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 Forums
Go Back   AikiWeb Aikido Forums > General

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!

Reply
 
Thread Tools
Old 06-04-2004, 06:30 PM   #1
grasshopper73
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 49
Offline
8 direction cut help

Today in class was the first time that I've done the 8 direction cut with bokken. Could someone please direct me to a resource (hopefully on-line) that details the steps so I may practice this at home ?

Appreciate any help
  Reply With Quote
Old 06-04-2004, 07:27 PM   #2
aikidoc
Dojo: Aikido of Midland
Location: Midland Texas
Join Date: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,652
United_States
Offline
Re: 8 direction cut help

I don't know about online but I believe it is in Aikido and the Dynamic Sphere. The way I help students remember it is you cut to the four walls and then cut to 4 corners.
1. Shomenuchi strike with tsuki, pivot 180 degrees to right (clockwise)
2. Cut shomenuchi and then tsuki.
3. Pivot to the left 90 degrees and cut then tsuki.
4. Pivot 180 cut and tsuki.
5. step to left 45 degrees and cut.
6. Pivot 180 degrees to right and cut
7. Step to left 90 degrees and cut
8. Pivot 180 and cut.

There is the 8 directions. There may be variations or it may be done without the bokken.

Hope it helps (I think I got it right .

John
  Reply With Quote
Old 06-04-2004, 08:08 PM   #3
grasshopper73
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 49
Offline
Re: 8 direction cut help

John,

Thank you very much. I have a question about step one. If I remember correctly, I had thought that we turned counter clockwise from 1 to 2.

I am picking up Dynamic Sphere tommorow so I will defintely check it out.

Thanks again.
  Reply With Quote
Old 06-04-2004, 10:58 PM   #4
aikidoc
Dojo: Aikido of Midland
Location: Midland Texas
Join Date: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,652
United_States
Offline
Re: 8 direction cut help

The way I learned it was Shomenuchi cut; step with left foot and tsuki on right side of body. Then pivot 180 degrees to right. This makes you end up like you would if you started happo undo out from a left foot forward position. I imagine others do it differently.
  Reply With Quote
Old 06-04-2004, 11:01 PM   #5
MaryKaye
Dojo: Seattle Ki Society
Location: Seattle
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 522
Offline
Re: 8 direction cut help

Something I was taught that seems to be common in other dojo as well:

When you are standing in hanmi (one foot forward) you have an "open side" to which it's natural to turn. If your left foot is forward, it's natural to turn to your right. All of the turns in the eight-directions pattern are to your open side.

Our eight-directions sword form starts in right hanmi (because all sword moves start in right hanmi for us) and has a left-foot step in the first tsuki, but all subsequent tsuki-steps are with the forward foot. This is a bit tricky, and different from our open-hand eight directions (which starts left hanmi). Also, the diagonal turn-and-cut moves are not four all the same but two pairs, a shallow one and then a deeper one.

If all else fails, what I always tell myself at this point is "They're bound to teach it again, and you'll get more of it the second time."

Mary Kaye
  Reply With Quote
Old 06-05-2004, 01:59 AM   #6
batemanb
 
batemanb's Avatar
Dojo: Seibukan Aikido UK
Location: body in UK, heart still in Japan
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 1,031
Offline
Re: 8 direction cut help

Just to confuse further, the way I was taught in Japan and teach at my club.

Start in migi hanmi (right)
Slide the right foot forward and cut shomen uchi with the right hand.
Pivot 180 degrees, slide the left foot and cut shomen uchi with the left hand.
Pivot 90 degrees to your right (open side Mary , Left side from start John )
Slide the back foot (right) into migi hanmi as you pivot and cut with the right hand.
Pivot 180 degrees, slide the left foot and cut shomen uchi with the left hand.
Pivot 45 degrees to your right and slide the right foot into migi hanmi as you turn, cutting shomen with your right hand.
Pivot 180 degrees, slide the left foot and cut shomen uchi with the left hand.
Pivot 90 degrees to your right
Slide the back foot (right) into migi hanmi as you pivot and cut with the right hand.
Pivot 180 degrees, slide the left foot and cut shomen uchi with the left hand.
Pivot back 135 degrees to your right putting you back in migi hanmi right where you started .

In Japan my sensei taught this as Aiki ken, therefore all moves were done left and right, even though ken jutsu is only done with the right. To do the same exercise from the left, just reverse the instructions.

rgds

Bryan

A difficult problem is easily solved by asking yourself the question, "Just how would the Lone Ranger handle this?"
  Reply With Quote
Old 06-05-2004, 07:52 AM   #7
aikidoc
Dojo: Aikido of Midland
Location: Midland Texas
Join Date: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,652
United_States
Offline
Re: 8 direction cut help

Mary's point is well taken-always turn to the open side.

When doing it without a weapon, in hidari hanmi for example, you will pivot to the right and step with the left.
  Reply With Quote
Old 06-05-2004, 07:57 AM   #8
aikidoc
Dojo: Aikido of Midland
Location: Midland Texas
Join Date: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,652
United_States
Offline
Re: 8 direction cut help

P.S. I'm describing this the way AAA does it .
  Reply With Quote
Old 06-05-2004, 09:40 AM   #9
akiy
 
akiy's Avatar
Join Date: Jun 2000
Posts: 6,049
Offline
Re: 8 direction cut help

Since I'm currently sitting at the dojo computer typing this, I just went and tried a "contrary" eight directional cut series wherein I always turned to the "closed" side. Quite interesting, actually, with 270 degree turns (rather than 90) at some places. I've also done the eight directional cur series but, rather than stepping/sliding forward each time, stepping/sliding back. Heck, I've even done this mirror imaged, both with the hands holding the bokuto in the usual "correct" position as well as "switched" (ie left hand over right).

The way I see it, these exercises offer me a way to "condition" my body (and mind!) to move more naturally in many different ways. Although just doing the "traditional" method over and over again is, I believe, a very good exercise in an of itself, I think modifying it to work on different manners of moving (and thinking) is a good thing. Other approaches include doing solo jo suburi/kata (a la Saito sensei) switching left and right sides, trying to do them backwards, adding body pivots and turns in the 31 kata, and so on.

Heretically,

-- Jun

Please help support AikiWeb -- become an AikiWeb Contributing Member!
  Reply With Quote
Old 06-05-2004, 06:09 PM   #10
Zoli Elo
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 67
Hungary
Offline
Re: 8 direction cut help

You are a mind reader Jun!

I was just going to post, after reading the start of this thread earlier, that going through various iterations (left foot foreword, right turn; left foot foreword, left turns; right foot foreword, right turns, ...) are an excellent way to "condition" both mind and body.
  Reply With Quote
Old 06-05-2004, 11:14 PM   #11
Charles Hill
Dojo: Numazu Aikikai/Aikikai Honbu Dojo
Location: Three Lakes WI/ Mishima Japan
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 837
Offline
Re: 8 direction cut help

Quote:
Mary Kuhner wrote:
If all else fails, what I always tell myself at this point is "They're bound to teach it again, and you'll get more of it the second time."
I think you should follow this advice. What happens if you get instruction from another source and it`s different than what is done at your dojo? You might be more confused than ever.

Charles Hill
  Reply With Quote
Old 06-06-2004, 11:45 AM   #12
grasshopper73
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 49
Offline
Re: 8 direction cut help

I'm probably just over-eager. I have to remind myself to slow down and enjoy the ride. I will be able to ask for help this coming Wednesday from one of my Sensei's. The threads above have helped though.

Thanks
  Reply With Quote

Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Poll: Which movement direction in your body do you think is the most important in aikido techniques? AikiWeb System AikiWeb System 12 04-26-2005 01:57 AM
Comment désactiver querelles d'écoles kimusubi0 French 0 05-03-2004 03:29 AM
Comment déactiver les querelles d'écoles kimusubi0 Portuguese 0 05-01-2004 02:22 AM
Shomen uchi direction? Thor's Hammer General 4 10-28-2003 07:30 AM
Poll: Which direction of falling do you think is the most dangerous for uke during aikido training? AikiWeb System AikiWeb System 15 10-02-2003 05:31 PM


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 03:37 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