Aikido for 09/08/2011

Tonight for Aikido class, I was scheduled to teach but Bill Howard stopped by and he graciously agreed to teach class. His Aikido is very strong and solid and I have enjoyed seeing his own Aikido change over the few years I have know him and it was great to have him teach tonight. After warm-ups, Bill started off with katatetori tenkan kokyunage with the emphasis on nage relaxing and becoming heavy and soft to throw uke. When Bill was working with me, I noticed and then explained how nage's body position and foot-work turns around the line of attack and then shifts over about a foot-length into uke's space which also has the effect of moving nage's hip and body into uke, further disrupting uke's balance. We worked on katatetori ikkyo variations leading to different ikkyo reversals by uke and nage, ending up with a final nage wrist pin or arm-bar. A good class and I learned more than if I had to teach.