Kata dori is a shoulder grab with the distinct intent of a follow up strike: usually it is not a primary offensive technique. But it should not be demonstrated or perceived as a passive grab. The banner line drawing from Aikido and the Dynamic Sphere nicely illustrates one possible follow up after the initial shoulderContinue reading “KATA DORI 2”
Tag Archives: Ueshiba
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”
KATSUJINKEN: The Life Giving Sword
Alan King had a comedy routine in the 1980s based entirely on obituaries – all culminating with the punchline “survived by his wife.” So I was amused to find this obituary: But amusement was soon replaced by other emotions. Outrage at the atrocities of the Bataan Death March (a chronicle of the rescue mission to free theContinue reading “KATSUJINKEN: The Life Giving Sword”
Protective Arts 