IKKYO IS MAKIOTOSHI

This morning we started with bokken. Standard shomen cut suburi to free the shoulders, then slide-cut to incorporate footwork (ashi-sabaki). From solo suburi to shomen uchi as a paired exercise. Shidachi gives gedan no kamai to invite uchidachi to strike.[1] Uchidachi strikes at the available opening: shomen. Shidachi receives with a cross block with a slight forward advanceContinue reading “IKKYO IS MAKIOTOSHI”

SPOTTING

I am failing my new year’s resolution of teaching to the test. Concepts and connections are taking precedent over technique in my classes. This morning the only technique I taught was ai-hanmi-katate dori kokyuho (and its variant irimi nage). I have covered kokyuho previously but this morning I used it as an exemplar of precision positioning. ToContinue reading “SPOTTING”

KOTEGAESHI to IRIMINAGE: Circular Dissolves

Although I have tried to stick to the basics and teach to the test, this morning I broke the theme – and re-introduced concepts. It was a small class so the deviation probably did little damage. Techniques are in many ways easier than concepts because they are discrete and short, composed of a few beatsContinue reading “KOTEGAESHI to IRIMINAGE: Circular Dissolves”