GYAKU HANMI PROGRESSION

A class outline for progressive techniques from static gyaku hanmi katatae dori Gyaku hanmi katatae dori: what is it? A hand grab. Why? Uke stop-hits a thrust, taking control of nage’s knife hand. From the grab, each player needs to match extension to create the dynamic tension necessary for a static encounter. Nage’s focus isContinue reading “GYAKU HANMI PROGRESSION”

8 COUNT KUMIJO

Muso Gonnosuke Katsuyoshi developed the jō from the longer bo staff after his defeat by Miyamoto Musashi. A good retelling of that tale is >here< (An example of learning from defeat: pain as a teacher.) The use of the jō in Aikido more closely resembles jukendo (bayonet) techniques than it does koryu arts like ShintoContinue reading “8 COUNT KUMIJO”

KATA DORI

A new month so moving to a new focus: a front shoulder grab – kata dori. First the context. A shoulder grab while wearing a dogi (or Edo-period clothing) can be an effective control. Starting with the little finger one quickly wraps his grip in the fabric of the shoulder or upper sleeve to effectively pin the opponent’s arm orContinue reading “KATA DORI”