(RE)FRAMING AIKIDO

Imitation may be the highest form of flattery but it is also a great way to learn. The monkey-see, monkey-do teaching combined with an interpretive gloss is how most of us are taught. Add physical manipulation and now you have a training method. In the Western tradition, the burden is on the teacher, even when done Socratically,Continue reading “(RE)FRAMING AIKIDO”

LINEAGE AND LEGACY

Knowing the heritage and the history of your art is important. We are not so far removed from the origins of the art. O’Sensei (Morihei Ueshiba) had a direct influence on several of the shihans still teaching today, and his son (the second Doshu) was still teaching when I trained in Japan. All of us have a directContinue reading “LINEAGE AND LEGACY”

KATA DORI Sankyo and Kokyu Nage

The prior classes were all explorations of the lines of entry – the kihon (flanking), ushiro (absorbing), and irimi (closing) entries. Mastering the entries and the timing differences are critical to being able to execute techniques. First master the maai (distance) and time (kimusubi). Then we added atemi – as a facilitating device. Proper atemi of course could beContinue reading “KATA DORI Sankyo and Kokyu Nage”