Takemusu Aikido Society

Today, on Morihei Ueshiba's death anniversary, we concentrated on Kokyuho - the most important Aikido technique. Tai no Henko Tai no Henko Ryutai Morotedori Kokyuho Morotedori Kokyuho (up) Morotedori Kokyuho (down) Morotedori Kokyuho (hold the wrist) Zagi Kokyuho You can read more about the Founder of Aikido on our website  here : https://aiki.ie/morihei_ueshiba/ We welcome practitioners of all levels and ages to join us at Takemusu Aikido Society. Whether you’re taking your first steps in Aikido or refining your skills, our classes offer something for everyone. For more details, visit our website at  www.aiki.ie . #aikido #todaypractice #aikidodublin #aikidoireland #iwamaaikido #iwama #aikidoaikikai #takemusuaiki #ourpractice #aikidofingal #aikidobalbriggan #balbriggan #takemusuaikidosociety #osaewaza #balbriggan #nagewaza #bukiwaza #taijutsu

Finally with the fresh results of the PCR test in my pocket I headed to Iwama. For years I dreamed of becoming an uchideshi, but I could not do it because of my work. Now, my dream has come true, and I am in Iwama passing through the familiar railway station, bust of O-Sensei on the station square and "O-Sensei's street" with low pillars along the street showing O-Sensei's pictures. Iwama train station O-Sensei's bust at Iwama station When I reached the Aiki-Jinja and dojo, I understood that being the first uchideshi after two years of covid restrictions would not be an easy task. It was always the uchideshi's responsibility to keep the dojo and jinja clean. Without people constantly living in the dojo, cleaning was performed only by volunteers from the neighbourhood. As a result, the place I got used to seeing shiny and spotless had a little wild look, which meant I would have a good deal of work. Aiki-Jinja View from the dojo Dojo Shortly after my arrival In...

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...

Today we could not access our regular place in Ringsend Community Centre as the key was locked in the office. So we practised in another room without mats. Such practice helps to better understand safe ukemi and forges the spirit of the practitioners. The old dojo of Aikido Founder in Iwama had no mats, so we could feel the old-fashioned practice on our bodies today. No one complained, even the beginner who came to practise with us today. The ceiling in the substitution room was too low, so we were limited to tai-jutsu (empty-handed) techniques: Hanmi: Migi Hanmi Hidari Hanmi Tai Sabaki: Irimi Tenkan Irimi-Tenkan Tai no Henko Tai no Henko Ki no Nagare Tai no Henko (Irimi variation) Katatedori Kokyuho Kosadori Ikkyo Omote Kosadori Kotegaeshi Katatedori Kotegaeshi Zagi Kokyuho

There are no matches in Aikido. Instead, its exercises are occasionally demonstrated for public assessment of skills acquired in day-to-day practices. Until a decade ago*, Aikido was barred from public view for fear that its techniques may be stolen. The situation has changed now. Public demonstrations provide an extremely valuable opportunity to popularize Aikido. The Founder would not unveil Aikido to the public in former days. His sentiment in those days, as I recall it, was not a mere apprehension that Aikido’s techniques may be stolen as a result of their public debut. Uppermost in his mind was probably the fear that that techniques may be subjected to warped interpretations with the popularization of Aikido and handed down to posterity as such. It is important for us to remember this at a time when Aikido has become accessible to the public. The instructors are therefore called upon to observe carefully how their trainees perform at public demonstrations and use their finding...

 The Aikido Founder, Morihei Ueshiba, passed away on the 26th of April 1969. We honoured his memory by doing the techniques from "Budo" manual written by O-Sensei in 1938. The techniques covered: Tai no Henko Irimi Tenkan Katatedori Iriminage Shomen Uchi Ikkyo Omote Shomen Uchi Iriminage Yokomen Uchi Iriminage Yokomen Uchi Shihonage Omote Yokomen Uchi Gokyo Zagi Kokyuho

The website of Takemusu Aikido Fingal was updated.  Information on Aikido, etiquette, biographies of Morihei Ueshiba and Morihiro Saito were added.  You can see all updates here: https://aiki.ie/

Morihei Ueshiba Aikido is not a sport, not system of self-defence nor gymnastics. Aikido is budo, literally “the martial way” implying a martial discipline for character development practiced as a lifelong pursuit. Practitioners of budo develop technical martial skills while striving to unify of mind, technique and body, develop their character, enhance their sense of morality, and cultivate a respectful and courteous demeanour. Thus, budo serves as a path to self-perfection. Aikido was created in the first half of 20 century by Morihei Ueshiba (1883~1969), a master of traditional weapons and empty-handed ju-jutsu techniques including notorious  Daito-ryu Aiki Ju-Jutsu . The main feature of Aikido is blending with the power or motion of the attacker and redirecting the force of the attack rather than opposing it head-on.  Aikido practitioners develop physical and mental strength through repetitive practice, without rushing and competitions, according to their proficiency leve...