Munetsuki Variations

After warming up we did the munetsuki tai sabaki then into several techniques including munetsuki iriminage, munetsuki sumi otoshi, and munetsuki katame nage (pinning throw).

Weight: 302

Building Up to Randori

After warming up, we started with the tenkan and irimi ura versions of the katatetori taisabaki then progressed to doing them in motion. Working in teams of three or four in lanes we started approaching randori. For the last 20 minutes, we had three lanes of nages doing 3-uke mini-randori. I ran out of steam a little. I also had to get a band-aid for my little toe. I got a blister in last night's weapons class and it broke open with all the mat-work.

Weight: 304

Jo!

My first weapons class in weeks! We worked mostly with the jo - suburi, jo kata 1 and 2, the first three kumi-jo, and various other coordination exercises - and ended with bokken suburi.

Munetsuki Variations

We worked on munetsuki iriminage and munetsuki sokomen iriminage, tonight. We had quite a few new people this week: Fresh meat! (And I mean that in the friendliest possible way.) Several people we haven't seen for a month were back tonight, too, so that was good. I was really flagging but I pushed myself hard (within reason, of course) and, except for a couple sips of water, didn't really sit out any techniques tonight.

Weight: 300

Pooped!

I was dragging before warm-ups were over! I stayed with it, though, and didn't sit down very much. We worked on iriminage and sumi otoshi. Timing.

Confluence and Blending

We worked with ryokatatetori - grabbing both wrists - kokyunage and some henkawaza tonight.

Katatetori Variations

We worked through some basics, tonight, with our new crop of students (some with experience, some without). We used the tenkan entrance to a katatetori attack into ikkyo, iriminage, kaitennage, nikkyo, sankyo, even gokkyo.

Weight: 301

Basics and Birthday Rolls

We worked on katatekosadori variations, tonight. I don't know if it was the lack of practice because I was sick or the new BP meds that made me woozy but I had to sit down too often. K.S., visiting nidan, took her birthday rolls with us, tonight.

Weight: 300

New Session

We had a full mat tonight with lots of newcomers. We worked on extending ki and some simple techniques based on that. It felt good to be back on the mat.

Weight: 300

Guest Speaker

I worked late, arrived late, started late. We worked on katatetori kokyunage until 7:30 then sensei introduced a friend that teaches the Alexander Technique. He walked us through the basis of A. T. and some exercises to help us feel it. It's hard to describe but it was interesting. Very compatible with Aikido, the way I see it.

Weight: 304