Quote of the Week - 29th March

This week's quote is a little longer. It's from What is Aikido? by Koichi Tohei. It was written in 1962 and the blurb says that it was written under O Sensei's supervision. This passage tells us how Tohei came to practise aikido.

'One day he heard about aikido and Professor Morihei Uyeshiba from a senior Judoist, and called on him with the senior's letter of introduction.

Professor Uyechiba readily gave him a demonstration and showed him some of his arts with his students. Every movement was so smooth that it looked like a Japanese Odori (dance). Whenever several big young men attacked him they were sent flying.

As the author had practised Judo and struggled with only one man at a time, he could not believe that Professor Uyeshiba's arts were genuine and thought that the whole thing was a frame-up.

After the demonstration, Professor Uyeshiba told the author "come and attack me at your pleasure." The author took his coat off and rushed at him with all his strength. He remembered attacking him, but the next moment, he found himself lying on the mat and could not remember how he was thrown or what parts of his body the Professor had touched.'

I think that this is a perfect example of what should happen to someone who attacks wholeheartedly and without even considering that their attack will fail.
Margaret

Photos from the Past

Here are two photos of practise taken at the grading on 9th November 2016. How many past and present members can you spot? No prizes just for interest!

John's Thoughts on Aikido

Aikido

AI - Means harmony to harmonize with your attacker he or she has to move forward into the attack. As they move you move keeping your centre at all times, then your movement becomes their movement and their movement becomes your movement.

KI - Means energy not what muscle you may or may not have but positive energy. Keeping your arms forward as with a bokken in your centre never pulling your arms back.

DO - Means way of putting it all together.


Anyone else brave enough to give this a try?

Quote of the Week - 22nd March

This is one of O Sensei's rather appropriate in the current climate, I thought. Margaret

Do not look upon this world with fear and loathing. Bravely face whatever the gods offer.
Morihei Ueshiba

Suspension of Practises

As you all know we have had to suspend our aikido practises. Initially this will be until the end of April, but who knows what will happen then! Most of us have just paid our membership fees, but when we resume there will be an adjustment for the time missed. Please keep checking the website, shortly John's thoughts about aikido will be here. The sayings of Sensei John!!!!!

Details of Techniques Practised - March 2020

Monday 2nd

Tsuki shihonage tenkan
Tsuki kotegaeshi
Tsuki iriminage

Wednesday 4th

Katatedori aihanmi Ikkyo irimi
Katatedori aihanmi ikkyo tenkan
Katatedori iriminage
Katatedori kotegaeshi

Monday 9th

Ryotemochi ryotedori kokyonage
Ryotemochi ryotedori tenchinage
Ryotemochi ryotedori iriminage

Wednesday 11th

Ryotemochi ryotedori kokyonage
Ryotemochi ryotedori tenchinage
Ryotemochi ryotedori iriminage
Ryotemochi ryotedori kotegaeshi

Monday 16th

Exercise - Yokomen-uchi turn irimi tenkan draw back, step offline.
Yokomen-uchi kotegaeshi irimi
Yokomen-uchi iriminage
Yokomen-uchi kokyonage.

Wednesday18th

Bokken kata

More to follow.....................hopefully!

Details of Techniques Practised - February 2020

Monday 3rd

Katatedori gyakuhanmi kokyonage
Katatedori gyakuhanmi tenchinage

Wednesday 5th

Yokomen-uchi ikkyo tenkan
Yokomen-uchi sankyo tenkan
Yokomen-uchi shihonage tenkan

Monday 10th

Morotedori kokyonage
Morotedori ikkyo irimi
Morotedori ikkyo tenkan

Wednesday 12th

Morotedori kokyonage
Morotedori kotegaeshi
Morotedori shihonage tenkan
Morotedori iriminage

Monday 17th

Shomen-uchi ikkyo irimi
Shomen-uchi ikkyo tenkan
Shomen-uchi nikkyo irmi

Wednesday 19th

Shomen-uchi ikkyo irimi
Shomen-uchi ikkyo tenkan
Shomen-uchi kotegaeshi
These were all done from an attack with a plastic bottle.

Monday 24th

Katadori men-uchi ikkyo irimi
Katadori men-uchi ikkyo tenkan

Wednesday 26th

Ushiro ryotemochi ryotedori ikkyo irimi
Ushiro ryotemochi ryotedori ikkyo tenkan
Ushiro ryotemochi ryotedori sankyo tenkan