Aikido Grading;

Taninzugake demonstration: Katate dori

Peter KellyIn the below video, Peter Kelly Sensei, Chief Instructor, Aikido Yuishinkai Australia, gives a demonstration of taninzugake.

In our School, taninzugake (or free form practice) is commonly practiced at the end of each class.  This type of practice allows the nage to respond to the selected attack type by using any technique they so choose.  The attack type in the video is katate dori, which is a single wrist grab.

Katate dori taninzugake forms part of the Aikido Yuishinkai grading syllabus for 1st kyu (brown belt) gradings.

Have a great week

Ian Grant
Head Instructor
Aikido Warrior Dojo

 

 

 

Taninzugake demonstration (2): Ushiro tekubidori

In the below video, Peter Kelly Sensei, Chief Instructor, Aikido Yuishinkai Australia, gives a demonstration of ushiro tekubidori taninzugake.

In our School, taninzugake (or free form practice) is commonly practiced at the end of each class.  This type of practice allows the nage to respond to the selected attack type by using any technique they so choose.  The attack type in the video is ushiro tekubidori , which is 2 wrists held from behind.

Ushiro tekubidori taninzugake forms part of the Aikido Yuishinkai grading syllabus for 1st kyu (brown belt) gradings.

Have a great week

Ian Grant
Head Instructor
Aikido Warrior Dojo

Training notes – Yokomenuchi shiho nage

Shiho nageShiho nage (4 directions throw) is one of the most important, if not the most important pillar technique in Aikido training. It contains within it the root of every Aikido technique and there is no doubt its proper execution relies on the nage applying all of the fundamental principles that underlie Aikido practice.

In the below video  Master Koretoshi Maruyama, Founder of Aikido Yuishinkai, gives detailed instruction and training tips on the basic kotai and juntai forms of yokomenuchi shiho nage as practised in our school.

Maruyama Sensei explains the fundamental principles underlying the application of the technique from both omote and ura entry points, including correct footwork, use of centreline, body posture, irimi, and how the movements underpinning the technique are based on the sword.

The video was recorded in 2008 at a seminar in Tasmania, Australia held at the Aikido School of Excellence.  In Aikido Yuishinkai, the demonstrated applications form part of the grading examinations for 4th and 5th Kyu.

All the best

Ian Grant
Head Instructor
Aikido Warrior Dojo

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Round-up: Peter Kelly Sensei class and 1st kyu gradings (22 April 2015)

On Wednesday 22 April 2015, I had the privilege to grade two of our dojo founding members, Peter and Jeremy, to 1st kyu (brown belt) in Aikido Yuishinkai. The event was made extra special by our Chief Instructor, Peter Kelly Sensei, also attending and afterwards giving an informal “by request” format class.

Grading notes

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAA major emphasis in our dojo (and Aikido Yuishinkai Australia generally) over the last 18 months is that development of technical and internal art skills is contingent upon our ukemi skills continuing to develop along with them at the same rate.

With this in mind, Peter and Jeremy not only demonstrated the necessary techniques in taninzugake (free form) practice to fulfil their promotion requirements but also demonstrated they could readily receive them as well. I think it would be fair to say that the high quality of their ukemi was very much on display and did them both proud.

By way of more general comment, Peter and Jeremy are two of the most committed aikido practitioners I have ever met and very much embrace the training spirit that underpins Aikido practice. They are more than deserving of the hakamas they now wear and congratulations to them both.

Training notes – By request class  

For those not familiar with this style of class, essentially it involves Peter Sensei giving instruction and assistance with techniques in response to queries raised by the students on the mat. Unlike last year’s similar class where koshinage and ikkyo were the focus, this year it was kaite nage (“wheel throw”) and shiho nage (4 direction throw) applications which inspired the questions. Irimi nage (entering throw) and kokyu nage (breath throw) were also explored.

Key training tips and links to relevant video extracts from the class can be found below.

Commemorative video

As we often do at our dojo when an event occurs, we cobble together the best of our photos and video, to put together a visual memento of the occasion for our dojo record books.

Acknowledgments

A big thank you to Peter Sensei for visiting our dojo and our friends from Griffith Aikido Institute for supporting our grading and joining us in our Wednesday class. It was also great to have family and friends of Jeremy and Peter over to visit the dojo and join us for the gradings.

Last but certainly not least, a personal thanks to our dojo members for not only giving their all as ukes and nages on the night, but for making our dojo such a great place to train every other night as well. Thumbs up also to our wonderful admin team (Desiree, Eden and Darcy) who keep the dojo cooking behind the scenes.

Ian Grant
Head Instructor
Aikido Warrior Dojo

 

Training notes: Zagi waza shomenuchi ikkyo

O sensei - Suwari WazaZagi waza (also referred to as suwari waza) is a form of Aikido practice performed from the initial position of nage and uke sitting opposite and facing each other while kneeling  (seiza). This type of practice is particularly useful for developing skills relevant to maintaining and taking balance, moving the body off-line and as a single unit, leverage principles, breath power and keeping centre line.

In our dojo, suwari waza is practiced at most classes. Initially, the typical form of practice is static in nature and involves the uke holding the nage’s wrists with each hand. This static form of practice is referred to as zagi waza kokyu ho. 

As we progress in our studies, other forms of attack are added to our zagi waza practice including responses to strikes.

In the below video, Chicko Xerri Sensei (6th Dan AKI Aikikai) explores some of the key Aiki principles underpinning the practice of zagi waza shomenuchi ikkyo.  There are many recordings of the Founder of Aikido demonstrating this particular form of zagi waza which is performed in the context of a downward strike to the temple (shomenuchi).

 

ADDITIONAL NOTES

  • Zagi waza shomenuchi ikkyo – technical notes

The below video features suwari waza when responding to a straight strike to the centre of the head (shomenuchi). The demonstrated technique (performed by Yoshimitsu Yamada Sensei) is suwari waza shomenuchi ikkyo.

 

  • Suwari waza shomenuchi ikkyo – Seishin no Shugyo Dojo, Tasmania 

The below demonstration is by Peter Kelly Sensei, Seishin no Shugyo Dojo, Tasmania. The source material was kindly provided courtesy of Bill Hely.

Ian Grant
Dojo Cho
Aikido Warrior Dojo