Thursday, October 27, 2016

Thursday, October 27, 2016 session at the JICC Conference Room

The warm up session kicked off with Toshiyuki San taking us through the paces followed by a Mae and Ushiro ukemi 'marathon' before we went throught the following:

TACHI WAZA :

-Ryote dori Kokyu Nage (two versions).

-Ryote dori Tenchi Nage (Omote & Ura).

-Jiyu Waza featuring several attacks/techniques.

The last ten minutes were dedicated to going through the attacks/techniques to be showcased during the upcoming Aikido demonstration on Saturday, November 5.

**DUE TO PREPARATIONS FOR THE UPCOMING JAPANESE CULTURAL WEEK NEXT MONTH, THERE WILL BE NO AIKIDO SESSION ON THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3**

NEXT SESSION: TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2016 @ THE SAME VENUE

Tuesday, October 25, 2016

Tuesday, October 25, 2016 session at the JICC Conference Room

Under the guidance of Daniel Sempai, the session kicked off with an intense warm up session incorporating Mae, Ushiro, Yoko and Gyaku Ukemi from both Suwari Waza (Mae and Ushiro Ukemi) and Tachi Waza (for all) as well as Shikko before we embarked on the following:

TACHI WAZA :

-Katatedori Shiho Nage Omote and Ura respectively.

-Katatedori Kokyu Ho.

-Jiyu Waza in groups of four featuring the techniques of the day.

The session ended with another round of endurance exercises followed by Haishin Undo.

NEXT SESSION: THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27 @ THE SAME VENUE

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Tuesday, October 18, 2016 session at the JICC Conference Room

The JICC main hall was packed with newcomers eager to learn Goju Ryu Karate but on our side, we had already kicked off the session with 'Japanese style' warm up exercises courtesy of Toshiyuki San.

Mae and Ushiro Ukemi (both Suwari Waza & Tachi Waza) as well as Shikko followed closely before going through the following:

TACHI WAZA :

-Shomen Uchi Ikkyo (Omote & Ura).

-Shomen Uchi Irimi Nage Omote (Ura for the more advanced Aikidoka).

-Katatedori Kokyu Nage.

SUWARI WAZA :

-Zagi Kokyu Ho.

The session ended on a stretching note with Haishin Undo.

REMINDER: Andreas Schriber Sensei arrives in Nairobi on Friday, October 21 in readiness for the weekend Aikido boot camp slated for Saturday, October 22 and Sunday, October 23.

The venue is St. Mary's Catholic Church, Ongata Rongai.

NEXT SESSION (AFTER THE WEEKEND AIKIDO BOOT CAMP) : TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25 @ THE SAME VENUE

Sunday, October 16, 2016

Thursday, October 13, 2016

Thursday, October 13, 2016 session at the JICC Conference Room

Considering the hot and humid weather outside, the 'dojo' was 'on fire' with most of us being drenched in sweat courtesy of Daniel Sempai's total body workouts not forgetting Mae and Ushiro Ukemi from both Suwari Waza and Tachi Waza.

We went through some of the attacks/techniques to be showcased during the upcoming Aikido demonstration as follows:

TACHI WAZA :

-Katatedori Shiho Nage and Nikyo Ura respectively.

-Shomen Uchi Sankyo and Yonyo Omote respectively.

-Shomen Uchi Nikyo Ura.

N.B. Due to the Mashujaa Day public holiday on Thursday, October 20, there will be no Aikido session on that particular day.

NEXT SESSION: TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2016 @ THE SAME VENUE


Wednesday, October 12, 2016

The spirit of aiki

The tedious, repetitious and monotonous learning routine tests the student's commitment and will power,but it also reduces stubbornness, curbs wilfulness and eliminates bad habits of the body and mind. In the process,his or her real strength,character and potential begin to emerge.the spiritual mastery is inseparable from the psychological but begins only after an intensive and lengthy period of training.

Yagyu mumenori himself stressed on overcoming the ego through self discipline in the art of swordsmanship. In a treatise known as "the household transmission on the art of fighting he writes that the goal of training in the martial arts is to overcome six kinds of diseases:

The desire for victory,
The desire to rely on technical cunning,
The desire to show off,
The desire to psychologically overwhelm the opponent,
The desire to remain passive in order to wait for an opening and
The desire to become free of these diseases.

The egoless self is open,flexible, supple, fluid and dynamic in body,mind and spirit.
Such a way thinking is the essence of all the martial and cultural ways in the Japanese tradition.

Tuesday, October 11, 2016

Tuesday, October 11, 2016 session at the JICC Conference Room

The session kicked off as usual with a warm up session closely followed by Mae and Ushiro Ukemi in both Suwari Waza and Tachi Waza as well as Mae and Ushiro Shikko under the guidance of Daniel Sempai. 

A session of body conditioning drills and stretching exercises were also “on offer” during the session.

From Tachi Waza, the following is what we went through:

-Ai Hanmi Katatedori Uchi Kaiten Nage.

-Katatedori Kokyu Ho.

-A version of Katatedori Irimi Nage.


NEXT SESSION: THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13 @ THE SAME VENUE

Thursday, October 6, 2016

Thursday, October 6, 2016 session at the JICC Conference Room

With the upcoming Aikido demonstration just about three weeks away, Toshiyuki San dedicated the entire session to brushing up on the attacks/techniques to be demonstrated during the Saturday, November 5 Japan Culture Week at the Japan embassy, Nairobi.

Toshiyuki San informed us that since the Aikido demonstration has been accorded 20 minutes, he has divided us into four groups with each group accorded five minutes each to demonstrate their attacks/techniques.

GROUP ONE: Anthony, David, etc.

GROUP TWO: Leah, Michael, etc.

GROUP THREE: Ben, Sammy, etc.

GROUP FOUR: Toshiyuki San, Steve, etc.

Toshiyuki San stated that this is not the final selection and that whoever wishes to participate in the upcoming Aikido demonstration is more than welcome.

Among the attacks/techniques to be demonstrated are as follows:

SUWARI WAZA :

-Ikkyo Omote & Ura.

-Nikyo Omote & Ura.

TACHI WAZA :

-Shomen Uchi Ikkyo, Nikyo, Sankyo, Yonkyo & Gokyo (Omote & Ura respectively for all).

-Tsuki (with Tanto) Irimi Nage, Kote Gaeshi, Shiho Nage.

HANMI HANDACHI WAZA :

-Shiho Nage.

-Ryote dori Kokyu Nage.

Toshiyuki San advised each one of us to practise diligently so as to make the Aikido demonstration a success.

NEXT SESSION: TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2016 @ THE SAME VENUE

Tuesday, October 4, 2016

Tuesday, October 4, 2016 session at the JICC Conference Room

Toshiyuki San was present for this particular session and after a warm up session that also incorporated some stretching exercises as well as Mae and Ushiro Ukemi (Suwari Waza./Tachi Waza), this was what we went through under the guidance of Toshiyuki San (all techniques mentioned below were executed from Kaeshi Waza):

TACHI WAZA :

-Morote dori Irimi Nage Omote.

-Morote dori Ikkyo Omote & Ura respectively.

-Morote dori Kokyu Nage.

The more advanced Aikidoka went throguh Morote dori Nikyo (Omote & Ura) and Sankyo (Omote & Ura).

Haishin undo wrapped up the day's session.

We were priviledged to have among us two Japanese ladies who are in Kenya for the next two years or so under the umbrella of JICA Kenya office with one being based in Nyanza province and the other one based in Rift Valley province.

NEXT SESSION: THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6 @ THE SAME VENUE