Katas in Ki-aikido?

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[Garth Dubin]

I'm a complete newb, checking out schools in my area and feeling my way around. So far, I've found one I like, it's a Ki-aikido school but I'm curious if the style has any katas or forms? I forgot to ask the Sensei when I dropped by the school.

I understand katas are limited in Aikido -- but I also understand that some styles have weapons katas (specifically Bokken) and I'm hoping that Ki-aikido does. I took Shorin-ryu Karate many years ago and enjoyed work with the Bo and the katas that went along with it.

Thanks!

- Garth

[Haowen Chan]

There are bokken and jo kata. Different schools have different emphasis on how/when they teach them, ask your sensei.

[Garth Dubin]

Thanks for the info!

Even if I have to wait, that's okay. I wasn't aloud to touch the weapons in Karate for many, many belts into my training previously. I just want to know I have it to look forward to. :-)

[Joe Jutsu]

In Ki Society there are two single person jo forms and two single person bokken forms, both of which can be paired exercises not unlike what you'd see in katori shinto ryu, but in my experience few people know or understand these paired forms. Ki Aikido also has "taigi," which are essentially two person kata doing unarmed techniques, mostly anyway. Each taigi consists of six techniques, done on both the right and left sides, where uke and nage are working together to demonstrate proper technique and ki connection. Some of the higher level taigi demonstrate bokken and tanto take-aways, or use the jo to throw uke. There's even a paired shinken taigi, but you won't see it performed unless one of the participants is at least 5th dan I believe.

So anyway, I guess that was a long way of saying yes, ki aikido has many, many forms. Hope you found this helpful, and good luck on your new journey!

[Don_Modesto]

KATA, WAZA, etc.

There are nuances here I will completely ignore and just say that most aikido practice is KATA, i.e., the attack and the defense are illustrated and everyone knows what is to happen. We use two-person KATA, as do most sword forms. Also, in the sword we practice in my aikido lineage (not KI), we also do paired practice.

This is unlike KATA in karate, which tends to be solo.

The only aikido I know consistently using solo KATA is Yoshinkan, and I don't know if all dojo do this. I know Inoue says they do it at his Honbu.

I know others will have more to add.

Good luck finding what you're looking for.

[kironin]

however, Taigi are what you might call formalized kata in the sense that there are very specific criteria spelled out for their perfomance.

There are 31 Taigi.

The solo and paired weapons kata are included in those Taigi.

Their practice is different then simply practicing with a partner slowly on a particular technique with a kata sensibility.

---

Taigi 29 it the kumi dachi kata (called above paired shinken but more usually practiced with bokken). The restriction to 5th dan and above pertains to public performance. My understanding, (at least according to what a senior 9th dan in Japan who was involved in formulating the taigi told me as he was teaching them to me), is the kumi dachi are based on Yagyu Shinkage Ryu techniques.