Tuesday, November 24, 2015 session at the JICC Conference Room

Kawakami Sensei guided us through the whole session which took off with the now familiar 'Japanese style' warm up exercises followed by Ikkyo Undo and the like, Shikko as well as Mae and Ushiro Ukemi from tachi Waza.

Kawakami Sensei demonstrated various attacks and techniques which included the following:

-Katatedori Tenkan Ho.

-Katatedori Kokyu Ho.

-Katatedori Shiho Nage Omote and Ura.

-Shomen Uchi Ikkyo Omote and Ura.

-Kata dori Nikyo Omote and Ura.

-Tsuki Ikkyo Omote and Ura.

Kawakami Sensei then conducted a 'mock' Nikyu grading test which I was put to the test and I realised I have a lot of polishing to do before February next year (D.V.) especially the Hanmi Handachi Waza attacks/techniques.

The session culminated with Zagi Kokyu Ho.

For the interest of those interested in having a look at the Hombu Dojo grading system, kindly copy paste the following link in your browser:

http://www.aikikai.or.jp/eng/information/review.html

NEXT SESSION:TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1 @ THE SAME VENUE

Thursday, November 19, 2015 session at the JICC Conference Room

Kawakami Sensei took us through the paces and we began with warm up exercises, Ikkyo Undo and the like then followed by Mae and Ushiro Ukemi from Tachi Waza.

Bearing in mind come next year if all goes well, most of us will be grading and Kawakami Sensei held a 'mock grading' whereby all those interested in grading for Gokyu were examined.

Apart from the 'mock grading' exercise, the following are the attacks/techniques we went through:

-Katatedori Shiho Nage Omote and Ura respectively.

-Katatedori Ikkyo Omote and Ura.

-Shomen Uchi Ikkyo Omote and Ura, Irimi Nage and Kote Gaeshi respectively.

-Ai Hanmi Katatedori Irimi Nage and Kote Gaeshi respectively.

-Kata dori Ikkyo Omote and Ura respectively.

-Hanmi Handachi waza Shiho Nage Omote and Ura.

Toshiyuki San informed me that he got confirmation of the Aikido Sensei coming next year. One of them is 7th dan Kanazawa Takeshi Shihan and the other one is 3rd dan Tokuda Masaya Sensei.

They might be accompanied by one other Sensei but that is yet to be confirmed.

Below is a video of Kanazawa Shihan during the 52nd All Japan Aikido Demonstration last year.

NEXT SESSION: TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24 @ THE SAME VENUE

Kanazawa Takeshi 7th Dan Shihan - 52nd All Japan Aikido Demonstration 2014

Tuesday, November 17, 2015 session at the JICC Conference Room

Kawakami Sensei is back and he was present for the session arriving earlier than most of us as usual.
We kicked off with a light warm up session followed by Mae and Ushiro Ukemi from Tachi Waza. Sensei then supervised as Leon and I went through some basics before we embarked on the following:

TACHI WAZA:

-Katatedori Ikkyo Omote & Ura respectively.

-Katatedori Nikyo Omote & Ura respectively.

SUWARI WAZA:

-Katatedori Ikkyo Omote & Ura respectively.

We wrapped up the session with Zagi Kokyu Ho.

P.S.

KINDLY NOTE: There will be no Aikido session on Thursday, November 26, 2015 due to the papal visit to Kenya.

Furthermore, this year the JICC will close earlier. Kindly note that the last Aikido session of 2015 will be on Thursday, December 3. The first Aikido session of 2016 will be on Tuesday, January 12, 2016.

NEXT SESSION: THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19 @ THE SAME VENUE

Thursday, November 12, 2015 session at the JICC Conference Room

The warm up session was quite brief and was followed by Mae and Ushiro Ukemi as well as a series of breakfalls courtesy of Douglas Kohai before he embarked on the second part of the session with the following:

-Ai Hanmi Katatedori Ikkyo Omote & Ura respectively.

-Ai Hanmi katatedori Sankyo Omote.

-Ai Hanmi Katatedori Shiho Nage Omote and Ura respectively.

-What we fondly refer to as Kata Gatame through the opening of Ai Hanmi Katatedori.

Haishin Undo was in order after a series of Ukemi and breakfalls to stretch the weary backs.

P.S. Susan hinted to me that there is a possibility there will be no Aikido sessions during the last week of this month due to the Pope's visit to Kenya and that this year the Japan embassy might close earlier than usual as a result of a conference that is scheduled to take place but she stated that once all has been confirmed, she will communicate to us in due course.

NEXT SESSION: TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17 @ THE SAME VENUE

Tuesday, November 10, 2015 session at the JICC Conference Room

Toshiyuki San took us through the warm up session followed by Mae and Ushiro Ukemi from Tachi Waza and it was quite humid inside I guess due to the fact that it was raining outside.

The techniques of the day were as follows:

-Katatedori Kokyu Ho.

-Katatedori Nikyo Omote & Ura respectively.

-Uchi Kaiten Nage Omote & Ura respectively.

-Katatedori Kokyu Nage Omote.

Toshiyuki San organised us in groups of three (Jiyu Waza) for all but one of the techniques. In the last technique (Katatedori Kokyu Nage Omote), we organised ourselves in two lines with one Tori in each line performing the technique.

The session culminated with Zagi Kokyu Ho followed by Haishin Undo.

P.S. Masayuki Kawakami Sensei is coming back to Kenya once again! He will be available as from next Tuesday (November 17) upto around mid December according to an email from his daughter. We look forward to having Sensei guide us through his knowledge of Aikido once again.

NEXT SESSION: THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12 @ THE SAME VENUE

Tuesday, November 3, 2015 session at the JICC Conference Room

Being the only Aikido session of the week, we tried our level best to maximise on time and after a sweaty work out session which was followed thereafter by Mae, Ushiro, Yoko and Gyaku Ukemi from Tachi Waza, we went through the following techniques:

-Katatedori Ikkyo Omote & Ura respectively.

-Ryotedori Shiho Nage Omote.

-Katatedori Ushiro Kubishime.

We wrapped up the session with Haishin Undo.

NEXT SESSION: TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 10 @ THE SAME VENUE