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<blogEntries>
<blogEntry id="1237">
	<title><![CDATA[Monday class... Test is close!]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[Today we started with morote dori kokyu ho and I was working again with Jim. This time I was paying more attention to my sit fall and luckily haven't hurt my knee more than it is. It still hurts a little, I think it will be ok in couple days if I do not injure is again. My kokyu ho still needs some attention, but it's better I think. At least now I feel sometimes I really can throw Jim.
After that we did 31 jo kata partner practice first from 22-31, then from 1-12, 12 -22 and finally 1-31.
I thought we finished with jo kata and will do bokken suburis this week, but sensei desided to spend one more week on this.
I found out that I attended enough classes to take 4rd kyu test on December 4th, but it's so close. Sensei alklowed me to skip it, but if I can make it, I will. The faster I get my brown belt, the earlier I'll be able to participate in advanced classes, so now I have a reason to advance fast. After that I don't care about my belt. ]]></body>
	<date>11-22-2004</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="1236">
	<title><![CDATA[Saturday class, knee pain]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[Saturday class started with half hour ukemi class. We were practicing kote gaeshi and taking ukemi with concentration of slapping and kiai. Sensei says when class is small, kiai and slapping helps to pump up the energy level. Well he is right, but... Ok, he is right.
Then we had the main session and the energy level was really hight... So high that I injured my knee. I was working with Jim and he is unstoppable as usual, with that additional energy from kiai and slapping I was flying all over the dojo :) During one of tenchinage I'gone on my knee instead of directly on my butt. That was less fun... Anyway, I survived. I guess if anyone of those guys who keeps asking about effectiveness of Aikido ever trained with Jim, they would be more concerned about their physical integrity, than about its effectivenes :)
Then we did koshinage, without the final throw, just blending, loading the partner of your back and balancing. It seemed very difficult, but doing it right is pretty effortless. During kokyu doza I felt how really my knee hurts and haven't done my part as nage (taking ukemi is ok, but moving on you knees is pretty painful).
Then there was weapon practice and we did partner practice. This time with Phyllip, who haven't done this part of 31 jo kata partner practice (22-31), so I spent this class working slowly and explaining him some parts. Of course I did not remember some of them myself, so sensei had to help us several times, but overall we did well and Phyllip learned it pretty fast. ]]></body>
	<date>11-22-2004</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="1225">
	<title><![CDATA[End of jo kata, shihonage]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[We started with a strange type of kokyu doza (a strage beginning indeed). Uke grabs nage's hands from the bottom, so the connection is not so strond to do the usual kokyu doza. First movement is dropping hands to your knees palms up, then raise your wrists toward uke's armpits, now cut as usual kokyu doza. I still don't get it and sensei saw that. He asked us to do the same thing with one hand and it's much more understandable. The trick is to feel the connection with uke - his hand is the continuation of your hand. Sounds like some ki trick :)
Anyway, next one was shomenuchi sankyo and we concentrated on keeping the uke's hand in arch so that he can't escape during the technique. I also noticed ans memorized foot work, which I was missing before. After you grab the wrist of the uke in sankyo, step into him, then step back with other foot keeping the arch, another back step, kneel on the back foot, handchange, kneel on both feet.
Then we did jo kata from 22 to 31 and sensei announced that next week we will work on bokken suburis. I'll have to do jo kata after class with someone to keep it in mind.
Then we did shihonage omote and ura from morote dori, first stepping to one side and working with one hand, then stepping on the other side and working with the other uke's hand (uchi and soto ?) I knew something is wrong and after class Jim helped me to discover the problem. When raising the hands I place the right at my forehead (lower or middle part of it), instead hands should be at the upper part of forehead so they are connected and at the same time you can move under uke's hand. ]]></body>
	<date>11-19-2004</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="1221">
	<title><![CDATA[Thursday class]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[Today was brown/black belt class, so I was again on my own. I did some forward rolls, then sit falls (they are now much better), then some knee walking and pivoting. Last half an hour I did bokken cuts. Not it's amazingly easy, my hands are not so tense now and while cutting I'm actually resting. The only time I have to use my muscles is to hold bokken in front of me before cuting and at the end to fix the cut. Raising is not a problem, the position with raised sword is relaxed after sensei shown me the right position of hands - stick them up, do not drop bokken too far behind you. Then cut, which is a relaxed movement. In the beginning, the left hand is leading, when it reaches the belly button, it stops and right hand continues with hips and body turning a little to the left to give right hand more extension (compensating the distance between two hands). That way both hands are extended and cut is very powerful. Sensei noted that sometimes when the left hand arrives to the final point, I pull it a little back. I don't get exactly what that means, but kinda feel that. I think I was not extending enough the left hand, therefore when right hand finishes the cut and body turnes, I have to move the left hand to correct it's position. Extending left hand (cutting a little further) I think solves that problem. Other than that, sensei did not tell anything about my cuts and I feel much better about them. ]]></body>
	<date>11-18-2004</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="1220">
	<title><![CDATA[Jo kata, Morote dori kokyu ho brocken apart]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[Yesterday's practice started with 32 Jo kata partner practice from 22-27. I did pretty well since Andy showed me this last time. Then we did morote dori kokyu ho and I was working with Lucy. Strangely what was working perfectly with Jim - a very resisting guy, does not work with Lucy :( I can't explain why, but I feel it doesn't. I guess this happens again - I start to understand the technique, combine the pieces into something meaningful and then it breaks again. And the same process from the beginning. I guess this evolution and collapse will never end...
Anyway, then we did a lot of suwari waza. Let's see... We did yokumen - kote gaeshi, yokumen - sankyo, shomen - kaitenage. And all this on our knees! The last one was very confising in the beginning until sensei showed me and I've got how to think about it. When attacker performs shomen strike, go off to a side (outside) and do a continue uke's attack like a yokument strike with opposite hand, the other hand stays at the forehead. Afterwards, striking hand leads uke's hand in the circle down, back and up, and the other hand cuts to uke's head. Then step. ]]></body>
	<date>11-18-2004</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="1212">
	<title><![CDATA[Sankyo and Jo kata]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[I'm back after almost one week. I was late since I forgot to set my alarm on, so guys were doing 31 Jo kata partner practice from 22-31 when I arrived. I managed to do only defender's role once and it was over. After that we did a tachnique started from Ushiro Riote Dori, you bring both hands in front of you hara, step to a side raising and dropping the hands, moving under your arm, then ikkyo, change to sankyo, 3 steps and pin. Isn't that easy? Next was almost the same, but when you move under your arm you catch the wrist of uke and then proceed with the rest. Then we did Iriminage from Ushiro Riote Dori. You do off to the side with front foot and step back so that you are behind the uke and proceed with Iriminage. I can't describe details since it's unusual to me. Then we did Yokumen attack, Shihonage, butin the middle you change the technique to Iriminage. Feels very strange to me.
After the class I asked Andy to help me with Jo kata which I missed and we did it several times. Now I can say I did the whole kata! ]]></body>
	<date>11-16-2004</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="1189">
	<title><![CDATA[Tuesday practice. Suwari waza.]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[Wow! Today was hot! Not the weather, but the class. We started with Morote dori Kokyu Ho. Finally I know what was my problem. When I step and drop my elbow and shoulder, move hands right up, do not pull to outside. That's much easier. Then we did 31 jo kata partner practice from 13 to 21. Thrust higher!
Then we did suwari waza... a lot of it with shomen attacks initiated by nage, yokumen attack and iriminage and some others that I can't remember. The last one was a new one. Nage is in seiza, uke comes with shomen or yokumen attack. Nage just lies on a side (90 degrees) escaping the attack, one foot at uke's foot, the other one srtikes the knee. That simple :) The important thing is to lie down at 90 degrees from the line of attack. If you lie back, you are too far from the attacker. ]]></body>
	<date>11-09-2004</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="1188">
	<title><![CDATA[Saturday practice. Ukemi]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[On Saturday all sensei's were out on seminar with Goto sensei and we were practicing with Dan (our nidan sempai). We did forward rolls and a small correction here - do not place the hand too forward, just next to your foot. In that case you keep your balance as long as you can and during throw minimize the time you are unbalanced.
Then we did some excercises to keep our balance while leaning backwards. Just stay one step in front of a wall, then curve your body back and touch the wall with your hands. Be sure to keep yourself balanced so you can walk along the wall. Then we tried to do back roll from that curved position. 
Then we did 31 jo kata. ]]></body>
	<date>11-09-2004</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="1178">
	<title><![CDATA[Friday practice]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[Today I was working with Jim. The whole class we did kaite nage. That was nice, it's pretty complex technique and we do not do it often. We did both kaite nage soto mavari and uchi mavari from shomen attack (foot work in the beginning as ikkyo), then from yokumenuchi attack and the main difference for me was the footwork which in this case is yokumen responce and then hands meet each other. A lot of intermediate atemis, which is nice to practice especially with Jim (he will do the atemi for sure and you better block it). It's a challenge to be his uke and I like challenges. I was able to perform this technique in a preffy fast phase, but I tryed to slow down. Sensei's correction was not to step too much and too far from uke during the last step.
Before bowing sensei said that it was the coldest day this year, but I did not really feel that. Both me and Jim were feeling pretty energetic. ]]></body>
	<date>11-05-2004</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="1173">
	<title><![CDATA[Thursday practice]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[Today was black/brown belt training as always and I did my stuff on a side. Guys were doing some advanced jo partner practice and certainly had fun. Well I had my share too! I started with forward rolls. Not that they are perfect, but I felt better than the last time. Then some sitfalls and I liked them too, some suwari waza, stepping on a side. Then I did a lot of bokken cuts and felt they are improving. The only correction sensei did this time - he asked me to leave more space between hands. I told sensei that I would be grabbing higher than the line denoting the end of tsuka, but he told me not to worry about this since the line is made in incorrect place. Just make sure your left hand is at the end of tsuka and the right hand in 1 fist higher. Other than that my cuts felt really well. Then I did some jo practice - first 12 moves in 31 jo partner kata as a defender and as an attacker. Overall today's class went very well. This was a day when everything just happens to work :) I like it! ]]></body>
	<date>11-04-2004</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="1168">
	<title><![CDATA[Jo kata partner practice the whole class]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[That was gooood! The whole class jo kata with partner! I like jo!
We started with Taino Hanko and then sensei asked to get our jos. He and Andy demonstrated partner practice and we did it from 1 to 12. I liked it, one time I felt how inportant the distance is. And sensei was right, I figured out foot work with no problem while doing partner practice. It's almost impossible to remember it when doing solo practice, but with a partner it's coming natural. I have to remember the blocking moves, in the second part of the 2 when I'm a defender, left hand should be higher tahn right hand, when I'm an attacker, 5 and 6 are strikes, not 5th suburi and sensei has shown 2 ways of moving into striking position - one is just move jo up and catch with left hand and strike, teh second is to slide left hand towards right hand and the continue sliding until it reaches the end of the jo. When doing 10 in defender's role, feet are together. That's it for now. ]]></body>
	<date>11-03-2004</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="1166">
	<title><![CDATA[Jo kata with partners, shohonage kihon waza]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[Today's class was exciting! I was a liiiitle late :) Just couple of minutes and I think I haven't missed anything.
The best part was that I was the most junior person, so I could work with the most experienced person. Well, today there were two most experienced people :) I joined them since number of students was not even. That was something! I haven't felt such energu for many classes since Jim had baby and stopped his training. Well, now he is back and so is Steven whom I haven't seen since my second training day which was 4 months before. Jim as always was an embodiment of a controlled power. Steven is softer but very technically precise.
First we did morote dori kokyu ho. It's amazing how they do this! I still can't feel this technique, but I'm learning... from very experienced people.
Then we did first 4 moves from 31 jo kata partner practice. That's first time I'm doing it realizing what I'm doing. I had enaugh time to practice that as attacker and as a defender and I think I remember all the moves. I'll try to practice it in my mind.
Then we were practicing shomen and yokumen attacks and different responces and we were doing kihon waza, so it was a test of our timing. That is amazing feeling - doing pretty advanced things with advanced people. First was shomen attack, you move off to a site, foot work as in ikkyo, hand blocks attacker's hand in the beginning of the attack. The other handblade cuts attacker's hand over your blocking hand and continuation is ikkyo. Next was yokumen attack, yokumen responce, hands cut and meet at the bottom of the circle and then shihonage. We practiced both omote and ura. Have to remember to do small steps. Have to work on my timing in kihon waza.
Class was very energetic and inspiring. It's sure terrifying to be Jim's uke when he does shihonage (the killer technique as Stan Pranin called it in one of his articles). Steven had to do couple of high falls. But now I feel much more confident in my ukemi. ]]></body>
	<date>11-02-2004</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="1161">
	<title><![CDATA[Lots of confusing techniques]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[Today I was late again. I hate that and I know sensei does not like that. But it's too hard to wake at 5:30 when you went to sleep at midnight... Every day for last 4 month... Anyway, I'm moving forward.
First practice was jo kata with a partner. I missed completely the most interesting part - they were doing first 5 or 6 moves of 31 jo kata. Then we practiced the blocking so that your jo stays in front of you. Left (front) hand does not move, only right hand does kind of circular move in forn of your knot. Mike was my partner and he was doing that very effectively, my jo was flying to a side every time. I was able to reproduce that couple of times, but in most cases that was not powerful enough.
After that we did several confusing techniques. Neither of them were amongst basic ones. THe first starts from ushiro riote dori, you move back bringing your hands in front of you knot, then step to a side and turn 90 degrees to face your partner and change the front foot. Here you should not step too far, your front foot should be close to your partner's front foot. At the same time you are bringing hands up (raising the sword) and down (cut). Continuation is ikkyo. You grab as in ikkyo, turn using your hips and pin.
Next attack was grabbing you gi at the chest level (don't remember the name of attack), you move to a side (outside, almost as ikkyo beginningm but without front foot change), grab the wrist with both hands naturally (as jo in 31 jo kata, move 22,  but both hands at the wrist) place your head on your partner's wrist from outside and sneak under his hand keeping head connected to his hand. That brings you into position to do shihonage. Step a little far from your partner so that he can't hit you and you can extend his hand.
Third one the same attack, but attacker twist your gi (as in a bar when somebody grabs you and tries to pull you up). If he holds with right hand, you grab his gi at the elbow with your right and at his neck from the back. If you stand in opposint hanmis, you slide in front of the partner (continuing his twisting move), pivoting facing him and bringing your left hand down. Optimally the last move is to step with your back foot and turn completely, but I was just pivoting since my balance is not established enough. It was enaugh to throw Mike down. Mike obviously enjoyed that one and I gave him more time to feel it. There was one more unusual technique, but I can't explain that.
Class is over. Sensei reminds us that tomorrow is the last day to vote (the only political thing I heard in dojo during these polls). Andy and Jim were present today (the second consequitive day) and I hope they will do it regularly.
Funny, I noticed sensei reading a newspaper in his car when we were leaving, and that reminded me that he is a human being :) ]]></body>
	<date>11-01-2004</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="1153">
	<title><![CDATA[31 jo kata]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[Today's class started with Morote Dori Kokyu Ho. I think I do not slide far enough while doing it. The rest of the class we did 31 jo kata. From 1 to 12, then 12-17, then 17-22 and 22-29, then 22-31. Then we did the whole kata. I still lose it somewhere at 14 or 15. I'll try to find the moves somewhere on the internet. I'll ask for it in the forums! ]]></body>
	<date>10-29-2004</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="1152">
	<title><![CDATA[Thursday class]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[Thursday class was as usual - brown/black belts were having fun with sensei, I was having fun by myself on my own :)
I did forward rolls. It seems after some point instead of improving it, it's actually goes down. I don't get the right feel and I have no idea how to do that right. Now after several month of explorations I can spot more that 50 details and how to do that, but collecting the right ones into the right sequence is really difficult. This already happened once with me. Technique is constructed, and you think you have got it, then adiitional detail and it's ruined and you have to build it again with a higher level of understanding. Oh well, I'm trying so I'll get it one day.
I did sitfalls as my sensei showed me last time and it seems to be easier. I'm really happy I asked him the other day about this.
Then to have some rest I did knee walking, then stepping to a side and keeping body and knot facing forward. The second part of the class I was doing boken cuts. Sensei came to me once and corrected the way I'm raising the sword. When Bringing it up, do not bring it too down since on the real sword there is tsuka which will hit your head. Stick it up. When cutting do not move the left hand after it reached your center.
That was it. ]]></body>
	<date>10-29-2004</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="1144">
	<title><![CDATA[Jo kata, Shihonage and Kotegaeshi]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[Today's class was fun. After missing yesterday's class that was nice to be there again. We started with Kokyu Doza and sensei again pointed out that my hands do not face each other when I rise them. I have to be able to clap at that point. I'm trying.
Then we did 31 Jo kata from the beginning until the end! It's the fist time I do it knowing what I'm doing (The real first time when I was just repeating after everybody was during seminar at Reno). I like working with jo, it feels natural.
Then we ded yonkyo from kneeling position. Not much here, I'm still uncertain of how to do that.
Then we did Shomenuchi Shihonage Omote. That was fun especially because one of my partners was Lucy. She is very detail oriented and I like that. After that we did then the same beginning, but instead of Shihonage we finish with Kotegaeshi.
That was it! I'm still uncertain why it was so fun... Maybe bacause I missed yesterday training and today's training brought me the satisfaction? You know, when you have something, you do not even notice it, when you lose it and then get it back, you start appresiating it. Yes, I guess that's it. ]]></body>
	<date>10-27-2004</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="1136">
	<title><![CDATA[Monday practice. Kaite Nage Uchi Mavari]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[Today's practice started with Kokyu Doza (pretty strange start). Then we did one technique with yonkyo. The rest of the class was spent doing Kaite Nage Uchi Mavari (if I remember the name correctly). First we did it starting with Katate Dori. Then the same thing from kneeling position. After that we did the same technique from standing position starting with tsuki, then with yokumen. When doing it against tsuki, you just step to the side (outside), slide your hand from the bottom, grab it, step and atemi (like ikkyo), move under the hand, cut the head down and step accross. Important thing to remember is to keep partner down with both hands (keeping his head down and pressing his hand with other hand also). Steps should be small and keep yourself close to the partner. After moving under the hand, keep it down all the time. With yokument attack I was keeping myself from going into shihonage. It's hard to stop yourelf in the middle of the circular movement and start moving in the opposite direction.
It is a complicated technique and we haven't done it for at least a month. Considering that I think I did well. ]]></body>
	<date>10-25-2004</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="1133">
	<title><![CDATA[Sit fall practice. Small ikkyo correction that mak]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[On Saturday I came on time. O'Quinn sensei was the only person in dojo. Saturday morning half an hour ukemi class is not very popular I guess... Anyway that was my chance to learn sit falls from my teacher and I asked for it. Sensei does it so easily! Not that I've got it, but I can describe it. Sensei brings his front foot back and a little  bit crossed (as a very tight hanmi), drops his back knee, but does not fall on it. That looks like he just sits on the floor and the rest is usual - he rolls on the side. Coming back is the reverse, no hands touching the ground, but here he first goes on his knee, then the back foot steps on the toes and steps back into hanmi. All the way you are looking at the attacker (in front).
While we were practicing Bill Witt sensei came and started his warmups. There were Witt sensei, O'Quinn sensei and me in the dojo and I was feeling very energetic being one-on-one with two great masters.
Then Witt sensei taught his class during which I've got one more detail on ikkyo. When you step on a side and the hand delivering atemi goes for grab, it's very important to slide it over partner's hand because that  bends his elbow and breaks his balance even more! Such a small thing does such a big job! We also did taio hanko, morote dori kokyu ho, some other techniques which I can't really describe correctly. Bill Witt has a lot of techniques in his mind :)
Then there was weapon training and we did 31 jo kata from 1 to 21. THe phase was a little too fast, but I was trying to keep up with it. Finally I've got it. ]]></body>
	<date>10-25-2004</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="1125">
	<title><![CDATA[Back to my journal]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[Haven't been writing anything since it was mostly usual trainings. A lot of sankyo. Today finally I've got the foot work.
Also we did jo kata up to 12. I asked sensei about footwork, but he asked not to concentrate on that right now and promised to cover that when we do partner practice with jo.
Tomorrow I'm going to ask sensei to teach backfalls and backrolls during ukemi class. It seems to be problem not only for me.
On Wednesday class was taught by Mike and we did mostly sankyo and the same from suwari waza. Thursday was brown/black belt, so I was doing my usual rolls and boken cuts on a side. I also added stepping to a side from the line and concentrating on the direction of my body. Sensei obviously likes and supports the idea of practicing every day.
Today was jo kata and sankyo. I found to not being able to concentrate properly today for some reason and I think sensei noticed that. Can't explain the reason of this. Maybe I'm just a little tired. Will rest on Sunday and for now I should preserve some energy for Saturday class with Witt sensei.
 ]]></body>
	<date>10-22-2004</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="1117">
	<title><![CDATA[Jo kata and Sankyo the rest of the class]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[Nasty weather! Cold, rainy, windy...
When I came and finished putting on my dress (as sensei called my hakama today) guys finished kokyu ho. As soon as I stepped on the mats sensei asked to get our weapons. We worked in 31 jo kata from 1 to 12. I did not realize that 10 is attack to the wrist. I always thought it's a block...
THe resto f the class was Sankyo from different attacks - first shomenuchi. We did omote and ura. I almost forgot the footwork :( Then we changed attack to ushiro riote dori and finally shomen attack when nage slide, delivers atemi, grabs attacker's other wrist (not the attacking one), pivots and holds in sankyo. Here I have to remember as in shihonage not to hold uke's hand too high over my head.
Well, that's it for today.
 ]]></body>
	<date>10-19-2004</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="1114">
	<title><![CDATA[Lots of suwari waza, a strange technique and sudde]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[Today we did a lot of suwari waza. Started with taino hanko and then moved to ikkyo - sankyo from knealing position. Sensei was demonstrating it using me as his uke and that was painful. I knew he should demonstrate some nuances, but man that was hard. I had to tap several times during the pin :)
After that there were shihonage from knealing position (only omote). Here the difficulty was to step at a wide angle while on your knees. Then the same technique, but you stand while performing it and here we did both omote and ura.

While we were working on that last one with Mike, sensei asked Mike to be uke while he tries some technique. That was a very strange one. I've never seen something like that and can't even describe what that was. Sensei was in knealing position, Mike was holding his hand in katate dori, then sensei's other hand covered Mike's hand. After that sensei moved his hands over his head and around his body from behind (like moving a flag in circle over you head) with no effort and Mike suddenly started moving after his hand with his face expressing severe pain. That was very sudden and unusual for me and probably for Mike also. Seing my round eyes sensei smiled and did the same technique with me. The same result. I felt very severe pain in the whole hand up to the shoulder and if I were not moving after it my wrist would probably break. Sensei just said this should be added to shodan test. I can't explain the technique since it was very sudden and I'm sure I've never seen it. During shodan test I'll pay attension to the kneeling techniques and maybe then I'll be able to describe it more.

After the class I asked sensei what should I think while doing morote dori kokyu ho. I find this technique one of the most difficult and I can't think about turning my hips, sliding into correct position, dropping my shoulder, raising my hands all at the same time. So I asked sensei if there is one thing I can think while doing it. He got his boken, stood in hanmi, raised it, turned 90 degrees, stepped and cut. That's what morote dori kokyu ho is all about. Then he demonstrated it with me holding his right hand while he holds boken. He did the same cut with boken and I was on the ground. Then the same thing with Sri as uke.
That was my sensei's explanation of morote dori kokyu ho. Very unexpected one, but I'll try it.
 ]]></body>
	<date>10-18-2004</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="1113">
	<title><![CDATA[Saturday training]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[On Saturday I came a little late to ukemi class. Jim came that day a little later and helped me with my hakama. We did forward rolls and sensei noticed some problems with my rolling. I should look backwards as soon as I start the roll. Always. And secondly, I should place my hand at 45 degrees to the direction I roll. So even after so many rolls I still have a place to improve them. I guess the prfect one does not exist :) Then we did rolls with a partner. You hold in katate dori, he steps as taino hanko, steps through and throws. Jim showed me the direction to move. To step through I should not turn 180 degrees as in taino hanko, but smth like 135. While being uke sensei emphasized the importance of looking at your partned while being throws. That protects you head from bumping directly to the mat.
Then the main class started. Bill Witt sensei was teaching and my partner was Stacy. She helped me with morote dori kokyu ho and her corrections made me feel the technique. I still have difficulty of understanding how to reproduce that, but I least I felt it couple times. She showed me the axis of the turn which goes through a point between the wrist and elbow very close to elbow. We also did shihonage from yakute dori, which was very unusual to me. We haven't done that for a long time. Then iriminage. I have troubles with techniques involving the whole body for throw (kokyu ho, iriminage) :( I don't "feel" them and feel uncomfortable doing them. Will practice them more.
Then we had the weapon class doing boken suburis from 1 to 6 alone and with partner. My partners were Stacy and Phyllip. Sensei asked to really drop the body and bend the feet while striking (exaggerating) to gain the feeling.
Well, I guess that's it. Nothing special or unusual. ]]></body>
	<date>10-18-2004</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="1095">
	<title><![CDATA[First time in hakama :)]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[Yesterday I've finally received my hakama... after about a month, which is actuallt better than usual as I was told. As sensei mentioned, politicians argue about weakened economy and Bujin does not have enaugh time to keep up with their orders :)
Mike helped me to put it on and it was not so terrible. Moving in it was surprisingly easy except sitting and standing from seiza, but that's ok. No injuries. Though I caught Lucy with my hakama while taking ukemi :) That's a hiddent weapon!
First we did a mixed technique. Start from katate dori, then hands move as taino hanko, but instead of stepping just slide, turn your hips and kokyu ho. That helps to feel the connection with uke. Then we did morote dori kokyu ho. I'm don't feel confortable with all these techniques. I can't find the correct position for the throw. Well, with time I'll figure that out. At least today I understood how sensei does his huge slides! He moves forward foot first! Such an enlightmen! Oh man, I was so blind to not see it and try to slide with one step!
After that we did shomenuch iriminage, then yokumenuchi iriminage. Sensei emphasized the position before throw. Shoulders, face and knot (hips) should face the same direction as uke. Then move across and throw. I'm trying, but I'm still uncomfortable with these techniques.
Then we did 5th boken suburi. Here I have to remember to open my fist while raising the boken in the left stance. I think I did well with boken. I'm sure sensei was watching us very closely since only 3 of us were doing the suburi (Lucy and a new guy were working on a side, Mike was helping Wane to prepare for his test), but only once he stopped me and asked to losen my grip in the left hand when raising the boken from left stance. For comparison he stopped other two guys several time even though both of them are at least brown belts.
Anyway, my shoulders become tired pretty soon, which means I do something wrong. I'll ask sensei to find out what's wrong with my cutting.
Attendance sheet was already filled for this class. Sensei did that again himself for everyone I think.
Mike was in a hurry and I didn't have time to wrap up my hakama correctly, so I'll do that in the evening using written directions. ]]></body>
	<date>10-15-2004</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="1090">
	<title><![CDATA[Thursday training]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[Not much to say. Today was black belt training as usual, so I was doing my stuff alone. Short warmup, rolls, knee walking. I noticed my forward rolls have some gaps. Though everybody in dojo probably think I'm very good at forward rolls, I felt today I need to practice them constantly. The problem - at some point my roll is terminated and my back drops on the floor. So it was kind of incomplete and in the end I could hear me bumping on my back. Working on that for some time I managed to correct myself and it became smoother, but there are hundreds nuances which I don't understand yet. Well, I'll roll more to discover them.
Then I practiced cutting with boken. Just raise and cut and back in the stance. Trying to concentrate on the stance and position of my hands. Concentrating on the tip of the boken is helpful, but for now I want to control my hands with my mind to make sure I'm doing the right thing. As soon as I'm sure my hands know what they are doing, I'll move my concentration on the flow.
Sensei approached me once during the class and said that my hard work shows up. I thanked him. It's nice he is supporting me, though I'm not used to it. My previous sensei has never expressed his thought about my technique or progress. The only time he said I'm doing progress when I told him that after about 4 years I know nothing. Just different approach I guess.
After the class I asked sensei how far back I should move boken. After his demonstration I think I was doing that right, but I need to verify using a mirror. ]]></body>
	<date>10-14-2004</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="1085">
	<title><![CDATA[Today's nikyo practice]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[Today we practiced nikyo. I was a bit late as usual :( I just can't make myself wake up earlier than 6 am every day :( If I do that one day, I wake up later the next day. Oh well, maybe with time it will be easier.
When I arrived there were only 3 other guys, so sensei decided to go through Wane's 1st kyu test. Wane and Armen were doint some suwari waza. When I joined them we started from shomenuchi nikkyo, then the same on out knees. Here sensei empasized the importance of getting to the wrist and the way of placing it at shoulder pit with upper part of the wrist connected to your body. We should turn towards the partner as if little finger is a sword and we are cutting his head with it. The whole time while we turn partner should be unbalanced. Still not sure how he is doing that...
I liked sensei's comment on the place hold the wrist in nikkyo:
"God created that pit between your shoulder and body for nikyo!" :)
I like that interpretation. Would be fun to learn human anatomy this way :D
I also have to remember the footwork while doing yakute dori shomenuchi nikkyo. Off to a side 90 degrees into horseman position, place wrist into correct position, control elbow and turn into hanmi. Tnen bow, step back, apply ikkyo by pivoting and taking balance and final pin.
The last nikkyo technique was shown when partner resist in the beginning and nage has to use both hands. Can't describe that... Maybe next time.
The last technique was iriminage with partner attacking with step and grabbing the wrist in katate dori.
I guess that's it for today. We did ikkyo last week, nikkyo today and probably will do it until the end of this week and probably continue with sankyo next week, ans so on.
Sensei said the wrist can be made stronger if you imagine energy flowing through your hand and wrist while pinned in nikkyo. Does this help with the pain? Should probably try that next time.
P.S. remember to change hands in nikkyo pin.
P.S.P.S. and step through uke doing iriminage throw. ]]></body>
	<date>10-13-2004</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="1081">
	<title><![CDATA[Class with Mathew]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[Mathew is back! It was couple of month since he was injured. Now his back does not keep him back from coming back to dojo :) Anyway. It's good to see him again and learn. He was teaching the class since sensei had some technical problems waking up early :) (I guess his alarm clock broke). Mathew explains techniques while he is showing them in every detail and it's really helpful in catching it if you are a beginner. He would be a good teacher.
Today my partner was Lucy. She is good in catching my errors and explaining them. As usual we did taino hanko, then morote dori kokyu nage, then some modification of ikkyo when instead of pushing the elbow with your inside handblade you push it with outside blade and finish in another pin (I don't remember tha name, but it when you keep uke's hand between your both handblades one on the wrist, the other on the elbow). Here have to remember that after stepping to a side as in ikkyo and reaching the wrist of uke, nage has to turn and then step, not visa versa. Then the same technique but instead going after elbow you go after the wrist and perform nikkyo. The first time Lucy did that, she forgot that I'm a beginner and did it very quickly :) Well the rest you probably know yourself... It was painful enaugh to make me shout (well maybe shout is not a good word, she was the only one to hear that, but I think she got it). She was sorry and we continued enjoying our practice. My right hand seems to be very sesible for nikkyo. Maybe that's some injury from my karate background which I did not realize? Anyway, nothing serious. Then there was kotegaeshi against ski. And we finished as usual with (ahh still can't remember that name!)
Overall - another happy morning at my dojo. ]]></body>
	<date>10-12-2004</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="1079">
	<title><![CDATA[Kotegaeshi corrections]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[Today's class was mostly kotegaeshi. I almost forgot this technique, so it was good to be reminded. Have to keep in mind the foor work. Move 90 degrees, then 180, matching partner's fingers, then roll partner and pin him. This rolling works, but there are nuances I don't get yet. Have to practice that some more.
My partner was Wane. Finally Andie was there today and I really wanted to work with him, but I wasn't so lucky :( Well, maybe next time. I have to ask him to teach me his back rolls. They are gorgeous! ]]></body>
	<date>10-11-2004</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="1078">
	<title><![CDATA[Morote Dori Kokyu Ho on Saturday]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[Ukemi class was taught by O'Quinn Sensei. We did knee walking and then forward rolls. Here he noticed that I start from raising my hand and asked me not to do that. It helps me to feel that circular move and going right down with my hands seems too linear. Have to talk to sensei about that.
Bill Witt sensei was teaching the main class. First part of the class was used doing Morote Dori Kokyu Ho. Finally I think I've got how to move my hand and Witt sensei shown the axis to bend my arm. Have to remember that it's not about moving around your partner, but it's about wrapping him around you. The feeling helps a lot. While uke I have to still work on stepping back when yout feet are trapped. It's really difficult and it seems falling on the other side is much easier, but I'll be working on that.
Then we practiced a technique staring from two hands grabber from behind (ura riote dori ?). Front foot moves back and off to a side, back foot follows. hand closest to the partner movec up from the center and towards the partner - atemi, second hand is kept at your head. After that movement you are next to your partner in inverse hanmi and atemi should get his balance. If hand doing atemi moves from the center, it's pretty easy to get the balance. Next move is the front foot steps back, you move under partner's hand. Here do not look down, keep looking at your partner. Atemi to the face or stomack can be delivered while movind ander the arm. From behind continuation is the hand kept at your head is cutting partner's head and the other hand help to throw pushing the shoulder. Step accross is needed here. I guess ikkyo also can be used as continuation.
I haven't got much from the second technique since it was too complicated to me, but Morote Dori Kokyu Ho corrections were really good. ]]></body>
	<date>10-11-2004</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="1076">
	<title><![CDATA[Shihonage corrections on Friday]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[Did not have time to keep my journal up-to-date, so will have to catch up now. So on Friday we mostly practiced shihonage from different attacks - katate dori, yakute dori and morote dori. My partner was Lucy and she helped me a lot. Ura was pretty natural, but omote was difficult since Lucy is shorter than me and I had hard time to figure out what's wrong. Finally she explained me the footwork. I missed a step. After front foot goes ofd to a site, back foot comes closer to the partnes so that next step is really small and that way I can move under Lucy's arm. After that correction everything was working perfectly. Still have to keep in mind to point fingers inside before starting, keeping hands in front of the center and moving from the center, keeping partner's hand parallel to the ground. During ura will have to remember the small step after pivot to face the partner. ]]></body>
	<date>10-11-2004</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="1058">
	<title><![CDATA[Morote Dori investigations.]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[Today we started with something new. It was Morote Dori Kokyu Ho, but nage pivots only 90 degrees instead of 180, still facing the same direction as uke, then goes for his elbow and performs ikkyo. We did omote and ura. The interesting thing was that after such Kokyu, if you raise your hands, you can move in front of uke and perform that technique, if you drop your hands, you can do the same from his back by targeting the other hand. So Morote Dori gives both options. Then we did the same (going in front and back) performing iriminage - the main difference is you go for uke's neck instead of elbow. The point was that you can choose from these techniques and move in both directions. Then we did a technique starting with Yakute Dori. You point your fingers ourside, thumb points upward and move it in circle over uke's hand so that thumb points down. Then you can perform either iriminage or ikkyo.
My uke was Mike and this time he was throwing with more energy. I had to use back rolls in some cases. That's very unusual. I found Mike to be the most careful nage. Probably he feels I can handle that now. I guess that means progress.
I checked my attendance sheet. Sensei (most probable person) marked all the days of seminar as class days, so my test day will come sooner. Well, to me that does not matter anyway, but it's nice he pays attension to my progress. ]]></body>
	<date>10-06-2004</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="1055">
	<title><![CDATA[Some ikkyo corrections]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[Today my partner was Mariusz. I like training with him. Of course it's always fun to practice with a black belt,  but in addition he has a lot of experience in other MAs I think. His technique sometime is on the edge of being called "incorrect" or at least "different" from what sensei shows, but it still the same technique. It's just mixed with his own visions and therefore has different flavours. We started with second boken suburi, then the same suburi with partner. Next was shomenuchi ikkyo. Mariusz showd me how to keep the partner unbalanced during the whole technique and it was really new to me. I did not realize that the move when you bend the elbow of your partner and move it towards him is circular. Besides sensei emphasized the fact that the first movement should be moving hand's fingertips inside so that later it's easier to move the hand to the side.
Next we practiced 3 variations of technique when uke moves towards nage, grabs either both shoulders or the wrist and you perform shomen responce by moving to the side and changing the forward foot and then neeling and taking your partner into a forward roll or throw. Here sensei emphasized the direction where we throw. After stepping to the side we should face uke at 45 degrees forming the triangle. That way it's easier to take his balance. Mariusz taught me how to roll from that strange position and saved me from a lot of pain. Before that the only way I could end up was a fall not very high, but still sometimes painful.
In the end I noticed that in my attendance sheet the day is already marked. I wonder if sensei did that and if yes then did he marked also the seminar days as usual class days? I did not. I'll find that out tomorrow. ]]></body>
	<date>10-05-2004</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="1052">
	<title><![CDATA[Memories from Saito Hitohiro's seminar]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[Ok, I'm back from the seminar and I'm still alive! :)
My wife and me left our home at about 10am on Friday, we were lucky to almost avoid the traffic (we were caught for just about 20 min, which is very good). We stopped and took some pictures near lake Tahoe at the vista point and were in Reno at about 3:30pm. My hotel was in downtown and the school where seminar was held is just 10 min drive.
In the evening semanar started. There were about 250 people there of different ranks, some even less experienced than me, which means - beginners. The facility was pretty big, but even then everybody was very cautious about falling. I started with David - very nice fellow who will take his Nidan test later this month. It was 5-th or 6-th seminar he is attending and he gave me the advices to ve careful when I throw or being thrown and go back on my feet as soon as possible. Those were valuable advices. That also made me a little tense in the beginning, but that feeling left me soon and I was able to enjoy myself. As usual (at least for Iwama style) we started with taino hanko, then kokyu nage and all following techniques were continuations and improvisations around these techniques. The class was not very hard, but it was hot inside because of so many people were in there. I had really good time, only one partner seemed not to care what he is doing, but that was the only encounter during the whole seminar. There were children there trying to look like grownups, there were grownups trying to be humble as children. I guess that's the rule :)
There were some moves which were taught a little bit different from what my sensei teaches, though O'Quinn sensei used to study under the same sensei - Saito Hitohiro's father. Later I asked Alison sensei about this and she explained that at the time my sensei was in Japan, the techniques were taught that way and they evolve after that. Even 31 jo kata done on the third day of the seminar was a little bit different variation. As sensei asked, we were trying to do the way Saito sensei is teaching and that was not very different. Overall - great teacher and very nice people.
There were 10 bokens with master's writing which were sold 100  each, all money were given to the fond which supports Aikido in developing countries. A lot of people wanted to buy them, so there was a lottery. I did not feel worthy enaugh to have one yet, so I did not participate, but David did and he won the lottery. The best way you can gamble in Reno! David deserved that. He is the only person I know who reached Nidan in 3 years.
In the evening my wife demanded a little walking tour in Reno downtown. I was tired, but how can I deny her?
On the second day sensei talked a little about misogi and meditation. He explained the difference between Zen meditation and the meditation he was taught (I can't remember the name of that practice). I will not talk about this not to mislead people with my understanding of his words.
Then we went outside and were practicing boken suburis. Sensei was emphasising the importance of the basic movements - suburis and told us to practice them daily no matter what rank we are. Return to basics.
After lunch in a mexican restaurant (with a very delicious food I should mention) we continued the practice inside. This time the main portion was iriminage. The impressive (and a very  dangerous technique) sensei has shown was an iriminage when the throw is performed by grabbing uke's head and throwin him. I'm not sure how to describe that, but I'm pretty sure there will be pictures posted here soon. Unfortunately it was not allowed to take pictures during the class. There were several people who were instructed to do that. I think you can find pictures on Aikido of Reno dojo website http://www.renoaikido.org.
In the evening there was a dojo party and I'll post some funny pitcures.
Third day was spent doing 31 jo kata and then partner practice with jo. That was the first time I did the whole kata. Then beginners were separated in a separate group and we were doing it very slowly and with a lot of precautions. Sensei's techniques were very precise, accurate and at the same time relaxed. That was very impressive.
I can't explain all the things taught at the seminar, but there were several ideas that stayed in me especially in the weapon practice. Important things like correct hanmi, timing, the place to look during partner practice, importance of keeping shoulders on the same horizontal line, "squizing" the weapon during a strike. I'm sure many of those things were already taught to me, but you get that when you get that.
In the end of the seminar sensei seemed pleased, he told us he is very sad that it's over and expressed his hopes to meet again. All dojos had a photo taken with sensei and the seminar was over. I hope I'll have a chance to do that again. ]]></body>
	<date>10-04-2004</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="1037">
	<title><![CDATA[Offended sword]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[Today was brown/black belt class. Mike as usual was the first one in dojo. Still can't understand how this guy comes at 6AM every day to open the door. I came later and sensei came right after me. Mike wanted to do some techniques with tanto, but was worried that no other brown/black belt arrives this morning. I can't participate in this class being only 5-th kyu who just passed his first test. So I was doing my usual rolls on a side. Luckily Lucy arrived until we finished bowing, so Mike had a great class doing randori (though without tanto).
To bring some freshness in my Thirsday lonely classes I added some cutting with bokken excersise into my ration. The simplest one - just raise the sword and cut. If I try smth more advanced I'll do it wrong and sensei will have to correct me and therefore shorten the time of the actual class. The class was good. I was trying to correct my usual problem of cutting not coming from the center and I guess it improves. Also I found out that turning a little bit while standing in uchinokamae (not sure if spelled correctly) removes tension from hands holding the bokken.
When class was over sensei called me to bow with the class and in a hurry I layed my bokken on the mats and left there. After bowing I've gone to pick it up and sensei approached me when I was about to pick it. He asked me to never leave my sword on a mat like that. "Lean it against the wall or place next to you". I said "hai" and from sensei's face understood that question "why" is inappropriate.
Well, if I have to guess, I would say that the sword being alive should not be dropped like that. We should not treat our friends like that. Another thought - the sword is dropped when the warrior is dead. Anyway I trust my teacher and will not do it next time.
Tomorrow is a hard day. Class in the morning. Then I'll drive to Reno for about 6 hours if I'm lucky and then evening seminar with Saito Hitohiro sensei. Very exciting. I don't like the pain in my knees. They are tired and I wish I were in a better shape during that seminar. ]]></body>
	<date>09-30-2004</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="1036">
	<title><![CDATA[Preface]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[Cool idea to have the experience written down. Worth to try.
Ok, my Aikido journey started on June 23 2004 and now I just passed my first test. ]]></body>
	<date>09-30-2004</date>
</blogEntry>


</blogEntries>