Jo Kata #2

Nothing like Mambo #5. T's really getting into the jo and bokken so she really likes Monday's classes. Her new yellow shoes beat L's boots for most arresting footgear of the night.

This evening, A.O. sensei started us off by warming up with jo kata #1. He suggested improvements and refinements to our stances based on what the kata was meant to be: quick, fluid and more true to the underlying combat skills. We started learning kata #2 in short segments partnered with someone doing the attacks and defenses that give the movements of the kata specific meaning. We got into the flow and worked so long we had to move off the grass to work under the lights.

My sore shoulder wasn't giving me nearly as much difficulty as I thought it would (*whew*). It got tired faster but didn't really hurt. T's captivating new shoes ended up hurting her feet - we really move around a lot with the jo katas - so, next time, I think she'll be wearing socks.

T.M. told us that K and S's baby was born Saturday morning (May 6) and that everyone was doing well.

More Birthday Rolls!

T. was still to sniffly/coughy to be mixing it up with everybody. We worked on quite a few variations on ushirodori. Unfortunately, my "loose" shoulder didn't get along well with some of them and it gave a little too much. Dang! Since tomorrow is S.J.'s birthday we got to throw her around the mat.

This birthday custom of ours is greeted with nervousness by newcomers and embraced by those "in the family" since we do this in such a loving, accepting way. Sensei is always aware of how tired you are and adjusts accordingly. ("Accordingly" doesn't mean letting you just sit down, though. He pushes you to find your limits... and you do!) We went out afterward for a combined birthday sushi-fest.

Birthday Rolls!

T. was "on-duty" tonight so I came alone. After K.W. warmed us up, Sensei ran us through some variations on katatetori emphasizing using the body movement that K.W.'s warm-ups inspired. (Today is K's baby's due date so he was on call). Sensei emphasized the subtler body movements to draw the uke into nage's orbit rather than the larger moves our usual taisabaki uses. Interesting and challenging. Since it was L.U.'s birthday today we thoughtfully threw her around the room!

Nidan week (plus a surprise!)

T. and I got there a little late. While we were tying our obi in the hallway V. K. sensei from Utah walked up. T. M. sensei asked him to come and help teach tonight and he agreed so he shared the class with T. M. sensei and K. M. sensei. Fun stuff but I was drenched. Missing a full class every week is taking it's toll.

Jo Waza

T. really likes working with the weapons. Now that the sun goes down late enough we can practice with weapons outdoors. We started with practicing the strikes then went into jo kata number 1. I remembered it (mostly) from last year. Fun!

Ikkyo

After warming up we worked on several styles of katatori ikkyo - some emphasizing an upward arc and some a horizontal arc. Then we tried a new (or, rather, old) style of shomenuchi ikkyo emphasizing catching and guiding the striking arm on the outside of the arm rather than stopping the strike under uke's elbow. T. got to play with sensei practicing the unbendable arm used in the shomenuchi arm-catch. We ended with some randori.

Tenchinage

T. was too tired to come to Aikido, tonight. I almost didn't go, either, but I'm glad I did (as usual). After warming up we first worked on katatetori sokomen iriminage with a tenkan entrance. Next, we worked on ryokatatetori tenchinage by breaking it down. We started with the lower hand breaking balance behind the uke, then with the upper hand snaking over uke's shoulder. The trickiest part of these techniques are the ease with which they turn into contests of strength. Because I'm a big, tall guy I have to really work hard to overcome my tendency to muscle on through techniques like this. A constant challenge!

Arrrgh!

T. had too much school work to do so I went to Aikido alone this evening. We started with warmups then went into yokomenuchi taisabaki. We quickly worked through many variations on yokomenuchi; sumi otoshi, iriminage, kokyunage, shihonage, and sokomen iriminage. We ended up concentrating on sudori, the disappearing throw. Unfortunately, when I was taking falls near the end of class a strong - but not too rough - sumi otoshi-like throw reinjured my right shoulder. My nage and I both felt it give with a mild pop and I sat out the rest of class. It doesn't hurt that bad but [sigh] I'm probably going to have to sit out a couple sessions.

Monday Evening

P. Sensei taught, this evening. We set up in the smaller front room. With only M., T. and me, the size wasn't a problem. We worked on ryotetori - grabbing both wrists - with several kokyunage variations, nikkyo, and sankyo. We also did a kind of a quick-entry shomenuchi nikkyo and sankyo that were interesting.

S.'s Nikkyu Test

We got together this morning for S.'s nikkyu test. We had nineteen people on the mat which is pretty big for a Saturday morning class. This is the fourth time I've practiced on the mat this week and my legs were squealing! We worked from taisabaki stretches right into kokyunage rolls. Fun class, good test.

...

Okay, so it was April Fools Day, too. Most people on the mat had a rubber chicken tucked into their dogis. Mine fell out in front of Sensei but he didn't say anything. It wasn't until during the test when T.M.'s chicken fell out that he said that he knew something was up when he saw mine. At the end of the test after clapping for S. we all threw the multicolored rubber chickens at her.

In our closing circle, S. presented Sensei with her April Fools joke. It was a small cake with some japanese writing on it. M. translated it as Nan de kore!" - "What's this!"