Thursday, February 27, 2014 session at the JICC conference room

Ben Sempai was back and after going through a brief warm up session followed by Mae and Ushiro Ukemi from Suwari Waza, we embarked on the day's techniques as follows:

-Uchi Kaiten Nage from a Katatedori stance.

-Katatedori Shiho Nage Omote.

Ben Sempai had to leave after about 45 minutes and for the rest of the session, we went through the following the stance being Katatedori:

-Shiho Nage Ura.

-Kote Gaeshi(two versions without Tanto and another version with Tanto)

Of late there has been too much talking in the "dojo" and I hope this trend does not continue in the sessions to come.

ATTENDANCE LIST:

-KIYAGA Ben

-MICHUKI Leon

-OLE KIMINTA Edwards

-OMONDI Steven

-ORAW John

-OBONYO Patrick

-GOGO Rodney

-MWAKIO Sammy

NEXT SESSION: TUESDAY, MARCH 4 @ THE SAME VENUE

Aikido in Rwanda?

INAUGURATION OF THE FIRST AIKIDO DOJO IN RWANDA

With Sensei Massimo di Villadorata,founder and chief instructor at Montreal Aikikai

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Thursday, March 13, 2014

Friday, March 14, 2014 7:00 AM - 8:30 AM

Saturday, March 15, 2014 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

12:00 PM - 2:00 PM : Group lunch (buffet)

2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

4:00 PM - 6:00 PM : Thanks and farewell drink

WELCOME ALL!

Tuesday, February 25, 2014 session at the JICC conference room

Jason Sempai took us through a great session which incuded some of the most intense abs workout I have done in a while!

The session kicked off by reviewing last Tuesday's Shomen Uchi attacks then we proceeded with the day's attack/technique mentioned below:

-Shomen Uchi Ikkyo Ura.

-Ai Hanmi Katatedori Nikyo Ura.

The more advanced students carried on with Jiyu Waza while Jason Sempai focused on the new comers during the last ten minutes of the session.

There was too much talking in the "dojo" and hopefully this will be checked in the days to come.

ATTENDANCE LIST:

-KIBE Jason

-MATINDI Sarah

-MICHUKI Leon

-OLE KIMINTA Edwards

-JORDAN Brian

-ABONYO Patrick

-ORAW John

-KURIA Edwin

-GOGO Rodney

MWAKIO Sammy

NEXT SESSION: THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27 @ THE SAME VENUE

Thursday, February 20, 2014 session at the JICC conference room

Having arrived in good time but wasted almost ten minutes at the entrance of the Japan embassy due to the new regulations,I hurriedly changed and made my way to the 'dojo'.

After a brief warm up session,we got down to business and to kick off the day's session we recaped the techniques that we went through last Tuesday,i.e.Shomen Uchi Ikkyo and Sankyo Omote respectively.

After that, we went through the techniques of the day which were:

-Ryote Dori Tenchi Nage

-Katatedori Shiho Nage Ura

ATTENDANCE LIST:

-MUTHII Joshua

-OLE KIMINTA Edwards

-GOGO Rodney

-MUTINDA David

-ORAW John

-ABONYO Patrick

-OMONDI Steven

-MWAKIO Sammy

NEXT SESSION:TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25 @ THE SAME VENUE

Tuesday, February 18, 2014 session at the JICC conference room

I arrived on time only to find the 'dojo' empty.As usual, I decided to do a jog and warm up exercises before the others began arriving.

After a brief warm up session with the others,we began the basics and it was Ai Hanmi Katatedori Ikkyo Omote that set the ball rolling.

Jason Sempai arrived later on and took us through the following attacks from Shomen Uchi:

-Ikkyo Omote(from both the Ai Hanmi and Gyaku Hanmi Katatedori stances)

-Sankyo Omote(from the Ai Hanmi Katatedori stance)

ATTENDANCE LIST:

-KIBE Jason

-ORAW John

-KIBUCHO Anthony

-OMONDI Steven

-ABONYO Patrick

-MUTUNGA

-MWAKIO Sammy

NEXT SESSION:THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20 @ THE SAME VENUE

Dojo Etiquette 101 part 2

This Part 2 can actually be written as 'Be observant'but I will break it down 

1)Pay attention-there's a lot going on in the dojo and you need to be wholly present.

 2)Keep toe and hand nails short

3)Clapping by the instructor signifies the end of a technique.Stop immediately,bow to your partner and go back to the line .

If instructed to  remain in the  current position,sit in seiza

4)Sit in seiza or cross legged ONLY-no stretching of legs or kneeling in class.Do not lean on the walls either

5)At the end of the class,bow to your partners.

6)Always bow when leaving the class,in the direction of the kamiza.

7)At the beginning and end of the class,as much as it's possible,sit in one straight line.

8)Be patient-with yourself and parners

9)Relax-easier said than done,I know but it makes your Aikido experience better.

Thursday 13th Feb

Having Sammy conduct the class took me back to 2012-the dark days as I prefer to call them.
It was good to be back in the dojo.
There are a number of regular beginners-two of them now have gis which is a sign of commitment.

The warm up session took 65 minutes so we were all sweating by the time we were done.
Sammy is fitter  than most of us and there was a particular exercise-stretching the thigh muscles,that only he was able to do well.
Still,he encouraged the students to at least try even if one isn't able to execute it perfectly.

The remaining 40 minutes were a marathon as we rehearsed the moves Jason taught on Tuesday,
mainly Katatedori Sokumen Irimi Nage  and Kote Gaeshi,
-Ai Hanmi Katatedori Irimi Nage Omote and Rokyo
Other techniques included Rokyo Gyakuhami Ikio Omote and Gyakuhami Ryotedori Kiri Otoshi.

Sammy kept insisting he's not a teacher and for a 'not teacher'he did a good job.

Tuesday, February 11, 2014 session at the JICC conference room

As it is the case most of the time, Nairobi experiences unnecessary traffic snarl ups whenever it rains and I found myself arriving almost half an hour late which of course means I missed out on 80% of the warm up session but all in all "better late than never".

Jason Sempai took us through the whole session and after the warm up session we recaped the techniques of last Tuesday's session before embarking on the day's techniques:

-Katatedori Sokumen Irimi Nage and Kote Gaeshi respectively.

-Ai Hanmi Katatedori Irimi Nage Omote and Rokkyo respectively.

ATTENDANCE LIST:

-KIBE Jason

-MICHUKI Leon

-MUTHII Joshua

-OLE KIMINTA Edwards

-ORAW John

-ABONYO Patrick

-GOGO Rodney

-KURIA Edwin

-Tracy

-WANJIKU Shirleen

-OMONDI Steven

-MWAKIO Sammy

NEXT SESSION:THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13 @ THE SAME VENUE.

Dojo Etiquette 101

This post is long overdue.
As Sammy has pointed out,we've had a huge influx of beginners who do not know
dojo etiquette and I felt it's important to point out a few basics:

1)Punctuality-always try to try to the class before the teacher.
In case you are late,sit in seiza at the class entrance and wait for the teacher's permission to enter.
Make sure you warm up if you find the warm-up session is over.

2)Take off all jewellery before class,this includes but is not limited to rings,bangles,bracelets,earrings,
anklets,chains,chokers and necklaces

3)No chewing of gum or snacking during class

4)Maintain silence.

5)Leave your ego at the door

Thursday, February 6, 2014 session at the JICC conference room

Ben Sempai arrived quite early to take us through an hour of the session and after a sweaty warm up session consisting of among others Mae and Ushiro Ukemi on the same spot,he took us through the below mentioned techniques being from the Katatedori stance:

-Sumi Otoshi

-Uchi Kaiten Nage

Ben Sempai had to leave after the one hour for the Karate session and for the remainder of the session,we revised the following techniques all being from the Ai Hanmi Katatedori stance:

-Nikyo(Omote & Ura)

-Sankyo Omote

David was shining bright in his new Gi;lucky for him we were not at the Goan gymkhana otherwise he would have gone home with a 'different' Gi from the one he whore at the beginning of the session.

ATTENDANCE LIST:

-KIYAGA Ben

-MICHUKI Leon

-MUTHII Joshua

-OLE KIMINTA Edwards

-MUTINDA David

-ABONYO Patrick

-ORAW John

-MUGANZI Gerald

-MWAKIO Sammy

NEXT SESSION:TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 11 @ THE SAME VENUE

Tuesday, February 4, 2014 session at the JICC conference room

Jason Sempai was 'in the dojo' and after sweating it out in a great body workout session,we went through the basics of Aikido and the techniques we went through were as follows:

-Ai Hanmi Katatedori Ikkyo Omote and Ura respectively.

-Katatedori Shiho Nage Ura.

During the last five minutes or so,we were divided into two groups;those who have practised Aikido for a while and the newcomers and boy was it breathtaking!

At the end of the session Jason Sempai reminded everyone and especially the newcomers that there will be a cut off date for Aikido newcomers to enable us all grow since by having intakes,we shall be able to concentrate on developing our Aikido skills.

ATTENDANCE LIST:

-KIBE Jason

-MUTHII Joshua

-Tracy

-NJOROGE Walter

-MUGANZI Gerald

-GOGO Rodney

-MWAKIO Sammy

NEXT SESSION:THURDSAY, FEBRUARY 6 @ THE SAME VENUE