28 March 6:00 Class Notes

Teacher: Laurie-sensei
Reading: 2. The Value of Our Existence
Warm-up exercises
Waza: Katatori ikkyo tenkan, munatsuki koteoroshi

28 March 5:00 Class Notes

Teacher: Laurie-sensei
Reading: 1. Our Motto
Warm-up exercises
Toitsudo: Standing
Waza: Ikkyo waza, Shomenuchi kokyu nage

21 March National Holiday No Class

See you next week!

14 March 氣付き "Kizuki" Noticing things

Do you help at home? Maybe sometimes your mother is preparing supper, and she asks you, "Can you take this dish to the table, please?" and you do it. Well, anybody can help that way. Anyone can help after they have been asked. That is just usual.

What is important, what is needed, is to help BEFORE you are asked.

What if your mother is standing there holding the dish, thinking, "I wish someone would help me with this" and you went right over and carried the dish for her. That is special. That is "noticing things".

If you calm your mind, you will be able to notice.

14 March 6:00 Class Notes

Teacher: Ohara-sensei
Reading: 3. The Way to Union with Ki
Warm-up exercises
Toitsudo: Ude furi choyaku waza (arm swing and leap), Looking in someone's eyes with ki extended
Waza (techniques): Tenchi nage irimi

14 March 5:00 Class Notes

Teacher: Ohara-sensei
Reading: 3. The Way to Union with Ki
Warm-up exercises
Toitsudo: Sitting agura (cross-legged), sitting seiza (formal way to sit)
Waza (techniques): Katatori ikkyo irimi

Grading for children

Grading for children is held in June and November. All children (except those who have only just started practicing) are graded.

9th kyu (A, B, C) (yellow obi): ki development: unbendable arm, standing with mind and body unified, sitting seiza with mind and body unified, sitting down and standing up with mind and body unified; aiki exercises: half back roll, shake wrists technique; kumi waza: katate kosadori kokyu nage, munatsuki koteoroshi (katame), kokyu dosa.

8th kyu, 7th kyu (A, B, C) (0range obi): ki development: same as 9th kyu; aiki exercises: in addition to 9th kyu, boat rowing technique, first teaching technique, front and back technique; kumi waza: shomenuchi kokyu nage, munatsuki koteoroshi, katatori ikkyo (irimi, tenkan), katate kosadori kokyu nage, kokyu dosa.

6th kyu (A, B, C) (blue obi): ki development: hold one arm out with mind and body unified, raise both arms with mind and body unified, bend backwards with mind and body unified, bend forward with mind and body unified; aiki exercises: in addition to 7th kyu, eight directions technique, wrist crossing technique (above), wrist crossing technique (below); kumi waza: shomenuchi kokyu nage, yokomenuchi shiho nage (irimi, tenkan), ryotedori tenchi nage　(irimi, tenkan), munatsuki kaiten nage, katatedori shiho nage, kokyu dosa.

5th kyu (blue obi): same as adult criteria
4th kyu (purple obi): same as adult criteria
3rd kyu (purple obi): same as adult criteria
2nd kyu (brown obi): same as adult criteria
1st kyu (brown obi): same as adult criteria

Children must be at least 15 years old to test for shodan (1st degree black obi).

Grading for adults

Grading for adults is held in March, June and November. You will recieve a notice with the dojo schecule about 6 weeks before if you will be graded.

• Ki development
• Aikido
  

Words to know

Onegaishimasu "Please": Say this to your teacher when starting the class, say this to your partner when you start to practice together.
Arigatou gozaimashita "Thank you": Say this to your teacher at the end of the class, say this to your partner when you finish practicing together.

Rei "Bow": When you bow to someone, focus your entire attention on them.

Nage "Throw": The person who does the throw.
Ukemi or Uke "Recieve": The person who attacks and is thrown.
Koutai "Change places": Nage changes to ukemi, ukemi changes to nage.

Hajime "Start": Find a partner, bow and say "onegaishimasu". Start practicing what the teacher has told you to do.
Oshimai or Yame "Stop": Stop practicing, bow to your partner, and say "arigatou gozaimashita". Sit in seiza to listen to the teacher.

(Moto no ichi ni) seiretsu "Get (back) in line": Line up in seiza where you sit at the beginning of class.
Shuugou "Gather around": Sit in seiza in a half circle around the teacher.

Names of techniques

1) Aiki taisou "aiki exercises" and Hitori waza "techniques done alone"

Tekubifuri waza "shake wrists technique" also Rirakkusu undou "relax exercise"

Ushiro ukemi "(half or full) back roll"
Kouhou kaiten waza "full back roll"
Maemawari ukemi "front roll"

Shikou "knee walk" (ushiro "backwards" kaiten "turning")

Udemawashi waza "circle arms technique"
Udefuri waza "swing arms technique"
Udefuri chouyaku waza "swing arms moving technique"

Sayuu waza "left and right technique"
Sayuu chouyaku waza "left and right moving technique"

Ikkyou waza "first (teaching) technique"
Zengou waza "front and back technique"
Happou waza "eight directions technique"
Zenshin koushin waza "moving forward moving backward technique"
Funakogi waza "boat rowing techique"

Nikyou waza "second (teaching) technique"
Sankyou waza "third (teaching) technique"
Koteoroshi waza "wrist drop technique"

2) Kumi waza "techniques done with a partner"

Shomenuchi kokyuu nage "hit the top of the head - timing throw"
Yokomenuchi shihou nage irimi "hit the side of the head - four direction throw entering"
Yokomenuchi shihou nage tenkan "hit the side of the head - four direction throw turning"
Munatsuki koteoroshi "strike to the chest - drop the wrist"
Katatori ikkyou irimi "grab the shoulder - first teaching entering"
Katatori ikkyou tenkan "grab the shoulder - first teaching turning"
Katatori sankyou irimi "grab the shoulder - third teaching entering"
Katatori sankyou tenkan "grab the shoulder - third teaching turning"
Katate kousadori kokyuu nage "grab one hand cross-hand - timing throw"
(Ryotedori) tenchi nage irimi "(grab both arms) - heaven and earth throw entering"
(Ryotedori) tenchi nage tenkan "(grab both arms) - heaven and earth throw turning"
Ushirotekubidori kubijime kokyuu nage (uragaeshi) "grab wrist and choke from behind - timing throw (inside-out)"

Zagi "seated technique" A technique performed from seiza
Zagi handachi "seated technique - half standing" A technique performed from seiza, with the attacker standing

Kokyuu dousa "timing movement" Please note that this is not a waza (technique of attack and throw) even though it is done with a partner. This movement is practiced to refine ki.