Training – Unarmed techniques

Training notes – Yokomenuchi irimi nage

In the below video Morihiro Saito Sensei (1928-2002) demonstrates the three traditional versions of Yokomenuchi irimi nage as practised by O’Sensei (the Founder of Aikido) in the immediate post-war period of his life.

Irimi means to enter physically and spiritually into an attack while at the same time simultaneously side stepping it. In the demonstrated technique irimi nage (“entering throw”) is being used to address a traditional strike to the side of the head. This form of strike is called yokomenuchi.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

Technical notes – Kihon application (1) – London Aikido Club

Technical notes – Kihon application (2) – Morihiro Saito Sensei

Technical notes – Yokomenuchi – Ki no nagare – Morihiro Saito Sensei

Additional technical notes – Yoshimitsu Yamada Sensei

In the below video Yoshimitsu Yamada Sensei (8th Dan Aikikai) gives instruction and training tips from an alternate perspective.

All the best

Ian Grant
Dojo Cho
Aikido Warrior Dojo

Reflections on the national seminar – Hobart 2014

This 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.

The 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 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.

Have a great week

Ian

Ian Grant
Head Instructor
Aikido Warrior Dojo

Training Notes – Shomenuchi Ikkyo

In this video training note Peter Kelly Sensei, Chief Instructor, Aikido Yuishinkai Australia, provides instruction on how to correctly perform shomenuchi ikkyo from the Aikido Yuishinkai syllabus.

The instruction not only includes the shape or outer form of the technique but also covers the inner structural aspects that make it work in a martial context. Key Aikido Yuishinkai principles discussed and shown include “center pole”, sinking, “heaven-man-earth”, centre-line, controlling the space and the “horizontal-vertical plane”.

Ian Grant Sensei
Head Instructor
Aikido Warrior Dojo
Brisbane

Training Notes – Munetsuki ikkyo (alternate version)

This training note refers to an alternate form munetsuki ikkyo whereby the nage steps inside the movement and cuts at 90 degrees. This approach to munetsuki ikkyo is a particularly martial application and is most effective for dealing with an intelligent attacker who strikes from a centred position throughout and is setting up for a second follow up strike.

The demonstrated technique forms part of the broader Aikido syllabus and utilises what is sometimes referred to as “forgotten direction” footwork. Significantly, this type of footwork can be used as a martially effective entry point to initiate a wide variety of Aikido Yuishinkai techniques from most attack forms.

The video extract is from a class given by Peter Kelly Sensei (7th Dan Aikido Yuishinkai) at the Aikido Warrior Dojo, Brisbane, on 17 May 2014.

Ian Grant
Head Instructor
Aikido Warrior Dojo

Training Notes – Katadori and controlling the space

This training note provides guidance on how to control the space when responding to a katadori attack (i.e. a single hand shoulder grab). The video extract is from a class given by Peter Kelly Sensei (Aikido Yuishinkai) at our Dojo on 17 May 2014.

While the video extract deals specifically with a response to a katadori attack, the principles discussed and demonstrated are equally applicable to a wide range of other techniques where it is necessary for the uke to step to the rear. Principles discussed include the correct foot positioning, maintaining forward energy, direction of centre and sinking/grounding.

In the context of sinking and grounding, Peter Sensei comments:

“Sinking/grounding is paramount in aikido as it represents the vertical plane. All aikido techniques have both a vertical and horizontal plane. This is what O’Sensei called the cross of Aiki.”

Ian Grant
Dojo Cho
Aikido Warrior Dojo