|
|
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!
|
12-26-2007, 10:20 AM
|
#1
|
Dojo: Taikyoku Budo & Kiko - NY, PA, MD
Location: Greater Philadelphia Area
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,000
Offline
|
Workshop with Mike Sigman on Ki in Aikido
NOTE:Though posted in the Non-Aikido forum, this workshop is intended for interested aikido practitioners.
Mike Sigman visits Itten Dojo in Enola, PA, on Saturday and Sunday, February 9th and 10th, 2008, for an informal workshop devoted to an examination of the theory and practice of training internal skills, specifically in the context of aikido.
Two practice sessions are planned each day: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., and 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Using predominantly two-person exercises, kokyu/jin will be developed for all directions, and then practiced in a number of Aikido applications. Breathing and structural-development exercises will be taught in terms of Misogi and kokyu/jin progress. Developmental and practice exercises for later use and suggested training approaches will also be part of the syllabus.
The registration fee for this workshop is $125.00. Martial arts uniforms are not required — recommended training attire is gi pants, sweat pants, or gym shorts, and a t-shirt or sweat shirt.
At this time there are only a limited number of spaces remaining for this workshop. If you are interested in attending, please send a private message to Budd Yuhasz with your email address and, space allowing, a registration form will be sent for you to complete.
|
|
|
|
01-08-2008, 04:43 AM
|
#2
|
Dojo: Kiburn, London, UK
Location: London
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 899
Offline
|
Re: Workshop with Mike Sigman on Ki in Aikido
Budd, I want video clips of this or I'll refuse to believe Mike exists outside of a UK Tai-chi seminar where he inadvertently convinced one woman she could breath through her hand.
|
|
|
|
01-08-2008, 08:03 AM
|
#3
|
Location: Durango, CO
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 4,123
Offline
|
Re: Workshop with Mike Sigman on Ki in Aikido
Funny you should mention videos, Ian... I was just talking to someone about that very thing, in relation to the workshop. A lot of my motivation has been inspired by the challenge of trying to formulate a succinct, Aikido-oriented approach that gives everyone demonstrable skills that they didn't have when they walked in the door. The other part of the challenge is to do it in such a way that 2 months from now everyone won't be back to doing the same old normal-movement stuff in class. So I've got 3 things I'm going to do:
1. A clearly articulated how-to with results for everyone. No "train this for 3 years and it will come upon you like the Holy Ghost, my son."
2. A set of notes that include the syllabus and suggested daily and dojo practice regimens.
3. A video of some of the workshop aspects for attendees to use as reference.
In other words, I'm trying to get pretty extensive results, even if it's only a 2-day workshop, but I'm also trying to do everything *I* can do to make sure it sticks. I'm tired of feeling guilty about how everyone does great in workshops but they tend to have back-slid within a few months. This time I'm making sure that I don't feel the least amount of guilt.
Working on ki/kokyu skills is like going to heaven... everyone loudly proclaims that they want to do it. But not yet.
The short of it is that there ain't gonna be any spectacular vids to show on the web. Sorry.
FWIW
Mike
Last edited by Mike Sigman : 01-08-2008 at 08:12 AM.
|
|
|
|
01-08-2008, 09:04 AM
|
#4
|
Dojo: Kiburn, London, UK
Location: London
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 899
Offline
|
Re: Workshop with Mike Sigman on Ki in Aikido
But, but you promised me I'd learn how to walk properly again...
Sounds good, I may have to ask for the videos to be sent under a plain brown-paper wrapper and claim all the good bits came to me while meditating on a picture of Tohei, but I know you're big enough to understand that it's just you're not a one true aikidoka...
|
|
|
|
01-08-2008, 09:20 AM
|
#5
|
Location: Durango, CO
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 4,123
Offline
|
Re: Workshop with Mike Sigman on Ki in Aikido
Quote:
Ian Hurst wrote:
Sounds good, I may have to ask for the videos to be sent under a plain brown-paper wrapper and claim all the good bits came to me while meditating on a picture of Tohei, but I know you're big enough to understand that it's just you're not a one true aikidoka...
|
Interestingly enough, I was recently looking at that early Shin Shin Toitsu Aikido film (it's now on YouTube in 5 sections). I hadn't seen that film in many years and I only had a fuzzy memory of even seeing some of it at all. But my point is that when I saw that film years ago, even though I thought I was a clever dick at the time, I really didn't understand what Tohei was actually showing. At the risk of being a clever-dick again (although allow for the fact that I now have more experience doing these things than Tohei did at the time), let me make a couple of comments about what I can see in the vids. BTW... it's worth taking a look at the vids on YouTube.
The main thing I'd say is that Tohei had better-developed skills than I thought (during his prime). I.e., he must have done a *lot* of practice to develop his powers to the levels I can see them on that old film. He does try to do one or two things that I think he fails to pull off very well, but on the whole his powers are pretty well developed, within the spectrum of ki/kokyu skills in Aikido. Now I'm curious to see some big-dog from the Ki-Society who has the level of power that Tohei had at that time. I'm not aware of anyone, but then I'm fairly ignorant about the Ki Society. Anyone got a name?
Regardless, the first 2 sections of that series on YouTube are worth looking at for anyone in any style of Aikido. At the time the film was made, the split between Shin Shin Toistsu and Hombu Dojo was not all that pronounced, so it wouldn't be heretical for someone from another style to look.
FWIW
Mike
|
|
|
|
01-08-2008, 09:28 AM
|
#6
|
Dojo: Doshinkan dojo in Roxborough, Pa
Location: Phila. Pa
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 4,615
Offline
|
Re: Workshop with Mike Sigman on Ki in Aikido
I'm pretty easily impressed in this field, but Terry Pierce really impressed me about 10 years ago or so. He's in NJ though, and I know how you hate the east coast!
B,
R
|
Ron Tisdale
-----------------------
"The higher a monkey climbs, the more you see of his behind."
St. Bonaventure (ca. 1221-1274)
|
|
|
01-08-2008, 11:28 AM
|
#7
|
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,996
Offline
|
Re: Workshop with Mike Sigman on Ki in Aikido
Sounds like it'll be a good workshop/seminar.
The Tohei vids were interesting. First time I saw them. I wonder where he got the idea of letting people push on him.
The funekogi (aka rowing exercise) was cool. He looked like he had some power going on at the end of each movement.
Mark
|
|
|
|
01-08-2008, 11:44 AM
|
#8
|
Dojo: Taikyoku Budo & Kiko - NY, PA, MD
Location: Greater Philadelphia Area
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,000
Offline
|
Re: Workshop with Mike Sigman on Ki in Aikido
Friends don't let friends push each other . . . they make them
|
|
|
|
01-08-2008, 12:11 PM
|
#9
|
Location: Florida Gulf coast
Join Date: Jun 2000
Posts: 3,902
Offline
|
Re: Workshop with Mike Sigman on Ki in Aikido
IMHO, many things are "hidden in plain sight" because I didn't have the frame of reference to see it.
I like the tell them what you are going to show them, show them, and tell them what you showed them. I would also suggest if they showed us again, we might just see it now that its been pointed out what I am looking for/it. Not a great thief (steal this technique).
I look forward to your video.
|
Lynn Seiser PhD
Yondan Aikido & FMA/JKD
We do not rise to the level of our expectations, but fall to the level of our training. Train well. KWATZ!
|
|
|
01-08-2008, 01:14 PM
|
#10
|
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 96
Offline
|
Re: Workshop with Mike Sigman on Ki in Aikido
Budd,
I sent you a PM.
Thanks,
Dan
|
|
|
|
01-08-2008, 01:16 PM
|
#11
|
Location: Durango, CO
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 4,123
Offline
|
Re: Workshop with Mike Sigman on Ki in Aikido
Quote:
Lynn Seiser wrote:
IMHO, many things are "hidden in plain sight" because I didn't have the frame of reference to see it.
|
True for me, too. I certainly saw some explicitly "kokyu" things when I took karate on Okinawa. However, I never heard the word "ki" in the martial context (bearing in mind that "ki", as I heard it in Japanese and Hogan, is a common expression) until I started taking Aikido many years later. So I also immediately interpretted what I saw in terms of what I knew about physiology, etc.
On the other hand, as much information-exchange as there is nowadays, I don't think everything falls into that same category. I was commenting to a friend of mine about how aptly Saul Bellow's quote could be applied to a lot of the martial arts: " A great deal of intelligence can be invested in ignorance when the need for illusion is deep."
Quote:
I like the tell them what you are going to show them, show them, and tell them what you showed them. I would also suggest if they showed us again, we might just see it now that its been pointed out what I am looking for/it. Not a great thief (steal this technique).
I look forward to your video.
|
No video coming out, Lynn. I'm going to have some of the workshop stuff videoed as an additional memory-support for the attendees, but hopefully they'll keep it to themselves. At least for the traditional week or two.
Best.
Mike
|
|
|
|
01-08-2008, 07:45 PM
|
#12
|
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,214
Offline
|
Re: Workshop with Mike Sigman on Ki in Aikido
Quote:
Mike Sigman wrote:
True for me, too. I certainly saw some explicitly "kokyu" things when I took karate on Okinawa. However, I never heard the word "ki" in the martial context (bearing in mind that "ki", as I heard it in Japanese and Hogan,
|
Did you mean Hog en?
|
|
|
|
01-08-2008, 07:52 PM
|
#13
|
Dojo: Team Combat USA
Location: Olympia, Washington
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 4,376
Offline
|
Re: Workshop with Mike Sigman on Ki in Aikido
Mike,
I will be there. Any thing I (We) can do in the interim that will make it more productive for us once we are there?
|
|
|
|
01-08-2008, 08:22 PM
|
#14
|
Location: Rochester, NY
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 281
Offline
|
Re: Workshop with Mike Sigman on Ki in Aikido
If by any chance this seminar is moved 1 week earlier/later I would greatly appreciate the chance to attend. On the 8th & 9th I am out of luck.
Enjoy, and perhaps next time.
michael.
|
If way to the better there be, it exacts a full look at the worst.
- Thomas Hardy
|
|
|
01-09-2008, 06:57 AM
|
#15
|
Location: Florida Gulf coast
Join Date: Jun 2000
Posts: 3,902
Offline
|
Re: Workshop with Mike Sigman on Ki in Aikido
Quote:
Kevin Leavitt wrote:
I will be there. Any thing I (We) can do in the interim that will make it more productive for us once we are there?
|
I look forward to your review.
|
Lynn Seiser PhD
Yondan Aikido & FMA/JKD
We do not rise to the level of our expectations, but fall to the level of our training. Train well. KWATZ!
|
|
|
01-09-2008, 06:59 AM
|
#16
|
Location: Florida Gulf coast
Join Date: Jun 2000
Posts: 3,902
Offline
|
Re: Workshop with Mike Sigman on Ki in Aikido
Quote:
Mike Sigman wrote:
No video coming out, Lynn. I'm going to have some of the workshop stuff videoed as an additional memory-support for the attendees, but hopefully they'll keep it to themselves. At least for the traditional week or two.
|
Our loss.
I'll have to content myself with your old push hands tapes.
Perhaps another day.
|
Lynn Seiser PhD
Yondan Aikido & FMA/JKD
We do not rise to the level of our expectations, but fall to the level of our training. Train well. KWATZ!
|
|
|
01-09-2008, 08:09 AM
|
#17
|
Location: Durango, CO
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 4,123
Offline
|
Re: Workshop with Mike Sigman on Ki in Aikido
Quote:
Kevin Leavitt wrote:
I will be there. Any thing I (We) can do in the interim that will make it more productive for us once we are there?
|
Not really, Kevin. Just come in with the idea that it's some new topic, not an adjunct of something you already know. My main worry is brain fatigue and trying to download a lot of information before that brain fatigue begins to win out. Keeping blood sugar up, even though we won't be working physically hard, will help keep the brain-fade at bay.
Everyone will have some demonstrable skills when they leave, but of course those will just be on a par with any new martial skills.... they're not going to be up to any really useable level until the person takes them home and works on them for a while.
There are usually two kinds of demanding workshops. One would be a couple of days on the mat, new "techniques", lots of hard work, and a gi that weighs 20 pounds every day, just from the sweat-soaking. The other kind of hard workshop would be, for instance, learning and memorizing an entire weapon form, say about 3 times the length of the 31 jo-kata; your brain simply fries.
However, both of those workshops involve people working within more or less known skills. This workshop is going to work, for almost everyone, with new skills and at the same time build those skills up to fairly sophisticated levels of usage. It's the newness stacked on newness that tends to get a lot of people, although the people who are overly patterned with hard muscular usage can simply run into a wall sometimes, too.
So I'm suggesting that people prepare for being relaxed, alert and also think over the idea of defeating any strongly-patterned muscular habits. But I'll do as much as I can to point out where the muscle problems lie, as we work our way through a logical approach.
Just for fun, here's a simple exercise for people to try; the general principle will be very germane to the workshop. Stand on one leg, well-balanced, near the corner of a wall. Put your fingertips against the wall and push with the fingertips so that there is about a half-pound of force going to each wall. Try to push solely with the grounded foot and not let the shoulders kick in. Watch how much the shoulders kick in, because that's the way you're used to doing things. That's just an illustration of the kinds of muscle patterning that can interfere with learning.
http://www.neijia.com/FootPush.jpg
Best.
Mike
|
|
|
|
01-09-2008, 08:12 AM
|
#18
|
Location: Durango, CO
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 4,123
Offline
|
Re: Workshop with Mike Sigman on Ki in Aikido
Quote:
Lynn Seiser wrote:
Our loss.
I'll have to content myself with your old push hands tapes.
Perhaps another day.
|
Good god... if you have those, you have some collectors items. I can't remember....aren't they on wax cylinders?
Best.
Mike
|
|
|
|
01-09-2008, 07:25 PM
|
#19
|
Dojo: Team Combat USA
Location: Olympia, Washington
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 4,376
Offline
|
Re: Workshop with Mike Sigman on Ki in Aikido
Thanks Mike, that believe it or not is very helpful! Expectations and preconceptions are important to understand and manage!
|
|
|
|
01-10-2008, 12:16 AM
|
#20
|
Dojo: 鷹松道場|Takamatsu Dojo ATL
Location: ATL--GA
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 221
Offline
|
Re: Workshop with Mike Sigman on Ki in Aikido
Quote:
Working on ki/kokyu skills is like going to heaven... everyone loudly proclaims that they want to do it. But not yet.
|
I can't believe no one's commented on this. I thought the quote was, "everyone wants to go to heaven, but no one wants to die." At least as far as Ark's stuff goes, that seems more apt...
cheers everyone, have fun storming the castle
|
-Doug Walker
新道楊心流の鷹松道場
|
|
|
01-10-2008, 07:33 AM
|
#21
|
Location: Durango, CO
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 4,123
Offline
|
Re: Workshop with Mike Sigman on Ki in Aikido
Quote:
Doug Walker wrote:
I can't believe no one's commented on this. I thought the quote was, "everyone wants to go to heaven, but no one wants to die." At least as far as Ark's stuff goes, that seems more apt...
cheers everyone, have fun storming the castle
|
Incidentally, from what I heard/read about Ark's workshop, I'd have to note that the PA workshop will be completely and radically different. There is more than one path up Hua Shan mountain.
Best.
Mike
|
|
|
|
01-10-2008, 06:35 PM
|
#22
|
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,214
Offline
|
Re: Workshop with Mike Sigman on Ki in Aikido
Quote:
Mike Sigman wrote:
Incidentally, from what I heard/read about Ark's workshop, I'd have to note that the PA workshop will be completely and radically different. There is more than one path up Hua Shan mountain.
Best.
Mike
|
Interestingly, it would seem that Mike, Dan, and Ark are all on different paths yet acquiring similar "internal" skills. Makes me wonder how many different ways there are to understanding these elusive skills. Also makes me wonder if it would be beneficial to mix and match training methods acquired from the three or if it would be best to pick a "style" or teacher and stick with that method. For those of you who have trained with all three, what think ye?
|
|
|
|
01-10-2008, 06:37 PM
|
#23
|
Location: Durango, CO
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 4,123
Offline
|
Re: Workshop with Mike Sigman on Ki in Aikido
Quote:
Mike Sigman wrote:
There is more than one path up Hua Shan mountain.
|
Dammit... I can't believe I used that trope. Out of fairness, let's remember that not all paths on the sides of Hua Shan lead to the top.
Mike
|
|
|
|
01-11-2008, 02:33 AM
|
#24
|
Location: Germany
Join Date: Nov 2000
Posts: 219
Offline
|
Re: Workshop with Mike Sigman on Ki in Aikido
Mike,
Is there a chance that you might return to Germany in the future ?
|
|
|
|
01-11-2008, 08:12 AM
|
#25
|
Dojo: Doshinkan dojo in Roxborough, Pa
Location: Phila. Pa
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 4,615
Offline
|
Re: Workshop with Mike Sigman on Ki in Aikido
Hi Ricky,
I do think you have to make intelligent decisions on what you pick and choose based on certain criteria
1) Who can expose you to what in terms of reliable methods to train the different skills; who is in your area or is available by travel, what is their specialty, what can they help you with long distance if needed, etc.
2) What does your primary art call for; as in what aspects do YOU find most usefull in your art, what can you integrate, what does not fit in terms of your current basics or postural requirements
3) What are you willing to work on
Personally at this point, I've been most exposed to issues of correcting my "Frame" to be able to begin to access some of these skills. I am most interested in learning to capture someone's balance by absorbing their power and then feeding it back to them. Power releases are also of interest to me, but not as much.
I think each person has to look at these things and utilize the training methods as best they can.
Best,
Ron
|
Ron Tisdale
-----------------------
"The higher a monkey climbs, the more you see of his behind."
St. Bonaventure (ca. 1221-1274)
|
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
All times are GMT -6. The time now is 07:45 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
|
|