Tonight we worked on this very technique!! My sensei seemed to pick a good technique to work on, as he seemed as frustrated teaching it as the class was to 'learn' it!!!
I have a great sensei, all of you guys' suggestions seem to echo many things he pointed out tonight(repeatedly), I just haven't had very much opportunity to work with ikkyo recently, and I felt very clumsy and awkward. I don't remember this frustration the last time we worked on ikkyo.
Sensei makes it look so EASY, which is probably why I get so discouraged when it doesn't work.
A fellow student worked with me after class for about 15 minutes and I think his suggestions really helped.
It's good to know that I'm not the only one having trouble with this, I just thought I was a clutz. After reading this thread, I'm not so discouraged anymore!!