In announcing my leaving to Saudi Arabia, I inadvertently got caught up in the ritual of leaving an Aikido fraternity. During the last class everyone would get the opportunity to throw me 10 times, any technique. This was done at the end of Friday’s class at Calgary Aikikai. Just when I thought I’d got away with it, Maciej Sensei invited me up and started the process. The warm up started with 10 shomenuchi kotegaeshi administered by Andrew Barron (Ni Dan)… nice! Then a few iriminage, kaitennage, shihonage, hanmi-handachi, kokyunage, nikyu and koshinage. My arms and wrists were now truly starting to get warmed-up!

Oscar Martinez (Shodan) then walked up with an anticipatory smile, and started his set with a couple of round-the-neck slam dunks. I’m not sure what the proper technique is called, but I’m going to find out. Was that the best he had to offer? A few painful nikyo ura pins, solid kotegaeshi slams and koshinage to finish off. Thanks Oscar!

Maciej Sensei then had the last set, but by that time I couldn’t really remember what the throws were. I do remember the last one being a very firm yonkyo pin, that I am still feeling 48 hours later.

So my advice to anyone reading this is…

DON’T TELL ANYONE YOU”RE LEAVING! :-)

There are many exercises to help with internalizing movement with the bokken. Below are a few worth practising;

Chudan Uchi-komi (no step)

Basic striking, starting from both hidari-hanmi and migi-hanmi.

Chudan Uchi-komi (with step)

Raise bokken above head to strike (stepping back at the same time), then strike with step forward.

Zengo Undo

Raise  to jodan, pivot 180 degrees, strike. Repeat to the count of two, both hidari-hanmi and migi-hanmi.

Shiho Undo #1

Strike with each step, counting to four each set. Repeat from hidari-hanmi and migi-hanmi.

Shiho Undo #2

This exercise can also be done with tsuki for each direction. Count to four each set.

Shiho Undo #3

This exercise can also be done combining chudan uchi-komi + tsuki for each direction. Count to four each set.

Mae Shikko

Strike with each step. Good exercise for developing hip strength, centre and balance.

Tenkan

Raise bokken, tenkan 180 degrees, then strike. Repeat from both hidari-hanmi and migi-hanmi.

Kiri-kaeshi (with partner)

Take turns moving forward with kiri-kaeshi strikes while Uke blocks and moves backwards with large steps.

Random techniques standing in a circle

The class forms a circle and each person takes a turn to the count of 10. This helps develop strength and endurance. Also as the body tires, you learn how to become more efficient with your technique.

Tsuki (without step)

Tsuki (with step)

Both Uke-Dachi and Uchi-Dachi raise to jodan gamae. Uchi-Dachi attacks with gedan gaeshi to the knee (Uke-Dachi blocks moving backwards, not to the side, and quickly cuts to the wrist). Uchi-Dachi pivots the hips to block the wrist cut and counters with tsuki (with step) followed by kirikaeshi right. As this strike is coming in, Uke-Dachi blocks and enters with kaiten, securing the bokken between Uchi-Dachi’s hands. He then throws with koshinage.

Both Uke-Dachi and Uchi-Dachi raise to jodan gamae. Uchi-Dachi attacks with gedan gaeshi to the knee (Uke-Dachi blocks moving backwards, not to the side, and quickly cuts to the wrist). Uchi-Dachi pivots the hips to block the wrist cut and counters with tsuki (with step). As he does so, Uke-Dachi enters with kaiten, securing the back of Uchi-Dachi’s wrist before finishing with a Kotegaeshi throw, retaining the weapon in the process.

Uke-Dachi raises to jodan gamae to strike which creates an opening. Uchi-Dachi quickly enters with tsuki to the throat but Uke-Dachi quickly blocks with a cut to the wrist (stepping back while doing so). Uke-Dachi has to step across to avoid the cut, crossing the right foot over the left in doing so. Uchi-Dachi then leans-in and cuts with kirikaeshi left (blocked). As Uchi-Dachi starts the second kirikaeshi (right cut) attack , Uke-Dachi enters with kaiten and grabs the bokken between the hands of Uchi-Dachi. He then throws with kokyunage, retaining the weapon as he does so.

Uke attacks with tsuki. Nage steps to the side and simultaneously pushes to the elbow with the leading hand and with the other hand pushes to the outside of Uke’s wrist. This has a collapsing affect on Uke’s elbow allowing an entry point for shihonage (omote).

Uke attacks from the front but tries to grab the shoulders of Nage from behind. Nage move to the side off-line bringing both knees together then steps forward with the outside leg.

Kokyu-nage

The initial movement is to the side offline with a strong step forward while bringing both hands forward and down to the mat. Nage’s face comes down very low such that his face almost touches the mat to give power to the throw.

Ikkyo/Nikyo/Sankyo etc

The initial movement is to the side offline bringing both knees together before a medium step forward with the outside leg. The step forward is less forceful than with kokyu-nage and the knee does not need to touch the mat before drawing back. This is sufficient to off-balance Uke without throwing him and is similar to the Ushiro Tekubitori techniques in the implementation of Ikkyo, Nikyo, Sankyo etc.

Uke attacks by grabbing the shoulder and striking with shomenuchi (no step).

Method 1

Nage pivots off-line on the side that is grabbed and the leading hand blends with the downward strike, rather than actually blocking it. The tenkan causes Uke to become off-balance. This is the basic movement that can then lead into ikkyo, nikyo, sankyo, shihonage, kotegaeshi, kaitennage, iriminage etc.

Method 2

If Nage has sufficient time to respond he can enter directly while Uke’s striking hand is still raising or is at its peak.