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Old 09-19-2005, 03:44 AM   #3
Tim Griffiths
Dojo: Nes Ziona Aikikai
Location: Suzhou, China
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 188
China
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Re: Solo training in "Aikido"

You can certainly practice movements and techniques solo. However, this is limited - the part of aikido that is hardest to develop is understanding the leverage and blending neeed when working with a partner. Literally, by yourself there can't be any 'aiki' in the normal use of the term.
Visualising techniques and doing one half of them is good, but it is only half the technique.

Better solo practice is to work on the solo irimi and tenkan movements (which are normally done at the beginning of an aikido class), shikko (knee-walking), rolling, and of course weapons work, if your dojo uses them.

A small word of caution as well. You said:
Quote:
Now in Karate and Kungfu I have learned Katas, and workouts on lets say wooden dummies and other things to practice. All of these I can easily blend Aikido into, for it is so similar.
Its certainly possible to blend aikido techniques into both these arts. A big stylistic difference though is in the large body movements made in aikido compared to the more linear movements of karate and the more static body position of kungfu (generally, varying with style, of course). The problem with a wooden dummy is that it doesn't move too much and is usually positioned up against a wall - it makes it hard to practice the body movements in aikido that we most need to train in. It also doesn't provide the kind of resistance we want to understand the leverage and power we're exerting to move our partners.

Train well,

Tim

If one makes a distinction between the dojo and the battlefield, or being in your bedroom or in public, then when the time comes there will be no opportunity to make amends. (Hagakure)
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