Ian Grant Sensei

Round up – Peter Kelly Sensei class – 12 August 2015

Following on from the Winter Aikido Yuishinkai Seminar this weekend, our Chief Instructor,  Peter Kelly Sensei, visited our dojo on Wednesday as guest instructor.

Peter Kelly seminar 1Given our dojo’s particular interest in studying applied kokyu ho applications, Peter Sensei took us through a wide variety of kokyu nage techniques.  Peter Sensei also examined kokyu nage in the context of a direct strike to the face (ganmen-tsuki), which is an attack we have just started exploring at the dojo in recent months.

For those not familiar with kokyu ho applications, they constitute what is often referred to as the 4th pillar of Aikido. Kokyu ho techniques in the early years of our budo were considered secret techniques not to be shared publicly outside the dojo.  The reason for this is that kokyu ho is the method of generating power in our Aikido throws and applications.  Further, while there is a whole of branch techniques in Aikido called kokyu nage, in reality all techniques at their essence require kokyu ho to translate them from cooperative to applied practice.

In addition to paired practice, Peter Sensei also provided instruction on solo heavy bokken exercises to help develop kokyu ho through vertical-horizontal plane movement. While too difficult to explain in a blog, the exercises will be added to the dojo’s regular bokken (wooden sword) exercises.

A huge thank you to Peter Sensei for taking the class.  It’s a major commitment from Peter  to visit Brisbane from Tasmania, not the least of which is time spent away from his family. I think I speak for everyone when I say how much we really appreciate everything Peter is doing to lead our school in its new direction.

Also thanks to Griffith Aikido Institute for arranging Peter’s seminar in Brisbane in the first place. Last but not least, thank you to everyone who attended.

Plenty of instructional videos to come in the next few weeks to make sure we don’t forget what we were shown.

All the best

Ian Grant
Head Instructor
Aikido Warrior Dojo, Brisbane

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

Related articles:

Breakfall basics class – 15 July 2015

Some video of the “breakfall basics” class held at the dojo on 11 July 2015.

Big thanks to our dojo seniors Matt, Neil, Peter and Jeremy for their assistance in teaching and ensuring practice was safe.

Have a great week.

Ian Grant
Head Instructor
Aikido Warrior Dojo

Related posts

 

Aikido’s first pillar – Shiho nage

“The first of the six pillars of Aikido techniques is shiho nage. This technique represents the gratitude Aikido trainees feel toward life in all four directions and is commonly the first technique learned (but not easily mastered) by students.”
(Master Morihei Ueshiba/John Stevens, The Essence of Aikido, p 115) 

Ian Grant
Head Instructor
Aikido Warrior Dojo

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Ukemi options – Shiho nage

ShihonageUkemi (falling arts) is something that we give a lot of emphasis at our dojo.  Apart from the training insights it gives us into our Art, learning to safely receive technique is critical.

As we progress in our studies and begin to receive techniques in a more fluid training environment, the need to learn more options to receive techniques becomes paramount.  In short, we need to be able to safely fall regardless of the technique variation that is applied or the fact that it may not be strictly text book in execution.

By way of example, the below informal video shows seniors at our dojo receiving various forms of ukemi from yokomenuchi shiho nage (4 corners throw), including rolling and breakfalls.

Have a great day.

Ian Grant
Head Instructor
Aikido Warrior Dojo