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Showing posts from July, 2022

Balbriggan Dojo. 31 July 2022

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Today was a formal Good-Bye training for Francesco, our assistant instructor. In fact, he is still with us for a few weeks, but today was the best day for a party. We covered the techniques as follows: Tai Jutsu Tai no Henko Tai no Henko Ki no Nagare Morotedori Kokyunage Katatedori Kotegaeshi Kosadori Kotegaeshi 1 Kosadori Kotegaeshi 2 Bukiwaza Shiboru Undo Shiboru Undo Tanren After the training, we drank a couple pints in one pub, but it was no food there. So we relocated to another one where we could order some food. At the very end, we went to the beach where Francesco enjoyed the Sayonara Nikyo.  #aikido #aikidodublin #aikidoireland #nikyo #sayonaranikyo #todaypractice #takemusuaikidofingal

Low Tide Aikido. 30 July 2022

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Today we tried to practice in Balbriggan with weapons, but the rain started as soon we began. As a result, we covered only very few techniques: Shiboru Undo Suburi 1 Suburi 2 Suburi 3 Suburi 4 Suburi 5 Suburi 6 Suburi 7

Outdoor Practice. 26 July 2022

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Finally, we gathered again in Ringsend park to practise bukiwaza.  This time we focused on the exercises I learned in Iwama: Shiho-Nana Tobungiri and 9 Ken Awase from Inagaki sensei's curriculum.  

Ringsend Dojo. 26 July 2022

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Today in the Ringsend dojo we focused on the suwari waza and ryotedori techniques: Tai-Jutsu: Tai no Henko Tai no Henko Ki no Nagare Morotedori Kokyuho Suwari Waza Ikkyo Omote Shikko Suwari Waza Ikkyo Ura* Suwari Waza Nikyo Omote* Suwari Waza Nikyo Ura* Ryotedori Tenchinage Omote Ryotedori Tenchinage Ura Ruotedori Shihonage Omote Zagi Kokyuho Bukiwaza Shiboru Undo Migi & Hidari Hanmi Suburi 1 Migi & Hidari Hanmi Migi Awase

Uchideshi Notes. Day 4. Tsukuba.

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This day was very important because Nemoto sensei adjusted his teaching schedule in Tsukuba Shurenkai to allow me to meet him. I greatly appreciate that he was so kind to think about me. Since Nemoto sensei got a stroke several years ago, he teaches only once a month at each location where his groups practise. So it was a big gesture from his side to demonstrate his favour and affection. Some people from other dojos also came to see me and Nemoto sensei. Some people such as Komeda san and Megumi san were expected to come, but some others made a big surprise by coming. I never expected that Sakatani sensei, leader of Tsuchiura-Tsukuba Aikikai, would come to meet me. I also did not expect to see Miura san, the father of Megumi san and one of the instructors of Tsuchiura-Tsukuba Aikikai. I greatly respect these people and appreciate that they found time to travel the long distance to meet me. Other people came with unhealed injuries for the same reason. I do not know how to repay all of t

Balbriggan Dojo. 24 July 2022

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Today R. came to us after almost a year-long break. It was great practice with a great person. Hopefully, he will train with us more often because his skills and sizes will help to keep every member of our dojo in shape.  Tai-Jutsu: Tai no Henko Tai no Henko Ki no Nagare Morotedori Kokyuho Morotedori Ikkyo Omote Morotedory Nikyo Ura Morotedori Kotegaeshi Ue kara Shita Zagi Kokyuho Bukiwaza Shibori Undo Shibori Undo Tanren

Low Tide Aikido. 23 July 2022

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 Today again we practised in Balbriggan. But today afternoon the water was high, so we were at the football pitch with a picturesque view on the sea. Techniques covered: Shibori Undo Suburi 1 Suburi 2 Suburi 3 Suburi 4 Suburi 5 Suburi 6 Suburi 7 Shihogiri (Suburi 1) Migi Hanmi Shihogiri (Suburi 1) Hidari Hanmi Happogiri (Suburi 1) Migi Hanmi Happogiri (Suburi 1) Hidari Hanmi Shihogiri (Suburi 3) Shiho-Nana Tobungiri Migi Awase Hidari Awase Suburi 1

Low Tide Aikido. 16 July 2022

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 After a long break, we continued to practise Aikido on the Balbriggan beach. We did sword exercises: Shibori Undo Shibori Undo with step Shibori Undo Tanren Uchi Shibori Undo Tanren Uchi walking Suburi 1 Suburi 2 Suburi 3 Suburi 4 Suburi 5 Suburi 6 Suburi 7 Zengogiri Shihogiri

Uchideshi notes. Day 3. Tsukuba

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On the third day in Japan, I visited Tsukuba Shurenkai, the dojo where I practised four years before coming to Ireland. Everybody was very excited to see me, especially O. san who literally jumped on me and hugged me. Everybody was very interested to know as much as possible about our dojo and students. Special interest was in F., whose teacher was in close touch with Saito sensei and Nemoto sensei, and Y., who does all his best to learn a slightly different Aikido style. So I gave the best introduction I could.  Techniques covered today: Tai jutsu: Tai no Henko Tai no Henko Ki no Nagare Mororedori Kokyuho Mororedori Ikkyo omote Mororedori Ikkyo ura Mororedori Nikyo Ura Mororedori Nikyo Ura Ku no Nagare Mororedori Iriminage Mororedori Iriminage Ki no Nagare Shita kara Ue Mororedori Iriminage Ki no Nagare Ue kara Shita Zagi Kokyuho Bukiwaza: 13 no Jo awase 1-3 Ki no Nagare 4-6 Ki no Nagare 7-9 Ki no Nagare 10-13 Ki no Nagare 1-13 Ki no Nagare

Ringsend Dojo. 19 July 2022

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Today in the Ringsend dojo we focused on the nikyo techniques: Tai Jutsu Tai no Henko Tai no Henko Ki no Nagare Morotedori Kokyuho Katatedori Nikyo Ura Shomen Uchi Nikyo Ura Zagi Kokyuho Shikko  Bukiwaza Shiboru Undo Suburi 1 Shihogiri Happogiri

Balbriggan Dojo. 17 July 2022

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It was the first practice in the Balbriggan Dojo after Raman returned from Japan. A newcomer joined our dojo, so we did a lot of basic exercises: Tai Jutsu Tai Sabaki Migi Hanmi Hidari Hanmi Irimi Tenkan Irimi-Tenkan Uchi Kata  Ukemi kata Mae Ukemi Soto Ukemi Ushiro Ukemi Tai no Henko Tai no Henko Ki no Nagare Katatedori Kokyuho Katatedori Ikkyo Omote Zagi Kokyuho Bukiwaza Shuboru Undo Migi and Hidari Tanren Shuboru Undo From now on we will do Shiboru Undo exercises every time as they do not require high ceilings. 

Uchideshi Notes. Day 2. Tokyo

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Despite the slight jetlag, I woke up at 5 am to be in time for early morning practice in Hombu Dojo. Commonly, the Friday morning class is led by Dojo-cho (Waka sensei, Mitsuteru Ueshiba, grandson of O-Sensei), but for some reason, Doshu himself took over the class. Usually, he recognised my face and indicated it during the practice, but not this time. Maybe because I did not appear in his classes for more than two years, or maybe he did not recognise me in the mask. As usual, Doshu demonstrated kihon techniques, this time from the ryokatatedori attack. And as always, his class was very energetic and dynamic. This morning I understood that proper heat came to Japan as I began to die of suffocation as soon I made the first move. I immediately developed the life-saving skill of taking the mask off the face during ukemi and momentarily putting it back while standing up. I was so exhausted after Doshu’s class that I really doubted if I needed to attend the next class. I had a long arguing

Uchideshi notes. Day 1. Tokyo

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After I knew that quarantine is no longer necessary for fully-vaccinated people with negative PCR tests, I decided it was time to go to Japan to get a fresh “Aikido-air” from the first hands. My flight was rescheduled and rerouted due to the war in Ukraine, but we arrived in Narita in time. Japan was still closed to tourists, so Narita was terrifyingly empty. It was more staff than passengers, but it was the swiftest passing through all customs and security I have ever experienced in Japanese airports. I left my staff in the hotel, ate lunch, and headed to Hombu Dojo, where Fujimaki sensei led afternoon practice at 3 pm. Previously I met him in Iwama in Ibaraki Branch Dojo, so I was happy to see him again. Poster of Aikido Hombu Dojo at Wakamatsu-Kawada station Unfortunately Japanese are still very concerned about COVID, so they were practising wearing masks. Luckily Fujimaki sensei almost immediately put his mask on the chin, so most students did the same. Nevertheless, it was swelter

Ringsend Dojo. 12 July 2022

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Our instructor Raman Bekarevich returned from Japan with new thoughts and ideas. Yesterday in the Ringsend dojo we discussed the purpose of the Aikido practice and then covered the techniques as follows: Tai-Jutsu - Tai no Henko - Tai no Henko Ki no Nagare - Mororedori Kokyuho - Mororedori Kokyunage - Mororedori Kotegaeshi Bukiwaza - Shiboru Undo Migi & Hidari

Balbriggan Dojo. 10 July 2022

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  F.B. took the lead the last time before Raman came back from Japan: Ukemi Mae & Ushiro Tai no Henko Tai no Henko Ki no Nagare Katatedori Ikkyo Omote & Ura (Irimi & Irimi-Tenkan) Zagi Kokyuho

Ringsend Dojo. 5 July 2022

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F.B. leads again. The first practice of the month means the weapons only.  Jo Suburi Tsuki no Bu Men Uchi no Bu Katate no Bu Hasso no Bu Nagare no Bu 13 Jo Kata Jo Awase

Balbriggan Dojo. 3 July 2022

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 F.B. took the lead again: Ukemi Mae & Ushiro Tai no Henko Tai no Henko Ki no Nagare Katatedori Ikkyo Omote & Ura (Irimi & Irimi-Tenkan) Zagi Kokyuho

Ringsend Dojo. 28 June 2022

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Raman is still in Japan. F.B. leads the class again. Tai Jutsu: Tai no Henko Tai no Henko Ki no Nagare Morotedori Kokyuho Ushiro Ryotedori Ikkyo Omote & Ura Ushiro Ryotedori Nikyo Omote & Ura Ushiro Ryotedori Sankyo Omote & Ura Ushiro Ryotedori Yonkyo Omote & Ura Ushiro Katadori Sankyo Omote & Ura Bukiwaza Suburi 1 - 7 Happogiri

Balbriggan Dojo. 26 June 2022

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This time F.B. took a lead as Raman went to Japan to stay there as uchi-deshi in the Iwama dojo. Tai no Henko Tai no Henko Ki no Nagare Morotedori Kokyuho Katatedori Kotegaeshi Katatedori Shihonage Ukemi drill: Mae Ukemi, Ura Ukemi Zagi Kokyuho