• Aikido: Essence of Posture

    Aikido, Aikido techniques 28.02.2012 No Comments

    The posture in Aikido is very important to maintain particularly when practicing the techniques of the martial art along with your uke (partner). Most of the time the students practice on the mat in a dojo (school) with a partner and the only time you’re going to practice by yourself is during warm-up session. In this case, what you need to do is to stay in good posture all the time because this is the initial stance in escaping your uke’s energy while redirecting that energy towards him.

     

    During practice when you’re about to receive an attack from your uke, it is great if you can bend a bit specifically if your partner is aggressive the same with when you make an attack. But when you finally engage, your back should be straightened. If we relate this on a day-to-day basis, having a stable state of mind is essential in dealing with emotional dilemmas or with people around us. It is a matter of presenting a stable sense that you are actually strong both in mind and body.

     

    During the training, when your uke shows an incredible amount of energy it is rightful if you meet it with similar amount of energy but keep in mind about having good posture in Aikido like bending a bit while you try to absorb their energy then straighten  up while redirecting that energy towards your partner.

     

    It is like when someone comes to you and said that he’s really upset about something and then you try to acknowledge his problem at the same time comfort him. If we relate this scenario in Aikido training, bending forward during an aggressive attack is like when you try to acknowledge the aggressive and then eventually straighten up and absorb the problem simply by the use of your counterattack technique.

    In general, the posture in Aikido can provide you enough stability in preventing your uke to get hurt during practicing the techniques of the martial art while at the same time allowing you to stay in good shape so the flow of your movement is precisely carried out naturally.

     

     

     

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  • Aikido Training with your Uke

    Aikido 23.02.2012 No Comments

    In an aikido training it is important for students to blend with the perspective of their uke (partner) so both of them can perform a specific technique correctly. Similarly, they are told by their sensei (teacher) to look on similar direction along with their uke in the middle of the technique to unify a single viewpoint.

    If we relate this on a day to day basis, sometimes conflicts may arise unexpectedly either with a family member or an officemate but instead of flaring up the conversation it is best if you try to understand the person’s perspective for a more positive resolution. Likewise, there are other people who tend to get away from their conflict and may end up unresolved.

    Moving away may not be a good idea because it will aggravate the situation and more complications will take place. Just like when doing aikido training with your uke on the mat, if physical conflict arises it should be resolve on the mat only to avoid misunderstanding. The spirit of camaraderie must prevail over vengeance either on the mat, on a workplace, or in the house.

    During the practice, students are also expected to perform more pure movements so their uke can comprehend their tactics wholly and in return they can reciprocate appropriate movements to be able to execute an aikido technique more properly. Most martial arts are doing these blending movements because simply by doing this can able to generate more accurate flow of motion.

    In aikido, getting precise execution for a certain technique may not be achievable if students will do shortcuts because these will hinder their uke in understanding an honest intention or perspective. In short, you can really connect with somebody if you only open your mind and your heart simultaneously while displaying more honest tactics.

    If you relate this again in your everyday situation, conflicts will definitely happen for people who don’t know how to blend with others. However, if there is good relationship and each individual tries to harmonize with other people positive intention will come and forth all at once.

    Thus, all individuals have their own uke both in aikido training and in real life. Understanding and honesty are necessary to obtain positive intentions and feedbacks. For students, this will help them to perform correctly the techniques while for everybody this will provide them peace and harmony in every aspect of their lives.

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  • Basic Aikido Technique: Yonkyo

    Aikido, Aikido techniques 21.02.2012 4 Comments

    The Yonkyo aikido technique, the 4th technique, is a basic pinning technique that practitioners and students of the martial art should learn and master. This is quite uncomfortable to perform because of the pain it will inflict though some may exhibit high pain tolerance still for others this technique is quite painful for them.

    The Yonkyo is seldom practiced in just one place in the aikido curriculum but can mostly be understood and easily mastered as a standing technique. In addition, this is also one of the most powerful techniques in the martial art but sadly speaking not all sensei (teachers) favored this because it doesn’t follow on the principle of aikido which is a harmonious and peaceful way of art.

    Nonetheless, the Yonkyo technique must still be learned by the practitioners and students to harness themselves from all types of aikido techniques.

    Generally, the Yonkyo aikido technique is used to block the attacker’s balance and distract him or her by the use of pain pressure.

    Execution:

    1.     Initially, the use of grip is relatively similar with a sword grip where both hands are twisted inward and the grip power comes from the little finger.

    2.   Try to snatch the opponent’s wrist similar when you grab a sword to perform the technique correctly.

    3.   Remember that when performing the yonkyo pressure use the base knuckle of your front index finger. Again, continue on your little finger grip in the opponent’s wrist to prevent from lessening the effect.

    4.   Next, the base knuckle of your index finger should press the opponent’s wrist mainly the inside flesh then turning it outwardly to the lower arm bone on the thumb side of the arm. Remember, the turning motion is the main cause of the pain and not the initial pressure done.

    5.    Moreover, when the opponent’s arm is held you need to apply pressure so both the upper and lower arm are roughly at a 90 degree angle thus, making the wrist more susceptible to the tactic.

    6.   Finally, make sure that when doing the Yonkyo technique  don’t rely on the pain you’ve inflicted to take down your opponent but instead use it to block his/her attention and balance. Once balance is broken, that’s the time you push and take down your opponent on the floor.

    To give you a bigger and clear picture on how to execute the Yonkyo aikido technique you can check the video above.

     

     

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  • Aikido Rolling Technique

    Aikido, Aikido techniques, Self Defense 18.02.2012 No Comments

    The martial art is founded on the idea of using life energy or the energy flowing within oneself to perform a blend of movements that will take down an opponent without injuring him. In short, it’s more on a defensive kind of art rather than an offensive one. In Aikido, there are various techniques which are taught to practitioners and students and one of these is the aikido rolling technique.

    Aikido practitioners should know initially on how to fall and roll appropriately and in fact, just by knowing the technique will serve as a starting point towards mastering hundreds to thousands of techniques written in the history of the martial art.

    How to Start Aikido Rolling Technique

    1. Commence in a sitting position just like an Indian sitting style. So, one of your feet should come up in the thigh while the other one come out and toes are pointed out. This position will prevent your feet being locked and stuck at times you need to defend yourself. Specifically, if someone hits or pushes you, the ability to move easily is possible with this kind of sitting.
    2. The first principle of the rolling technique is to stay in the sitting position to help you fall correctly while keeping you safe from any injury.
    3. Afterwards, you need to roll back while letting your feet come about.
    4. Extend your hands for support while keeping your cheek, neck and chin in place and lock.
    5. Try to create as many bends as possible back and forth. Keep this more softly and calm because this will help you perform the technique correctly.

    However, while doing the rolling movement can somehow put extra resistance with mild pain sensation at the back of the body.

    Overall, it is recommended to practice it in a therapeutic way rather than learning the aikido rolling technique solely to keep you from getting injuries while falling in the ground.

    To fully grasp on how to perform the technique correctly and precisely view the video above.

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  • Aikido: Various Weapons and Techniques

    Aikido, Aikido techniques, Self Defense 16.02.2012 1 Comment

    Despite the fact that this martial art is founded on the main philosophy of Morihei Ueshiba (founder) which is the essence of unarmed combat, he still sees the need of being skillful in using various Aikido weapons and techniques as a form of self defense.

    Generally, majority of the techniques with or without using weapons are incorporated with movements that are more defensive rather than offensive. In fact, all students are being taught about stopping the attacker solely rather than injuring him. This is the main reason on why weapons are rarely utilized in the martial art. However, there are advanced Aikido practitioners who still opt for understanding and mastering the craft in using all types of Aikido weapons.

    However, the greatest weapon most practitioners used in defending themselves against an attacker is merely their mastery on the Aikido defensive techniques.

    To get in touch with several weapons used in the martial art along with various techniques used in handling them are described below.

    1. Tanto Or Short Sword

    The Tanto is one of the most favored weapons by the samurais since it’s extremely useful in close quarter combat particularly in daggering through an opponent’s armor and it’s considered as a secondary weapon which samurais carry most of the time.

    1. Jo Staff

    The Jo Staff is considered as a Japanese wooden staff made from hardwood. This can be utilized in kata or along with other Jo and somehow has historical linkage from the famous Katana. Moreover, Jo Staffs are mainly used by a lot of martial artists because these are designed with simplicity and sophistication. In fact, Ueshiba had tailored the Jo (so-called Aikijo) just to teach all the Aikido principles to his disciples.

    1. Bokken Sword

    Finally, the bokken sword mastery can lead most practitioners towards katana mastery as well. This is quite a pricey Japanese wooden sword which is use as an alternative from a real sword in most martial arts training curriculums such as Kenjutsu, Kendo, and our very own Aikido.

    Likewise, a bokken sword closely resembles a katana but sometimes can be like other swords such as tanto or wakizashi.

    These are a few of the most popular Aikido weapons to date but there are in fact, a lot more to know about all the weapons used in this martial art so better research more on this matter to fully equipped yourself with all the needed information you wish to know.

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  • Intermediate Aikido Technique: Munetsuki

    Aikido, Aikido techniques, Self Defense 14.02.2012 6 Comments

    In Aikido martial arts, students are taught with various intermediate techniques for striking an opponent or attacker. These are used as a mere self defense only since the martial art is all about using unifying life energy to defend yourself while avoiding your attacker from getting injured. Munetsuki Kotegaishi is one of those intermediate striking techniques that should be learned by any student or practitioner.

    The technique is simply known as a straight body punch and anyone can do the punching but the most common error for most aikido practitioners is that they don’t know much on how to strike soundly. You can see that a lot of practitioners in this martial art only use Munetsuki as a simple punch in hitting the opponent which is in fact, not a very good strategy if you based it on a real fighting situation.

    During a real fight, when the attacker pushes you back and you need to hit your attacker simply by using the ordinary punch, your opponent might laugh at you instead. So in this case, when your attacker pushes you back you need to hit him in return with an extraordinary punch immediately. However, during an intermediate aikido striking, begin with the basic stance which is stepping and punching but not purely punching only but rather punching right through the person with force and afterwards perform various forms of punches such as upward punches, hook punches, upper cut punches so on and forth.

    Remember that Munetsuki in aikidois simply performed by striking or hitting the center part of the abdomen. In doing the technique, it is crucial that you know how and where to hit the attacker to cause the maximum blow. If you’re going to hit your opponent in the middle section, hit the pressure point found primarily below the nipple line on the rib cage. Likewise, another pressure point perfect for striking is found below the xiphoid process.

    Finally, students in the aikido martial arts are taught by the instructors with three good body sections or pressure points to perform effectively the Munetsuki striking technique particularly in times where you need to defend yourself against the attacker.

     

     

     

     

     

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  • Aikido Technique: Shomenuchi Ikkyo

    Aikido, Aikido techniques 12.02.2012 1 Comment

    Shomenuchi Ikkyo is one of the basic techniques taught in Aikido martial arts. Formerly, it is called IKKAJO and generally used in Yoshinkan Aikido and Daito-Ryu Aikijujutsu.

    When an Ikkyo technique is utilized, the attacker tends to get unbalance while applying pressure on the shoulder and elbow simultaneously while his arm is extended and followed by a pinning attack wherein it immobilizes the attacker’s arm at 45 degrees angle towards his body along with the pressure applied to the elbow and wrist.

    Basically, the Ikkyo is a defense Aikido technique used against an over-head arm strike to your head. However, the students are taught ideally to hit the collar bone instead of striking the frontal head of the attacker.

    Moreover, the Shomenuchi Ikkyo technique can be executed in two ways. Firstly, when your attacker is fast approaching and comes about attacking you while using his right arm turn down his attack towards the ride side and when he hit you with his left hand then turn down his attack towards the left side. Afterwards, take the “L” of the arm pass him while elbow on top of his face and then intervene the attack simply by dropping him down on the floor at the same time immobilizing him by using a pinning movement.

    The other execution is the use of tenkon. When your attacker comes up over you, move behind him, drop him down and use a pinning movement.

    If these are executed during an Aikido training, just wait for your opponent to tap the floor which signifies that you control him during the practice.

     

    Finally, keep in mind that Shomenuchi Ikkyo is an essential basic technique in Aikido that you need to develop and master for over time. There are other techniques that you need to learn but Ikkyo is one of the foundations of the martial art that should be learned and carried out rightfully.

    To help you more on how to execute properly the Ikkyo technique checkout this video above.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

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  • Aikido Martial Arts in ITP Curriculum

    Aikido 08.02.2012 No Comments

    The Institute of Transpersonal Psychology or so-called ITP curriculum is founded by Dr. Robert Frager in early 1975. The curriculum mainly centers on the idea of developing a balance in the whole being of a person and this includes the idea between work & physical disciplines and work & intellectual discipline. Aikido in ITP curriculum is one of the most successful mainstay practices/disciplines of the program because the founder had her own background about this martial art.

    However, ITP curriculum also tried other body disciplines such as yoga and tai-chi as well.

    Why Aikido in ITP curriculum is considered as one of its core disciplines?

    According to Dr. Frager, there are a lot of reasons on why Aikido had stayed with their curriculum. For one, the founder of the martial art is so profound that even the discipline itself teaches about philosophical and spiritual commitment between oneself and with other people.

    However, Aikido martial arts mainly centers on helping you to become a better a person. It focuses on teaching you on how to control your inner energy to allow it to flow freely towards your entire body. This energy (the power of “Ki”) allows you to become more confident, righteous and energetic to face all mundane issues in your daily life.

    It’s like if you’re in a bigger picture of the world, the goal of Aikido is mainly to create a peaceful world where it’s free from any violence.

    Another reason is the discipline itself, the martial teaches about centering. Another aim of Aikido is to help us learn how to maintain our balance whenever we are faced with pressures and stresses in various aspects our lives.

    Hence, with Aikido in our curriculum all members will learn both the martial art and the transpersonal notions and disciplines where all aspects of yourself are being balanced.

    Balance in all Aspects of life:

    With Aikido in ITP curriculum, both the curriculum and the martial arts greatly help most individuals in balancing all aspects in their lives may it be physically, emotionally, spiritually, psychologically or mentally. When you are profoundly centered, profoundly balance in any area of your life, most likely you’ll become balance across the board.

    Summary:

    According to Dr. Frager, most of their students said that with Aikido in ITP curriculum they are able to maintain their core particularly in those times where there are difficult challenges in their lives either in personal or professional instances. Hence, practicing the martial art while in the ITP curriculum can surely make an individual to become a better person and you must also remember that all good things start within yourself.

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  • An Aikido Exercise: Funakogi Undo

    Aikido 07.02.2012 No Comments

    A Funakogi undo is a form of Aikido exercise that teaches both students and practitioners in maximizing their hip strength which they can use in putting down an attacker.

    Well, following a lot of learning from a number of Aikido exercises and a lot of turns, it is also your precedence to understand that using your hips in the martial art is also crucial. If you’re a dedicated practitioner or student, you should know that the Aikido curriculum is mostly based on hip movements where every move is redirected from your focal point and neither from your arms, shoulders nor your legs. However, keep in mind that everything of your movements should be from your center and in concurrence with both of your mind and body. Thus, to be able to bring everything from your center maintaining peace and harmony both mentally and physically will help you all the way to the exercises and trainings.

    Moreover, the exercise, Funakogi undo, is one of the awkward looking exercises that was ever done in the martial art though in a positive way. A lot of practitioners or students don’t really care about this type of exercise because this will surely put them in an uncomfortable situation. In fact, if you’re a student right now you will have some second thoughts on doing this in market place or will not going to do it on a dancing ground.

    How it Works?

    For this exercise, start with your right foot forward while your both hands are in your hips where your hips comes forward but not that far to the point of not seeing your toes.

    If you bend too much in which you can’t see your toe, you will get imbalance. So, don’t over-extend your hips and rather forward your hips in moderation. When you are in position, show your hand right in front of you by moving it horizontally while allowing your hips to go back then your hands come down straight afterwards.

    A few Errors on Execution:

    1. Some practitioners or students tend to forward too much particularly for the hips.
    2. When pulling back the hips, some Aikido practitioners or students allow their hands to remain on the same position in front and not keeping it down thereby, permitting an impression that you’re actually pulling and not digging. The right position of your hands should come out forward then dig down and up repetitively.
    1. Another error is allowing the exercise to look like you’re actually doing a Hula dance. Always remember that an Aikido curriculum is a serious one and not a hula dance routine.

    The need to know Funakogi undo is exceedingly important since most trainings are based on the hip movements and this will help you in putting down your attacker.

     

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  • Aikido along with other Philosophies and Disciplines

    Aikido 06.02.2012 No Comments

    Martial arts like Jiu-jitsu, Ken Jitsu, and Aikido are centuries-old practices which were actually considered as fighting arts for the purpose of life preservation. They finally surfaced in an era where there was great emergence of religious philosophies such as Shintoism, Buddhism, and Taoism. The individual’s trainings were founded in its logical notion of soul and self limiting against anger.

    In its broader concept, most disciplines including the Aikido don’t necessarily teach the students for cutting their opponents into pieces but instead teach about cutting right through their ego of frustration, annoyance and anger.

    Moreover, during this period it provided an opportunity for the martial art to underwent certain changes in its names from aikijutsu to jiu-jitsu; kenjetsu and finally to Aikido, Kendo and Judo which plainly means “the way off”.

    In the early 20th century, most of the fundamentals of the said martial art is rooted and created by the great sensei, Morei Oshiba.

    Why there are a lot of styles for Aikido martial arts today? Well, it’s actually plain simple because as the years passed by the great sensei’s styles have changed gradually and he had few students who later on ventured on other areas of the world and started to educate other people about various techniques where in fact, exhibit uniqueness for each student sensei.

    However, what remained as a standard foundation of the martial art is the usage of “Ki” or the universal energy wherein it guards the peace and unity around the universe and eventually brings development in every possible life here on earth. Hence, the sole principle for Aikido martial arts is to promote the energy and love within ourselves to allow us to connect with the universal power and in the end into the universal life.

    In addition, if you’re serious about pursuing the Aikido martial arts you need to unify your mind and body since basically the discipline is more on physical and mental conditioning. For first timers, students are taught about proper meditation since it allows them to use their sufficient inner energy to be able to carry out properly all techniques.

    Finally, Aikido isn’t about barely strengthening physical strength but it’s about strengthening both mind and body to generate a more powerful energy which is used positively rather than used in violence. Hence, this is the very foundation for most disciplines today which are rooted from centuries-old philosophies.

     

     

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