Testing for shodan requires demonstrating weapon take-away techniques against tanto, jo, and bokken. Simplify the phrasing and the concept we are discussing is disarms. Here is the secret: all empty hand techniques in Aikido are disarms. You have been doing nothing but disarms since your first ikkyo omote. Aikido is not an unarmed art. IContinue reading “SWORD TAKE-AWAY: Tachidori”
Tag Archives: Ed Parker
PAIN AS A TEACHER
I learned of Abraham Wald from Jordan Ellenberg’s How Not To be Wrong.[1] It is a story well worth reading because it provides a poignant reminder of the power of thinking critically. During WW2, Wald was part of the Statistical Research Group working through real-time problems to make strategic decisions. Among the questions posed to the groupContinue reading “PAIN AS A TEACHER”
IKKYO to IRIMINAGE
Ikkyo omote is the primary inside line approach. Remember it is a principle entry – a return on the same line that the attacker used to approach. By focusing on aihanmi and shomen we can show the ‘universal’ response meaning intercepting a line (shomen) or any point on the line (aihanmi) should not change theContinue reading “IKKYO to IRIMINAGE”
Protective Arts 