Katatori Attacks

Before class, Sensei had me help a new student get familiar with sitting seiza and working on kohotento undo and another student asked me to help him get ready for his rokkyu test. Most of our new students were back, too, so we had another large class (21, I think). After warming up we worked on katatori responses, first yielding then parrying then responding with ikkyo. We also worked on katatori iriminage and ended class with kokyu doza and misogi breathing.

Weight: 303

Sensei's Back

T. and I went to Aikido tonight and had fun. It was about the largest class I've seen in our dojo. There were 24 people on the mat. We have a lot of new people and, in my opinion, one of Sensei's strengths is being able to teach one technique in such a way that anyone can learn it at their current level. We did some more ki testing and some of the techniques that naturally flow from them. We did katatetori sokomen iriminage among other things.

My wrist acted up a bit but not as much as last week.

Wrist Pain

T. went to her YAMS group tonight to make connections there. She'll be coming to Aikido on Monday and Tuesdays for the summer, at least.

I got to class a bit early to stretch out. I'm a bit stiff from Tuesday (no surprise, there, after almost two months off!). Only one of the older male beginners came back but the two young women (sisters from Scotland) came and brought a friend of theirs from Germany. After warming up and rolling we worked on katatecosadori ikkyo, katatecosadori tenkan kokyunage, katatecosadori sokomen iriminage and other variations. My left wrist, which has been bugging be for a couple weeks (feels like a bit of tendonitis) and it got so I couldn't hold on during the grab as uke. Especially painful was putting my palm on the floor when doing or recovering from ukemi. I had to use the knuckles of my fist to push up with.

I wore out a little earlier tonight because the class was a bit more vigorous than Tuesday.

Beginner Night

T. and I came back after a far-too-long absence for sickness, vacation and, well, laziness. It was the first day of the summer session and as T. and I came up to the desk to register there were two young women registering and a young man who'd just finished and was putting on a dogi. T. helped him with his belt. We had at least five new attendees.

A.O. sensei taught tonight. After stretching and kohotento undo, we did rolls to give the new people practice. We worked on sumi otoshi for rolling practice (forward and back) then worked on ikkyo. Next, we worked on katatecosadori kokyunage and katatecosadori kotegaeshi. We finished with some ki exercises.

My left wrist has been bugging me for a couple weeks. I must have tweaked it because I can't bend it forward or back and kotegaeshi is right out.

Weight: 305

Munetsuki

We worked with munetsuki with an ikkyo response. It lead into quite a few things: ikkyo ura, sumi otoshi, sankyo, kaiten nage, iriminage, ikkyo/nikkyo/sankyo combination, etc. The last thing we worked on was a direct nikkyo but nage slides one hand down, takes uke's thumb and reverses it under uke's arm into a standing pin. (One of T's favorites.)

I tired out a bit (after a month off it's not surprising!) and I felt some spasms in my lower back. I did some stretches that Sensei suggested and was able to finish the class.

Private Lesson

I've mostly recovered from the cough that's kept me from practicing for over a month. I am way out of shape. T.G. showed up to teach and I showed up to learn. We worked on jo kata #1, kumijo 1 and 2, and bokken kata #1.

Weight: 302

Oyowaza!

T. and I went to aikido tonight even though it was pretty warm. Yea, us! After warming up (more!) we started with katatetori tai sabaki leading to shihonage. From that starting point we did oyowaza variations to a lot of different throws. Didn't overheat. Did okay on the randori at the end.

Weight: 307 (after sweating!)

Back to Weapons Class

T. and I went to weapons class, tonight. We worked on some of the exercises that M.L. picked up at the seminar this weekend. They consisted of paired kumi jo where both people do the same moves. We had a good time although getting into that left side hasso no kamai was a bear!

Birthday Randori for S.J.

My ankle felt fine this evening. T. stayed home, ostensibly to do schoolwork. After warming up, we worked on tai sabaki - initial body movement in response to an attack - following each one with a technique. We worked on tai sabaki for katatetori, munetsuki, ushiro katatori, ushiro tekubitori, yokomenuchi and shomenuchi. The responses ranged throughout the repertoire; ikkyo, nikkyo, sankyo, iriminage, kokyunage, sokomen iriminage, kotegaeshi, etc.

I got pretty tired but managed to put in a small randori at the end. S.J. had two or three randori sessions for her birthday. She's also getting ready for her ikkyu test.

Weight: 304

Dang Ankle!

T. went tonight, again. Woo hoo! My ankle hurt a bit this afternoon and it flared up in class so I had to sit out a lot tonight. We were doing munetsuki and tantodori variations like iriminage, kokyunage, ikkyo nage, katame nage, and sumi otoshi. I got to do a randori which went pretty well considering my sore ankle.

Weight: 307