Aikido for 05/28/2011

For class on Saturday we worked on the following techniques:

• Katatetori kokyunage tenkan-style
• Katatetori kokyunage irimi-style


• Katateotri ikkyo and nikkyo
• Katatetori ji-waza
• Jo Kata #3
• Kosadori irimi-style kokyunage

Aikido for 05/26/2011

Thursday night Tip taught class with the number of students attending at 10, one of the larger Thursday night classes. After warming up, we practiced a number of techniques including a variety of different kokyunages and Tip also showed us a different type of yokomen entry that involves shifting back and then entering into uke's space.

After class a group of us went to Old Chicago for some food and beer.

Aikido for 05/25/2011

Last night for Aikido it was just Ken, Garry, Bradley, and myself. After warm ups, we worked on a number of tsuki kokyunages with nage not blocking the punch to the face but shifting slightly and moving into uke's space before shifting and bringing uke off balance. The idea was to develop sensitivity to the strike and if it is a quick jab to be just off the line without trying to take uke's balance while waiting for a more committed strike that provides enough leverage and timing to break uke's balance.

We also worked on jo kata openings before class ended.

Aikido for 05/21/2011

Today I arrived early for the youth testing; they all did well and then the adult testing started. I was uke for Aiden and Carlos, both testing for 5th kyu, as a warm-up for a my full shodon test. I went through many of the techniques and I quickly became winded when Ken had three uke's attack with a tanto from shomen, yokomen, tsuki, and open. After those ji-waza, I had a three person randori that went well before I went through the first 5 kumatachi and kumjo exercises. I had to reminded what the 5th kumatachi and I need help with the last three jo katas.

In all a good experience, one thing this is very clear is that I am out of shape and I need to get out more. My core fitness is suspect and I started to breath so heavy after the jiwaza and randori that I thought for a second that I would pass out. I didn't but continued anyway Now I feel like I have earned my shodon ranking.

Aikido for 05/19/2011

Tonight Kip taught class and since Clint was initially the only student to show-up, we focused on the 5th kyu test requirements including shomenuchi nikkyo omote and ura, katatori ikkyo and nikkyo omote and ura. We then worked on tsuki kaitenage omote and ura, shomenuchi iriminage, and both the first kumijo and kumatachi katas. Garry arrived a little later but a new student showed up so Garry gave a private beginner lessons while Clint and I worked on the test requirements. A good class and although I don't know what exactly will be on my own shodon test on Saturday, I'll just focus on breaking balance and breathing during my test.

Aikido for 05/17/2011

After warm-ups and katatetori tenkan kokyu-nage, katatetori irimi kokyu-nage. Ken then paired us off and I worked with Tom on his testing requirements.

Aikido for 05/10/2011

In class night Ken started off practice with the basic katatetori kokyunage tenkan and irimi exercises and then we worked on shomen iriminage and breaking balance of uke by bringing uke balance towards nage.

Aikido for 05/09/2011

On Monday I went to the dojo for test practice. I worked with Clint on his test techniques and at the end of class I was able to practice some koshinages with Clint taking some nice breakfalls for me.

Aikido for 05/07/2011

Yesterday for the Aikido open class, Garry started right off with the following techniques:

• katatetori tenkan kokyunage
• katatetori kokyunage irimi variation
• katatetori shihonage omote and ura
• shomenuchi nikkyo omote and ura
• bokken kata #1, I was practicing with Aiden and I took a glancing blow to my right index finger that I didn't realize I was bleeding until I looked down and I saw blood splatters over the mat. We stopped so I could clean up and put a band-aid on my finger
• jo kata #1

Aikido for 05/06/2011

Last night I taught Aikido at the college. One of my colleagues at library, Daryl, showed up and so after we called security to open-up the supply room to retrieve the mats, we practiced the following:

• tenkan and irimi movement exercises
• katatetori tenkan exercise
• forward and backward ukemi
• katatetori sumitoshi
• kokyu tannon ho exercise

It was a good class and even with one person, I never leave feeling like I wasted my time.

Aikido for 05/05/2011

Last night Tip taught class and I was fortunately enough to actually make a Thursday night class this month. After warming up, we worked on a number of katetetori kokyunage variations where nage instead of doing a full tenkan, only tenkans to 45 degrees before doing the technique. We then worked on the following:

• katatetori kokyunage 3 variations
• katatetori kaitenage omote
• kateteori ikkyo omote and ura
• tsuki kokyunage
• tsuki iriminage

I enjoyed myself and got a good work-out as Tip's primary uke for the demonstrations.

Aikido for 05/03/2011

For tonight's class Ken focused again on disrupting uke's balance in the techniques and exercises. We worked on the following:

• katatetori kokyunage tenkan
• shomenuchi break-balance by turning nage's center slightly and then bringing uke down, this works better if nage connects more with uke's forearm.
• shomenuchi iriminage omote
• shomenuchi iriminage tenkan

This morning I was reading Saotome Sensei's book and I saw the kanji for ukemi. Since ukemi is so important, I decided to sketch the following that I scanned and uploaded to the blog. I'm thinking that this will be the basis for a new Aikido painting. Instead of creating on the canvas in paint; I want to fully sketch out the painting first before I start painting. I want the woman taking ukemi to more realistic (maybe even a portrait!) so I need to practice my artistic take on the human form practicing Aikido.

Aikido for 05/02/2011

Tonight at the dojo was test prep for May 21st kyu testing. Since I'll be doing a shodon test myself; I'll try to attend all three classes leading up to the testing date. Tonight Ken, Clint, and I went through the 5th kyu testing requirements in detail with me being full-time uke as Clint practiced shomenuchi nikkyo omote and ura, kata dori ikkyo and nikkyo omote and ura, munetsuki kaitenage omote and ura. We also worked on katatetori shihonage ura as well.

At the end, I got out the thicker blue mats and Clint was great to agree to be my uke as I went through different koshinage variations from different yokomenuchi, shomenuchi, and tsuki attacks. Clint took some great falls and was a great uke. A good practice and Ken helped me a lot by reminding me to keep my heels together and feet pointed at 45 degrees. My right knee and hip are still weak and my technique is the fails when I let that weakness influence my movement. My leg can clearly take the extra movement; it is just deep bone and muscle pain that I should eventually get checked out. My knee injury is primarily from snowboarding with poorly fitted bindings, my right hip is from a bad snowboarding fall on Crested Butte a couple of years ago.