Wednesday, September 29, 2010

At Goan Gymkhana

I had this crazy Wednesday such that I arrived late for aikido class, but I was able to at least learn a thing or two.

I found the class in the middle of the omote version of this technique called uchi-kaiten-nage. Immediately we moved to the ura version of this same technique. I believe lots of us had lots of difficulty figuring out where to throw the opponent. Plus we had to be extra careful not to throw our partners hard on the cold cement floor. (should be a good idea to try these techniques on a Tuesday when we can use the yoga mats). Sorry karate guys.

Next was uchi-kaiten-nage-sankyo. It basically starts like uchi-kaiten-ura (maybe even omote), only that instead of moving either backward or forward, one rams into the partner’s shoulders for sankyo. We then finished with ryote-dori-sankyo, after which we immediately moved to bokken practice.

Again we began by forming a circle and doing several shomen-uchis. Then there was shomen-uchi from migi-kame, after which we paired up and learnt how to accept shomen-uchi from kibadachi stance. Then we learnt how to block and strike when one attacks from migi-kame. The latter resulted in a pair moving in a circle around each other.

Last but not least, we reviewed the 3 basic katas that we have learnt so far, and then the 4th one was introduced. Personally, I like the 4th form the best so far. It looks really cool.

Off the record, I got a chance to perform the katas with a real Nihonto, and the feeling was simply amazing. Am just saying.

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

At Aga Khan Sports Club

The Tuesday class was so unique in that we did so many versions of the same technique, at the end I was amazed at how wide aikido is. I think one can practice his whole life and still not exhaust all the possibilities.

Basically we did like,…ok I lost count. We practiced many versions of gyaku-hanmi kokyu-nage/kokyu-ho. I am not fully conversant with the names, so I can’t give a break-down. All I know is that at some point there was sumi-otoshi and ryote-dori. Yeah, not forgetting suwari-waza. You just have to be physically there to take advantage of all these cool techniques.

To top it all off, we finished with the first 3 basic forms (katas?) of the bokken. Of course we only knew 2, but we learnt the 3rd one at that time.

Friday, September 24, 2010

At the Embassy

Today’s class was again quite amazing. I learnt for the first time that most of the techniques we do in tachi-waza can also be done in suwari-waza. I always saw Mateusz demonstrate a technique in suwari-waza whenever shorter people complained that it is hard to practice aikido with tall people, but I never gave it much thought until today. Ok, I won’t mention names but there is one particular tall guy who I could not perform a certain technique with. Hmm…

But first we did shiko, whereby one turns on his knees just like when standing. At first it wasn’t so bad but then things got real hot with most of us really grazing our knees and hands. Woe unto those who didn’t have proper gi.

Anyway, we first did ikkyo-omote-suwari-waza, after which we did ikkyo-ura-suwari-waza. Then just to relate things, we did the same techniques in tachi-waza. Next was shomen-uchi-ikkyo-omote. The only difference with this was the attack, which had to be shomen-uchi from suwari-waza. Then due to time, we finished with shomen-uchi-kote-gaeshi-ura.

If I remember correctly, we did all this techniques in ai-hanmi stance. Since we spent most of the one hour on our knees, it didn’t seem as short as it normally does. And besides, we have quite a number of bruises to show for it.

All in all, it was a pretty interesting session. Next session is Tuesday at the Aga Khan Sports Club. See you there!

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Wednesday-22nd September at Goan Gymkhana

Today’s class was one of the most interesting one in all aspects. There were just so many unique things about it, not to mention that it was the very first time we incorporated weapons in our sessions.

First off, the attendance was quite good, with lots of people re-surfacing now that Mateusz is back, and lots of new faces too. I just hope this aikido spirit keeps burning as brightly as it did when we first started. So, the idea was to start with bokken practice the first one hour, but this got reversed with good reason. With new students being present, we started with some very basic aikido exercises and gradually moved to more intensive stuff.

We reviewed shiho-nage by starting with the gyaku-hanmi omote version. Then we changed to ai-hanmi omote and tried one or two variations of it. Next was ai-hanmi-sankkyo, and just as it was getting interesting one hour was up and we had to stop. An hour is a short time, but it feels even shorter when we have aikido at the embassy.

The next hour or so we did bokken practice. Unfortunately, some people who did not have their weapons had to leave. Hopefully they can get their hands on some imitations even as arrangements to acquire quality bokkens are in progress. Just like yesterday, we did these interesting exercises and finished with the first 2 of 8 basic forms of swordsmanship.

Lastly, Mateusz had some advice for us on how to care of the bokkens. I have a feeling that with this new twist, aikido can only get better.

On this blog's authors

It has been my desire from the very beginning of existence of this blog that I would not be the sole author. I'd rather this was maintained by members of Nairobi Aikikai. So I am happy to see the first post by someone else than me.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Tuesday, September 21st at Aga Khan Sports Club

Ok, so after this very long break (over 1 month) we resumed aikido at the Aga Khan Sports Club. It was…insightful. Despite being only students, we covered a lot. In fact, I should say that fortunately for the 2 students who showed up (me included), the session was very personal, interactive and fruitful. Remember the big balls? Well, we didn’t use them but they are still there…

Anyway, first off was bokken practice. We did these basic exercises with the bokkens (I borrowed one since I don’t quite got one yet) that left my arms aching. Phew, using a sword is not as natural as everyone assumes it is. There was also this conditioning exercise where one has 2 dodge the cut of the sword by simply moving his body aside while the feet remain at the same spot. This alone was a full work-out. Really cool stuff!

Then we did this technique called katate-dori-kokkyu-nage (I believe), after which we moved to irimi-nage, both from ai-hanmi and gyaku-hanmi, with the attack being the basic shomen-uchi. In katate-dori, the attack is grabbing the shoulders with both arms. Without losing momentum, tori (the one performing the technique) simultaneously slides into the opponent while twisting his hips out of the line of the attack and throws the opponent down.

Most important for me is that I have the most fun with aikido at the sports club. Because of the yoga mats, we can, within reasonable limits, go all out and somehow perform the techniques as if we were practicing on tatami.

Friday, September 17, 2010

Wednesday's class

On Wednesday we did shiho-nage, this interesting variation of this something between shiho-nage and irimi-nage and then this choking immobilization which starts similar to uchikaiten-nage.

Monday, September 13, 2010

On pics from Aikido seminary

Hi all

You can find more photos from Aikido summer camp in Wrocław 2010 here.

Thursday, September 9, 2010

On Wednesday class

On Wednesday only one person showed up. Heh, wonder how many will appear tomorrow at Japanese Embassy...

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

After holidays...

Please be all invited for todays class at Goan Gym Khana, first after long break.