protectivearts

CHRIS MULLIGAN

Mulligan Sensei is currently 6th Dan and, with his wife Okamoto sensei, runs Aikido Kyoto. Okamoto and Mulligan sensei started the Kyoto dojo upon their return to Japan in 2003. Before Kyoto, Mulligan and Okamoto sensei founded Portland Aikikai. But the journey started well before then. _______________________________ Mulligan Sensei, thank you for taking the time to giveContinue reading “CHRIS MULLIGAN”

RYOTEDORI

Ryotedori – two hands vs two hands. There are any number of basic body-building reasons to train ryotedori – tanren development, resistance training – but for the advanced practitioner it is an indexing exercise. Indexing. The total number of combinations in a two hand v two hand wrist grab is three: double inside, double outside, one inContinue reading “RYOTEDORI”

TESTING

Testing in Aikido is a performance art. Without overt competition there is no immediate external validation of one’s skill and achievement. A presentation of one’s understanding of the art at that moment in time, along the path of one’s development is the goal. (Tarim Kim has sound advice on knowing what you know now.[1]) That implies an objectiveContinue reading “TESTING”