a quick JKD-like entry to an iriminage. Good stuff.

Aikido for 12/03/2010

Friday night it was just Cory and myself so I introduced kumtachi number one and number two. Cory showed me and we also practice a 13-bokken kata that I enjoyed learning as well.

Aikido for 12/02/2010

Thursday night Tip taught class. We worked on a number of kokyunages and at the end of class we worked on kumitachi number one.

Aikido for 11/30/2010

Ken started class with the usual warm-up and after tenkan exercises, we spent about ten minutes on the opening movements of the Tai Chi style Ken has been studying for the past few months. We then practiced the following techniques:

1. katatetori kokyu nage nage spirals grabbed hand into uke for the throw
2. kosatori kokyu nage omote
3. kosatori kokyu nage omote dynamic variation

Ken finished class with all of us working on the opening movements of kumetachi number one but we ran out of time before we could finish the entire kumetachi. After class, I attended the dojo board meeting with Ken, Garry, Tip, Nate, and Kate at Old Chicago. I am now officially responsible for the dojo's library; I am creating a customized online library catalog using the open-source library tool-kit I am the main developer of, eCataloger. I should have an alpha version running on Google App Engine by next Tuesday's class.

Aikido for 11/27/2010

Gerry taught class today and he started class with the following techniques:

• katatetori kokyu nage omote
• katatetori kokyu nage ura second variation
• katatetori kaiten nage omote nage tenkans first before swinging under uke's arm
• katatetori kaiten nage ura nage tenkans first before swinging under uke's arm and turn a second tenkan with a spiral behind uke.

Aikido for 11/23/2010

Tuesday night Ken taught the Open Aikido class. After warming up, we worked on the following techniques:

• kosadori ikkyo-style kokunage
• kosadori irimi-style kokunage (nage steps off the side and brings the grabbed arm around and throws uke in the original direction of the attack)
• kosadora irimi-style kokunage (similar as the last technique but nage just throws uke by bring the wrist to nage's hara, I was working with Tony and although I could throw him with the correct kokunage, I was using too much effort and muscle)
• moreitori step-back tenkan kokunage
• moretitori kokunage

I enjoy working on kokunages, kokunages are techniques that we usually introduce fairly early in Aikido training.

Kokunages reflect so many of the basic tenets of Aikido, finding ways to blend and unbalance uke, getting uke out of the way and providing space for nage. Kokunages can be easy or extremely challenging depending on the attack, uke, and the circumstance. These can even vary from the same practice session when practicing a single technique with uke. Kokunages offer a rich vein of experimentation and force the realization that not all techniques will work on everyone all of the time. You need to be flexible and mobile, dynamically changing depending on the moment. Kokunages offer this range of options and opportunities that may not be present when doing a pin or other immobilization techniques or even iriminage, kotegashi, or shihonage. If you are threatened off the mat, do a kokunage and get out of the situation. Even a throw that doesn't completely work will often radically change the dynamics of the situation and offer more opportunities for survival.

Aikido for 11/19/2010

Friday night I taught my second class at Colorado College. While Cory was the only student from last week, two new students; Tobias and Sarah came so we still had three students. Tobias has practiced Aikido before at a California ASU dojo and his techniques showed he has practiced in the past. After warmups, I introduced two different types of attacks; munetsuki and shomenuchi because I decided to focus on two 6th kyu technique later in the class. After forwards and backwards ukemi practice, we worked on shomenuchi ikkyo omote and ura and munetsuki kotegashei. We won't have class next week due to the Thanksgiving Holiday and because CC is on block break. The next class will be December 3rd at 7:30pm.

We discussed ways to promote the class and next year, I will be putting up flyers around campus and Cory suggested doing an Aikido demo as well.

Aikido for 11/18/2010

Tip taught the Thursday evening class for the first time since he got back from his trip to Europe. After warming up, we practiced the following techniques:

• shomenuchi kokyunage
• yokomenuchi shihonage
• hamni-handache yokomenuchi shihonage omote
• yokomenuchi iriminage

It was good to be back on the mat with Tip, I was full-time uke and even though the class was energetic, I didn't feel as drained during the class as I have in the past being fulltime uke, maybe I'm getting into better Aikido shape!

Aikido for 11/16/2010

Ken taught the Open Aikido class. After warmups, we worked on katatetori kokyunages and other throws with Ken's focus on moving from nage's center and maintain extension throughout the techniques.

A good class and I enjoyed the practice.

Aikido for 11/13/2010

Saturday morning I dealt with a migraine for most of the morning so I didn't make Garry's 10:30 Open Aikido class. I made an effort to make the noon Aikido Fundamentals class. For the noon class, it was just Doug and I beside Garry so we worked on the following:

• Shomen "randori" style with uke attacking 8 times before switching
• Randori style tsuki
• We then reviewed and practiced kumitachi 1-5 with stops viewing Saotome Sensei's sword/bokken DVD.

It was a good class, and although I still need work on my kumitachis, I brought home a copy of the DVD to learn about the "official" ASU requirements for Shodon.

Aikido for 11/12/2010

Tonight was my first class teaching Aikido at Colorado College. I arrived early and discovered that the the gym where I was planning on holding class was locked. I tried to find a phone number to call but when two students came, they suggested I call security and so I did and they let me. A third student joined us when I was changing into my gi and hakama. Two of students were at the dojo demo I coordinated for the Japanese language block and the third, Corey, practiced Aikido at a dojo in Southern California.

After an apprivated warm-up, we practiced tenkan and irimi exercises followed by front and backwards ukemi practice. We then worked on the following techniques:

• katatetori sumotosi omote
• katatetori kokyunage tenkan variation
• katatetori kokyunage (ASU omote iriminage, Doshu's standing kokyu-ho)
• katatetori kokyunage omote

We finished class with sitting kokyu-ho exercises. I reserved the gym for next Friday and I asked the student to e-mail me so I can let them know if another class time opens up during the week.

Aikido for 11/09/2010

Tonight after warmups, Ken taught the basic katatetori kokyunage with a tenkan, two different ryo-katatetori kokyunages, and ryo-katatetori tenshinage omote.

On Friday evening, I am attempting my first Colorado College Aikido class at Cossitt Gym. Tomorrow I have a split shift at work so during the afternoon I'll be transferring the blue portable mats from the dojo to the storage area in Cossitt in preparation for Friday. I don't know how many people will be attending, I submitted the class to an events listserv at the college but I'll have to wait and see what the turn-out will be.

Aikido for 11/06/2010

Garry taught class and he continued his theme from the previous week on not just focusing on specific techniques but learning how to move and respond to an attack, in this case, he focused on yokomenuchi. We practiced a number of exercises, irimi and tenkan movements, sliding under uke's attack, and then moved to more paired exercises with nage not doing a specific technique but responding appropriately to the type and intensity and movement of uke's attack.

Aikido for 11/04/2010

Earlier today Tip e-mailed asking someone to cover tonight's Open Aikido class. I e-mailed back and said I could cover and so I taught tonight. After warming up (I included rowing exercise to the usual stretches, tenkan, and irimi exercises. We then practiced the following techniques:

• morote-dori kokyunage tenkan variation
• morte-dori kokyunage
• hanmi-hantachi morte-dori kokyunage tenkan variation
• morte-dori ikkyo, sliding the back-foot back and off the line while bringing the inside hand up along the center-line, following the shomen bokken cut
• morte-dori iriminage
• morte-dori iriminage (CIA called it a kokyunage, Doshu's book calls it a standing kokyu-ho)
• hanmi-hantachi morte-dori iriminage (the same technique we just did standing up)

We finished class with sitting kokyu-ho exercises. One of the themes of the night was how the basic bokken shomen cut is used many different ways and applications in these techniques and that by focusing on oneself and just thinking about bringing the hand up in a strike, it shifts the balance from uke to nage even if uke is very strong. One of the things I have noticed when I have been teaching Aikido, I'll usually come into class with an idea or two; tonight's was morote-dori (uke's two hands grabbing nage's nearest arm) and I wanted to include a couple of hanmi-hantachi techniques as well. The bokken shomen cut theme started during tenkan warm-ups when I mentioned that I like to do the arm-swing style visualizing I am using a bokken and doing a shomen cut. It really drew the class together and made me think about my own style and I how I teach and express my Aikido.

Aikido for 10/30/2010

Garry taught the 10:30 class and he started us off on moving out of the line of attack by moving into uke's omote and ura sides and nage can vary his movement by doing either tenkan or irimi. We progressively worked on just moving out of the way of the shomen attack, by learning to just disrupt uke' balance but not doing a technique. Eventually Garry had us add an additional uke attacking nage, still using a shomen attack but he emphasised how doing a committed attack requires uke to reset and not just flail around trying to hit nage as quickly but ineffectively. For a few times, Garry had us practice different bokken and tanto takeways, ending the class with a series of more randori practice where nage could do any technique from the shomen attack. This was an enjoyable class and a good practice day.

Aikido for 10/28/2010

Thursday night's class was the last class I am covering for Tip. He will be back from vacation next week. With only Doug and Tony showing up (although there was a visitor and his two children who sat and watched most of the class), we practiced in a line and worked on the following techniques:

• Yokomenuchi kokyunage with a deep entry and side-kick to uke's knee)
• munetsuki kotegashei to kaitenage kaeshiwaza
• munetsuki iriminage to ikkyo kaeshiwaza
• munetsuki ikkyo to ikkyo kaeshiwaza
• munetsuki iriminage to shihonage kaeshiwaza
• yokomenuchi hijinage

All of the techniques were from the Saotome Sensei's Halloween seminar that I wanted to reinforce through teaching and practicing.

Aikido for 10/26/2010

Last night for Ken's class, we worked on a number of techniques from this weekend's Halloween Seminar with Saotome Sensei in Boulder. Including the following: mune tsuki kokyunage with a foot sweep/stop to uke, a tsuki kokyunage where nage atemi's to uke's chest, and a couple of other techniques I struggled to remember with Ken.

Halloween Seminar Day 3 and Family

Sunday morning class started at ten and I arrived ten minutes before class. Ikeda Sensei stopped me and we talked for a minute or so and I was able to change and get on the mat before Saotome Sensei started class. The first half of the class we worked on kaeshiwaza from a wide variety of attacks and counters, I felt more in sync with Saotome because of my own kaeshiwaza class on Thursday night. We practice a large number of different kaeshiwazas, here are the few that stand out:

• munetsuki kotegashei to kaitenage
• munetsuki kotegashei to sankyo
• munetsuki kotegashei kokunage (a number of variations include the one in Ledyard Sensei's video)
• munetsuki iriminage to ikkyo on the hand holding your head
• munetsuki ikkyo to ikkyo
• munetsuki iriminage to shihonage

After a ten minute break, Saotome Sensei came back and we worked on a number of techniques from a yokomenuchi strike including one kokyunage where nage enters deep into uke raises both hand up and brings the outside foot up and a sweep to uke's knee.

The entire morning I felt a richness and deepness in techniques on the mat. I feel my increased practice schedule including teaching at Pikes Peak Aikido, has improved my Aikido and my life. Such enjoyable moments in life are treasures to be savored and remembered and my joy continued when I returned back to my sister's house in Broomfield. I helped her and my two nieces, Alexis and Adelaide, carve two jack-o-lanterns for Halloween. I then watched the first half of one of the worst Broncos game I have ever seen with my brother-in-law Lance, before heading home to Colorado Springs. I had such a great weekend with my family and my Aikido friends.

Halloween Seminar Day 2

For the morning class Saotome Sensei did a wide range of different techniques, Ken sat out and took notes on all of the different techniques we practiced in the morning session and it was 16. A couple of note include a foot-trap/sweep by nage from a tsuki to the face, a number of munetsuki kaitenages, and a number of kokunages with aggressive atemi to uke. Saotome Sensei emphasized Aikido and Budo is about "being" or "to be", we don't compete because we should be concentrating or aware of the moment. Saotome Sensei talked again about being of daily mind when doing a technique, that we do not need to get in exaggerated martial poses or positions, that Aikido techniques work even better when we don't change when encountering an aggressive action.

In the afternoon, we worked on bokken strikes, single, paired, and multiple partners techniques. I was stupid and forgot my weapons back at Pikes Peak so I had to borrow a dojo bokken but that was okay.

I went to the dinner afterwards, the full Chinese menu at the Golden Lotus in Boulder was very good, I was able to learn more about my fellow Aikido students from different parts of country.

Halloween Seminar Day 1

The Friday night class started at 6:00 pm at Boulder Aikikai. Saotome Sensei started class and then we went right into the night's techniques. Saotome Sensei moved from different kokyunages explaining the importance of getting all of the body into a breath-throw or kokyunages by using the body through the hips. I was able to see many of the my friends from Boulder Aikikai as well as other dojos from across the country. The seminar wasn't that crowded during the night class but enough so I was able to practice with a wide variety of people.

I always enjoy Saotome Sensei as he has a way of cutting through some of the bullshit that surrounds Aikido. Aikido is budo, our concentration and our attention needs to be, not to win, but live. Some may approach Aikido as a nice choreographed dance between partners but the focus and attention should be on the immediate and the realization that losing concentration can mean no more being.

Aikido for 10/21/2010

Last night I taught the 6:00pm Open Aikido class. After a fairly typical warm-up (I included the basic step back out-of-way) we practiced the following techniques:

• shomenuchi ikkyo omote and ura
• shomenuchi kotegashi-to-kokyunage kaeshiwaza. This technique was inspired by a YouTube clip George Ledyard Sensei posted on Facebook from his new DVD (here is an interview George recently gave discussing kaeshiwaza and the DVD)
• shomenuchi irminage-to-sankyo kaeshiwaza
• shomenuchi shihonage-to-iriminage kaeshiwaza

A couple of the beginning students needed some help but I thought the class went well and I agree with Ledyard Sensei about the importance of kaeshiwaza in developing a martial attitude and focus in Aikido training.

Aikido for 10/19/2010

For Tuesday class, Ken started off with the warm-ups and then we worked on the following techniques:

• katatetori kokyunage
• katatetori kaitenage omote
• tsuki kokyunage
• tsuki combination kokunage
• tsuki (to the face) direct irimi

During a couple of the techniques, Ken commented that I wasn't going directly into uke, my first response was to be defensive, but upon later reflection, I realized that I wasn't practicing the techniques being showed and I need to again check my own ego in practice.

I am teaching Thursday night's Open Aikido class. I told a beginner we would work on some break-fall exercises and I want to work on shomenuchi ikkyo, iriminage, and shihonage variations as well as incorporating some of my new ideas from last Thursday's JKD class.

Aikido for 10/17/2010

Yesterday I attended Garry's noon Aikido Fundamentals class. I swung by CC and waited ten minutes but no one showed up, so the class didn't have any true beginners. After a warm-up and about twenty minutes of ukemi practice, Garry had us practice the jo block to yokomen strike. After practicing these attacks, we went on and worked on kumijo number one. After practicing the kata for a bit, Garry showed the jo block to jodan stance with the jo. From the jodan stance (the jo is held straight up at the right side of nage's head), the jo swings around and knocks away uke's tsuki strike to the hip and then the jo comes up for high butt strike to uke's sternum for a complete kata of kumijo number 4.

I am feeling more confident about my kumijo 1,3, and 4. Garry has been great at helping me and I now need to start practicing the complete kumijo and bokken kumitachi in preparation for my shodan test. Boulder Aikikai hasn't set a date yet for shodan tests but at the next one, I'll be traveling up to Boulder to test. I am not doing anything special in training right now other than learning and improving my weapon requirements for the ASU test. In my open-hand techniques I need to just keep practicing and learning the ASU emphasis for the basic Aikido techniques.

On Thursday I'll be teaching class and I am already thinking of bringing some of Scott's training and exercises to my own class warm-ups and training.

Aikido for 10/14/2010

Instead of a normal Thursday night Aikido class, Pike Peak Aikikai held a striking work-shop with Scott Welker, a beginner student at the dojo, leading the class. Scott is a very experienced Jeet Kune Do practitioner along with expertise in American Boxing, Filipino boxing and stick fighting, and some styles of Kung fu. He started us off by having us work on the basic boxer stance with the left-foot forward and the right foot aligned behind. The right leg powers the right-hand hook while the left hand is positioned for quick jabs. Scott talked about the three movements when engaged with an opponent; after, during, and before an attack. Many martial techniques occur after the opponent strikes and you respond with a counter or other movement. This is the most basic level. The next level of martial response is to move, counter, or strike simultaneously with the opponent's attack. This is a higher level of awareness and requires you to more "in tune" the rhythms and timing of your opponent. The highest level of martial response is to initiate your actions on your opponent's intention, before you opponent has the time or opportunity to attack. Scott did a good job of tying these concepts with ideas and techniques of Aikido.

We worked on a lot of different striking combinations and responses. Scott followed the practice of JKD of showing and doing many different techniques in the hope that a few will sink in. While I found the sparring with open-hand, knifes, and sticks to be enjoyable to watch, I learned the most from the different footwork, distancing, and stances that I plan to modify and expand into my own Aikido practice.

Aikido for 10/12/2010

Tuesday night Ken taught class. After warm-ups, we worked on a number of kokyunages including a couple of ryo-katatori (both shoulder grabs) where Ken had us focus on blending with the forward movement of uke. At the end of class, we did a rotating randori from the ryo-katatori attack so everyone was able to practice throwing three other ukes for a couple of minutes each.

Aikido for 10/09/2010

Saturday I went to the second, Aikido Fundementals class taught by Garry. After warming up, we spent a good twenty minutes on ukemi practice and then worked on jo shomen and tsuki strikes. We then spent the reminder of the class on kumjo number 3.

Aikido for 10/08/2010

On Friday I had to be in Denver for committee business, I brought my Aikido gi and hakama so I could train on Friday at Denver Aikikai. Bruce Heckathorn taught the 6:00 to 7:30 class. We worked on a shihonage, iriminage, ikkyo, nikkyo, and a number of kokyunages all from different attacks. I enjoy Bruce's classes because his background is more of Iwami style with a slightly different approach and feel from the typical Aikido class.

Aikido for 10/07/2010

An old student of the dojo, Brad, was visiting from California and was the guest instructor for Thursday class. Brad's focus was on keeping posture and I enjoyed the difference he was showing although I get an internal laugh when I get lectured for not being a good enough uke by resisting too much. Funny, I feel technique should work but to be fair, the purpose and approach is different in Brad's style, much more a California Ki Society although he is affiliated with ASU.

Missed practiced

Normally Tuesday night Aikido classes are a regular occurrence in my Aikido training. Last night when I left my apartment to drive to the dojo, the Engine Warning light came on and I didn't want to risk it. Also, yesterday I had a migraine and was just recovering when I left at 5:30 so the light provided the excuse to go home.

Today I work the night reference shift so I will be going into work at 1:30. I don't mind having an evening shift, the library changes with the influx of students. On Friday I am giving a presentation to the Colorado Alliance Digital Repository Steering Committee on my work with the CC's thesis submission into its digital repository. The committee meeting is in Denver so I need to figure out what is wrong with my SUV this morning. I hope to train Friday night at Denver Aikikai before heading home. I have to work on Saturday and I want to train as well.

Finally, I may or may not teach the Open class on Thursday night. There is a visiting former dojo member that may guest instruct and I would be happy to take his class. I'll have to see but regardless, tomorrow afternoon I need to leave directly to the dojo from work.

Aikido for 10/2/2010

On Saturday, I decided to attend the Fundamentals class at noon so I could focus on some weapons training with Garry. After a brief warm-up and ukemi practice, we worked on a few bokken shomen, yokomen, and the yokomen to shomen spiral block into uke. In one exercise Hal and I practiced yokomen strikes back and forth across the mat. I found that I handle the quicker strikes if I felt and blended with the uke's blade by the best I think of, making my blade "sticky" with uke's blade. It was about maintaining connection for longer and controlling the outcome. After these bokken exercises, Garry had us go through kumitachi one through four that will be on my shodan test. This was a good class and I feel more confident about my understanding and growth in knowing these ASU weapon katas. I need to now learn the kumijo katas for my test training.

Aikido for 09/30/2010

I was late getting out of work so class started by the time I dressed out and got onto the mat. Tip started class with the usual warm-ups and then he stated he wanted us to work on our striking as theme for tonight's class. There was only five students and because I was full-time uke, I didn't get an opportunity to train much with the other students.

• Shomenuchi shihonage
• Shomenuchi kokyu-ho style kokyunage
• Shomenuchi kotegashei
• Yokomenuchi shihonage
• Yokomenuchi ikkyo omote and ura
• Yokomenuchi iriminage
• Jo blocks and strikes
• Finally, jo kata number 1

I talked to Tip after class and although I will not be teaching his morning classes, I'll be teaching the Thursday Open Aikido class until he gets back in November.

Aikido for 09/28/2010

Last night Ken taught class. After warming up, we worked on katatetori tenkan kokyunage and katatetori irimi exercise. We practiced a couple of different kotegashshi both omote and ura as well as uchi and soto style kaitenages.

Aikido for 09/25/2010

Saturday morning I attended Garry's 10:30 Open Aikido class. We didn't do a normal warm-up; just ran around the outside of the mat for about five minutes before starting with tenkan and irimi exercises. Garry then had us practice moving to uke's omote and ura sides from shomenuchi using both the irimi and tenkan movements from the front and back of uke. We practiced shomenuchi kotegashsi ura tenkan, shomenuchi kokunage omote, and shomenuchi kotegashi omote. To finish class, we practiced a three-person randori where uke attacks with a shomen strike and uke tries to get out of the way. We switched twice with new groups and the practice was good for everyone. Good class.

Aikido for 09/21/2010

Last night Ken taught class. After warming up, we practiced tenkan kokyunage and then we worked on Ikeda Sensei internal movement tenkan. We then practiced the following techniques: katatetori kokyu-ho omote, kosatori ikkyo, and then a couple of bokken katas that Ikeda Sensei taught at the Prescott Seminar.

Today at 1pm, I'll be assisting Tip and Ken at an Aikido demo for a Colorado College FYE class.

Aikido for 09/18/2010

Yesterday I taught both the Open and Fundamentals Aikido classes. For the first Open class, we practiced the following techniques:

• Tsuki kaiten-nage omote
• Yokomenuchi shihonage omote and ura using Mary Heiny Sensei's shomen cut variation and then the step-in shomenu cut up variation.
• Moretori jujinage

For the Fundamentals class, we worked on the following four techniques after warm-up and ukemi exercises.

• tsuki kotegashi
• tsuki ikkyo omote and ura
• ushiro ryotedori kotegaeshi
• ushiro ryotedori ikkyo omote and ura

Aikido for 09/15/2010

Ken taught Tuesday night's class. After warm-up, we worked on a number of things from the seminar, including Suzuki Sensei's sacerfice ryokatatetori kokyunage and the step-through katatetori kokyunage. At the end of class we worked on the Ikeda Sensei internal movement exercises from katatetori with the ikkyo opening movement. Ken had us pair up and then the goal is move uke by connecting with the center and then moving uke. Ken purchased Ikeda Sensei's 7 DVDs on the internal style of Aikido and will be bringing those insights to class.

Aikido Fall Bridge Seminar - Day 4

The final day of the seminar was only a half-day of training in the morning with each of the three main instructors; Ikeda Sensei, Heiny Sensei, and Suzuki Sensei each teaching about 45 minutes before the camp ended before noon. Each continued with many of the same techniques and approaches from the previous classes and I had the privilege to train at this seminar. I look forward to training with many of these people in the upcoming years and I love that I am continuing to grow and learn about Aikido.

Aikido Fall Bridge Seminar - Day 3

The day started off with the 7am Chi Gong class taught by Sharon from Prescott Aikido.

The first morning class was Chen style Tai Chi chuan taught by guest instructor Sifu Fennemen. Master Fennemen didn't really have us work on the form but more of the internal stances and balance points in Tai Chi. The box stance was very interesting because you had to keep the feet parallel to each other and about a shoulder-width apart. His focus on the stances and how they relate in very similar ways to Aikido in keeping posture. Some differences from Aikido became more apparent when we started practicing the Wang-style push-hands exercises. Letting your partner push into required moving the hips and shoulders to keep the focus on your partner's center so that it would be easier to then respond and push into the partner in response.

Heiny Sensei taught the second class and talked again about her reading of a O'Sensei's book, her time seeing O'Sensei when she was in Japan, and the philosophy and purposes behind Aikido. Her first great point was that he should have benevolent intentions when we throw and engage our partners in Aikido class. If we focus on dominating or over-powering our partner, even if the actual practice is the same, the outcome of uke outlook and presence will respond to the negative intention on our parts. Our goal should be to neutralize violence in both us and our ukes, we should do a technique that creates a violent response from uke, but the technique should shift uke's perspective to a less-violent one. The techniques we practiced included yokomenuchi shihonage where nage steps back and just does a shomen cut to bring uke's hand to nage's center for the shihonage. In the second variation, nage steps around and cuts up uke's center-line in a reverse shomen cut.

Ikeda Sensei taught the first afternoon class. He continued with the internal Aikido of his other classes. he emphaised that we needed to achive unity between nage's and uke's centers before nage can enter uke to disrupt uke's balance. We worked on these variations and I was helped by George Ledyard Sensei in the irimi aspect of entering and disrupting uke's balance by disrupting uke's center-line.

Suzuki Sensei finished the day with the final class. We started off with a sacarice kokyunage where uke grabs with ryokatatori grab and then nage shifts left or right, grabs the outside wrist and drops flat one's back throwing uke over one's body. This was the first time I have practiced this type of kokyunage and it then lead to an entire series of kokyunages Suzuki Sensei had us practice by nage lying flat on his or her back, uke bends down to grab uke, and nage shifts to either side for a kokyunage throw. A different variation involves nage extending into uke, extending into uke by forcing uke's arm to lock up at the elbows.

The evening finished with a a nice dinner and a cash bar at St. Michael's Hotel in Prescott. I had a good time with a great meal. I talked to Ikeda Sensei and he is sponsoring an Aikido Bridge Seminar in Southern Japan a year from October. I expressed interested so I am starting to plan for my first Japan trip. Good stuff.

Aikido Fall Bridge Seminar - Day 2

The second day started off with Chi Gong class at 7am, a class I didn't make because of the late night dinner and drinks from the night before. After breakfast, classes started at 9:45 am.

The first class I attended was Prescott Aikido's Rafa Sensei kumijo class that was held outside. We started off with an ikkyo style tori technique where nage takes uke's jo. The second technique was shihonage tori. The third and final technique was an irimi style tori.

Heiny Sensei taught the second class indoors. Heiny Sensei spoke about the founder of Aikido, Morihei Ueshiba, intention that Aikido is for internal improvement of oneself and not an avenue for victory over an opponent. Leading into the technique, Heiny Sensei wanted the focus to be on yourself and your own movement. We spent the class working on kosadora iriminage and kosadora tenshinage omote.

After lunch I attended Ikeda Sensei bokkon outdoor class. We worked in pairs and after we practiced some cuts, Sensei shifted the focus of the class. He must have seen too many of us flinching when blocking a shomen bokken cut because Ikeda Sensei then had us practice on not flinching by first having uke do a shomen cut stopping at nage's forehead. The goal of nage was keep the attention and focus soft and see through the cut. Ikeda Sensei then had nage raise the bokken cross-wise and grab the blade which provided an horizontal blocking surface. Uke then cut with a full-speed and power shomen cut onto nage's blade, with the goal being the same to avoid flinching. After a bit that practice, we continued on some straight bokken katas and exercises for the rest of the class.

The second class of the afternoon was an outdoor bokken class taught by George Ledyard Sensei. He started class by saying that the focus would be irimi applications to Keiko from practicing with the bokken. He repeated a couple of exercises from his DVD that apply to nage being engaged and extending attention to stop uke before uke and nage even engage with the bokken. He then pointed out how many people who practice the kumitachi number 4 are not being realistic in their ability to surprise uke in a more realistic engagement. Ledyard Sensei showed the proper way to shift the legs while keeping uke engaged allows for the types of cuts, especially the first cut to the knee in kumitachi 4, by shift the feet in preparation for the full movement of the cut. His class was really great and I very much enjoyed it.

The final class of the evening was taught by Sakakibara Sensei from Arizona Aikido. Sakakibara Sensei also has a judo background, and the katatetori sumitoshi involved a an elbow drop and engagement that reflected his other martial arts training. I had a hard time hearing him but the class was very enjoyable.

Aikido Fall Bridge Seminar - Day 1

Ken and I left Colorado Springs at 6:30 am, we drove all of the way to Prescott AZ and made it in time to dress out for the evening classes that started at 7:30. Each instructor had a shortened half-hour class.

Ikeda Sensei started class by continuing his explanation and demonstration of internal Aikido development. We worked on breaking uke's balance through our own connection with uke as the first step in this process. It is much easier said than done, I had difficultly with a couple of my ukes during the techniques, often I feel a brief connection but then when I tried to move, I reverted back to muscle and I lost connection with uke.

Mary Heiny Sensei taught the second stage of the evening classes. Heiny Sensei expanded more on the importance of Aikido in training oneself, the expansion possibilities of Aikido to transcend mere winning a contest, but that we should work to neutralizing violence, a theme she returned to during subsequent classes. Heiny Sensei had us practice a single technique, kosadori ikkyo, through-out the class with different points of emphasis with different ukes.

Lia Suzuki Sensei from Aikido Kenkyukai in Santa Barbara taught the final class. Suzuki Sensei's style is very flowing and experimental and she demonstrated a katatetori shionnage that had nage step back, trap, and straighen uke's arm, bringing uke around nage's body, for the shihonage pin. This style is similar to a shihonage variation I am more familiar with from hamni-handachi beginning.

After class, Ken and I went back to the dorm and got ready for the full day of Aikido on Friday.

Aikido for 09/07/2010

Ken taught class and because of my prep for the Aikido Bridge Seminar in Prescott, I neglected to write down the specific techniques we worked on.

Aikido for 09/04/2010

Today I taught both the Open and Fundamental Aikido classes, covering for Garry. The first class's focus was surawaz and we practiced the following techniques:

• shomenuchi ikkyo omote and ura
• katadori nikkyo omote and ura
• shomenuchi sankyo omote and ura
• yokomenuchi kotegasehi
• For the last technique everyone's knees were sore so we practiced it standing up, katadori iriminage ikkyo style opening

For the second, fundamentals class, I taught the following basic techniques:

• kosadori soto-style kokyunage
• kosadori uchi-style kokyunage
• shomenuchi iriminage
• katatedori shihonage omote and ura

Aikido for 09/02/2010

Tip taught class and I was his uke for most of the techniques. I really enjoy being uke because I am constantly moving the entire class with very little rest. Last night we practiced the following techniques:

• katatetori kokyunage multiple variations
• shomenuchi katennage
• katatetori nikkyo, for this nikyo nage steps around to the closed side of uke and then applies a ura-style nikkyo pin to uke's wrist. I was having some difficultly working with Ken because I trying to use too much muscle when I wasn't getting the angle right. Ken then suggest I focus on moving the far shoulder and relax into uke, that small suggestion really transformed how effective and efficient my nikkyo wrist technique works.
• katatetori hijinage

I enjoyed myself and gained some new insight into my Aikido practice. The new floor is stiffer but I found the mats great to practice on.

Saturday I am teaching both of Garry's classes. I was given a key to the dojo last night and so now I am official.

Aikido for 08/26/2010 and new dojo floor

Ken taught Aikido class as Tip was out for the night. After warm-up, we practiced katatetori kokyunage tenkan style, shomenuchi ikkyo omote and ura, munetsuki hijinage, munetsuki kotegashei. We then worked on the same Doran Sensei bokken exercise and a different bokken kata.

This past weekend, I spent at the dojo. Friday night we moved the mats to Garry's house. Saturday, while people were ripping out the floor, I went with Nate, Clint, and Doug to Lowes and help load all of the building supplies for the new floor of the dojo. This took most of the morning (2 hours) as it took four truck-loads to move all of the material. I then went back and help remove the old floor's 2x4 beams. On Sunday, we started at 10 am and worked until 4, building out all of the standard portion of the floor. Last night we finished up custom sections and tonight we will be moving the mats to the dojo. I won't be attending tomorrow's class but I am planning on my usual Thursday night class at the dojo. Garry is not able to teach his two classes this Saturday, so I volunteered. I have started working on the lesson plan for the open class (surawaza and hamni-handache techniques will be the focus) and for the beginner, fundemtal class, I will teach my basic Aikido.

Aikido for 08/24/2010

Tuesday's Class was taught by Ken. After warm-up we practiced the following techniques:

• katatetori tenkan kokyunage
• katatetori kokyu-ho (or irimi-style) throw
• katatetori hijinage omote
• yokomenuchi iriminage with a yonkyo opening, Ken told us that both the hijinage and iriminage were from Doran Sensei at this year's Summer Camp in the Rockies.
• bokken exercise
• bokken kata were as uke raises up for a shomen strike, nage moves the wrist up to engage uke's exposed forearms before coming around for a yokomen strike to uke's same-side neck.

After class I went with Tip, Ken, and Doug to Old Chicago for beer and bar food.

Aikido for 08/19/2010

Aikido class was taught by Tip. After a quick warm-up, I was called as uke for all of the class demonstrations. After about 45 minutes, we had 6th kyu test for Mark and then 5 kyu test for Kate. I was Kate's uke for the tachi-waza techniques while Nate was Kate's uke for the bokken and jo katas.

Aikido for 08/17/2010

Last night Ken taught an abbreviated class. Two beginners, Mike and Tom, needed to test and Tuesday was the only time they had available; Ken, Tip, and Garry stayed on for 6th kyu testing after regular class. During the class, we started off with the following techniques:

• katatetori kokyunage tenkan-style
• katatetori kokyunage irimi style, Ken had us practice the variation where nage slides forward and rotates the grabbed hand to the side and up, forcing uke to raise an elbow and ideally turning around to take forward uke
• shomenuchi ikkyo omote and ura
• shomenuchi iriminage

We will be having a couple more people test on Thursday with the final testing day on Saturday. I won't be in Colorado Springs this weekend; I am headed to Grand Junction after a couple of meeting in Denver on Friday. It is my father's 60th birthday on Sunday so Happy Birthday Dad!

Aikido for 08/14/2010

On Saturday Garry taught class. There was a lot of people and we worked on a number of different techniques including a number of katatori kokyunage variations. We then practiced the openings to the first and second kumijo katas.

Aikido for 08/12/2010

Thursday night class was shortened because of kyu testing. After a short warm-up, Ken ran us through the basic 6th kyu techniques including katatetori ikkyo, shomenuchi ikkyo, shomenuchi iriminage, katatetori shihonage, and katatetori kotegashi. We then went through 2nd kyu test for Dave, I was uke for most of his test including the koshinages. There was then a 4th kyu test and three 6th kyu tests. Everyone passed but we all need to work on the ASU weapon katas.

Aikido for 08/10/2010

Last night Ken taught class. After warm-up, we practiced the following techniques:

• katatetori tenkan kokyunage
• katatetori irimi kokyunage
• katatetori shihonage omote and ura
• shomenuchi ikkyo omote and ura (static style)
• shomenuchi iriminage (starting static), for the iriminage I worked with Tip and about half-way through, switched to doing a koshinage instead of a regular back ukemi. I enjoy the break-falls as uke

After class, I went to Tako (a Japanese restaurant) for the dojo's board meeting. In a couple of weeks, we will be replacing the floor in the dojo. Thursday is kyu rank testing. Ken is also starting an advanced, by invitation only class on Monday nights. Most of the students in the dojo are beginners and during the open classes, we focus on the fundamental techniques. The advanced class will explore more variety in techniques along with more intense training. I am excited about the change although it does mean I'll have to adjust my training schedule.

Aikido for 08/07/2010

On Saturday, Garry taught the morning class (I only attended the morning session). We practiced the following techniques:

• yokomenuchi ikkyo omote and ura
• yokomenuchi nikkyo omote and ura
• yokomenuchi iriminage
• kumitachi one and two

Aikido for 08/05/2010

Tip taught class on Thursday. After we warmed up, we practiced the following techniques:

• shomenuchi ikkyo omote and ura
• shomenuchi nikkyo omote and ura
• shomenuchi iriminage
• munetsuki kotegashi
• katatetori shihonage omote and ura
• yokomenuchi shihonage omote and ura

Tip called me to be uke for all of the technique demonstrations but one. Being uke for the instructor is the time when I really notice and I am in tune with the martial aspects of ukemi. When prompted by Tip to demonstrate an opening to watch for as nage, as uke, I am usually in the right position to perform the reverse. Also, I had the opportunity to take a couple of nice break-falls from kotegashi technique.

Aikido for 08/03/2010

On Tuesday night, Ken taught class. After warming up, we practiced the following techniques:

• katatetori ikkyo omote and ura
• katatetori nikkyo omote and ura
• kosadori iriminage

After class, Ken and I talked about attending the September 9th Aikido Bridge Seminar with Ikeda and Mary Heiny Sensei.

Aikido for 07/31/2010

Garry taught both classes on Saturday. The first class was a silent class, we went through a number of different techniques and the challenge of course, was keeping your month shut. We had a new beginner and I was working with her on a katatetori sumiotoshi variation and I tried to communicate the best way to take ukemi because when I was throwing her as nage, her falls were not the best, so I had to use different hand signals repeatedly when a quick verbal instruction would have saved her some difficultly. We worked on ikkyo, nikkyo, kokyunage, and kubinages.

The second class was an Aikido Fundamentals class and we had two brand new beginners. Garry had us practice forward and backward ukemi for about half of the class, I didn't mind because I can always use ukemi training. The rest of the class was spent learning the basic bokken movements and attacks. I enjoyed both classes and being on the mat.

Aikido for 07/29/2010

Last night Kip taught class. There wasn't very many students, (Nate, Doug, and Kate), likely due to summer camp. We started off with warm-ups and then Kip called me up to be uke for the katatetori kokyunage. For the rest of the night, I was uke for all of the demonstrations. I really tried to give good attacks and the flip side is that I had a great overall practice because I was always moving. After the kokyunage we practiced the following techniques:

• shomenuchi ikkyo omote and ura
• shomenuchi nikkyo omote and ura
• shomenuchi iriminage
• jotachi kata number one
• kumitachi number 1

Some nights at practice, I just get into the clichéd "groove", all of the movements flowed, my techniques and my ukemi dissolve into a continuous movement with my partners. During the weapons, martial awareness and my weapons were extensions of my own movements. Good stuff.

Aikido for 07/27/2010

Tonight I taught the 6:00 Open Aikido class at Pikes Peak Aikido. There wasn't very many people; Garry, Nate, and two beginners. I started with the basic warm-up exercises. I did add rowing exercises and the foot-work exercises I practiced when I started Aikido at Central Illinois Aikikai. I explained that tonight's class would be the basic techniques for 5th and 4th kyu at CIA. After practicing forward and backward ukemi, we worked the following techniques:

• katatetori ikkyo omote and ura - front-foot step back variation
• kosadori ikkyo omote and ura - back-foot step back variation, I also mentioned Dan Messisco Sensei's martial ukemi from Friday night as a way to connect and improve your own practice
• moratetori iriminage two variations; front and back foot step back for the opening. I also demonstrated how off the mat application where nage is armed with a sidearm and a common response would be to grab the nage's arm to prevent the weapon from being withdrawn from a holster, and how iriminage from moratetori gives nage an opening to draw a weapon from a better tactical position.
• 2-person restricted randori practice, uke could only attack with katatetori or moratetori, nage should respond with either iriminage or ikkyo but more importantly get out of the way to be prepared for the other uke

We finished class with kokyu-ho exercise. I hope I'll have more opportunities to teach and having Garry and Nate there made the practice more of an advanced class even with these 5th and 4th kyu techniques. I hope that many years in the future I'll still be learning and teaching ikkyo and iriminage.

Aikido for 07/23/2010

On Friday I was in Denver, attending a day-long meeting in the Alliance Digital Repository (ADR) working group. After the meeting, I took Colfax to the Tattered Cover bookstore, were I purchased an Aikido book by O'Sensei. I then drove to Denver Aikikai where Dan Messisco Sensei taught a 6:30 to 10:30 class.

Messisco Sensei started off talking and demonstrating his approach to Aikido both as nage and uke. He emphasized that we cannot control uke's attention or attack, uke can stiff, soft, attentive, or whatever, that nage should focus on him or herself and not care what uke is doing. This focus on the nage, forces uke to respond to nage's actions, not nage reacting and responding to uke. Too often, our Aikido techniques are in reference to what we want to do to uke, break uke's balance, pinning or throwing uke, Messisco point is that instead nage should be the center, the focus, and the uke needs to respond to that. We then practiced ikkyo, shihonage, and tenshinage with the nage just extending his arms out and uke must grab. Messisco Sensei showed how to take uke balance, throw, and pin through keeping everything inside nage's sphere, to take uke to ground does not require trying to disrupt uke's balance, but just keeping connection with uke and lowering nage's center. This was a really different approach to Aikido and I really was interested in his thoughts and insights into Aikido.

Dan Messisco Sensei's final point was what he called martial ukemi. Martial ukemi is just that when being uke, keep martial awareness through-out the technique, not being caught up in ego by trying to stop nage, but keeping the distance and "self-center" that we do when we are nage. Messisco Sensei demonstrated multiple ways and times where if the technique suddenly stopped, when doing martial ukemi, uke has his or her center throughout and can instantly counter for a kashiwaza at any point. Practically this means that uke shouldn't care where he ends up, that uke shouldn't be scared or angry but just accept where the new position is because the position doesn't matter, it is the approach and attitude that matters. Ukemi is half of Aikido, and if we don't practice martial ukemi, we are wasting half of our practice. I learned a lot and I am sad that I'll be missing Summer Camp this year because I would have more opportunties to learn from Aikido sensei like Messisco.

Aikido for 07/22/2010

Last night Kip taught class. He did a quick warm-up and then we worked on the following techniques:

• katatetori tenkan-style kokyunage
• katatetori kokyuho-style kokyunage
• ushiro ryo-katatori ikkyo
• ushiro ryo-katatetori shihonage omote and ura
• ushiro kubishime kotegaeshi
• jo exercise
• jo tori (two variations)

Today I'm in Denver for a series of meetings at the Auraria Medical Campus. I'm planning on attending tonight's class for Dan Messisco Sensei seminar at Denver Aikikai.

Aikido for 07/20/2010

Last night Ken taught class and after warming up, we practiced the tenkan kokyunage and the irimi-style kokyu-ho and then spent the rest of the class working on a katatetori koshu-nage. Before class I talked to Ken and since he is headed to the Aikido Summer Camp in the Rockies next week, I offered to cover any of his classes. After class, he told everyone I would be the substitute instructor for next Tuesday's class. I'm excited because I haven't taught Aikido since Gunnison and I have found myself coming up with things I want to show the dojo from my training at Central Illinois Aikikai.

Cool stuff.

Aikido for 07/15/2010

On Thursday night, Kip taught class and after warming up we worked on the following:

• tenkan kokyunage
• shomenuchi nikkyo omote and ura
• katatori nikkyo omote and ura two variations
• a jo kata

Aikido for 07/13/2010

For the 6:00 class, Ken Gee started with warm-ups before moving to these techniques:

• katatetori kokyunage tenkan variation
• katatetori irimi-style kokyunage (or alternatively kokyu-ho style kokyunage)
• We then worked on an exercise where nage extends the arm and rest the tips of the fingers on uke's shoulder and then generates power through the body and tries to disrupt uke's balance through a hands-breath tsuki. After this exercise, we worked on tsuki kotegashi but Ken had nage first slide to the closed side of uke when uke punched, and then extend nage's arm, wrapping the hand over uke's forearm to control uke's balance by extending body weight and control on uke's elbow. This variation was harder than it looked because it is easy to lose uke's balance when turning tenkan to apply the kotegashi joint pin.

Aikido for 07/10/2010 and Jerms Memory Theater

Garry taught the first 10:30 class. After warming up, we practiced katatetori kokyunage, and worked a number of techniques. I should have written up this blog entry earlier when my memory was fresher.

Speaking of memory (or lack there of), I was inspired by reading Nathan Schneider's article, in Defense of the Memory Theater, to start consolidating my own personal information space into my own application I am calling "Jerms Memory Theater" (notice I am using the American spelling for Theater, not the British spelling; Theatre) . I plan on building my own information retrieval and management application, currently being prototyped using Python and SQLite, to coordinate all different aspects of my spacial, physical, spiritual, social, career, financial, and networked information. All of these different areas have interesting cross-connections that could be data-minded and better organized. I am using a few notable Python libraries, including Natural Language Toolkit, my own eCataloger framework, Mako templates, and various web-services. I am not sure what open-source license I'll eventually release the code under. I have been a fan of the Apache2 license, but I want to further protect this project, so I am now leaning towards the GNU General Public License (GPL).

Aikido for 07/08/2010

After a brief warm-up for class, Kip had us start with seated kokyu-ho exercise instead of the usual tenkan and irimi exercises. We then practiced the following techniques:

• ryotetori tenshinnage omote and ura
• ryokatatori shihonage omote
• ryotetori kokyunage with nage collapsing both hands to bring uke's elbows up and uke's center up before nage moves in and throws uke
• ushiro ryokatatori ikkyo, during this technique I was working Tom, the strong beginner, and I was pinning him effectively because he was strong enough to lift his body off the mat. Kip pointed out that I needed to straighten and bring his arm over his body, something I have pointed out to other beginners when I have teaching. I started to make excuses and I felt my ego respond and try to explain why I wasn't doing this basic pin correctly. It is good to be reminded and the basics, even when I was blinded by my own ego, especially in my own practice. Good learning moment for me.
• ushiro kubishime kotegaeshi
• ushiro ryotetori kokyunage, 4 variations. I worked with Ken on this technique and I had a lot of fun as we threw each other around these different kokyunages and trying to think up others

In all a good class and practice. I recently enjoyed reading Francis Takahashi Sensei's essay at Aikiweb titled, Winning with my Aikido. I was privileged to attend his class in January at the Aikido Bridge Friendship Seminar. His comments about why to study Aikido I especially liked:

Amongst the choices of martial art systems to study, Aikido stands apart in clearly and unashamedly proclaiming that victory over another person has never been the primary reason for its existence. The enlightened student of Aikido , when understanding and implementing the true purpose and vision of the Founder's wish for his Aikido, will always choose self betterment over defeating another person in senseless conflict. What others may think, say or believe, is irrelevant to the true student of Ueshiba Aiki, and may never define or otherwise negatively impact his or her allegiance, respect and love for Aikido.

The real purpose for studying this art, or any art form, must understandably remain the business of that student alone. This viewpoint is consistent with the Founder's statements that each person needs to discover their own Aikido, for reasons undeniably their own, and in the form they choose to build it. This right to choose is congruent with the fundamental premise that we are solely responsible for our own security, and the means to ensure it. If we elect to surrender this right to others, that too is a choice, and not to be made lightly.

True Victory is the victory we all seek over our own internal challenges, to affirm the very choices we may make, and to proclaim humble acceptance of the consequences of our choices. The greatest gain possible from Aikido research and training, is to eventually know ourselves fully, demonstrate respect for our environment, and for our peers, and to be grateful for the privilege of living and behaving in balance and accord within our environment.

Aikido for 07/07/2010

Last night I attended the Ken's 6:30 Fundamental class as I missed Tuesday's class. After a longer warm-up, we worked on tenkan and irimi exercises, kokyu-ho style kokyunage, and then worked on forward and backward rolls.

I will try to make Thursday's regular class at 6:30.

Aikido for 07/05/2010

Last night from 6 to 7:30 was open-mat for anyone interested in practicing for upcoming kyu tests. I went for the extra practice and spent some time working with Doug, who is testing for his 6th kyu, and another senior student Dave, who is testing for 2nd kyu. Ken and Garry were also there and Ken had Dave and I work on different styles of koshinages. Good practice and I discovered that my weak right hip impacted my koshinage when I was throw from that hip. I discovered I could consimpsate but today my right leg is sore and weaker (this injury has slowly been getting better after I started adjusting my Aikido warm-up routine and I am conscious of it while practicing techniques.)

Aikido for 07/01/2010

Tonight Ken taught class. After warm-up we worked on the following techniques:

• katatetori kokyunage
• katatetori kokyu-ho style kokyunage.
• We then worked on a number of sliding to to side from a tsuki attack before first working on a tsuki sumi otoshi with nage cutting down on uke's nearside elbow.
• katatetori koshinage

Aikido for 06/29/2010

Last night Ken taught class. After warming up, we practice two katatetori kokyunages, the first the tenkan variation we usually practice, the second kokyunage was a tenshinnage variation that ends with more a kokyunage throw than a tenshinage throw. We then spent the rest of class on tsuki kotegashei tenkan ura variation. As part of the practice, Ken had us tie nage's arms down to their sides with a belt to force nage to use his body when doing the technique and not rely on arm strength.

After class; Ken, another student, and I went to Old Chicago for beer and nachos.

Aikido for 06/26/2010

Today for Aikido, Gary taught both classes. In the first class after warming up we practiced these techniques:

• katatetori shihonage omote and ura
• katatori nikyo omote and ura
• katatetori koshinage, I worked with Nate on the koshinage and I realized that I wasn't doing this particular variation correctly (more with entry, I was doing another variation, this one was easier) I still need to practicing throwing koshinage, my ukemi was fine when Nate threw me.

The second class was the Fundamentals. We worked on ukemi and shkyo and then praticed the following techniques:

• tsuki kotegashei omote and ura
• kokyu-ho exercise

Aikido for 06/24/2010

Kip taught class and we worked on

• katatetori shihonage omote and ura
• tsuki kotegashi ura
• shomenuchi iriminage

Kip brought me up a number of times to be uke when he demostrated the techniques. I learned a new way to respond to an uke who is straight arm by pulling and extending uke's arm, placing your knees under uke's elbow and then turning your hips to the outside which forces uke to the ground or risk breaking the extended elbow. Good stuff.

Aikido for 06/22/2010

Last night I had a migraine but decided because I hadn't been to Aikido since last Friday morning, to gut it out and attend class regardless (granted I took medication when I got home but I only had ten minutes to rest before I need to leave for class).

Ken taught and after warming up, we practiced the two standard kokyunages, the first katatetori kokyunage tenkan variation, and katatetori kokyunage irimi variation. Ken added a third kokyunage where nage shifts uke's arm and elbow up while directly entering into uke's space to throw uke. We then spent the rest of class working first on static and then a more dynamic shomenuchi iriminage. Ken built up to the irimi throw by having us start by shifting uke's balance and redirect uke to nage's side while keeping both of uke's shoulders and posture on the forward foot. At the end, Ken showed a nage step entry for iriminage that I have thought about so explicitly. I enjoyed class and although I wasn't feel well, I am very glad I went. After class I didn't go out for drinks (while this should have been obvious if you a migraine, I didn't want to contribute to any more pain in my head).

Aikido for 06/18/2010

This morning I got up to attend Kip's 5:45am class as I wasn't able to go to Aikido last night because I worked late and I was waiting for a phone call to schedule the delivery of a washer-dryer pair to my apartment. When I arrive, Kip and I were the only ones there so we just had a paired practice. We started off with ryotetori tenshin-nage omote, ryotetori shihonage omote, then practiced a number of ushiro techniques including a number of ushiro kokyunage., ushiro kubishime kotegashi, and ushiro shihonage. Working the entire hour one-on-one, was a great learning experience. First, Kip showed where I was losing my extension and proving openings for uke, the same things I kept telling the students I had in Gunnison. Unlike a beginner, I was still able to perform the technique because I keep my extension and balance most of the time, just as a result from the years of practicing Aikido. What Kip provided was an experienced and centered training partner and teacher, correcting and improving the more subtle aspects of the art.

During koyu-ho exercise at the end, Tip showed two different variations that I have never seen before, the first has nage bringing his hands together and then weaving a figure eight to break uke's center. The second variation is when uke has nage's wrists pinned to nage's knees, nage shifts one knew back to break uke's balance before moving into uke and throwing uke. Great practice this morning and I am really glad I got up and went to class. I may have to come to class more often in the mornings, the temperature was perfect, the training excellent, and the day started off great. I am have to go back to my apartment to wait for my appliances between 10 and noon so now I'll have clean gis if I want to increase my training frequency.

Aikido for 06/15/2010

Last night Ken taught class. After warm-up, we practiced three or four different katatetori kokyunages and then we practiced shomenuchi iriminage and shomenuchi kokyunage. For the iriminage, Ken suggested I move my hand lower to the elbow (my normal practice has been to trap uke's attacking arm at the wrist) when doing the iriminage. Both ways are fine, it is nice to be able to work on the finer points in my techniques.

Aikido for 06/12/2010

The first class at 10:30 was taught by Nate, the other 1st kyu, as Gary was busy. After warming up and some good ukemi practice, Nate had us practice ushiro ryo-kata tori ikkyo and a ushiro ryo-kata tori kokyunage. We then finished the class by working on the 2nd bokken kumitachi.

The second class was taught by Kip Harris (I finally remembered to look for his last name). We worked on the following techniques: Shomenuchi ikkyo omote and ura (during the omote practice, Kip pointed out where I was having difficultly in getting uke down, really a matter of angles and going where uke is unbalance, even after practicing for 13 years, I still need to be reminded of the basics), Shomenuchi iriminage two variations, Tsuki kotegashi, basically going through the 6th kyu test. In all, both classes were good and I enjoyed practicing with everyone.

Aikido for 6/10/2010

Tonight Tip taught class and after warm-up exercises, Kip started with a katatetori nikkyo omote with a direct entry.

Aikido for 06/08/2010

Last night Ken Lee taught the Aikido Open Class. After warm-up, we started off with a katatetori kokyunage (tenkan variation), followed with a katatetori tan no kokyuho. During the standing kokyuho, on this technique I enjoyed the vigor and advanced training with Kip and Nate. Ken wanted a more active class so we worked on a number of different kokyunages, irminages, and a kotegashi. We also continued work with a more dynamic shomenuchi entering as well.

After class, Ken, Tip, Hal (a returning student from Hawaii), and I went to Old Chicago for an after class beer and meal. It was good to visit with these instructors and senior students. I will have to make a 5:45 a.m. Tip class before too long, especially if I know I won't be able to make a Tuesday/Thursday class that I am starting to establish as a my regular Aikido practice schedule.

Aikido for 6/5/2010

This morning I went to the 10:30 Aikido class taught by Gary. We started off with warm-ups, katatetori kokyunage, katatetori iriminage, and then we focused on tsuki for the rest of class. We worked on a number of different kokyunages from tsuki, along with a couple of hijinages, and tsuki kotegashi. We finished classes with a few tanto variations, the first uke attacks with a tsuki and nage responds by sliding to uke's side, grabs uke's wrist and then turns into uke, cutting uke's midsection before bring the tanto behind uke for a modified standing yonkyo pin and tanto takeway, all while standing. A cool variation that I haven't practiced before. There was a large class today, with 14 students, and I believe I was able to practice with everyone. I have some chores todo, including the daily back-up at my job, so I didn't stay for the second Aikido fundamentals class.

On a separate topic, after Aikido I went and purchased a new vacuum cleaner, an iRobot Roomba, that is currently charging overnight before I unleash a new robot cleaner to vacuum my carpets tomorrow. Wow, I am living in the future when I can buy a relatively cheap cleaning robot that does not require human intervention to run (although it does require me to clean-out the dirt bin and plug it it, so it isn't completely autonomous)

Aikido for 6/3/2010

Tonight for Aikido, Kip was the instructor. We started the class with a warm-up and then started with a katatetori kokyunage, we then practiced katatetori nikkyo omote, katatetori kokyu-ho kokyunage, kosadori ikkyo omote, kosadori sankyo omote, tsuki kotegashei ura variation, tanto-dori (knife-takeway), tsuki dai-gokyo omote, tanto-dori tsuki hijinage style pin, jo-dori (staff-takeway) kokyunage, jo-tori (nage throws uke with a staff) kokyunage.

As with all of the classes I have attended so far, the spirit and learning at Pikes Peak dojo has been very positive. I met Nate, the other 1st kyu, and he is really welcoming and excited about Aikido. I also practiced more with Kevin, a soldier stationed at Fort Carson, and with Gary, the only shodan. I knew Gary from summer camp and at various seminars in Boulder and Denver, so I am really happy and lucky to have found this dojo. I learned a lot from Kip in just this one class so I am also very happy that I am learning new things every class and I hope this continues.

Aikido for 6/1/2010 and Blog name...

Last night I attended my second class at Pikes Peak Aikido, taught by Ken Lee, that started at 6:00. The first half-hour was spent doing various warm-up, balance, and movement exercises. We then spent the rest of the class working on a static shomenuci ikkyo omote techniques. While the approach is different, I enjoyed working with different students during the class and found I was humbled when I had difficulty performing ikkyo technique and pin on a particularly strong and stiff beginner student named Tom. I also turned in my dojo application form and one of the questions on it, Why Aikido? I found interesting and here is my response to why I practice Aikido: reduction of ego, expansion of compassion.

I have decided to slightly change the name of the blog to, "Jerms Lived in Gunny", as a tribute to my time in the Gunnison and as a reminder to keep mindful of the positive changes and perspectives I experienced and developed while living in Gunnison and working at Western State College.

Aikido for 05/13/2010

On Thursday morning, I drove from Gunnison to Colorado Springs to search for a new apartment. I spent the day looking at different places, stopped by the Tutt Library for a quick visit with my new co-workers and supervisor, before finally filling out an application and putting a security deposit on a new apartment just North-west of the college and Old Colorado City. I then drove up to Boulder Aikikai in time for the 6:00 pm class taught by Mark Reeder Sensei.

In Reeder Sensei's first class, we focused on striking, particularly to the mid-section and to the face. He had us work on aligning our fist with our arm so that uke lines up all of the bones in forearm for faster and more relaxed strike. We practiced a number of different kokyunages and irminage, along with a hijinage. During the hijinage, Reeder Sensei directed my focus to being more relaxed and to flow with the turn and throw. My hijinage is normally solid but his instruction made me realize that I still use too much strength and I still be softer and relaxes in my techniques. I have been hearing to relax in my techniques over the years from different sensei and I still need to work on regulating my breathing and to relax more.

Reeder Sensei taught the second class and he continued with the striking techniques we practiced in the first class but because this class was an advanced class, we practiced more kokyunages and iriminages. We also practiced a similar hijinage from the first class, I was amazed how I could reduce my efforts to throw uke by relaxing and not trying to use muscle to throw uke.

These two classes were great and afterward I drove to Broomfield to stay with my sister in Broomfield. I stayed the day with her, her husband, and my nieces before leaving for Gunnison and then Grand Junction on Saturday. On Sunday two of my brothers and I are driving out to Portland Oregon to visit family and friends. I will be making a day trip up to Seattle and on our way home I'll be dropped off in Salt Lake City to visit with friends for a couple of days before taking the bus back to Grand Junction and then on to Gunnison to finish moving to Colorado Springs.

Aikido for 05/05/2010

Tonight for Aikido, Mike and I started at 5:15 pm. After warming-up, we practiced the following techniques:

• yokomenuchi shihonage omote and ura
• yokomenuchi kotegaeshi two variations
• yokomenuchi iriminage with two different openings, the first a ryokyo block and the second the more standard Aikikai style
• yokomenuchi ikkyo omote and ura

I may be teaching a Sunday class at the Gunnison Community Center. Mike may be bring some of his friends who are here for his graduation on Saturday.

Aikido for 05/03/2010

Yesterday I went to the Gunnison Community Center for the 2pm class and discovered another group was using the space, there was too many kids to practice safely. I called Mike and canceled class.

Today, I arrived at 5:30pm, set-up the mats, and then practiced the 12 jo-kata. I also did some tenkan and irimi exercises with the jo, I found the jo kept in me closer and changed my perceptions of my body and center. I'll have to play around with these exercises in the future. We then practiced these techniques:

• katatedori shihonage omote and ura
• surawaza katatedori shihonage omote and ura
• katatedori ikkyo omote and ura
• surawaza katatedori ikkyo omote and ura
• katatedori iriminage
• surawaza katatedori iriminage

Aikido for 04/20/2010

Mike and I met at 2:30 for a make-up class. Wednesday I had to work late and yesterday Mike and I dressed out, set-up the mats, and were warming up when another class showed up to use the space in Escalante Fitness Center so we had to leave. Today after warming up, we practiced the following techniques:

• tsuki iriminage
• tsuki shihonage omote and ura (two variations)
• tsuki kotegashi two variations
• tsuki ikkyo omote and ura

Our next class will be Sunday at 2pm.

Aikido for 04/21/2010

Last night I went to Aikido, set-up the mats and practiced kumitachi one-three, bokken cuts, forward and backward ukemi, tenkan and irimi exercise, and ending with some quiet meditation.

Mike has been ill for the past week and a half so I haven't been practicing Aikido. I figured Mike wasn't feeling up to class but I needed the mat time to reflect on my life changes and the changes happening in my own family. I will be moving to Colorado Spring next month and starting my new position as the Metadata and Systems Librarian at Colorado College's Tutt Library. I am fortunate that an ASU dojo, Pikes Peak Aikikai, is in Colorado Springs.

My Aikido journey will shift once again, I won't be teaching Aikido in Colorado Springs, instead I'll be fortunate to take classes and practice with a whole new group of people. I will also be close to Boulder and Denver. I will be able to attend Ikeda Sensei classes and practice at Denver Aikikai with my friends Edger, Steve, Aaron, and Bruce. I am also considering expanding my budo to include another martial art, likely a style of jujitsu, after I earn my Aikido shodan rank.

I am nervous and excited about everything that is happening. Any feelings of happiness are tempered by a couple of my brothers experiencing unfortunate circumstances. My thoughts are with them.

Aikido for 04/11/2010

Mike and I started class with a longer warm-up, ukemi practice, and tenkan/irimi exercises before practicing the following techniques:

• Ushiro ryokata dori ikkyo omote and ura
• Ushiro ryokata iriminage (2 variations)
• Ushiro ryote dori shihonage omote and ura
• Ushiro kubi shime kotegaeshi
• Ushiro waza kokyunages

We finished class with an Ushiro randora, practicing many of the techniques from earlier in class.

Monday we won't be having class as I have late meeting and Mike has a 6pm class. We will tentatively reschedule for Thursday. Wednesday's class will be an outdoors bokken class if the weather holds.

Aikido for 04/07/2010 and News

Last night Mike and I practiced the following techniques:

• Yokomenuchi shihonage omote and ura
• Yokomenuchi iriminage three variations
• Yokomenuchi ikkyo omote and ura
• Yokomenuchi jujinnage omote and ura

We finished class with a yokomenuchi randora and then kokyu-ho as usual.

In other news, on Tuesday I accepted a position at Colorado College. I will be the new Meta-data and Systems Librarian and I am planning on moving next May. I will have to think of a new title for this blog as I will no longer be "Jerms Living in Gunny" but more "Jerms Living in the Springs" or some other. I may keep the current title as an artifact of its origin.

Aikido for 04/05/2010

Last night Mike and I warmed-up and practiced the following techniques:

• shomenuchi nikkyo omote and ura
• shomenuchi sankyo omote and ura
• Two kokyunage variations from shomenuchi attack

Mike has a 6pm class, so we started class at 4:45 and ended at 5:30. On Wednesday, the class will be at the regular time of 6:30.

Aikido for 04/04/2010

This morning I watched the first disc of George Ledyard Sensei's DVD set on bokken kamei, sheigan, gedan, gedan hasso, jodan, and finally jodan hasso. We then worked on the one of the games Ledyard Sensei demostrated and I got one of my fingers hit with a nice bruise. To replicate the mat conditions of taking a test, Mike and I then went through these techniques from the 6th kyu ASU test and we practiced each technique four times both as uke and nage:

• shomenuchi ikkyo omote and ura
• shomenuchi iriminage
• munetsuki kotegaeshi omote and ura
• katate dori shihonage omote and ura
• kokyu tanden ho

Aikido for 03/31/2010

Mike and I started class with the usual warm-up and then practiced the following techniques:

• katatetori sumotosi omote and ura
• katatetori kaitennage omote and ura
• katatetori iriminage two variations, following the exercises we usually practice at the beginning of each class
• shomenuchi iriminage
• tsuki kotegashi omote and ura

Next class will be on Sunday.

Aikido for 03/24/2010

Tonight for Aikido, Mike and I practiced the following techniques from four different openings: step-in and atemi (hombu style), step-back with forward foot to the 7-8 o'clock position, back-foot steps back to 7-8 o'clock position, and finally the front foot slides horizontally while the back-foot comes forward:

• katatetori iriminage
• katatetori shihonage omote and ura
• katatetori kotegaeshi omote and ura
• katatetori ikkyo omote and ura

I am planning to go snowboarding at Crested Butte on Saturday and Mike may join me.

Aikido for 03/22/2010

Monday night I tried to go over some of the highlights from the 2010 Aikido Summit with Mike for class. We started with the paired warm-up from Russ Smith Sensei's class and then we practiced the style of tenkan he showed at the seminar where nage steps and flows with uke. I then explained about Cindy Hayashi's emphasis of training in paired with the same intensity as practicing with multiple ukes. Mike and I when in attacking as uke, kept the intensity up by consistently attacking, which quickly tired us. I then went over the both hands blocking technique from both striking and kicking attacks from Tenaka Sensei's class with Mike and I had to chance to try it out myself. The final part of class, I went over both Treadgill Sensei's and Ikeda Sensei's internal balance development exercises and techniques. I also showed Mike one of Treadgill Sensei's tanto techniques that I found interesting.

2010 Aikido Summit

My drive to the front range on Friday night was an adventure. Monarch Pass was blowing snow and on the Salida side, I encountered white out conditions and spent most of the way down the mountain in four-wheel drive with the maximum speed of 30 MPH. I scanned the radio for the current weather conditions and closures and after I stopped at the I-285 Buena Vista stop for some snacks and other travel supplies and continued towards Fairplay, I heard that I-285 was now closed over Kenosha Pass between Bailey and my current position. I was lucky because a few miles away was the intersection with I-24 to Colorado Springs and so I planned a detour for the rest of my trip. The driving conditions did not improve and I spent the rest of the trip (7 hours total) in 4WD and with top speeds of 40 MPH. I made it finally to my sister's house in Broomfield where she and my niece were waiting for my arrival.

The next morning I arrived early to the Denver Buddhist Temple, changed into my gi and hakama, and enjoyed talking with many of my friends, most from Boulder Aikikai and Denver Aikikai. The seminar started with the Buddhist ceremony in Japanese by Rev. Kanya Okamoto of the temple who then talked about "do" from Aikido translated as a path or journey that we all individually take through life. Buddhism is translated as a 'chido' (I may have the English translation wrong here) or middle journey and the minister emphasised that this not simplely taking the middle between extremes, a position I am familiar from my philosophy education. Taking the mean of two extremes is basis of moral virtue for Aristotelian ethics. What I took from the Rev. Okamoto starting speech is that Aikido is a relevant and important journey we were taking together and in the spirit of participating in something larger than individual egos or organizations, we were complementing each others training and hence our specific buddo styles towards our own individual do.

Russ Smith Sensei of Rocky Mountain Ki Society taught the first class. We started off with paired warm-up and then started with a kokyunage from tenkan, jo tori and waza. The emphasis of his class was that nage let uke's energy pass through nage's space for the throw or reverse that energy for the throw. What I enjoyed about his class was that he has this great positive energy to his teaching and his attention to the small details was excellent.

Cindy Hayashi Sensei from Aikido West taught the second class. I always enjoy the practice of Hayashi Sensei's classes and this was no exception. Hayashi Sensei focus is always practical and martial. When she is demostrating a technique, such as a katatetori kokyunage or iriminage, Cindy will strike an atemi to the groin of a much larger uke when the opening presents itself. This is a good thing. In my own practice, while I might not strike or demonstrate such an attack, I am always aware of these openings and try to point them out to my students when I teach. I don't believe the criticism that Aikido is not effective in the "real world", Hayashi Sensei is the classic counter-example to that uninformed opinion. Hayashi Sensei started with paired practiced and moved to three and finally four person randori practice. During one of the three person practices, I paired up with Smith Sensei and a beginner and I really enjoyed that particular time working with Smith Sensei and because Cindy came over and worked with us as well. At the end, Hayashi Sensei said that both nage and uke should have the same attitude and presence with paired practice as when practicing with multiple ukes.

Seiji Tenaka Sensei of Hyland Hills Tomiki Aikido taught the third class. He is an original student of Kenji Tomiki Sensei and leads the Tomiki Aikido of the Americas. Tenaka Sensei begin his class with all of us practicing the 5 fundamental kata of Tomiki Aikido that Tomiki Sensei developed when he was imprisoned by the Russians after World War II. The first three kata were simplier but the last two I believe all of us non-Tomiki practitioners had difficulty keeping up with demonstrators. The movements were all extremely precise with the hand movements and cuts and the foot-work was sharp as well. In the Tomiki style of Aikido, they do not wear hakamas so the foot-work can be easily seen and admired. Tenka Sensei then demonstrated multiple techniques, always throwing his ukes with a breakfall, and then showing how the hand and footwork were related to the movements of the beginning katas. He even took a beautiful breakfall himself and if I have one goal in life, it would be to be able to take such a breakfall myself if I am fortunate enough to live to 71. During the paired practice, I was working with my uke and we were working through the technique and I was focusing on the handwork. Ron Abo Sensei of DBT Aikido (one of the co-sponsers of Aikido Summit) came over and simply pointed out that I need to move uke's center. That observation was a key realization and connector to my own Aikido and to the Tomiki style Aikido we were practicing. At the end of class, Tenka Sensei's senior students demonstrated their competition style of Aikido. Uke attacks with a tanto and nage responds. The point system wasn't explained but the intensive and active foot-work of both uke and nages was different from the normal pace of practice. One of the excellent senior students was Tenka Sensei's son. Dave Nettles Sensei came over and helped explain an important point of keeping the both blades of nage's hand in front during the bouts (Tenka Sensei mentioned the name of this technique but I can't remember) as a way to deflect attacks from above and from kicks below. His emphasis was that this allows nage to expanded the focus to uke's head and torso and control the attack to a more familiar Aikido technique.

Before lunch the Mirai Daiko Takiko Drum Group gave a short concert of three intense Japanese drumming exhibition songs, two traditional and one modern composition. Tenka Sensei's daughter is one of the members and he drew the parallels between their musical practice and our martial arts practice. I would recommend going to one of their performances and if I have an opportunity, I will attend a full concert.

Kei Izawa Sensei from Aikikai Tanshinjuku taught the forth class of the day. As I mentioned last year in my blog, Izawa Sensei's USAF style is very familiar to what I was originally taught by Knut Bauer Sensei in Champaign, IL. I noticed when Izawa Sensei showed a technique, he tended to throw uke with a break-fall, showing his balance and awareness when practicing kotegashi, shihonage, or koshunages. Before the seminar started, I went over and introduced myself to Izawa Sensei as he had commented on my blog in the past. For me, one of the most valuable aspects of Aikido that I enjoy the most and that I use to evaluate my own practice, is ukemi practice. During one of the techniques, Izawa Sensei came over and I took one of the best break-falls in my life as he showed my partner and I a kokyunage. That ukemi moment was one of the highlights of the seminar for me.

Toby Threadgill Sensei of Takamura ha Shindo Yoshin Ryu taught the fifth class. As he did the year before, Threadgill Sensei stressed the similarities between all of the different styles of ju-jutsu and that to him, Aikido is just another style of ju-jutsu. Threadgill Sensei talked about developing the internal center and then showed us a soto ("outside" technique that can be showed outside the dojo, he referred to other techniques they practice as "internal" or secret techniques just for practitioners of this koryu) exercise Takamura ha Shindo Ryu practice to develop this internal strength. In the same lecture, he mentioned that part of developing internal strength is to understand the human body and bone structure for aligning the bones and center. Continuing this development allowed Treadgill Sensei to keep one and then multiple ukes from disrupting his balance while they tried to push him over by pressing on his hand. Treadgill Sensei said he was able to redirect uke's energy to the ground and not through him to distrupt his balance. Like the super-structure of a building, if nage's bones and internal ki are properly aligned accomplishing these feats of balance and centerness becomes easier. We worked on a number of tanto techniques and Treadgill Sensei while introducing the first emphasized that if you are training and learning about tanto takeaways, we assume that the attacker does not know what they are doing, what could be a quick and fatal mistake.

Ikeda Sensei taught the sixth and final class of the day. Ikeda Sensei continued his focus on developing your internal balance so that nage can disrupt uke's balance with little effort. Ikeda Sensei demonstrated the differences between external or outside balance-breaking with internal balance with ikkyo. He showed how by making large movements, flowing movements, nage can break uke's balance through these overt movements but then he contrasted that approach by demonstrating ikkyo by breaking uke's balance through an almost imperceivable movement that accomplishes the same result of moving uke to the ground without the effort of the overt style. Ikeda Sensei referenced Treadgill Sensei's previous class a couple of times when referring to the development and exercises we can practice to development this internal awareness. Ikeda Sensei showed his exercise for developing this awareness of center by first moving your hips forward, backward, side-to-side, and diagonal, in motions similar to hulu-hoop. Ikeda Sensei then said to reduce the outward demonstration of these same movements by making them smaller and smaller until you are only moving your center in those directions without obvious physical cues that you are making those movements. I had mixed results (as always when I am in an Ikeda Seminar class), some ukes I could easily connect and move with my center, others, I could not budge without resorting to physical power. Whenever I work on these techniques in Ikeda Sensei's classes, I feel like I discover a small bit more in my own journey towards Ikeda Sensei level of ki awareness and movement.

Afterwards, I helped break down the mats and then drove over to Denver Aikikai for a celebration sushi dinner and party. I was able to meet new people and visit with my friends in the Colorado Aikido Community. The Aikido Summit is an unique opportuntity to share in discovery of this rich and complex martial art. Edger Johnson Sensei, of Denver Aikikai, is the major force behind the Summit, and his organization and leadership over the past ten years of putting on the summit is a real testament to his passion and dedication to the art of Aikido. As Rev. Kanya Okamoto mentioned in his opening remarks, Aikido as a journey does not stop when you leave the dojo, this path or "do" continues and imbues everything we do in life. This day and night of Aikido furthered my development as a martial artist and as a human.

Update...

This past week has been spring break at Western and the fitness center is closed so no Aikido classes. Last week I was in Grand Junction for work and then I stayed through the weekend. It was great seeing my Dad, brothers, and I visited my two nephews; Keegan and Zegan.

I am leaving at 2 today for the front range. I am will try to make Boulder Aikikai's 7:15 class tonight and tomorrow is the Aikido Summit at the Buddhist Temple in Denver, co-sponsored by Denver Aikikai. I will be staying with my sister and her family. My plan is come back on Sunday. There is a big snow storm hitting Colorado today so the trip will likely be slow and long but because of the warmer temperature, on the ride back the roads should be better.

Aikido for 03/08/2010

Tonight after warming up, Mike and I practiced the following techniques:

• mune tsuki iriminage omote and ura. For the omote version, nage swings uke's arm in front and then throws uke, in Champaign this technique was called a kokyunage but at other styles/dojos it is called an iriminage
• tanto-tori tsuki iriminage
• mune tsuki ikkyo omote and ura
• tanto-tori tsuki kotegashsi
• mune tsuki shihonage omote and ura

For Wednesday's class we will be starting at 5:30 instead of 6:30 as I am leaving for Grand Junction after class.

Aikido for 03/07/2010

Today for Aikido class, Mike and I spent little over an hour of practice going through the bokken kumitachi 1-4. We then practiced four different katatetori kokyunages, including uchi and soto variations.

Aikido for 03/04/2010

Last night Mike and I warmed up and I added the shikkyo bokken yokomen cut exercise I practiced the night before to our usual warm-up. We then practiced the following techniques:

• ryo katatetori ikkyo omote and ura (two variation, we practiced the ikkyo using both hands
• ryo katatetori tenchin-nage omote and ura
• ryo katatetori sankyo omote and ura

We finished class and discussed going snowboarding on Friday at Crested Butte.

UPDATE: Friday afternoon was great, Mike and I stopped at the Paradise Bowl Warming House and seated at a table over was Tony Hawk and his wife. Cool stuff.

Aikido for 03/03/2010

Last night I arrived, dressed out, and set-up the mats for class. Normally when I am early, I practice with the bokken or jo. I started going through nage's role in the first four kumitachi bokken katas. I also practiced shikkyo (knee-walking) bokken yokemen cuts both forwards and backwards. I ended the half-hour of solo bokken kata practice with a ten-minute zenshin meditation practice sitting in sezei. My mind still wanders but this practice is centering oneself while maintain awareness all around. This practice is different from my usually private meditation practice at home as the social context of practicing Aikido in the center of an active gym means I am surrounded by moving humans. I need to be more aware and project stillness while being prepared to move at any moment, an awareness that requires other people.

I had left my cell-phone at home, so when I returned, Mike had left a message. I called back and we scheduled an Aikido class today from 5:15 to 6:15 at Escalante Fitness Center.

Aikido for 03/01/2010

Last night Mike and I practiced the following techniques after warming-up and ukemi practice:

• shomenuchi iriminage three variations. The first variation is the standard nage slides to the outstretched arm of uke and then steps back tenkan to throw uke with the step-through. The second variation is nage steps back and to the open side of uke, bringing the hand over uke's arm and then nage needs to a big step behind uke for the final tenkan and throw. The last variation is nage intercepts uke's arm in an ikkyo movement before uke has the opportunity to finish the full cut. Once nage has uke's center up, nage responds by sliding into uke's closed side for the same tenkan and irimi throw. All three iriminages were practice to show the same technique from various timing and position of uke in the shomenuchi attack.
• yokomenuchi shihonage omote and ura. This was just the standard aikikai shihonage from yokomen.
• Shomenuchi shihonage omote and ura (two variations). The first variation is nage steps back and to uke's open side, while bringing nage's back hand over uke's forward wrist. Nage then pivots out and steps in for omote, for ura, nage takes a large step with the back foot behind uke for the tenkan shihonage ura throw. The second variation, nage slides in uke's attacks but doesn't pivot tenkan. Nage's inside hand goes underneath uke's attacking arm, while the outside hand grabs shihonage over uke's wrist. Nage moves in front of uke by moving to the side and bringing uke's elbow to accomplish the omote throw. For ura, the initial hand and arms positioning is the same as omote until nage steps tenkan behind uke while bring the wrist up for the ura throw.
• The final technique we practiced was katatetori sankyo omote and ura. We worked on the most basic Aikikai style of sankyo with nage stepping in with an atemi to uke's face before stepping forward for the ikkyo-opening.

For the final 6 throws, nage could alternate between shihonages and iriminages we practiced in class.

Aikido for 02/24/2010

Tonight Mike and I warmed up, practiced our front and back ukemi, and then practiced the following techniques:

• katatetori kotegaeshi omote and ura
• katatetori sankyo omote and ura, 2 variations

We finished class with kokyu-ho exercise.

Aikido for 02/22/2010

Mike and I practiced a number of different kokyunage and hijinages from tsuki for tonight's practice. The number of variations for these techniques is a lot but we focused first on an irimi entering for a cut to to uke's elbow for the first hijinage. We then practiced a kokyunage where nage does a slide and then tenkan before moving the inside hand up to uke's wrist before doing the throw. We also did the traditional hijinage of nage doing an irimi tenkan and then sliding the inside arm up and out and the outside arm down to throw uke. We also practice an ikkyo-style kokyunage from tsuki both omote and ura. We finished up the night's class with a kokyu-ho style kokyunage from tsuki from both omote and ura position.