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