Welcome to AikiWeb Aikido Information
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.

Sections
home
aikido articles
columns

Discussions
forums
aikiblogs

Databases
dojo search
seminars
image gallery
supplies
links directory

Reviews
book reviews
video reviews
dvd reviews
equip. reviews

News
submit
archive

Miscellaneous
newsletter
rss feeds
polls
about

Follow us on



Home > AikiWeb Aikido
Go Back   AikiWeb Aikido Forums > AikiWeb AikiBlogs > Robyn Johnson's Blog

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!

Robyn Johnson's Blog Blog Tools Rate This Blog
Creation Date: 10-16-2004 09:35 AM
Robyn Johnson
Offline
rss2
Blog Info
Status: Public
Entries: 20
Comments: 0
Views: 46,124

In General heh, heh Entry Tools Rate This Entry
  #10 New 07-09-2004 02:07 PM


I had a few interesting experiances last night! Due to our van having problems and that my mom would have to leave half way through class anyway for Praise Team practice at church, my mom decided not to go last night. It was weird without her there but thankfully, Amy was going so I could ride with her to class.

Mark said he was going to get there about 5:30 so we got there early, ate at the Taco Bell across the street and went to the dojo. I changed and we stretched. Jim showed Amy some Tae Kwon Do kicks and punches and then Mark made her practice some forward rolls. Then all 4 of us did a slow Round Robin and Mark would pick a technique and do it first on all of us and then we each had a turn trying to do it. We did that until class officially started. Wayne arrived about 10 minutes before it did (start, I mean).

We mostly did Ushiro Tekubitori techniques (mostly Kotigeashi--sp?) and those are always fun. Jim and I were Mark's ukes all night and since there were two beginners there, we rotated between working with either Amy or Wayne. That was fine.

When I was Mark's uke one time, he did something SO weird, and SO odd that it will probably stay with me for years to come (and maybe even keep me awake at night)! We were having trouble figuring out how to do a step and movement with our hand for one o ...More Read More
Views: 1129


In General Very small class--July 6th Entry Tools Rate This Entry
  #9 New 07-07-2004 08:18 AM

It was indeed a very small class last night! Just my mom and I, Amy, and Peter arrived maybe 10 after 6! Peter had a class of all women! It's a great thing that he showed up though otherwise we wouldn't have had a teacher and my mom and I would have had a more difficult time trying to show Amy easy techniques.

Class started and Peter led us in warm-up-stretches, a little bit of bokkens, low forward rolls around the mat, forward rolls from standing (Amy still was working on the low rolls), and backward rolls around the mat from low then standing, & shikko.

For techniques, we practiced the Yokomen strike/entrance and the basic steps/blending mostly for Amy's sake but it's great for us too. Then we formed a line and we did Yokomenuchi Shiho-Nage. My mom and I both had a hard time doing Shiho-nage with Amy because she didn't know what she was supposed to do and kept turning out of it. (At first she could because we were afraid of hurting her arm so we did it too gently on purpose.) That can be frustrating but it's really good practice for us as most people don't know what to do anyway so we're learning that we really have to be able to do it correctly instead of uke just standing there. Peter showed us that the reason why she was able to keep turning out (when we were trying to do it right on her) was because we were letting her wander out too far away instead of being shoulder to shoulder close & ...More Read More
Views: 1126


In General Class on July 1st Entry Tools Rate This Entry
  #8 New 07-02-2004 04:26 PM
Nice class last night! Amy rode with us again. Jim was there (as usual) and Mark arrived just after us. Talked, changed, stretched, etc. Peter, Larry, & new guy Wayne also came. Mark helped Amy with her rolls while Jim and my mom and I reviewed the bokken/footwork from last Thursday.

Class started and Mark had ME lead the bokkens! It's been awhile since I've done that and because it seemed like there were a lot of people there, I felt self-conscious. I knew that I should have explained about the turns or said something to remind Amy about turning her foot so she wouldn't twist her knee but my words got all tangled up so I just counted and called out the turns, etc. Besides getting my words mixed up in my brain I figured Amy would be okay as we had just reminded her about the turns and her knee about 30 minutes before at Taco Bell and Mark was right next to her, helping. When I said, "bokkens down", I was afraid I saw Mark look at me with an odd look which made me worry. Later I asked him if I was a "bokken disgrace" and he said, "no! I wouldn't let you go up there if you were". I felt better after that.

For techniques we worked on Kosidori (sp?) Kotigiaishi (sp?), forward roll Ude, and a little bit of Nikkyo. I was with Amy more than I got to be on Tuesday. Particularly, the Nikkyo! I LOVE Nikkyo!!! Both doing it and having it done on me! It didn't take much b ...More Read More
Views: 1170


In General Great class on Tuesday!!! So happy!!! Entry Tools Rate This Entry
  #7 New 07-01-2004 01:30 PM
Tuesday's class (6-29-04) was WONDERFUL!!!!!!

My mom just arrived home from work to pick me up for Aikido when my friend, Amy, drove up (she was finally coming & was going to ride with us). My mom and I tried to explain Aikido to her all the way there and even in the Taco Bell across from the dojo while we were eating. After we ate, we let ourselves into the dojo and my mom and I changed into our gi's. Amy surprised me because she was doing all sorts of neat cartwheels and flips on the mats! I didn't know she could do that and I'd kill myself if I tried.

Sensei Mark soon arrived with Larry and I introduced her to them. Peter walked in later. Mark told Larry to show her how to stretch and later the stances and rolls (my mom helped with that) while he changed, put on his hakama, stretched, and then he let me come "play" with him. I did terrible again as usual but I had fun. He made me realize that I was giving uke back some distance while doing Irimi Nage when he would suddenly turn and grab me in a bear hug--to show that I was "loosing him". I hope I'll remember that so I can work on it.

Mark started class and we did the bowing and breathing and I realized I forgot to tell Amy about that. Then we did basic stances and turns for Amy's sake and watching her out of the corner of my eye, I realized I also forgo ...More Read More
Views: 975


In General Ah, nice class this morning! :) Entry Tools Rate This Entry
  #6 New 06-26-2004 04:35 PM
Ooooh! I was so tired (as usual) when I got up this morning (6:45)! My stomach never feels well at this time and I'm never able to eat much breakfast (Cheerios) during the ride over to the dojo (25 minutes without traffic).

My mom and I were glad to see that Peter and Jim were there when we arrived. After I came back down from the bathroom, Mr. Larry showed up but said he couldn't teach class because he had Police stuff to do and that he wanted Peter to have us do basic 5th kyu stuff. The dojo list of techniques was gone so Peter asked me for my list. We stretched and Peter started class (Mr. Larry watched the first 10 minutes then he had to leave) and we did forward and backward rolls around the room (my un-awake body was having dizzy/balance problems) and then a little bit of bokkens.

Then we started on our basic 5th kyu techniques in order---

Shomenuchi Ikkyo (omote & ura)
Shomenuchi Iriminage (the footwork that Jim had us practice on Thursday helped with this)
Katatetori Shihonage (omote & ura)
Ryotetori Tenshinage (it's been SO LONG since we've done any of this technique we almost forgot about it!)
Tsuki Kotegaeshi
Ushiro Ryokatatori Kotegaeshi (Peter had to try it several times because he couldn't quite remember how to do it as we lately only been going into Sankyo or Shihonage from that position)
& Morotetori Kokyuho (This was really funny because Peter ...More Read More
Views: 1120


In General Started out disappointing but it turned out well Entry Tools Rate This Entry
  #5 New 06-25-2004 08:43 AM
I was kind of disappointed yesterday. My friend, Amy, who was supposed to come visit class last night couldn't come because a program she was involved in, somebody dropped out and she had to fill in for them. She promises to come next Tuesday. I left a message on Sensei Mark's cell phone to let him know that she couldn't come but that I hoped that he'd be able to make it anyway.

My mom and I won 2 new bokkens off of Ebay last week and it was a big surprise when they arrived yesterday! Yea! One seems to be slightly lighter in weight than the other so I choose that one.

Went to class later with our new bokkens. It was very dark & stormy looking outside (and heard later that it was really thunderstorming in some parts of the city) so that's probably why Mark and most everyone else didn't show up. It was just us, Jim, and new guy Wayne showed up late.

Jim taught and we did a neat exercise with the bokkens that Mauricio used to have us do a lot. Great blending and footwork/offline practice and we got to try out our new bokkens. I really like mine! The rest of the class was basically footwork and after being such a walking disaster on Tuesday, it was good to work on that.

I was disappointed at first that Amy couldn't have come but it worked out better that she didn't as it was stormy and we didn't have an "offi ...More Read More
Views: 941


In General "I don't know ANYTHING!!!!" Entry Tools Rate This Entry
  #4 New 06-23-2004 05:47 PM
.....and that's exactly how I felt (my mom too) last night (6-22-04).

>sigh< Class was a little bit strange on Tuesday and I can't quite put my finger on why. I think it must have been the atmostphere---hardly anybody was there and it just seemed oddly quiet. Sensei Mark came (which was a great thing otherwise we wouldn't have had a teacher!) and otherwise it was just him, my mom and I, and another guy. A visitor came but just to watch---he said he does cage fighting and asked if Aikido would have anything that might help him. Mark said it did and they talked for a few minutes. (IMHO--I've heard a couple of people somewhere else on the internet who cage fight say that Aikido footwork helps them.)

Later, after we stretched, to kill time before class, Mark lets me come "play" with him (which I like) but I couldn't get anything to work!!! I go through stages of flinching a lot and not but this class I was horrible at flinching and I haven't been that bad for a long time! On the other hand, Mark was attacking/grabbing me Katatori Menuchi (I think that's right--grab one jacket lapel and strike Shomen with other hand) and it's been a long time since I've tried doing any techniques from that attack so I can't be expected to remember everything right? I felt embarrassed with the visitor watching though.

Class itself was ---
A lot of bokken cuts then pairing up like we did when Bill broke my bokken and the guy I was with wasn't striking my bokken correctl ...More Read More
Views: 1046


In General My Bokken Broke!!!! Entry Tools Rate This Entry
  #3 New 06-02-2004 11:39 AM
Last night's class was a lot of fun! Sensei Mark arrived shortly before my mom and I did and we had fun talking about Lord of the Rings, etc. Larry and "Bokken" Bill showed up too. Before class, Mark bowed to me inviting me to "play" but he didn't cream me like he usually does (which is fun in itself). This time he would have me attack him a certain way and he'd do a technique on me 2 or 3 times (mostly just to show me what to do) and then I'd have my turn trying to do it. 2 of the techniques were Jujinage and Koshinage but they were alright. (Background if anyone actually reads this is that for the first 3 1/2 years of Aikido, I have had a HUGE fear of breakfalls and any techniques involving straight down rolls or breakfalls would make me feel nauseous and my whole body would shake, etc. January 2004, I had a great breakthrough with breakfalls and even though I'm still just a little bit uneasy about them, I don't have a trace of that old fear anymore!!!!) We also did Shihonage and Nikkyo from Hanmi Handachi (been ages since we've done that). We "played" until class started.

Mark led us in some bokken cuts as warm up and then we partnered up (2 people in a group) and took turns striking and blocking/getting out of the way with our bokkens. I was with my mom at first and I always enjoy being with her. (We talk so much about Aikido at home we know what the other one likes and doesn't like and can tell how the other is feeling about a certain technique.) The ...More Read More
Views: 1169


In General A little bit of Encouragement :) Entry Tools Rate This Entry
  #2 New 06-02-2004 10:58 AM
(I suppose I'll just break down and call people in my class by their names since other people do it. If somebody from my class finds my journal online, then I'll just have to suffer as uke if they read something about themselves that they don't like.)

Last weeks classes were very encouraging! Well, I was a little disappointed that my favorite sensei, Mark wasn't there (he's my favorite because he's was my first and main sensei for the first several years and he never intimidated me like the other guys did from time to time). My mom and I (and the other students) were happy and thankful when Bill arrived. Otherwise we wouldn't have had a teacher! We call Bill "Bokken Bill" sometimes because when he teaches, he's a great teacher but he often likes to have us do around 400 bokken cuts and that gets very tiring!

Tuesday was one of those classes of at least 300 bokken cuts (I'm glad that my bokken is the lightest one in the dojo!) but the rest of the class was neat and fun with Ikkyo, Nikkyo, and just barely got to Sankyo from the Yokomenuchi strike.

Thursday was even better as Bokken Bill added variety in the bokken cuts (95 and 180 turns, tenkan and cut, and 8 directional starting from both left and right hanmi). Technique-wise, we picked up from where we were on Tuesday. We started with Shomenuchi Ikkyo and then uke gets up and attacks Yokemen and nage does Ikkyo again (omote with the Shomen and ura from Yokomen) and we added Nikkyo and Sank ...More Read More
Views: 1159


In General My first Journal Entry! (I hope this works) Entry Tools Rate This Entry
  #1 New 05-24-2004 08:42 AM
Oh wow, this journal feature is really cool! I only first discovered it about a week ago but I didn't have time to write anything at the time. I apologize to anyone who might read this because I basically write how I talk so the grammar might not be at its best.

A quick review from last weeks classes-----Saturday morning (May 15th), it was pouring down rain and storming! My mom and I get to class and only J (I might only use first initials for names so I won't over reveal anything) and the new guy W was there. We kept waiting for Mr. L (head sensei) to arrive and J called him but he his street was flooded so he couldn't leave his house. J decided to teach the class of basics (mainly for the new guys benefit) and that was fine for us. He actually took up some time showing us some Tai Chi moves and that was our stretches. It was quite neat actually. Then we did bokken and jo work and basic turns and techniques (mostly practice of getting "offline"). I'm always very tired in the morning and the early Saturday morning classes are always a struggle to get through but this class was much easier because it was at a much slower pace.

The next Tuesday class (May 18th), my favorite sensei M was there and black belt (sometime sensei) P was there too. My mom and I told them about Saturday's class and Sensei M asked me why I didn't teach class because I was of higher rank than J. We were all laughing so I'm hoping he was only half serious. My mom and I are b ...More Read More
Views: 973



Sorted By:       Per Page:  



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 02:47 AM.



vBulletin Copyright © 2000-2024 Jelsoft Enterprises Limited
----------
Copyright 1997-2024 AikiWeb and its Authors, All Rights Reserved.
----------
For questions and comments about this website:
Send E-mail
plainlaid-picaresque outchasing-protistan explicantia-altarage seaford-stellionate