Aikido Australia

Dojo shodan grading – Neil Neilsen Sensei

When it comes to milestones in an Aikido practitioner’s journey, testing for shodan is one of the biggest. With this in mind, I had the privilege today to convene a shodan testing panel for one of our dojo’s founding members – Neil Neilsen.

One of the great aspects of the culture at our dojo is that grading milestones are a community event. It’s important to all of us that those being tested not only pass but pass with “flying colours”. Neil’s grading was no different with everyone banding together to help him train for his test though the Christmas/New Year break.

As for the actual grading event, Neil readily exceeded the technical testing requirements and continually opted to do the “extra mile”. When it came to the 3 person attacker component (sanningake), for example, he resolved to take 4 attackers.

Similarly, after completing the formal requirements in the syllabus, and despite being understandably tired, he requested to have his ukemi tested (a dojo tradition). This essentially involved him being the uke in 6 consecutive taninzugake (free form practice), each with a different dojo senior. Neil effortlessly took endless breakfalls and other complex ukemi as part of this.

The video below gives some of the grading moments captured by our resident photographer Eden.

Congratulations to Neil on his grading and a huge thank you to all the ukes who participated. Big thank you also to Michael Sensei (Bald Hills Dojo) and Mike Nash Sensei (Aikido Republic) who joined us on the day to support Neil and participate in the grading.

Have a great weekend.

Ian Grant
Head Instructor
Aikido Warrior Dojo Brisbane

Training Notes: Jo nage kokyu nage

In the below video Master Koretoshi Maruyama demonstrates and provides instruction for the Aikido technique kokyu nage where the nage is armed with a wooden staff (a jo). This type of training is referred to as jo nage.

For instruction purposes, Maruyama Sensei demonstrates the key components of the technique from a static position. To illustrate how the technique looks from a dynamic perspective, archive footage of O’sensei (circa 1950’s) is also included. The uke in the footage is a very young Morihiro Saito Shihan.

Technical notes

Don’t merge the foot work into one move

In the video Maruyama Sensei demonstrates the foot work in 3 separate segments – (1) enter with leading foot; (2) tenkan; and (3) moon-shadow the lead foot forward to enter into the uke’s space. These 3 segments are performed as separate movements and should not be merged. Further, the final projection is not executed by the nage until all 3 segments of the footwork are completed. The key parts of the technique (including footwork) are illustrated below.

(1) Initial position (2) Step in (3) Tenkan (4) Moon-shadow

(4) Complete technique

Don’t pitch back to “bow and arrow/sling-shot” the projection

There is a tendency when performing tenkan kokyu nage based projections for the nage to pitch back their upper torso after the tenkan movement, or to slide their rear foot an extra distance back. This is done in an effort to put extra power in the move and “sling shot” the uke.

This should be avoided. All it does is separate connection and give the uke an opportunity to counter attack. For further discussion of this point, including the correct way to enter and tenkan in kokyu nage techniques see Training Notes: Munetsuki kokyu nage (ura).

Use centre point of jo

Maruyama Sensei particularly emphasises in the video the importance of focusing on the centre point of the jo as measured between the distance of the uke‘s hands. It is only by focussing movement of the jo at this point that the nage is able to not only retain control of the jo, but also move the uke’s centre so that the conditions for a successful throw are possible.

All the best for 2016.

Ian Grant
Do Jo Cho
Aikido Warrior Dojo

Training notes: Jo nage kotegaeshi

In the below video Koretoshi Maruyama Sensei (Aikido Yuishinkai) demonstrates and provides instruction for the Aikido technique kotegaeshi (outer wrist turn) where the nage is armed with a wooden staff (a jo).

ADDITIONAL NOTES

Demonstration by Master Morihei Ueshiba

In the below video, the Founder of Aikido, Master Morihei Ueshiba (O’sensei), performs jo nage kotegaeshi in free form practice (taninzugake). The recording was made in 1952. O’sensei was 69 years old.

Have a great week.

Ian Grant
Dojo Cho
Aikido Warrior Dojo

Moments in breakfall

Ukemi (the art of receiving technique) is something we take very seriously at the dojo. It is not only a critical skill to ensure our safety, but also plays an important role in developing fundamental skills associated with balance, using relaxed power, correct body movement and flexibility. Further, it is impossible to learn how to execute a technique unless you have someone willing to receive it.

In every class, there is always a segment dedicated to learning and improving our abilities to receive technique.

In the below video, which was taken at various classes during the year, dojo seniors can be seen using Aikido breakfalls to safely receive technique. Breakfalls are one of a number of ukemi options that are available to Aikido practitioners when receiving a throw. Another commonly used option, depending on the circumstances, is rolling away.

Have a great week

Ian Grant
Head Instructor
Aikido Warrior

Aikido hip throws for rear chokes – Ushiro kubishime koshi nage

Ushiro kubishime koshi nage is a traditional Aikido technique which uses a hip throw (koshi nage) as a defence against a choke attack from the rear (ushiro kubishime).

Aikido hip throws have their origins in a battlefield techniques and not all Aikido schools and dojos train in them. At Aikido Warrior Dojo, they are a standard inclusion in our training and form part of our commitment to study the Aikido of O’sensei.

They were first introduced into our dojo in early 2014 after permission was granted by Peter Kelly Sensei, Chief Instructor, Aikido Yuishinkai Australia for us to train in them. Since that time we have slowly included a wide range of koshi nage techniques into our standard training repertoire, including ushiro kubishime koshi nage

In the below video Morihiro Saito Sensei (1928-2002) provides instruction on Ushiro kubishime koshi nage as practised by O’Sensei (the Founder of Aikido) in the post-war period of his life.

Training notes for other koshi nage techniques

See: Unarmed arts by technique – scroll down to “koshi nage” (list is in alphabetical order )

Brief Biography – Morihiro Saito Sensei (1928-2002)

Morihiro Saito Sensei’s practice of Aikido spanned 56 years and he is one of the most important teachers in Aikido history. Saito Sensei was a live-in student of O’sensei for more than 20 years at his home dojo in Iwama, Japan.

Saito Sensei spent his teaching life dedicated to preserving the technical style of Aikido as practised and shown to him by O’sensei in the post-war period. Without his commitment to preserving the Aikido of the Founder and extensive efforts to record and document his teachings, much of the Aikido of O’sensei would have no doubt been lost. The Aikido world owes him a great debt.

Ian Grant
Head Instructor
Aikido Warrior Dojo