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CLASS NOTES – Eight Ken Suburi

Over the last two classes, we covered the foundational suburi (sword forms) for bokken which are derived from Chiba sensei’s curriculum. We will continue to refine and expand the conceptual movements over the next several classes. To provide video references between dojo sessions, here are the eight basic suburi as demonstrated by Hori sensei: AndContinue reading “CLASS NOTES – Eight Ken Suburi”

CLASS NOTES – MARCH 8, 2021

As we get back to training in the dojo, movement and breathing are the keys to development. To facilitate upper and lower body integration, conditioning practice focused on Suri ashi and Okuri ashi footwork: contact with the ground with a variety of movement patterns. The patterns derive from Japanese swordsmanship and kendo preserves the granularContinue reading “CLASS NOTES – MARCH 8, 2021”

RETURN TO THE MAT – MARCH 2021

March 1, 2021, the first Monday class after almost a full year off the Aikido mat. Restrictions are still in place – masked, no-contact training – which makes for a challenging teaching and learning environment. Aikido is an energetic art: we need to touch each other to understand how to ‘blend’ with the intentional forceContinue reading “RETURN TO THE MAT – MARCH 2021”