There was a time when students paid their teachers for each technique. At first glance that may seem expensive – especially if you believe the hyperbole that Aikido’s techniques are infinite – but that would be to confuse naming conventions for patterns of movement. Ikkyo. The first technique. The first teachings form the pedagogical foundation but to drawContinue reading “IKKYO – SOLVING FOR THE INFINITE”
Tag Archives: shomen
AT CLOSE RANGE: Shomen and Yokomen
First warm up with a new pattern – shomen practice with a step-cut, slide-cut, step-cut to get out of fixed patterns; disrupt habits and the facile assumptions. Then yokomen with the same step-cut, slide-cut, step-cut. The tempo is quick beat cut, cut – you are advancing through space – your first cut misses and yourContinue reading “AT CLOSE RANGE: Shomen and Yokomen”
RESPONSES IN TIME
With the two basic ranges understood, let us focus again on shomen. The step-cut is ‘long range’ and the slide-cut is ‘short range’ but the ranges are also examples of time. Meaning the longer the range the more time tori has to respond. In order to train the correct response, we focus first on theContinue reading “RESPONSES IN TIME”
Protective Arts 