Updates

We now have Aikido-Kenya Voi :)Congratulations Daniel,and  keep the fire burning.He has put up the photos on  our facebook page,Aikidokenya

 Matthieu Sensei is not available on Wednesdays and therefore the weapons class has been cancelled(sob sob)I will miss that class.

There is going to be an Aikido demonstration on Nov 10th at the Japanese Embassy,anyone who is interested in participating should forward his/her name to Sensei.

Tuesday, October 23, 2012 session at the JICC Conference Room

Tuesday sessions have become quite popular judging by yesterday's attendance but then again,time will tell if the attendance will continue rising or not....

It was all about Gyaku Hanmi Katatedori though Matthieu Sensei refers to it as Katatedori(without mentioning Gyaku Hanmi) and what Sensei took us through was:

-Ikkyo Omote.

-Nikyo Omote.

-Sankyo Omote.

-Shiho Nage Omote.

-Kote Gaeshi Omote.

-Kokyu Nage.

-Sokumen Irimi Nage(what we used to refer to as Kokyu Ho).

Then there was Suwari Waza Kokyu Ho to top it all up and I am getting used to the different approach of Sensei's Aikido which I believe is a good 'spice' as one can use both approaches in a real life situation....

NEXT SESSION:FRIDAY,OCTOBER 26 @ THE JICC MAIN HALL.

Friday, October 19, 2012 session at the JICC main hall

In every other Aikido session I always learn something new and this particular Friday was no exception.

Matthieu Sensei was back in action and the techniques/attacks on offer were as follows:

-Ai Hanmi Katatedori Ikkyo Omote and Irimi Nage respectively.

-Shomen Uchi Ikkyo Omote from both Suwari Waza & Tachi Waza.

-Hanmi Handachi Shomen Uchi irimi Nage.

The last mentioned attack really made me sweat especially the part of bringing Uke down after the Shomen Uchi attack and of course the Irimi Nage part too....phew!

NEXT SESSION:TUESDAY,OCTOBER 23 AT THE JICC CONFERENCE ROOM.

Voi, 16th and 18th October

Despite some drop in attendance this week, we were able to do introduction to a few techniques, very statically of course. These are shihonage, ikkyo, and nikyo. Being new to this whole teaching thing, i am bound to make lots and lots of mistakes, and maybe (due to my nature) think too much at times. I know many will run away, but being an institution, i wonder whether there are some who would join, even as they notice their colleagues leaving.

Tuesday, October 16, 2012 session at the JICC Conference Room

Matthieu Sensei had earlier informed me that he would not be available for this particular session due to unavoidable circumstances and thus the session was under Jason Sempai's 'aikidoship'.

We went through Ikkyo(Omote,Ura),Nikyo(Ura) and Sankyo(Omote) all from the Ai Hanmi Katatedori stance respectively except for Shiho Nage(Ura) which was from the Gyaku Hanmi Katatedori stance.

The Tuesday sessions have began picking up on the number of participants and maybe this is a positive sign of Aikido's spread in Kenya....

NEXT SESSION:FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19 AT THE JICC MAIN HALL.

Friday, October 12, 2012 session at the JICC main hall

This particular Friday the session lasted for only one hour as some electrical repairs were being carried out at the Japan embassy thus they had to shut off the main power meaning we could not carry on in darkness.

Matthieu Sensei took us through the following techniques all from the Ai Hanmi Katatedori stance:

-Ikkyo(Omote & Ura).

-Sankyo Omote.

-Kokyu Ho.

There were a few variations to the techniques from what we were used to in that for example for Ikkyo Omote,Tori goes through Uke's centre using the leg nearest to Uke then places Uke's elbow on his knee then steps aside to bring Uke down...

All in all,it was an exciting session and I look forward to the next one.

NEXT SESSION:TUESDAY,OCTOBER 16 AT THE JICC CONFERENCE ROOM.

Aikido Class in Voi

Ok, so after much hesitation,deliberation, butterflies in stomach, blah blah blah, i got enough courage to attempt starting an aikido class in Voi. The management in Voi Secondary School was very kind to grant permission and we had our first class last friday, 5th October 2012. The second class was yesterday, 11th October 2012. We were able to do an introduction to ushiro ukemi(since its a bit gentler on the shoulders as compared to mae ukemi) and the movement for gyakuhanmi katatedori shihonage. The turnout is phenomenal, as is to be expected, and the energy unlimited. Makes me miss Mateusz Sensei more and more. So the plan for now is to have classes twice a week: Tuesdays and Thursdays. Unfortunately, no ladies have attended class, due to lack of proper clothing, but i am trying to ask the school to allow ladies some decent clothing that will allow them free movement. From first impressions, the students want progress and results, thus there is no time to waste. They are hoping to attend a few sessions in Nairobi, or have the Nairobi class come to Voi every once in a while, so i need your cooperation people.

Tuesday, October 2, 2012 session at the JICC Conference Room

Matthieu PAZAT Sensei was present for his second session and the emphsasis was on Tori: controlling Uke and being close to Uke and what was emphasised for Uke was to being vigilant at all times incase Tori 'slipped up'.

The following is what we reviewed(the stance being Ai Hanmi Katatedori for all cases):

-Ikkyo Omote.

-Irimi Nage Omote.

-A version of Kokyu Nage.

-Kote Gaeshi Omote.

-Kokyu Ho.

We capped up the two hour session with Kokyu Ho Kokyu Dosa with a 'little twist' in that some stretching was involved....

NEXT SESSION:FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5 AT THE JICC MAIN HALL.

Friday, September 28, 2012 session at the JICC main hall

I took over the first hour taking my fellow Aikidoka through the warm up exercises,Mae and Ushiro Ukemi,Mae and Ushiro Shikko and before the first hour was through,I noticed a gentleman passing by with a bag heading towards the unofficial 'changing quarters' and it struck me it was the incoming Aikido Sensei for Nairobi Aikikai! Yup,it was Matthieu PAZAT allright and I was glad he was here at last!

He explained to me(in French of course...lol) that he hails from Bordeaux and that he trained under Philippe LEON Shihan(Rokudan).Anyway,most of you will get an opportunity of chatting to him so let me get on with the day's session:

Ben Sempai took us through Mae and Ushiro Ukemi once more,before we embarked on the following techniques/attacks:

-Ryo kata Dori Kokyunage.

-Gyaku Hanmi Katatedori Kokyu Nage version.

-Ai Hanmi Katatedori Ikkyo Omote.

Matthieu PAZAT Sensei took us through the following:

-Gyaku Hanmi Katatedori Shiho Nage Omote.

-Yokomen Uchi Shiho Nage Omote.

Time was not being fair to us as we had to end the two hour session when it was beginning to get more intense.....All I can say is:Faites comme chez vous ici au Kenya M.PAZAT.

NEXT SESSION:TUESDAY,OCTOBER 2 AT THE JICC CONFERENCE ROOM.