Aikido Bridge Friendship Seminar Day 1

The first class was taught by Ikeda Sensei. After warming up, Ikeda Sensei talked about how when we start to learn Aikido, we focus on the wrist when practicing katatetori, trying to move uke through moving the wrist. Ikeda Sensei had us focus on the shoulder as we move up the arm from the wrist, to the elbow, and then to the shoulder, moving eventually to moving uke's center automatically when attacked. We practiced katatetori kokyuunages as well as ikkyo omote and ura. We then switched to kosatori kokyunages with the focus not so much moving your entire body out of the way of uke's attack but on moving your own center.

The second class was taught by Doran Sensei. He picked up on Ikeda Sensei and we worked on kosatori techniques for the session. We started off with a kosatori iriminage and Doran Sensei had nage start with the palm up and then nage brings the hand up, sweeping past uke and then throws uke. We then practiced a couple of kosatori kokyunages followed with kosatori ikkyo and some other techniques all focusing on the hand movement extending into uke. Doran Sensei's movement and perspective tonight was on the extending and harmonizing ki. We laughed when he said that we don't want to practice kiki, with both uke and nage extending ki at the same time but not what strive for which is aiki or nage's try to harmonizing the extension of ki by uke during an attack.

Tissier Sensei taught the third class with a kosadori iriminage. We then worked on shomenuchi techniques, starting with shomenuchi iriminage. Tissier Sensei demonstrated and then talked about how to not to try to throw uke too soon with the throwing arm, to keep arm extended until the throw while rotating the arm and the hand to the final position. By delaying the rotation in the iriminage, nage is better able to complete the throw even if nage is stronger than expected. We then worked on a shomenuchi shihonage omote where nage blocks uke's attack and then cuts to throw uke. I believe I was working with one of Tissier Sensei's students and I was having a brain fart and not able to the block effectively while she was able to throw me with ease. We also worked on a shomenuchi ikkyo where after blocking the forward hand, nage grabs and rolls the forearm to provide leverage for the throw.

The seminar has started strong and I was able to see a number of people I know from the previous Bridge Seminar from last year, including Bob and Craig. Tory from Boulder was there and I was able to say hi to Ikeda Sensei. The photos are from this morning's trip to Mission Beach. It was a beautiful and special day and tomorrow starts at 9:30 class. I'm planning on going out to dinner and party afterward with my cousin Jason, a U.S. Marine stationed here in San Diego.