My Last Class!

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[Nafis Zahir]

My last class was great! Finally felt as though everything was coming together. Finally started to feel the completeness of whole body movements, meaning my center, arms, legs etc. were all in sync along with blending with the uke. My ukemi, which I have been struggling with for years, has also gotten alot better. When taking ukemi for Sensei, I feel more relaxed and blend much easier. How was your last class and what did you learn or attain?

[xuzen]

My last class was great! Finally felt as though everything was coming together. Finally started to feel the completeness of whole body movements, meaning my center, arms, legs etc. were all in sync along with blending with the uke. My ukemi, which I have been struggling with for years, has also gotten alot better. When taking ukemi for Sensei, I feel more relaxed and blend much easier. How was your last class and what did you learn or attain?

Just yesterday...

We drilled shihonage for the whole class (60 minutes exclude warm-up) with only 3 x 2 mins break in between.

I learned that kihon dosa is still paramount important in executing the technique.

I learned that using the kihon dasa model to explain the technique remains the gold standard for teaching new students shihonage.

Boon.

[jennyvanwest]

Sankyo. I was reminded how much force I'm still using ;)

[Peter Goldsbury]

My last class was great! Finally felt as though everything was coming together. Finally started to feel the completeness of whole body movements, meaning my center, arms, legs etc. were all in sync along with blending with the uke. My ukemi, which I have been struggling with for years, has also gotten alot better. When taking ukemi for Sensei, I feel more relaxed and blend much easier. How was your last class and what did you learn or attain?

My last class was also great. I taught it.
I am not sure that I can specify in one sentence what I learned, except perhaps not to expect from my students what I think they can do. In other words, do not fit your students too closely into your own learning models.
The yudansha still could not grasp where to place their uke when doing kaiten-nage ura.
The beginners still could not master the tai-sabaki necessary to close 2-kyo ura.
But they all need to train harder (common stock response).

[Qatana]

the fine line between Draw and Pull, and the one between Extend and Push, which is where I usually live!

[Mary Eastland]

My last class was Wednesday night...I taught it. I also got to practice 'cause most of the folks were at least 1st dan....good fun...lotsa shomen and some staying connected training....one where uke grabbed while keeping their eyes closed...it is so amazing how you can see without your eyes.

Next class tomorrow...what better way to celebrate Mother's day than on the mat with a bunch of other mothers and maybe a guy or two. ;o)
Mary

[mwible]

i learned how easy it is to see how the movements come together and notice when someone else is doing something wrong. but also how hard it is to actually achieve it myself. :P
-morgan

[Lan Powers]

Last class was weapons oriented....relerning kumi-jo patterns.
There is always more to learn than what you see on the surface.
Lan

[Mary Turner]

My last class was a lot of fun-
I tested for 2nd kyu!
The ukes have been practicing for weeks in and outside of class to help me prepare. Thanks so much to you guys!!

Mary

[Dewey]

That was today (Sat. May 12th). We had weapons class (Aiki Ken this time...kengi #1...8-directions) for the first hour, then for the next session, did taijutsu. We spent the first 1/2 hour doing 100 cuts with bokken, then rest of the session doing the "20-year technique." From 9:30am-noon...what a way to spend your Saturday mornings! Word to the wise: don't drink too heavily the night before!!!

[Karen Wolek]

This morning:

Suwari waza, wearing pants with the knee ripped out. 'nuf said.

[RoyK]

Our last class was a joint session between two groups, in which I got to practice with allot of new faces.

My first partner, a relative Aikido newbie, constantly lectured me and tried to correct me before I even had a chance to complete the technique once. My second partner, however, had an impressive and effective technique and I had to force information out of him because he kept claiming that what I'm doing is also good... pfft, people!

[mwible]

Our last class was a joint session between two groups, in which I got to practice with allot of new faces.

My first partner, a relative Aikido newbie, constantly lectured me and tried to correct me before I even had a chance to complete the technique once. My second partner, however, had an impressive and effective technique and I had to force information out of him because he kept claiming that what I'm doing is also good... pfft, people!

haha... aikido newbie's make me laugh!! :D!!

o wait... does that still include me? :P

-morgan

[Nafis Zahir]

That was today (Sat. May 12th). We had weapons class (Aiki Ken this time...kengi #1...8-directions) for the first hour, then for the next session, did taijutsu. We spent the first 1/2 hour doing 100 cuts with bokken, then rest of the session doing the "20-year technique." From 9:30am-noon...what a way to spend your Saturday mornings! Word to the wise: don't drink too heavily the night before!!!

Try doing 700 hundred cuts in a row!

[Tinyboy344]

My first partner, a relative Aikido newbie, constantly lectured me and tried to correct me before I even had a chance to complete the technique once.

We have one person like that in our dojo too. That noob... I wish I could pwn him someday. evileyes

I never actually enjoy koshi-nage, not in the last class... not ever!!!

[Nafis Zahir]

Anyone else?

[graham]

My last class was tonight; a whole evening of shihonage.

I learnt that sometimes Aikido hurts! But, even then, it rocks!

[Aiki1]

"Try not. Do...or do not. There is no try." - Master Yoda

In my last class, I taught how Not to Do anything, and thus, how Nothing Works!

LN

[Avery Jenkins]

In my last class, I learned that at age 49, I don't heal as fast as I did at age 30...

[CatSienna]

learnt that maai when using a bokken is much longer. I found it hard to adjust even when I was conscious of it.

[Larry Cuvin]

Power is on the down motion (straight 90 degrees down).

[Goye]

last night i was on a buissnes travel in Cali, Colombia, my friend Jhon Freddy who runs the dojo there asked me to give the class, it was just great, with differente people, i enjoy training hard and the people was happy,.... it was just a very big smile in every body face.

i finish class saying "that one that thinks that aikido is not for being happy and have fun,.. is just crazy!!"... every body was sweating and laughing,.,....
just a great time!!!!

C.,

[lifeafter2am]

My last class I learned that I love taking Ukemi for Sensei!!

[tarik]

In my last class, I had the mixed emotions of exhilaration and disappointment. It was like graduation all over again, with the mixed pleasure of new freedom and poignant sadness over leaving behind people you love and care about.

Then the instructor had us practice something in a way that, IMO, would develop the exact opposite of the aiki I am coming to understand and seek and I remembered that it was all good. They need to practice the way they need to practice and so do I.

Good bye, my dear friends. Our paths have diverged, but it does not mean that our friendship must. Ukemi and hugs all around and it's time to move on and begin from the beginning.