Warkworth-Class Log

2010-04-21T01:11:00.000-07:00

13th April

Class Taken by Andy
Tenkan
Receiving technique correctly

2010-04-14T15:23:00.000-07:00

8th April

8th Form and 3rd Form Projections
Similarities and differences

2010-04-14T15:16:00.000-07:00

Tuesday 6th April

First night at our new Dojo
5th Form Immobilisations
Kokyu
Jo Kokyu
( John Syllabus work)

2010-04-14T15:14:00.000-07:00

April 2nd

13 Count Kata
Kumi Jo 1-3
Kumi Tachi 1-5

2010-04-14T14:59:00.000-07:00

Tuesday 30th March

Ukemi
Ukemi as escape from technique through counter.
Need for committment in attack.
Not disconnecting when a technique starts to be applied (or earlier) but staying connected and following the technique to find the gaps which are the entry to a counter technique.
Acknowledge the correctly applied technique by rolling away.
Counters available from all techniques

2010-04-14T14:54:00.000-07:00

Thursday 25th

Corner Step
Test pulling hand back then pushing - Use push
Corner step to evade bokken cut. get completely clear of the cut while maintaining a sensible (useful) distance
As above to evade a punch
Ikkyo 2nd and 3rd forms positive and negative

2010-04-14T14:49:00.000-07:00

Tuesday 23rd March

3rd Form
Emphasis on corner step and negative entry.
Hanmi Handachi from 3rd form
6th Form throws
Andy's demo

2010-03-14T15:49:00.000-07:00

Thursday 11th March

Kumi Tachi 1- 5
Dan Grades worked on the demonstration techniques.
Kyu Grades - 3rd form (all techniques Dianne) and bokken suburi.

2010-03-14T15:46:00.000-07:00

Tuesday 9th March

Kumi Tachi 1 -5
4th Form Projections . Again emphasis on correct corner step to get off the line of attack and not stepping back in to allow uke to recover their balance. Both sides of the body to be active.

2010-03-03T15:18:00.000-08:00

Tuesday 2nd March

Kaiten Nage positive through all forms 1 to 8
Important points - throw with your body not by levering on the arm. This requires that ukes arm be as close to vertical as possible (harder for them to stand up if they have to lift your weight). Also avoids the problem of very flexible ukes who are difficult to throw using the arm alone particularly if you are not close enough to them.
Uke - as you are drawn in towards nage bring your feet together and continue your attack towards the legs or groin. Stay alert for the knee coming through which will threaten your face. Step out into your ukemi

Bokken taking from Tsuki and Shomen. Correct positioning to allow extension to project uke away. Importance of genuine attack.

2010-02-25T16:50:00.000-08:00

Thursday 25th February

We all worked on Rod and Andy's Demonstration. Timing segments and general technical input.
Finished with 10 minutes of Kokyu

2010-02-25T16:48:00.000-08:00

Tuesday 23rd February

Dan grades worked on Rod's demonstation techniques and format.

Kyu Grades 1st Form techniques (Shihonage, Kote Gaeshi, Ikkyo and Nikkyo)

2010-02-22T12:57:00.000-08:00

Thursday 18th February

Comparing technique done Static, One Step and Ki no Nagare
Tai no Henka
2nd form techniques Shihonage, Ikkyo, Kote Gaeshi and Nikkyo

2010-02-17T16:55:00.000-08:00

Tuesday 16th February

Jo Techniques

Nine techniques
Key elements are to ensure the jo does not drop to the floor when someone is taking ukemi off it. Control is aided by tucking the back hand close to the body and having the front hand in the middle third of the jo.
Remember there is rotation of the jo as part of the techniques.
If passing under the jo keep it as vertical as possible so uke cannot take over control but dont over extend them so they have to let go.
Ukes - you are holding the jko to avoid being struck by it but when you take ukemi it may be wiser to let go with one hand to roll safely. Pay attention to how you guide the jo to avoid being struck.

Jo Kokyu
Control of the jo is again an issue that needs to be addressed. Dont stand and wait for ukes to come to you, approach them (with the jo across the body not pointing directly at them).
On change the new nage takes the jo by applying a technique rather than just handing it over.

2010-02-15T15:18:00.000-08:00

Thursday 11th February

Class taken by Ray Eder from Kyu Shin Do Aikido

8th form Ushiro Eri Dori
Getting off the line when turning. Taking the balance and avoiding getting tangled in the arm holding the collar.
Similarities between 8th form and 3rd form were pointed out

2010-02-09T22:59:00.000-08:00

Tuesday 9th February

Bokken Awase
Awase Blending movement; from verb awaseru, to blend, harmonize. Frequently used in aikido to evoke the notion of harmony with the movement of one's partner.

Stress on the commonality of the footwork with hand techniques. And also the relationship between the moves used in the awase and the bokken suburi.
How to use footwork to 'set up' the correct distance.
How the nature of attack will determine where you position yourself in defence to be best able to follow through.
Holding the centre. Particularly 4th Awase ensuring that when you deflect the attack you dont leave yourself wide open.

Check out this link for discussion about the value of weapons training http://www.aikiweb.com/weapons/gleason1.html

This link describes the movements but does not have all the variations we do
http://wazajournal.com/kamae/tachi/7-ken-awase-summary.html

2010-02-09T14:39:00.000-08:00

Thursday 4th February

7th Form
Looking at the similarities between 7th and 2nd forms in particular
For the positive techniques emphasis on the corner step to get off the line. Exceptions : Irimi Nage and Tenshi Nage where and Irmi movement is used to get off the line and position yourself to apply the technique.
Importance of use of the hips to engage with uke and then break their balance.

2010-02-03T15:31:00.000-08:00

Tueday 2nd February

Dan Grades (5 present) worked as a group going through 6th form and part of 7th form

Kyu Grades (2 only present) worked on Tenshi Nage and Irimi Nage 1st and second form , ukemi and some basic weapons practice.

2010-01-31T17:55:00.000-08:00

Thursday 28th January

Weapons Session
Bokken Suburi - working on correct stance and direction of lead foot and incorporating aspects of the lesson on irimi to get drive off the back foot on Tsuki moves. Ensuring the Right hip is not 'lazy'
Bokken Awase
1 & 2 only working on intention to hold the centre, Direction as above and correct use of hips. The relationshp between the footwork in these exercises and various techniques we have practiced recently.
13 Count Kata
Reviewing intention of the moves and conveying this to the observer. Correct vision and stance.

Tuesday 26th January

2010-01-27T15:35:00.000-08:00

Theme was Tenkan

Solo Tenkan movement
As above but with hand work as in Tai No Henka

Tai No Henka - ensure full tenkan

1st form negative Ikkyo with attention to the tenkan and circular movement with the sense of pushing not pulling.

3rd form Sankkyo negative with attention to moving off the line correctly, be behind the elblow, take the wrist NOT the hand so there is a clean hand change and maintain the twist throughout the movement. During the tenkan same side leg and hand sweep around together so uke's elbow stays close to your knee.

5th form negative Kote Gaeshi - 2 variations: our standard negative where uke continues their attack and 'runs on to the technique' and the variation where you do tenkan and uke does not move so the inside leg steps back opening a space to apply kote gaeshi.

5th form negative Tenchi Nage allowing the attack to come through completely and avoiding it by tenkan to end up shoulder to shoulder. Pick up under ukes attacking arm and use it to turn them (in towards you) as you take a step back with the inside leg then lead through into tenchin nage. 'Up hand' over the shoulder in preference to under the armpit (though there are occassions when a strike here is useful. Ukes must pay attention to turning and rolling on the correct arm.

5th form Yonkyo Negative. Dont disturb the attack just pick it up at the end and take into Ikkyo. Hand change to yonkyo and ensure ukes forarm is lined up with your centre. Tenkan directing uke's elbow around and down in a spiral.

2010-01-22T12:44:00.000-08:00

Lesson based around Irimi movement.
- as basic solo paractice
- to enter from a shomen attack with the correct attitude (attacking defence)
- as a part of the Jo Tsuki movement
- as a part of the Yonkyo take down (beginning from 3rd form attack in this case)
Last part of the class covered some of the fundimentals of 5th form (shomen)techniques including the use of irimi and tenkan in the 'set up' for the technique

2010-01-20T17:12:00.000-08:00

http://www.aikido-world.com/articles/irimi-tenkan.htm
http://www.aikidojournal.com/article?articleID=686

Tuesday 19th January

2010-01-19T23:02:00.000-08:00

3rd Form immobilisations
Ikkyo
correct corner step and atemi. Take the wrist not the hand. Rotate the elbow rather than attack it with an arm bar. Move the lead foot sideways (away from uke) if necessary to make space. Ukes forearm in your centre.
Nikyo
As above plus - make sure uke's wrist joint is not protected by your grip.
For the pin- drop their wrist into your elbow before you kneel. Cut the elbow into your centre so their shoulder is taken away from their centre.
Sankyo
Ikkyo beginning as above plus - Correct grip and maintain rotation on the hand/wrist so their shoulder comes forward. Positive occurs when uke tries to stand and elbow you in the face. Your inside foot steps back to move them out of the way. Cast and take down. For the pin kneel above the shoulder and change hands and the pin will be applied a you swing the other knee in. Again extend their shoulder away from their spine.
For negative take the arm between you and uke and tenkan ensuring that their elbow moves with your leg.

Thursday 14th Jan

2010-01-17T17:45:00.000-08:00

Ikkyo Undo, Zengo Undo and Happo Undo working on complete turns and power from the centre. Attention to foot positi0n for some.
Relationship between these exercises and 5th form block (the upward movement) and strike (the downward movement)
Exercise in 3's based on the above.
Relationship between these exercises and bokken cut through 1st bokken suburi.

2010-01-12T17:49:00.000-08:00

Revisiting basics

Ukemi - Everyone needs to pay attention to keeping their toes tucked under.

First Form:

All techniques - must take balance first

Shihonage - Take down through your own centre

Kote Gaeshi - introducing negative variation

Iriminage - reinforcing - you must be behind uke and use your hip rotation

Kaiten Nage - Ukes fingers must come to the floor or they are not bent over sufficiently (balance not taken) Hand which stops them standing should be on the head not the neck.

Tenshi Nage - Take is the same for positive and negative. Have the 'heaven' hand up and forward when they come around for the negative.

Ikkyo - Crank the elbow and keep the shape until balance is taken (as a basic). Elbow aligned to your centre (positive and negative)

Last Class 2009

2009-12-27T03:25:00.000-08:00

As it was the last class everyone got to chose something to work on. Each person did a demonstration of what they had chosen then we practiced it. It ended up being a very eclectic class. Here is what we did:
Alec - Randori .
Mike - ukemi tag.
Gareth - taino henka
Kate -5th form Shiho Nage
Rod - various techniques from Hanmi Handchi
Andy -3 versions of Shihonage from 2nd form
Gail - 2 knofe taking techniques

2009-12-19T22:03:00.000-08:00

The purpose of this blog is to record what has been covered in class each session so that students who are absent can check and update themselves and to ensure that I cover all aspects of the syllabus.