19 years....

Janet: Very nice of you to share those videos.

If ever you had the inclination to visit, reckon you'd enjoy training down here in Kyushu, as we train at about that pace.

Susan Dalton wrote: I love the pictures. Thanks for sharing them. About videos, funny how one's perspective changes. After one of my kyu tests, I was so embarrassed I offered to retest even after I learned I had passed. And much later I thought I had a magnificent nidan test. Now when I look at tapes, I can't remember what was so awful about that particular kyu test--looks like a run of the mill kyu test to me. And my nidan test was much more magnificent in my mind than on the tape--nothing particularly spectacular about it at all.

There was a video of an Australian Summer School where I was 3rd kyu and I was in front of the camera. I looked awful. Later on, Sugano Sensei told me off (indirectly) for not upping the pace of my shodan grading and I sure didn't feel like I was good at Aikido at all. Only my recent, and much later nidan grading felt OK, with no major issues, and everyone afterwards said I looked good.

Amos Barnett wrote: Janet: Very nice of you to share those videos. If ever you had the inclination to visit, reckon you'd enjoy training down here in Kyushu, as we train at about that pace. .

LOL! I train at that pace because I am middle-aged and have a Very Bum Knee and have no choice. Same reason I don't do big swoopy moves (well that and originally being from Brooklyn I prefer a more direct approach. Come in please and SIT DOWN) But I appreciate the invitation. Always have had great times when visiting other dojo.

Hi Janet,

It's always scary to post videos for others to judge. Congratulations on making it through, even with the bum knee.

I'm intrigued to hear what style you do. The little skip in ikkyo (and don't blame your knee - the other guy did a bigger skip) suggests something from the ki society lineage, but the exaggerated arm-bar in the shiho-nage looks like mainstream aikikai.

Robin

First of all, thank you to each and every one of you for your comments to date and I will try to reply over the weekend....
Second, added a few more videos and I think the total will be between 10 and 12 of these short ones....

Appreciate reading of other older folks who started late and persevered :-)
Re Robin's q about lineage. I am a longtime aikimutt who has been part of four dojos with distinctly different flavors since starting in 1996, as well as cross-training.

my current home dojo in the town I moved to in 2008, and that will be my home dojo forever unless I pick up and relocate (which is unlikely) is sort of a hybrid in terms of afiliation (currently indep) but lineage was Tohei from when he was Hombu Chief Instructor both directly and through the early Hawaiin guys - so Gayle Fillman Sensei trained with an emhasis on ki (and the hop) but through the big longshoremen and law enforcement guys also always stressed being effective. She taught many workshops for sheriff deputies and tribal police (it's why she insisted on doing kotegaishe as a control to faceplant rather than a projection).

My personal preference with thumb arthritis, weakened wrists, and bum knee is to do smaller movement, less footwork, and project down/out rather than either pinning or flinging away. Were I to go to the mat on ikkyo, I wouldn't hop but would drop in place. Since I can't drop the hop is an excellent way of keeping uke off-balanced during forward-downward trajectory, more so than sliding or stepping.

Hey Janet, good job and excellent sticktoitiveness, yes that's a word, I just spelled it, didn't I?

And you're right, be Big Eye int he Sky Don't Lie, as they say in the NFL. Watching oneself in video shows you the flaws you are used to seeing in other folks, but just don't think you do, too. It's .... eye-opening, eh!

Good for you,a nd well done.

Janet Rosen wrote: Appreciate reading of other older folks who started late and persevered :-) Re Robin's q about lineage. I am a longtime aikimutt who has been part of four dojos with distinctly different flavors since starting in 1996, as well as cross-training. my current home dojo in the town I moved to in 2008, and that will be my home dojo forever unless I pick up and relocate (which is unlikely) is sort of a hybrid in terms of afiliation (currently indep) but lineage was Tohei from when he was Hombu Chief Instructor both directly and through the early Hawaiin guys - so Gayle Fillman Sensei trained with an emhasis on ki (and the hop) but through the big longshoremen and law enforcement guys also always stressed being effective. She taught many workshops for sheriff deputies and tribal police (it's why she insisted on doing kotegaishe as a control to faceplant rather than a projection). My personal preference with thumb arthritis, weakened wrists, and bum knee is to do smaller movement, less footwork, and project down/out rather than either pinning or flinging away. Were I to go to the mat on ikkyo, I wouldn't hop but would drop in place. Since I can't drop the hop is an excellent way of keeping uke off-balanced during forward-downward trajectory, more so than sliding or stepping.

That explains it. I'm also in my 4th distinct style, so I can relate

Janet Rosen wrote: Appreciate reading of other older folks who started late and persevered :-) Re Robin's q about lineage. I am a longtime aikimutt who has been part of four dojos with distinctly different flavors since starting in 1996, as well as cross-training. my current home dojo in the town I moved to in 2008, and that will be my home dojo forever unless I pick up and relocate (which is unlikely) is sort of a hybrid in terms of afiliation (currently indep) but lineage was Tohei from when he was Hombu Chief Instructor both directly and through the early Hawaiin guys - so Gayle Fillman Sensei trained with an emhasis on ki (and the hop) but through the big longshoremen and law enforcement guys also always stressed being effective. She taught many workshops for sheriff deputies and tribal police (it's why she insisted on doing kotegaishe as a control to faceplant rather than a projection). My personal preference with thumb arthritis, weakened wrists, and bum knee is to do smaller movement, less footwork, and project down/out rather than either pinning or flinging away. Were I to go to the mat on ikkyo, I wouldn't hop but would drop in place. Since I can't drop the hop is an excellent way of keeping uke off-balanced during forward-downward trajectory, more so than sliding or stepping.

Hello Janet,

Here in Hiroshima, I was always taught to do kotegaeshi as a control, rather than as a projection. The chief instructor likened the movement to rolling a carpet (which means that it should be done around knee level).

I looked at the videos and noticed that you did not finish 1-kyou with a pin. Have you been taught an old-style 1-kyou, with both of uke's arms pinned? This removes the need for seiza. I did this once at a demonstration in front of the present Doshu and he came to me afterwards and asked about my knees. I told him I was learning to compensate for them. You can also see a similar movement as a henka waza for kaiten nage.

Best wishes,

Peter A Goldsbury wrote: Hello Janet, Here in Hiroshima, I was always taught to do kotegaeshi as a control, rather than as a projection. The chief instructor likened the movement to rolling a carpet (which means that it should be done around knee level). I looked at the videos and noticed that you did not finish 1-kyou with a pin. Have you been taught an old-style 1-kyou, with both of uke's arms pinned? This removes the need for seiza. I did this once at a demonstration in front of the present Doshu and he came to me afterwards and asked about my knees. I told him I was learning to compensate for them. You can also see a similar movement as a henka waza for kaiten nage. Best wishes,

Hello, Peter!
I have NOT seen the double pin from standing...if you (or anybody) has picture or video would love to see it!
My norm, if asked to demo a pin from ikkyo, is to do a standing sankyo pin. As I also have thumb arthritis there is a very limited time factor in an evening to how often I can manage any grip at all (I am not discussing vise grips but the normal grip a person needs to hold a wine glass) so I didn't want to demo more pins than they were asking for (two days before testing I was asked if I could at least demo the cradle lock for nikkyo once as nobody in this dojo had ever seen me do one :-) I said, yep, once, on the side I can go down on)

Janet Rosen wrote: Hello, Peter! I have NOT seen the double pin from standing...if you (or anybody) has picture or video would love to see it! My norm, if asked to demo a pin from ikkyo, is to do a standing sankyo pin. As I also have thumb arthritis there is a very limited time factor in an evening to how often I can manage any grip at all (I am not discussing vise grips but the normal grip a person needs to hold a wine glass) so I didn't want to demo more pins than they were asking for (two days before testing I was asked if I could at least demo the cradle lock for nikkyo once as nobody in this dojo had ever seen me do one :-) I said, yep, once, on the side I can go down on)

Hello Janet,

With this pin you do not need to grip at all. I first saw it done by the late Rinjiro Shirata, who said it was done before the war. He once gave a seminar in Hiroshima and we have used the pin ever since, along with the normal 1-kyou pin. I do not often give seminars, but I will be in Europe in March and it will probably be videotaped.

Peter A Goldsbury wrote: Hello Janet, With this pin you do not need to grip at all. I first saw it done by the late Rinjiro Shirata, who said it was done before the war. He once gave a seminar in Hiroshima and we have used the pin ever since, along with the normal 1-kyou pin. I do not often give seminars, but I will be in Europe in March and it will probably be videotaped.

I look forward to it...Thank you, as always, Peter.

Congrats on your shodan; well earned.

Thank you!

Congrats! perseverance rules
For the Kote gaeshi we have several solutions.
first, aite ends on his back and you turn him around (palm of hand over face, rotate using the elbow) end in nikkyo control.
second, when aite just about hits the floor, immediately turn him over and pin the shoulder (using his arm similar to walking stick and lean).
Third, nage waza, you throw aite (most often in forward freefall/breakfall)

Congratulations, Janet!!

I started in 1983, and took my first Shodan test tonight, 32 years on. Sometimes our paths meander, but the goal remains the same. :-)

Congratulations Rob.

Rob Linxweiler wrote: Congratulations, Janet!! I started in 1983, and took my first Shodan test tonight, 32 years on. Sometimes our paths meander, but the goal remains the same. :-)

Congratulation, Rob!

congrats, janet!!!

cool flickr pics!!! who's the mean guy in the second pic?