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

Kawakami Sensei was at it again taking us through the brief warm up session followed by Mae and Ushiro Ukemi as well as Mae and Ushiro Shikko before embarking on the attacks/techniques of the 1 hr 45 min session.

Sensei informed us that back in Japan the Aikido sessions are usually around three hours on average and in various groups.

He went on to inform us that he will try as much as he can to guide us through a number of attacks/techniques before he leaves for Japan on December 10.

Here are some of the attacks/techniques whe guided us through:

-Katatedori Shiho Nage Omote and Ura.

-Ai Hanmi Katatedori Shiho Nage Omote and Ura.

-Ryote Dori Kote Gaeshi.

-Katadori Nikyo Omote and Ura.

-Shomen Uchi Sankyo Omote.

-Tsuki Ikkyo Omote, Yonkyo Omote and Kote Gaeshi respectively.

-Ai hanmi Katatedori Samkyo Omote version including my favourite one:'cornering' Uke against a wall and watch him 'tap like crazy'.

Sensei demonstrated various attack/technique variations and always emphasised on taking note of the 'key points' for example he explained to us the difference of doing Katadori Nikyo Omote with Uke's arm stretched as well as destabilising Uke using the 'move like water' movement.

ATTENDANCE LIST:

-MASAYUKI Kawakami

-KIYAGA Ben

-OSORO Douglas

-LALA Mohseen

-MUTHII Joshua

-OKUMU Julius

-BOKEA Joseph

-NYANG'OR Vincent

-Mohamed

-A newcomer to Aikido

-MWAKIO Sammy

NEXT SESSION:TUESDAY,DECEMBER 9 @ THE SAME VENUE

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

Kawakami Sensei was present and in "full regalia" sporting a dogi and black belt.

We began with the "Japanese style" warm up before embarking on the day's "menu" which included the following:

We were grouped into twos and Sensei read out some attacks/techniques from the Birankai curriculum for us to execute. It was a sort of "mock grading" as Sensei wanted to gauge our various levels.

Some of the attacks/techniques we were tested on include the following:

-Katatedori Uchi Kaiten Nage.

-Shomen Uchi Ikkyo Omote and Ura.

-Katatedori Kote Gaeshi.

-Ushiro Ryo Katadori Shiho Nage.

-Ryotedori Shiho Nage Omote.

-Ai Hanmi Katatedori Kote Gaeshi.

Kitayama Sensei then proceeded to revise the attacks/techniques mentioned above with various various as well as others mentioned below:

-Yokomen Uchi Shiho Nage Omote.

-Tsuki Shiho Nage Omote and Ura.

-Ai Hanmi Katatedori Shiho Nage omote and Ura.

-Katadori Ikkyo Omote,Shiho Nage (various versions),Yonkyo Omote and Kote Gaeshi respectively.

-Hanmi Handachi Shiho Nage Omote and Ura.

ATTENDANCE LIST:

-MASAYUKI Kawakami

-TOSHIYUKI Kitayama

-OSORO Douglas

-LALA Mohseen

-MICHUKI Leon

-MUTHII Joshua

-BOKEA Joseph

-NYANG'OR Vincent

-Mohamed

-MWAKIO Sammy

P.S.

Kindly note that next Tuesday (December 2) and Thursday (December 4),there will be no Aikido sessions as the JICC conference room will be used to conduct Japanese elections.

On that same note, kindly note that beginning Tuesday, December 16, 2014 and ending on Thursday, January 8, 2015 the Japan embassy will be closed for the annual Christmas/New year break.

The last Aikido session for this year will be on Thursday, December 11, 2014 and the sessions will resume on Tuesday, January 13, 2015.

NEXT SESSION:THURSDAY,NOVEMBER 27 @ THE SAME VENUE

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

Kawakami Sensei took us through his second Aikido session in Kenya and as expected by the end of the session, more 'casualties' joined the list with aching wrists and arms.

I forgot to mention last time that Kawakami Sensei practised with O Sensei in Japan back in the 1960s, thus it comes as no surprise when he makes each one of us tap out even before we feel the pain.

Kitayama Sensei informed us that he would not be available as he had travelled due to work related matters and promised to be back as soon as possible.

We kicked off with light stretching exercises followed by:

-Various versions of Kote Gaeshi including my favourite: With Tori seated on a chair and Uke standing.

-Various versions of Kata Dori including once again one involving Tori seated on a chair and Uke standing.

-Kata Dori Sankyo Omote.

-Kata Dori Ikkyo version.

-Hanmi Handachi Kote Gaeshi.

-Shorter version of Katatedori Nikyo.

-Katatedori Shiho Nage Omote.

-Two Uke being bundled together(not sure what to call it).

-Ai Hanmi Katatedori Yonkyo Omote.

ATTENDANCE LIST:

-MASAYUKI Kawakami

-OSORO Douglas

-LALA Mohseen

-MICHUKI Leon

-MUTHII Joshua

-NJOGU Anthony

-Mohamed

-A guest who accompanied Mohseen Kohai

-Dominic Sempai and two other Goju Ryu Karatekas who joined us in the first 15 minutes of the session before leaving.

NEXT SESSION:TUESDAY,NOVEMBER 25 @ THE SAME VENUE.

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

Once again we were priviledged to be graced by the presence of yet another Aikido Sensei by the name of MASAYUKI Kawakami who informed us that he began practising Aikido for the last 47 years and currently holds the rank of Godan. He is in Kenya for about one month visiting his daughter.

We began with a brief stretching session before commencing the techniques of the day which included the following:

-Katatedori Shiho Nage Omote and Ura respectively.

-Various versions of Sankyo from the Katatedori stance.

-Ai Hanmi Katatedori Kote Gaeshi(different version).

-Various versions of Kote Gaeshi including Tsuki Kote Gaeshi.

-Kata dori Yonkyo Omote and Ura respectively.

-Front choke from the Ai Hanmi Katatedori stance.

All those who were Kawakami Sensei's Uke left the 'dojo' with aching arms and wrists thanks to his Sankyo and Yonkyo techniques.

ATTENDANCE LIST:

-MASAYUKI Kawakami

-TOSHIYUKI Kitayama

-OSORO Douglas

-MUTHII Joshua

-BOKEA Joseph

-NJOGU Anthony

-MWAKIO Sammy

NEXT SESSION:THURSDAY,NOVEMBER 20 @ THE SAME VENUE.

Thursday, November 13, 2014 session at the JICC conference room

It was drizzling outside but inside the 'dojo' we were sweating as hell with the dogi drenched in sweat which means I will have to wash it this weekend (damn!)

Kitayama Sensei was present and since we had already warmed up earlier,he guided us through Mae and Ushiro Ukemi followed by Ikkyo Undo.

The following is what Sensei took us through:

-Katatedori Shiho Nage Omote and Ura respectively.

-Shomen uchi(static stance)Irimi Nage.

-Zagi Kokyu Ho(Suwari Waza Kokyu Ho).

The session ended with the now popular Haishin Undo although Sensei used another Japanese term of which I am yet to grasp (lol).

ATTENDANCE LIST:

-TOSHIYUKI Kitayama

-MUTHII Joshua

-NJOROGE Walter

-MWAKIO Sammy

NEXT SESSION:TUESDAY,NOVEMBER 18 @ THE SAME VENUE.

Tuesday, November 11, 2014 session at the JICC conference room (Remembrance day session)

Kitayama Sensei took us through his first ever Aikido session in Kenya and although there were some variations in Ukemi and techniques,it still remains Aikido and by the end of the session,everyone of us was sweating profusely.

Sensei took us through a warm up session followed by Mae and Ushiro Ukemi 'Aikikai style' and then we embarked on the Aikido session of the day with the following:

-Tai No Tenkan Ho.

-Katatedori Shiho Nage Ura and Kokyu Nage respectively.

-Ai Hanmi Katatedori Ikkyo Omote and Ura respectively.

-Kokyu Ho Kokyu Dosa.

The session ended with Haishin Undo.

Kitayama Sensei gave us a brief explanation as to the meaning of bowing before and after practising a technique,what to say before beginning a technique and after practising a technique in the dojo as well as how to sit in Seiza correctly. Furthermore,he gave us a short biography about his journey in Aikido and that he was glad there was Aikido here in Kenya having worked in Namibia previously where he informed us that he was unable to find anyone practising Aikido.

ATTENDANCE LIST:

-TOSHIYUKI Kitayama

-NOROGE Walter

-NJOGU Anthony

-Vincent

-MWAKIO Sammy

NEXT SESSION:THURSDAY,NOVEMBER 13 @ THE SAME VENUE

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

The beginning of November came with a ray of hope....we were fortunate to have a guest-Mr.TOSHIYUKI Kitayama who works at the JICA office at the Rahimtulla tower. Mr.Kitayama is a sandan in Aikido and has been practising Aikido for the last 26 years.

Mr.Kitayama guided us through Ai Hanmi Katatedori Ikkyo Omote and showed us some few tips on how to execute the technique effectively.

Apart from the above mentioned technique, below are the other techniques we went through all being from the static Ai Hanmi Katatedori stance:

-Ikkyo Ura.

-Nikyo Omote & Ura respectively.

-Sankyo Omote.

ATTENDANCE LIST:

-TOSHIYUKI Kitayama

-MUTHII Joshua

-BOKEA Joseph

-Vincent

-MWAKIO Sammy

NEXT SESSION:TUESDAY,NOVEMBER 11 @ THE SAME VENUE.

Tuesday, October 28, 2014 session at the JICC conference room

The session began on a slow note and after about 40 minutes two more colleagues showed up and we began with light stretching exercises before embarking on the day's programme:

The attack/techniques we practised are as follows:

-Ryote Dori Shiho Nage Omote.

-Shomen Uchi Gokyo.

-Katatedori Kote Gaeshi variation.

The session closed with Kokyu Ho Kokyu Dosa.

Unfortunately Rex Sempai could not make it in time for the session as he was caught up in a last minute meeting in town but I am glad we finally met outside the Japan embassy after the session and had a chat for a while. He promised that if all goes well he shall be back in January next year.

ATTENDANCE LIST:

-BOKEA Joseph

-NJOGU Anthony

-Vincent

-MWAKIO Sammy

NEXT SESSION:THURSDAY,NOVEMBER 6 @ THE SAME VENUE.

Thursday, October 23, 2014 session at the JICC conference room

I arrived at the usual venue and on the door to the 'dojo' was the official poster advertising the upcoming Japanese cultural festival on November 1 and going through the list of activities planned for the day I noticed that Aikido was missing and only Karate and Judo were listed. Jason Sempai approached the director of the JICC and he was informed that we need a shodan amongst us to be permitted to participate in the martial arts demo and that 'maybe next year when we get a shodan teacher we will be able to participate in the martial arts demo'.

Controversy aside, we carried on with the session and after a brief warm up session followed by Mae Ukemi from both Suwari & Tachi Waza,the following is what we practised:

From Tachi Waza:

-Ai Hanmi Katatedori: Juji Nage and Shiho Nage respectively.

-Reverse Kote Gaeshi.

-Gyaku Hanmi Katatedori Kokyu Nage.

ATTENDANCE LIST:

-KIBE Jason

-MICHUKI Leon

-BOKEA Joseph

-Vincent

-MWAKIO Sammy

NEXT SESSION:TUESDAY,OCTOBER 28 @ THE SAME VENUE

Tuesday, October 21, 2014 session at the JICC conference room

Monday having been a public holiday,and having taken time off for some rest,I was looking forward to an intense Aikido session although that was not to be.

After working out for more than half an hour with no one in sight, I was joined by a lady who wanted to find out more about Aikido and for the first time ever she watched us train until 18:45!

Since most of us were not accustomed to doing Ukemi from Tachi Waza, we did some Mae Ukemi from Suwari Waza and also practised how to fall safely by bending the leg.

The main focus of the day was the Ai Hanmi stance in a static position and this is what we went through:

-Ai Hanmi Katatedori Ikkyo (Omote & Ura).

-Ai Hanmi Katatedori Nikyo Ura.

ATTENDANCE LIST:

-BOKEA Joseph

-NJOGU Anthony

-Vincent

-The lady 'spectator'

-MWAKIO Sammy

NEXT SESSION:THURSDAY,OCTOBER 23 @ THE SAME VENUE

P.S.

I just received a message from Rex Sempai who has confirmed that he will be jetting in this coming Saturday.