protectivearts

KIHON – IKKYO AND NIKKYO

It has taken the entire year for me to actually start a more systematic presentation of the kihon waza, which was my goal in January. And so it goes. Ikkyo through yonkyo – the first through fourth techniques. Gyakuhanmi katatedori sets up the encounter. We focus on nage and the count. The geometry of the footwork needsContinue reading “KIHON – IKKYO AND NIKKYO”

CIRCULAR DISSOLVES

Circular dissolves. Master Keating explains the concept. What we explore here is a counter-clockwise dissolve but the concepts are applicable to clockwise dissolves. For the last several classes we have been exploring circular dissolves though the simplified cross-hand encounter – aihanmi katate dori (R/R, L/L grasps). Setting the encounter: Nage presents hand thumb up –Continue reading “CIRCULAR DISSOLVES”

USHIRO TENKAN

Gyaku hanmi katate dori ashi sabaki. I use the static encounter as a starting point because it safely teaches powerful concepts. Aikido’s focus on connection is important to feel as a bodily (somatic) connection with your partner. From the moment uke grasps nage’s hand, nage must sink (break plane, dropping the center) in order to capture theContinue reading “USHIRO TENKAN”