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Keiko today was a continuation of the "relax" theme that has permeated my small restart back into formal (more so, at least) Aikido training. Class was very small today: just sensei, a very senior student, the uchideshi, and myself. It was nice for me because I got a lot of very focused instruction. I felt bad for the other two students though, because training with me is so much about re-establishing very basic fundementals. It's like if I were to work on king-pawn endgame patterns in chess; I can see how it could be frustrating if you're hoping to work on the more complex opening and middle-game stuff. Add to that the usual sleep deprivation problems I've got and I can see how I might be a less-than-ideal training partner. I felt like my attention was not very focused around me because I was either feeling groggy or constantly trying to sense around in my body for cues. There were a couple times I could sense my partners looking at me like, "hey! I'm over here!" I used to feel very in tune with what was happing around me, but stepping back on the mat has shown me how much this has weakened over time.
At any rate, we had fun. The sun was shining so we went outside to play. I learned a new bokuto series and felt a little better with one of the other exercises we tend to practice. The transition from receiving to issuing after squeezing the elbows together felt clearer...this being the exercise we do from seigan where we wrap/supress our partner's blade, trading back and forth.
Today's main lessons were in sitting back in my stance with my legs pressing outward slightly; stance slightly wider than I tend to "naturally" drop into; sitting upright and back a little on that base in a relaxed-but-ready posture; and feeling my hand drive forward (e.g. gyaku hanmi katatetori) as coming off the hips instead of the upper body. I'm quite sure there were many other lessons I'm forgetting at the moment, but that's what stood out for me to focus on.
03-24-2012 10:35 PM 