1st KUMITACHI

Initial Conditions Both in migi-hanmi, chūdan. Ukedachi initiates by lifting: creating an opening, an invitation. Raising to jōdan without securing maai draws the kiri-age riposte. This is not a feint in the classical sense; it does not deceive cleanly. It provokes a correct response while exposing the initiator. The action partially succeeds, it elicits commitment,Continue reading “1st KUMITACHI”

AIKIKEN AND THE AXIS

This (1/25/25) was the first class after the end of Kangeiko and after Okamoto sensei’s visit to Portland Aikikai. It was *scolding-look* a lightly attended class. Favorably, lower attendance provides a forum to explain the principle of the axis of an encounter using a weapon. The first explication: shomen-uchi from the draw to irimi-nage. BothContinue reading “AIKIKEN AND THE AXIS”

UKEME – HIGHLINE STRIKES

These posts – and most of my classes – as I stated in my Introduction, are pedagogical experiments: My attempt to understand, explain, explicate and communicate the why and how of each technique to derive universal principles. My last several classes have explored shomen-uchi kokyu nage direct. I have presented it as a three-beat response:Continue reading “UKEME – HIGHLINE STRIKES”