SWORD TAKE-AWAY: Tachidori

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”

LOGIC CHAINS – Ikkyo to Kotegaeshi

The flow of any given technique can be broken into constituent elements that are linked in logic chain: an if-then series based on the openings and opportunities. Another way to understand the logic of a technique is to ask – what if this doesn’t work? What is the backup plan? As an example – hereContinue reading “LOGIC CHAINS – Ikkyo to Kotegaeshi”

BONE LOCKING

Aihanmi katate dori irimi tenkan is generalized to the R/R, L/L relationship: a cross hand grab. The grab starts from the premise of an opponent approaching with the same dominate hand. Think weapons – this is a quick flow entry, with a cut over lead then passing to the outside line (kiri kaeshi). The kihon exercise isContinue reading “BONE LOCKING”