Takemusu Aikido Society

This Monday at Ringsend Dojo, we had two great sessions—starting with our kids' class, followed by the regular adult class. Both groups worked on foundational techniques, building up their strength, coordination, and understanding of Aikido. Kid's class started with w arming up and core strength exercises  to prepare the body. We then moved into basic Aikido techniques, where the kids practised: Tai no Henko  for learning proper alignment and turning. Katatedori Kokyuho  to focus on posture and breathing power. Zagi Shomen Uchi Ikkyo   Katatedori Ikkyo , honing their control and balance. Zagi Kokyuho , reinforcing the importance of stability and connection. In the adult class, we welcomed two newcomers and focused on the basics to ensure they got a solid foundation. The techniques practised were: Tai no Henko and Tai no Henko Irimi : Fundamental turning movements to harmonise with an opponent’s energy. Katatedori Kokyuho : Continuing to develop posture and breath co...

Today’s class at Balbriggan Dojo concentrated on Osae Waza, or pinning techniques, which are a key part of Aikido’s approach to controlling an opponent. We focused on both standing and seated variations, helping practitioners refine their techniques and gain a deeper understanding of body control. Tai no Henko Tai no Henko Ki no Nagare Morotedori Kokyuho Zagi Shomen Uchi Ikkyo Omote: A seated version of the first control technique, emphasizing smooth hip movement and body control. Shomen Uchi Sankyo Omote Kihon: A focus on the basic form of the third control technique, applied from an overhead strike. Shomen Uchi Sankyo Henka (Uchi Mawari entrance): A variation of the third control technique involving the entrance under the attacker's arm with simultaneous wrist control.  Zagi Kokyuho  Our classes at Balbriggan Dojo offer a great opportunity to dive deeper into Aikido’s techniques. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced practitioner, you’ll find something to cha...

Two weeks ago, on 7th-8th September 2024, Takemusu Aikido Society had the honour of hosting a special Aikido Seminar led by Jöran Fagerlund Sensei, 6th dan Aikido Aikikai. With over forty years of experience, Jöran Sensei’s expertise is well-regarded across the international Aikido community. He has trained under some of the most respected figures, including Ulf Evenås Shihan and the legendary Morihiro Saito Shihan. The seminar attracted Aikidoka from England, Sweden, and various parts of Ireland, including Dublin and Limerick. Despite a modest number of participants, each attendee received highly personalised instructions, ensuring a deep and enriching experience, which made this seminar truly special. The seminar began with an Aiki-ken session, where we worked on Suburi and Ken no Awase, guided by Jöran Sensei’s detailed instructions. His focus on the finer points of technique helped clarify fundamental movements, adding new layers of understanding for all attendees. We then transiti...

Today’s session at Ringsend Dojo centered around Aiki-ken, as we continued to develop our sword techniques and refine our movements. Practising with the bokken is an integral part of Aikido, helping to enhance focus, timing, and precision. Techniques Covered: Suburi 1–7 : These fundamental cutting exercises teach body alignment and fluidity, building a solid foundation for more advanced movements. Migi Awase : Paired work on practising the first suburi by moving to the right, focusing on connection and timing with your partner. Hidari Awase : Paired work on practising the first suburi by moving to the left. These exercises not only improve our sword handling but also reinforce the core principles of Aikido—harmony, balance, and timing. Join Us Aiki-ken is a great way to deepen your understanding of Aikido and improve overall coordination. If you’d like to experience it for yourself, join our classes at Ringsend Dojo. We welcome new members at all levels! For more information, visit www...

We had a great week start with the kids' and regular classes at Ringsend Dojo! Kids' Class: Building Strength and Basics We started the session with the children, focusing on building core strength and fundamental movements through: Warming up and core strength exercises to prepare the body. Kokyu-Undo and Funekogi Undo , helping develop breath power and core coordination. We then moved into basic Aikido techniques, where the kids practised: Tai no Henko for learning proper alignment and turning. Katatedori Kokyuho to focus on posture and breathing power. Zagi Shomen Uchi Ikkyo and Kosadori Ikkyo , honing their control and balance. The class ended with Zagi Kokyuho , reinforcing the importance of stability and connection. Adult Class: Exploring Deeper Techniques The main class for adults continued to build on core principles, with a focus on essential techniques: Tai no Henko and Morotedori Kokyuho to emphasize connection and body alignment. Kosadori Ikkyo (Omote & ...

Today in Balbriggan Dojo we continued to study Osae waza techniques. This time we focused on Kosadori attacks: Tai no Henko Tai no Henko Ki no Nagare Morotedori Kokyuho Kosadori Ikkyo Omote & Ura Kosadori Nikyo Ura Kosadori Sankyo Omote Zagi Kokyuho #aikido #todaypractice #aikidodublin #aikidoireland #iwamaaikido #iwama #aikidoaikikai #takemusuaiki #ourpractice #aikidofingal #aikidobalbriggan #balbriggan #takemusuaikidosociety #outdoorpractice #bukiwaza #aikien www.aiki.ie

Today’s class at Ringsend Dojo was dedicated to Aiki-ken practice, an essential part of Aikido that teaches precision, timing, and control through sword movements. Focusing on the fundamentals, we worked through a series of exercises that helped develop fluidity and coordination. We began the session with Suburi exercises, which are the basics of sword movements. These repetitive drills help refine our cutting techniques and body alignment: Suburi 1–7 : We worked through these seven fundamental cutting forms, ensuring precise posture and movement in each. After that, we moved into Awase , practising partner-based movements to build harmony and connection: Migi Awase : Right-side cut. Hidari Awase : Left-side cut. Go no Awase : Partner practice based on the fifth suburi. Shichi no Awase : Partner practice based on the seventh suburi. To close out the session, we practised Shihogiri and Happogiri , which are advanced cutting drills that test our ability to move fluidly in multiple dire...

We kicked off the week at Ringsend Dojo with two engaging sessions – a lively children’s class followed by a focused adult class. It’s always rewarding to see progress across both age groups as we continue to explore and deepen our understanding of Aikido. Children's Class: Building Skills and Confidence The kids group started off with great energy, as they worked on basic movements, coordination, and building their confidence. The children are developing strong foundations, and it's inspiring to see their growth each week. Adult Class: Exploring Key Techniques Following the children's session, the adult class delved into a series of essential Aikido techniques. The focus of the day was on the Osae Waza techniques: Tai no Henko: Practicing turning movements to develop proper body alignment and partner connection. Tai no Henko Ki no Nagare: Adding continuous energy and flow to Tai no Henko. Morotedori Kokyuho: Working on posture and breath, integrating Kokyu (breath power) ...

Today in Balbriggan Dojo we focused on Osae Waza techniqeus: Tai no Henko Tai no Henko Ki no Nagare Morotedori Kokyuho Morotedori Ikkyo Omote Morotedori Ikkyo Ura Morotedori Nikyu  Morotedori Sankyo Omote Zagi Kokyuho #aikido #todaypractice #aikidodublin #aikidoireland #iwamaaikido #iwama #aikidoaikikai #takemusuaiki #ourpractice #aikidofingal #aikidobalbriggan #balbriggan #takemusuaikidosociety #outdoorpractice #bukiwaza #aikien www.aiki.ie

Today was a special day at Ringsend Dojo, as we not only held our first Wednesday class but also welcomed a new member to our Aikido family! It's always exciting to see new faces join the dojo, and we look forward to seeing them grow in their practice. Today we focused on the basics of Aiki-ken, which is the foundation of all Aikido. Our session centered around the basics of Aiki-ken, the foundation of all Aikido. Aiki-ken helps build precision, balance, and control, all of which are key elements of the art. Here’s what we worked on: Ken no Kamae Migi & Hidari: Basic Aiki-Ken stance in both right and left positions. Shiboru Undo Migi & Hidari: Squeezing exercise, the movement included in every swing of Aiki-Ken. Shiboru Undo Irimi Migi & Hidari:  Combining the squeezing motion with forward stepping. Suburi 1 Suburi 2 Suburi 3 Suburi 4 Suburi 5 Suburi 6 Suburi 7 Zengogiri:  Cutting forward and backward. Shihogiri Migi & Hidari:  Cutting in four ...

At Ringsend Dojo, we strive to build both skill and understanding with each class.  Our children's class today was full of enthusiasm and curiosity. The young aikidokas are progressing steadily, learning the fundamentals of balance, coordination, and respect on the tatami. It’s always inspiring to see their confidence grow as they develop their skills. After the children’s session, our regular class continued with in-depth exploration of one of the foundational techniques of Aikido – Ikkyo. This essential technique is a cornerstone of Aikido and offers so much depth for practitioners of all levels. We focused on both the Omote and Ura versions of Ikkyo, paying close attention to the subtleties of each variation. Here's what we covered: Tai no Henko Tai no Henko Ki no Nagare Morotedori Kokyuho Yokomen Uchi Ikkyo Omote Yokomen Uchi Ikkyo Ura 1 Yokomen Uchi Ikkyo Ura 2 Yokomen Uchi Nikyo Omote Zagi Kokyuho Whether you're a seasoned practitioner or a beginner looking to explore...

Today in Ringsend Dojo we focused on Ikkyo techniques: Tai no Henko Tai no Henko Ki no Nagare Morotedori Kokyuho Shomen Uchi Ikkyo Omote Shomen Uchi Ikkyo Ura Katatedori Ikkyo Omote Zagi Kokyuho #aikido #todaypractice #ringsendaikido #aikidodublin #aikidoireland #iwamaaikido #iwama #aikidoaikikai #takemusuaiki #aikidoringsend #takemusuaikidosociety  www.aiki.ie

Today we had our first kids' class at Ringsend and Irishtown Community Centre.  We started the class with warming-up exercises followed by ukemi, shikko walking and tai-sabaki exercises. As for techniques we did: Tai no Henko Kosadori Ikkyo  Zagi Kokyuho At the end of class, we did core strength training and cooling down exercises. #aikido #todaypractice #ringsendaikido #aikidodublin #aikidoireland #iwamaaikido #iwama #aikidoaikikai #takemusuaiki #aikidoringsend #takemusuaikidosociety #aikidokids  www.aiki.ie

Today in Balbriggan Dojo we focused on the Ikkyo technique: Tai Jutsu: Tai no Henko Tai no Henko Ki no Nagare Morotedori Kokyuho Shomen Uchi Ikkyo Omote Kosadori Ikkyo Ura Kosadori Kotegaeshi Zagi Kokyuho Bukiwaza: Ken no Kamae Shiboru Undo #aikido #todaypractice #aikidodublin #aikidoireland #iwamaaikido #iwama #aikidoaikikai #takemusuaiki #ourpractice #aikidofingal #aikidobalbriggan #balbriggan #takemusuaikidosociety #outdoorpractice #bukiwaza #aikien www.aiki.ie