class today - techniques

This afternoon - Claire Keller class:
1. Shihonage Omote & Ura - that friggin Ura always gives me problems..I've gotta practice it more.
2. Kaeshi Waza - Uke shomenuchi attack, Nage puts a nikkyo on, the Uke reverses the Nikkyo into a Sankyo

This evening:
1. Katatetori Kokyuho with two attakers
2. Katatetori ikkyo opening, into irminage
3. Morotetori Sumi Otoshi
4. Morotetori Tenkan Sumi Otoshi
5. Katatetori Kokyho omote

Feeling good after class, learned a lot as always. Gotta practice and train regularly for the lessons to take root.

Kyu Testing

We had Kyu testing in our dojo this past Sunday. It went very well and as expected everyone passed with flying colors. Our Chief instructor doesn't allow anyone to test, unless they are ready to pass. Essentially, the test is a formality. He has already decided to promote the student. But one must go through the process, for any number of reasons, I guess. No worries, though. I really enjoy watching our tests. It's encouraging and exciting. The smiles on people's faces when they complete the test is pretty damn cool, I tell you that.

Trained well Yesterday. Shihan was in good form yesterday. We did shihonage, jodan and gaedan iriminage from yokomenuchi and katatori attacks. I was extremely fatigued yesterday and didn't feel like getting on the mat, but I'm so happy I did. My training partner and I practiced slowly and methodically. He showed me good stuff and I was alert and energized after class yesterday.

Been working on foot movement, stabilizing my feet and not doing a whole lot of "stutter stepping" and trying to get my opening strong..I'm enjoying it...Maybe in six months or so, I'll be ready for my second kyu...

Now THAT sounds like a plan..

Rest

I had to rest today. Back muscles are sore and somewhat wrenched, from who knows what. So I had to rest today. I wanted to take part in the Sugano Sensei memorial seminar; but alas, all I could do was watch and talk with fellow aikidoists. I did a little training yesterday (Saturday). Practiced my rolls and walked through the 20 Jo Suburis. So, I got some practice in this weekend.

Tomorrow is another day....after heating pads and epsom salt bath soak, I should be okay to practice tomorrow.

October begins with a bang

Well,

I trained a total of 15 days out of 30 days in september. That's pretty good for me. Tonite I did a little workout with my Goju-ryu instructor friend. I don't know the katas, but he does a pretty good warm-up work out routine. He designed his routine to strengthen the body and prepare the student for the okinawan goju-ryu techniques. The toughest part really is the type of push ups. His students do a push up, where you place your arms near your breast section, hold your body up one inch away from the ground, then lift one leg up (while you hold your body one inch from the ground); place the leg down, then lift the other leg up. You then stretch back into the yoga back stretch position and begin again. He does about twenty of these for beginners. He then goes into a series of sit ups that will definitely strengthen the abs, lower back, middle, upper back and so forth...

Did I forget to mention that you have to stay in form, while he walks through the class to correct and verify every student's form?

After that, I worked on the very basics: High, Middle and Low blocks. Tomorrow I will work on my punching and kicking excercises. I will also do some aikido fittings. No falls, I've got to rest my lower back muscles; for Sunday I want to participate in a three hour memorial seminar for Sugano Sensei.

I also had a wonderful conversation with a traditional Chinese Tai Chi (yes, the combat form) Sifu. He told me to join his class for a couple of months and see if it helps my Aikido. He says Aikido is more difficult than Tai Chi. Methinks, he was being kind. However, I will attempt it.

Ush!

Commit to Train...

With the recent deaths of O'Sensei's Uchi Deshis, there is quite a bit of discussion around the future of the art and the teachers presently leading the Aikido community. So as I read the blogs and talk with other students, I looked in the proverbial mirror, at my personal commitment to myself. I regret not training more with Sugano sensei. I also regret not commiting myself as I could have when I was introduced to Aikido twenty years ago.

As a kyu, I am guilty of getting lost in the hype, theory and distracted by the environment of my training, rather than just training and seeing what comes after that; maybe patience is the word for it, I'm not quite certain. I have taken the senseis and shihans for granted, in that I have not taken their classes as frequently as I was able. Nor have I kept myself in physical shape to practice regularly. The result is when I am on the mat, I tire easily, my ukemi sucks and I move poorly. I am embarrased when I don't practice the technique the way it is showed to me by an instructor. I had been the kind of person that if a quality teacher took the time and effort to show me something (whatever the subject matter), I put the effort in to learn it as best I could. I've fallen short of that standard lately.

I have made excuse after excuse as to why I can't get on the mat more than once or twice per week. The simple reality is, I've been lazy and unfocused. Without going into any more boring nitty-gritty details of it, suffice it to say I recognize my need to get it together. I also recognize that I want to learn from the remaining Uchi Deshis as best I can, as long as the opportunity presents itself. By watching Yamada, Sugano and Saotome, I am beginning to see some details in hand placement and footwork. I am beginning to understand more about body movement and how complicated Aikido can be. Also why continuous, focused practice is the key for me. I enjoy it more that way and if I enjoy it, I'll keep doing it, quite naturally. I attended a summer camp this year, for the first time.

So, beginning in September, I decided to get myself on the mat at least three times per week; even if that meant taking early morning classes (which I find challenging, because I am so not a morning person). I'm happy that I kept that promise to myself. I've also pggybacked on a friend's energy and love for this art. He motivates me, when i'm feeling too lazy to get on the mat, or my body is stiff or mildly sore - which also contributes to my lazyness. I've not regretted one day that I "allowed" him to talk me into getting on the mat each day. The result is that I've taken some pretty interesting classes, talked with some interesting people and left the dojo feeling happy for the evening.

So, I guess the point of my semi-rambling dissertation to myself is a lesson for myself and maybe others who question their training is this: Just train..

By the way, it is good to have a friend who tells you: "Just Train" when you start to complain and find excuses not to do what you know you want to do, because of laziness.

Stay posted...tomorrow is another training day.

Back to the beginning AGAIN

I've decided to go back to the basics and learn Ukemi properly and softly, to preserve my body and last longer. Starting from drills to improve my forward and backward rolling. My instructor has explained that the mat must become "my friend". In other words, I should lose my fear of the mat.

So I have drills to do and I will do them. In one year, my ukemi should dramatically improve and I am looking forward to that.

Ukemi is important to me, obviously.

Fantastic!

Today's class was simply fantastic. The Shihan brought out some techniques that would wake up even the creamiest cream puff...sharp foot movement, specific hand placement and everyone from 5th kyu through nidan was subjected to being an Uke to the Shihan. No one was able to escape tonite. The class was alive, attentive and quite vibrant. I couldn't train tonite, as I continue to heal; BUT my mind and spirit was on the mat. I loved every moment of it..even those techniques that challenged my courage abit.

My aikido spirit is alive!

Importance of Cleanliness and Hygene when training

I had to pleasure to read Ms. Janet Rosen's blog about hygene. I concur with her position completely. I would like to understand what it will take for Dojos to begin to enforce strict hygene rules? I guess, the fear is that the dojo will lose students. Given that Dojos have a high turnover rate, I guess I can understand that.

BUT, I would like to be at least somewhat comfortable with my training environment. I would like to feel like the dojo does what it can to reduce the risk of students contracting communicable diseases, staph infections and flesh eating bacteria.

Hygene is very, very important. Most health professionals understand this. However, in this age of people rejecting the premises of modern medicine, it has become increasingly difficult to get folks to comply with simple habits of cleanliness. Disinfectants are needed, anti-bacterials are necessary. Natural is good, but not always strong enough to kill particular bacteria, or viruses.

This weekend I refused to get on the mat, because it hadn't been properly cleaned in months. Then the sensei and his senior student proceeded to "wash" the mats using a green disinfectant on a dirty mop and rag. That was after, the senior student talked about just wiping the mat down with "water".

I'm going to say this harsh word....Ridiculous!

Why is it so rare to see hygenic practices?