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Breaking boards using relaxed power, gravity and centreline – A reality check

Let me say from the outset that breaking boards is not part of Aikido and I am in no way advocating that it should be. It’s just something done at our dojo from time to time after class as a sort of reality check. Participation is purely voluntary.

So much of Aikido is counter-intuitive and for some us (like myself) it is comforting to put principles like relaxed power, gravity and centreline to a personal test. Breaking a board that requires 114 kg of impact power is one way of doing this.  There are no doubt many other ways. Its akin to rolling on hard surfaces from time to time to see if your ukemi is as soft as you think it is (and yes some of us do that too).

The below video was taken at the end of a class at our dojo on 25 October 2014.   Most who decided to have a go at breaking the board were able to do so or very close to achieving it.  The biggest challenge (like most things in Aikido) is believing that relaxed softness, combined with being centred and using gravity, can generate not only sufficient power to break the board but also cause no pain.

In any event these were the results.

Have a great weekend.

Ian Grant
Head Instructor
Aikido Warrior Dojo

 

Reflections on the national seminar – Hobart 2014

Sensei teachingThis year’s Aikido Yuishinkai national seminar is now in the history books and will be remembered as one of our finest. It’s been 2 years since Master Koretoshi Maruyama, the Founder of our School, has visited Australia and it was great to have the opportunity to once again have the benefit of his direct teachings.

Our school is particularly fortunate to have Maruyama Sensei as our Founder. Sensei has been practising Aikido for close to 60 years and is one of the few direct students of O’Sensei still actively teaching.  A brief summary of his remarkable life in Aikido can be found at this page on our site.

Tasmanian SeminarThe seminar this year was held at Seishin no Shugyo Dojo in Tasmania.  It’s hard to imagine a more perfect setting for Aikido training as there is an undeniable sense of martial arts tradition in the dojo. For those who haven’t had a chance to train there, the walls are filled with a wide array of Samurai and martial arts memorabilia that has to be seen to be believed.

Key themes of this year’s seminar included a focus on:

  • Natural posture;
  • Centreline;
  • Removing unnecessary muscle tension; and
  • The importance of using gravity to achieve effective technique.

Sensei Ian and Pete 2Sensei demonstrated and taught these and other themes through an array of traditional Aikido kata ranging from the basic to the advanced. In addition, there were also some fun segues to explore such things as Bruce Lee’s one inch punch and relaxed palm defensive striking.  One of the many highlights for me was the chance to learn the higher level version of Yokomenuchi shihonage which is something I have been keen to explore for some time.

Anyone who decides to host a national seminar in my view deserves a medal. An incredible amount of effort (and accompanying stress) is needed to host one of these events.  A big thanks to Peter Kelly Sensei (and his Dojo students) for doing such an amazing job.

Group shot

Have a great week

Ian

Ian Grant
Head Instructor
Aikido Warrior Dojo

 

Our First Shodan Tests – Video Slideshow

When it comes to milestones in an Aikido practioner’s journey, one’s  shodan grading is no doubt one of them.  This Saturday, two of our founding dojo members Brendan and Matt stepped up to test for this major achievement.  They both performed excellent gradings and exhibited skills more than equal to the task. It was a absolute privilege and honour to sit on their grading panel.

Congratulations to both Brendan and Matt and also to all the ukes that assisted and demonstrated such fine ukemi skills.  Also a big thank you to Eden for taking photographs and producing the below slideshow.

Ian Grant
Head Instructor
Aikido Warrior Dojo

 

Aikido in popular culture – The Doctor Who Connection

Doctor whoI just finished watching the latest episode of Dr Who and to my surprise everyone’s favourite time lord appeared to use his Aikido skills – something he hasn’t done in like 35 years.  It reminded me that the first time I heard of our martial art was through watching the TV show in the early 70’s.

That’s right, we “whovians” were introduced to Aikido more than a decade before Steven Seagal ripped into his first ikkyo on the big screen. Although I must admit, at the time I thought it was a martial art made up especially for the show.

Throughout his 3 year stint as the 3rd Doctor, Jon Pertwee regularly broke into irriminage, kokynage, sankyo and yoko otshi when needed – all supported by atemi and kiai as appropriate.  Not surprisingly, there was a bit of sci fi embellishment thrown in for fun. As I recall the Doctor trained at a dojo located on Venus.

The Doctor also had the honour of being the first 2 legged creature in the universe to actually master the Art in his school.  Apparently, prior to the Doctor, the only creatures who had been able to do so had 8 legs!

All the best

Ian

 

Martial moves – Peter Kelly Sensei returns

While in town for the upcoming Brisbane Aikido Yuishinkai seminar this weekend, our Chief Instructor Peter Kelly Sensei dropped in to the dojo to take our Thursday night class.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERATo say his teachings were most insightful would be an understatement. I’ve heard the statement sometimes said that Aikido techniques can be divided into 2 categories – “those for go and those for show”. Peter’s motto is more like there are 2 types of techniques – “those for go and those you haven’t figured out yet”.

Anyone with any doubts that Aikido is a powerful and most effective martial art would certainly have had them wiped away on Thursday night.  Strong centred attacks were the name of the game. Full kuzushi on contact using traditional sword based movements, a heaven-man-earth body structure and applied yin-yang principles was how it was played. Loved every minute of it!

Big thanks to Peter Sensei for taking the time out of his busy schedule to visit us.  As is typically the case, we had a camera and took some photos.

Looking forward to attending this weekend’s seminar.

Ian Grant
Head Instructor
Aikido Warrior Dojo