LEVELS OF TRAINING

Traditional pedagogical transmission reinforces hierarchical structure: Shoden (初傳, beginning teachings) Chuden (中傳, intermediate) Okuden (奥傳, hidden or inner teachings) … and then there is Kuden – the secrets taught “mouth to ear.” This is a good way to ensure structured progression (kyu -> dan) and maintain social gradients (kohai -> sempai). Mass production and replicable standards isContinue reading “LEVELS OF TRAINING”

RYOTEDORI KOKYU NAGE

Suwariwaza ryotedori kokyuho as a means to establish correct tension, indexing and lines of force. Correct tension. Uke must approach nage with the intention of controlling nage’s arms with force from high to low and nage will receive with equal counter force from low to high. The resulting tension is the starting point, the axis of theContinue reading “RYOTEDORI KOKYU NAGE”

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”