AikiWeb: The Source for Aikido Information AikiWeb's principal purpose is to serve the Internet community as a repository and dissemination point for aikido information.
Hello and thank you for visiting AikiWeb, the
world's most active online Aikido community! This site is home to
over 22,000 aikido practitioners from around the world and covers a
wide range of aikido topics including techniques, philosophy, history,
humor, beginner issues, the marketplace, and more.
If you wish to join in the discussions or use the other advanced
features available, you will need to register first. Registration is
absolutely free and takes only a few minutes to complete so sign up today!
I was just commenting on another blog when it occured to me: Aikido teaches itself! If you get the basics down from someone else, and have a partner to train with, you can pretty much count on aikido teaching itself to you.
Basics:
Move from the hips.
Maintain balance
Get off line
Blend
Re-direct uke's energy
These are the things you need to know. REALLY know. Then, through practicing techniques and focusing on these things... if you aren't doing one of them, the technique won't follow. Once you get it IN... then it works and you learn.
Just a thought...
Anyhow, last night's class was a good one. Did some more Iriminage off of a ten shin movement. My "mat rust" has really taken it's toll on me. I can't even remember basic footwork patterns, but shadow-boxing during the break brought to light some good things. Moving with hips... while moving the arms simultaniously...like a mobile (wind chime thingy?) is what I needed to do. Once I did that, I found a familiar arm position that can be found in: katame waza (ikkyo, nikyo, etc.) found in tenchinage, iriminage (obviously) and so much more.
SO... when you find yourself doing things similar to other techniques, if you think you're on to something, you probably are! LOL This may not make a lot of sense... I'm seriously tired right now, but I really feel like getting my thoughts out there.
One other thing: Had I not taken time off of the mat, I'd probably be 1st kyu by now. Sensei asked me last night when I wanted to test. "When do I wanna test? Uh... how about March of 2007?" ugh
We have the Kato Seminar in a week. I'm hoping that will have knocked the rust off of me and that when we get back, I'll be ready to test then. I need to hurry up and test and pass so that this time next year I can (hopefully) be ready to test for Shodan. But, I think the 1st kyu test is going to be more brutal than the shodan exam will be.
Do I know the techniques? Yes.
Can I do them? With a little motivation, sure.
Can I do them with confidence? No. And that's what I need to work on.
I don't want my test to be a walk-on performance. I want to do it, do it well, and KNOW that when I'm finished with the exam that there is no doubt I did what was asked of me and that I passed. I've seen good dan tests and I've seen bad. I don't want to be the latter.
10-28-2005 09:02 AM 
ugh