Friday, January 27, 2012
Aikido for 01/26/2012
Tip emailed and asked if anyone could cover his class so I offered and taught class. After warm-ups, we worked kosadori ikkyo and iriminage and then we practiced first the Aiki-jiujitsu movement that George Ledyard Sensei showed us at San Diego Bridge Seminar. I then had us practice a couple of Ikeda Sensei's internal aiki exercises before finishing up this good class to teach.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Aikido for 01/24/2012
Ken taught class and although there was only three of us, we worked on shomen static techniques including ikkyo and the beginning of the first jo katas.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Aikido Bridge Friendship Seminar Day Five
Today was the last day of the Aikido Bridge Friendship Seminar in San Diego and like all of these events, somewhat bittersweet because I had such an enjoyable time. A time goes by and I get older, I learn more and feel my own practice, understanding, and conception of Aikido deepens and is enriched.
The first class was taught by Tissier Sensei who after warm-ups, started off with a katatetori ikkyo technique where nage slides off the line bringing the grabbed hand diagonally across the body while doing an atemi to the face before coming over the top of the hand and completing the ikkyo throw and pin. He then showed if the nage position is too wide, then nikkyo is the natural option because of the flow into throw and pin. We then worked on a sankyo pin from the same opening and pin. Tissier Sensei then had us practice a shomenuchi ikkyo opening from ai hamni with nage getting off the line about 45 degrees either to uke's open or closed side. Nage's hand position with the forward hand absorbs the strike while the inside hand grabs uke's elbow and then can either throw uke for an omote or ura throw.
Doran Sensei taught the second class and after katatetori tenkan, irimi, and opening exercise, we worked on the
The final class was taught by Ikeda Sensei and he continued with
This seminar I had series of small, but significant breakthroughs that are hard to verbalize and write about but are a function of the internal structures of my own body and energy flows through it. I feel that I so fortunate and privileged to have been able to receive such instruction and to reconnect with old friends and make some great new friends as well.
The first class was taught by Tissier Sensei who after warm-ups, started off with a katatetori ikkyo technique where nage slides off the line bringing the grabbed hand diagonally across the body while doing an atemi to the face before coming over the top of the hand and completing the ikkyo throw and pin. He then showed if the nage position is too wide, then nikkyo is the natural option because of the flow into throw and pin. We then worked on a sankyo pin from the same opening and pin. Tissier Sensei then had us practice a shomenuchi ikkyo opening from ai hamni with nage getting off the line about 45 degrees either to uke's open or closed side. Nage's hand position with the forward hand absorbs the strike while the inside hand grabs uke's elbow and then can either throw uke for an omote or ura throw.
Doran Sensei taught the second class and after katatetori tenkan, irimi, and opening exercise, we worked on the
The final class was taught by Ikeda Sensei and he continued with
This seminar I had series of small, but significant breakthroughs that are hard to verbalize and write about but are a function of the internal structures of my own body and energy flows through it. I feel that I so fortunate and privileged to have been able to receive such instruction and to reconnect with old friends and make some great new friends as well.
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Aikido for 01/21/2012
I arrived early at the dojo because we had youth testing at 9:30. After the youth warmed up, three of them tested and looked acceptable for the level they are training at; when finished, the class continued with ukemi practice and then the open Aikido class started with large class of 12 people. Garry taught the open class and since we decided to have one adult test, after reviewing three or four of the techniques on the 4th kyu test, Ty tested for 4th kyu without knowing that he would be testing when he arrived! He did great although he should of known some of the names and movements but I attribute that to test anxiety. He easily passed onto to the next kyu rank.
Friday, January 20, 2012
Aikido for 01/19/2012
Tip taught class and after warm-ups we worked on a number of different kokyunages, ikkyos from different attacks including katatetori and shomenuchi. We also worked on sankyo and at the end of class we worked on three different bokken-tori techniques were nage does a bokken takeway. Good class although I bruised my left hip early in class and had to hobble through the rest of class (it didn't last past that night)
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Aikido for 01/17/2012
For Tuesday night class Ken taught class we review some of the techniques and principles from the Aikido Bridge seminar the both of us attended over the weekend. After warming up, we worked on Doran Sensei's opening movement that we practiced multiple times that involved nage stepping back and solidifying into a stance that prevented uke from attacking and then following through with the rest of the technique. For Tissier Sensei, Ken had me show the shomen opening that Tissier Sensei had us practice with the emphasis on how to prepare for if uke is ready for a counter and how to be in position to go to the next step in the technique. For the final technique, Ken worked on Ikeda Sensei katatetori internal unity exercises with a focus on irimi and connecting to uke's center and breaking balance with uke.
Good class even though I was operating on a few hours of sleep from getting into the Springs from early in the morning.
Good class even though I was operating on a few hours of sleep from getting into the Springs from early in the morning.
Monday, January 16, 2012
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Aikido Bridge Friendship Seminar Day Three
Last night involved too much beer so I missed the 8:15 class.
Doran Sensei taught the second class of the day. After warming up and working on tenkan and irimi exercise Doran Sensei had us work on ryokatatetori techniques when uke grabs both nage's hands. From these grabs, uke's intention is not to just stop but to follow through with a kick so nage must be prepared for the kick and get out of the way or be prepared in some other way for that follow-up attack. We started with the ikkyo and then went to a nikkyo followed by a sankyo technique.
Ikeda Sensei taught the third class of the day and his emphasize of nage maintaining unity with uke was the focus of the different katatetori. Ikeda Sensei said something interesting (at least to me) in that in Aikido we often hear and talk about nage needing to breaking uke's "balance" all of the time, but what does "breaking balance" really mean? Ikeda Sensei stated that breaking balance is really about weakening uke, or making uke weak and not allowing uke to assert power but by moving oneself and by achieving unity with uke, it doesn't matter the size of uke, you can throw or control the movement of uke (the ideal of Aikido).
Tissier Sensei was the instructor for the forth class and we worked on a series of kaitenages from a variety of different attacks including katateori, shomenuchi, and ryokatetotori. We continued working on the same themes from earlier classes where nage knows what are the next steps in the progression of the technique, one can anticipate and be ready to respond if uke counters the movement of the application of the technique.
George Ledyard Sensei was the guest instructor for the final class of the day. Ledyard Sensei wanted to expand on what may of the different sensei were talking about in their classes so he started off by talking about how physicists conceptualize the nature of light and matter being both particles and waves. He stated that O'Sensei saw everything as waves and that what Ikeda Sensei in particular was trying to impart in his internal Aikido teaching was more wave based and not particle based. We first worked on an exercise from Daito-Ryu Aiki-jujitsu, where nage is against a wall and uke grabs both hands, nage first moves the pelvis, then lower back, followed by the shoulders and bends forward all which create a wave that breaks-down the structure of uke and we all practiced this before moving off the wall and practiced it free-standing. We worked on a number of related exercises and techniques with Ledyard Sensei explaining its relationships to energy as waves and not solid as particles. This class was very interesting and helpful in the context of the other instructors and sensei at the seminars.
Doran Sensei taught the second class of the day. After warming up and working on tenkan and irimi exercise Doran Sensei had us work on ryokatatetori techniques when uke grabs both nage's hands. From these grabs, uke's intention is not to just stop but to follow through with a kick so nage must be prepared for the kick and get out of the way or be prepared in some other way for that follow-up attack. We started with the ikkyo and then went to a nikkyo followed by a sankyo technique.
Ikeda Sensei taught the third class of the day and his emphasize of nage maintaining unity with uke was the focus of the different katatetori. Ikeda Sensei said something interesting (at least to me) in that in Aikido we often hear and talk about nage needing to breaking uke's "balance" all of the time, but what does "breaking balance" really mean? Ikeda Sensei stated that breaking balance is really about weakening uke, or making uke weak and not allowing uke to assert power but by moving oneself and by achieving unity with uke, it doesn't matter the size of uke, you can throw or control the movement of uke (the ideal of Aikido).
Tissier Sensei was the instructor for the forth class and we worked on a series of kaitenages from a variety of different attacks including katateori, shomenuchi, and ryokatetotori. We continued working on the same themes from earlier classes where nage knows what are the next steps in the progression of the technique, one can anticipate and be ready to respond if uke counters the movement of the application of the technique.
George Ledyard Sensei was the guest instructor for the final class of the day. Ledyard Sensei wanted to expand on what may of the different sensei were talking about in their classes so he started off by talking about how physicists conceptualize the nature of light and matter being both particles and waves. He stated that O'Sensei saw everything as waves and that what Ikeda Sensei in particular was trying to impart in his internal Aikido teaching was more wave based and not particle based. We first worked on an exercise from Daito-Ryu Aiki-jujitsu, where nage is against a wall and uke grabs both hands, nage first moves the pelvis, then lower back, followed by the shoulders and bends forward all which create a wave that breaks-down the structure of uke and we all practiced this before moving off the wall and practiced it free-standing. We worked on a number of related exercises and techniques with Ledyard Sensei explaining its relationships to energy as waves and not solid as particles. This class was very interesting and helpful in the context of the other instructors and sensei at the seminars.
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Aikido Bridge Friendship Seminar Day Two
This morning's first class was taught by Troy Farrow Sensei from Boulder and after a good warm-up, he called me up to be uke for tenkan practice both from katatetori and from kosadori. During his class we focused on keeping your posture while stepping around and moving uke while doing the technique.
The second class was taught by Ikeda Sensei who continued his instruction from last night, talking about how uke and nage keep the alignment of their center before moving. Nage needs to break uke's balance when the point of contact is made, even if uke is coming at full speed and power. Ikeda Sensei showed how this starts from the brain with a vivid live demonstration by having his uke run at him at full speed push him across the mat. Ikeda Sensei then said ukemi practice is not just learning the basic front, back, and break-falls but learning how to protect yourself from any attack and not getting harmed. He then had his uke do the same attack and easily redirected and threw his uke or performed an ikkyo pin.
Tissier Sensei taught the third class of the morning and we started off with shomenuchi ikkyo. Tissier Sensei spent some time showing and demonstrating how at any point an experienced uke can stop nage's technique if nage does not anticipate and move onto to the next step in the technique before uke can set or prepare for the counter. We then moved onto and worked on a couple of shihonage variations where I think Tissier Sensei could explain this concept of anticipation and step and follow through.
Doran Sensei taught the 3:00 class and following up from his comments from last night, he started us off with doing aiki movements to warm-up without doing the full throws. He emphasized that we should be looking for three things when doing our Aikido; aiki, kosushi or breaking balance, and shisei or posture when doing techniques. We then started from a high jodan tsuki to the face opening where nage slides in and brings up the inside hand and rests it on top of uke's bicep followed up with a quick atemi to uke's face. From there, when uke block's the atemi, we worked on a number of different ikkyo techniques moves towards a nikkyo and sankyo. We finished with switching feet and having nage use a different hand to move into the technique.
The final class of the was taught by Greg O'Connor Sensei from New Jersey. His emphasis from a multiple different attacks was a variation of diagonal sword cut across uke's center-line while nage keeps loose and balanced. For some reason (likely because I was tired, stupid or both :-) I felt very much a beginner and sometimes couldn't even accomplish the most basic movement of the demonstrated movement.
The second class was taught by Ikeda Sensei who continued his instruction from last night, talking about how uke and nage keep the alignment of their center before moving. Nage needs to break uke's balance when the point of contact is made, even if uke is coming at full speed and power. Ikeda Sensei showed how this starts from the brain with a vivid live demonstration by having his uke run at him at full speed push him across the mat. Ikeda Sensei then said ukemi practice is not just learning the basic front, back, and break-falls but learning how to protect yourself from any attack and not getting harmed. He then had his uke do the same attack and easily redirected and threw his uke or performed an ikkyo pin.
Tissier Sensei taught the third class of the morning and we started off with shomenuchi ikkyo. Tissier Sensei spent some time showing and demonstrating how at any point an experienced uke can stop nage's technique if nage does not anticipate and move onto to the next step in the technique before uke can set or prepare for the counter. We then moved onto and worked on a couple of shihonage variations where I think Tissier Sensei could explain this concept of anticipation and step and follow through.
Doran Sensei taught the 3:00 class and following up from his comments from last night, he started us off with doing aiki movements to warm-up without doing the full throws. He emphasized that we should be looking for three things when doing our Aikido; aiki, kosushi or breaking balance, and shisei or posture when doing techniques. We then started from a high jodan tsuki to the face opening where nage slides in and brings up the inside hand and rests it on top of uke's bicep followed up with a quick atemi to uke's face. From there, when uke block's the atemi, we worked on a number of different ikkyo techniques moves towards a nikkyo and sankyo. We finished with switching feet and having nage use a different hand to move into the technique.
The final class of the was taught by Greg O'Connor Sensei from New Jersey. His emphasis from a multiple different attacks was a variation of diagonal sword cut across uke's center-line while nage keeps loose and balanced. For some reason (likely because I was tired, stupid or both :-) I felt very much a beginner and sometimes couldn't even accomplish the most basic movement of the demonstrated movement.
Friday, January 13, 2012
Aikido Bridge Friendship Seminar Day One
Last night was the first class of the 2012 San Diego Aikido Bride Seminar with Ikeda Sensei, Tissier Sensei, and Doran Sensei.
Ikeda Sensei started off the night with katatetori tenkan and katetori irimi exercise. He then had us work on variations of these techniques with the emphasis on irimi with irimi being understood as nage's center connecting through a line through uke's center and then achieving unity and moving uke. I worked with a number of different ukes, some I recognized from years past, and it helped that I have been attending Ikeda Sensei's classes over the past few years and I am start to understand some of what he is explaining in his classes.
Doran Sensei taught the second class and his main point of focus for the class was finishing the conflict with the first point of contact between uke and nage. We worked on a couple of different techniques that were similar to the ones he demonstrated at summer camp where nage switches feet position and brings the hand in front of the center prevent uke from a follow-up strike or kick. He then showed us and a couple of more irimi variations I haven't seen before that the first involved nage getting underneath uke are for the irimi. I always like how Doran Sensei always brings out the relationship between the sword and our open-hand techniques and he ended class with the point from a 16th century Japanesse samuri sword master, that there are two ways to master the sword; study through technique and study through principles, and Doran Sensei wants us to think about both during this seminar.
Tissier Sensei taught the final class for the evening and although we only worked on a few techniques (katatetori kokyunage tenkan, katatetori shihonage, katatetori kotegashi) his main point was that as we advanced uke learns to anticipate where the attack is coming and can prevent nage but nage needs to move not just faster but be able to adjust the position in a slightly different manner that prevents that anticipation, in doing so also prevents this stoppage by uke.
Ikeda Sensei started off the night with katatetori tenkan and katetori irimi exercise. He then had us work on variations of these techniques with the emphasis on irimi with irimi being understood as nage's center connecting through a line through uke's center and then achieving unity and moving uke. I worked with a number of different ukes, some I recognized from years past, and it helped that I have been attending Ikeda Sensei's classes over the past few years and I am start to understand some of what he is explaining in his classes.
Doran Sensei taught the second class and his main point of focus for the class was finishing the conflict with the first point of contact between uke and nage. We worked on a couple of different techniques that were similar to the ones he demonstrated at summer camp where nage switches feet position and brings the hand in front of the center prevent uke from a follow-up strike or kick. He then showed us and a couple of more irimi variations I haven't seen before that the first involved nage getting underneath uke are for the irimi. I always like how Doran Sensei always brings out the relationship between the sword and our open-hand techniques and he ended class with the point from a 16th century Japanesse samuri sword master, that there are two ways to master the sword; study through technique and study through principles, and Doran Sensei wants us to think about both during this seminar.
Tissier Sensei taught the final class for the evening and although we only worked on a few techniques (katatetori kokyunage tenkan, katatetori shihonage, katatetori kotegashi) his main point was that as we advanced uke learns to anticipate where the attack is coming and can prevent nage but nage needs to move not just faster but be able to adjust the position in a slightly different manner that prevents that anticipation, in doing so also prevents this stoppage by uke.
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Aikido for 01/07/2012
I taught both the open and fundamental Aikido classes for Garry on Saturday. For the open class we had 12 students so it was the largest Aikido class I have ever taught. After warm-ups, and our standard katatetori tenkan and irimi kokyunages, we worked on yokomenuchi kotegashi omote and ura, yokomenuchi shihonage omote and ura, and yokomenuchi kokyunage.
For the fundamental class, after warm-ups, where I introduced happo-undo exercise to the beginners, we spent a significant amount of time on forward and backward ukemi practice on the nice blue mats before working on shomenuchi iriminage and shomenuchi ikkyo from a static start.
For the fundamental class, after warm-ups, where I introduced happo-undo exercise to the beginners, we spent a significant amount of time on forward and backward ukemi practice on the nice blue mats before working on shomenuchi iriminage and shomenuchi ikkyo from a static start.
Friday, January 6, 2012
Aikido for 01/05/2012
Last night Tip taught and most of the dojo attended class. We worked on moretori techniques including some interesting kokyunages and shihonages. After class Ken and I went to OC for a couple of beers.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Aikido for 01/04/2012
Garry taught class and covered for Ken. After warm-ups, we started class with the usual katatetori tenkan kokyunage and katatetori irimi kokyunage. We then worked on the shomen kihowaza or static style nikkyo omote and ura because we a newer students in class. We finished class with seated kokyu-ho tanden-ho exercise. I always like working on these basic, fundamental Aikido techniques because I can always improve.
Monday, January 2, 2012
Thinking about 2012
So, the shift from resolution to one of impulse control in 2011 was largely a success for me. I lost over 30 pounds. I definitely lead a more active social life, also reconnecting with my old friend Greg. I became an active member of the Colorado Spring Monthly Meeting. I earned my shodan in Aikido and adopted my sister (by way of my brother) dog, Casie.
I'll continue working on my impulse control; avoiding all tobacco products this year, also increasing sensitivity of the what and why of my speech and actions. Balancing life choices between the good and the necessary; accepting and learning from the failures, the bad with the success.
Happy 2012 everyone!
I'll continue working on my impulse control; avoiding all tobacco products this year, also increasing sensitivity of the what and why of my speech and actions. Balancing life choices between the good and the necessary; accepting and learning from the failures, the bad with the success.
Happy 2012 everyone!
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