Takemusu Aikido Society

Yesterday, 14 December 2024, marked 141 years since the birth of Aikido Founder Morihei Ueshiba. Today, at Balbriggan Dojo, we honoured his legacy by exploring Budo, a technical manual O-Sensei wrote in 1938 for Prince Kaya Tsunenori. This profound work offers insights into Aikido practice, revealing not only technical elements but also the philosophical underpinnings of the art. We began the session by reading key passages from Budo and discussing their relevance to our training today. The following principles, displayed prominently in the changing room at the Iwama Dojo, should serve as our guide: Aikido can determine life and death with a single blow; therefore, when training, observe the instructor's directions and don't engage in contests of strength. Aikido is a way that makes one person an equivalent of thousands; therefore, when training, always be mindful not only of the space in front of you but also of what is happening in all directions. Training should always be ...

The Takemusu Aikido Seminar we organised last weekend was a great success. People from all parts of Ireland, France, and UK came to see Ulf Evenas shihan, a student of Morihiro Saito sensei. Ulf sensei had a brilliant, very didactic approach to this seminar. He tried to explain the essence of Takemusu Aikido to non-Iwama practitioners. He explained the connections between ken and tai-jutsu, demonstrated the principles of jo, and disclosed how rigid kihon practice can be transformed into fluid ki-no-nagare forms. People from various Aikido styles tried to do their best to understand and accept Ulf sensei's teachings. It wasn't easy, but they enjoyed the seminar after all.

 Today's techniques: Ukemi Mae & Ushiro Shikko Mae Tai no Henko Tai no Henko Ki no Nagare Morotedori Kokyuho Kosadori Ikkyo Omote Kosadori Ikkyo Ura Kosadori Nikyo Ura Kosadori Kotedaeshi Zagi Kokyuho #aikido #aikidobalbriggan #aikidofingal #aikidodublin #aikidoireland #aikidoiwama #aiki #takemusuaikidofingal #todaypractice #iwamaaikido

Today we practised in the manner of kakari geiko (continuous attack). Tai no Henko Tai no Henko Ki no Nagare Katatedori Kokyuho (solid and ki no nagare) Morotedori Kokyuho  Morotedori Ikkyo Omote & Ura Morotedori Iriminage Morotedori Kokyunage Ki no Nagare At the very end of the session, we found the importance of the front supportive hand for safe front rolling ukemi. 

On the 2nd of May we had our very first demonstrations at the 14th Annual May Day Parade in Ringsend & Irishtown Community Centre. Unfortunately, we got extremely short notice, and have no time for the proper preparation. But thank you to the diligence of our members, demonstrations went as smooth as possible under these circumstances.

 After the long break we resumed our outdoor training in Ringsend park. We studied jo suburi today: Tsuki no bu Chokuzuki Kaeshizuki Ushirozuki Tsuki gedan gaeshi Tsuki jodan gaeshi Uchi no bu Shomen uchikomi Renzoku uchikomi Menuchi gedan gaeshi Menuchi ushirozuki Gyaku yokomen ushirozuki Katate no bu Katate gedan gaeshi Katate toma uchi Hachi no ji gaeshi Hasso no bu Hasso gaeshi uchi Hasso gaeshi tsuki Hasso gaeshi ushirozuki Hasso gaeshi ushiro uchi Hasso gaeshi ushiro barai Nagare no bu Hidari nagare gaeshi uchi Migi nagare gaeshi tsuki

 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

 Today we covered the techniques as follows: Tai no Henko Tai no Heko Ki no Nagare Morotedori Kokyuho Shomen Uchi Ikkyo Omote & Ura Shomen Uchi Nikyo Omote & Ura Shomen Uchi Sankyo Omote & Ura Shomen Uchi Yonkyo Omote Zagi Kokyuho

 Today we covered the techniques as follows: Tai sabaki Tai-Jutsu: Tai no Henko Tai no Henko Ki no Nagare Morotedori Kokyuho Katatedori Kotegaeshi Katatedori Ikkyo Omote Katatedori Shihonage Omote Zagi Kokyuho Bukiwaza: Ken no Kamae Suburi 1 Suburi 2

A short video highlighting how to tie an Aikido belt.

Today we had another intensive training in Balbriggan dojo. We covered techniques as follows. Tai no Henko Tai no Henko Ki no Nagare Morotedori Kokyuho Jo-dori: Gyaku Hanmi Kokyunage (back throw) Gyaku Hanmi Kokyunage 2 (front throw) Gyaku Hanmi Shihonage Gyaku Hanmi Kokyunage 3 (ikkyo entrance) Gyaku Hanmi Rokkyo Ai Hamni Kokyunage (Iriminage) Ai Hamni Kokyunage (Nikyo) Ai Hamni Kokyunage (Tsuki) Zagi Kokyuho

 Today we were three again and had a bit of fun doing some unusual techniques: Tai no Henko Tai no Henko Ki no Nagare Morotedori Kokyuho Morotedori Kokyuho Ki no Nagare Katatedori  Kokyunage (Shiho-Iriminage-like variation) Katatedori Iriminage (upper release) Katatedori Kokyuho (irimi entrance) Katatedori Kokyuho (uraken variation) Yokomen Uchi Iriminage (irimi entrance) Yokomen Uchi Iriminage (inside entrance) Yokomen Uchi Iriminage (inside entrance continuous inside flow) Yokomen Uchi Shihonage Omote Yokomen Uchi Kotegaeshi (irimi entrance) Zagi Kokyuho Zagi Kohyuho (push from top - kokyunage) After the training we had a year-end barbecue party.

 Techniques covered: Tai no Henko Tai no Henko Ki no Nagare Morotedori Kokyuho Morotedori Nikkyo Youkomen Uchi Kokyunage Yokomen Uchi Yonkyo Omote & Ura Yokomen Uchi Gokyo (tankendori) Zagi Kokyuho

 We covered the techniques as follows: Tai no Henko Morotedori Kokyuho Morotedori Ikkyo Omote & Ura Katatedori Kotegaeshi 1 (reverse kotegaeshi grip) Katatedori Kotegaeshi 2 (release from up) Katatedori Kotegaeshi 3 (release from down) Katatedori Kaitennage Uchi Zagi Kokyuho

We continued our practice in Balbriggan. The focus of the practice was sankyo and its variations. Techniques covered: Tai no Henko Tai no Henko Ki no Nagare Morotedori Kokyuho Morotedori Ikkyo Omote & Ura Shomen Uchi Nikyo Omote & Ura Shomen Uchi Sankyo Omote & Ura Shomen Uchi Sankyo Henka 1 Shomen Uchi Sankyo Henka 2 Shomen Uchi Sankyo Henka 3 Shomen Uchi Sankyo Henka 4 Shomen Uchi Sankyo Henka 5 Shomen Uchi Iriminage

 We returned to Aiki-ken in October. The techniques covered: Suburi 1 Suburi 2 Suburi 3 Suburi 4 Suburi 5 Migi Awase Hidari Awase Go-no-Awase Shichi-no-Awase

We continued to study aiki jo. With all black belts attending, we practised five kumijo forms. Techniques covered: Kumijo 1 Kumijo 2 Kumijo 3 Kumijo 4 Kumijo 5

Yesterday we had the very first practice in Balbriggan dojo. It appeared that the ceiling was too low for the weapon practice, so we were limited to tai-jutsu.  Techniques covered: Tai-no-henko Tai-no-henko ki-no-nagare Morotedori kokyunage Katatedori kotegaeshi (up and down release) Shomen uchi ikkyo omote Shomen uchi ikkyo ura Katatedori iriminage (gedan, chudan, jodan) Katatedori koshinage Ryotedori tenchinage Zagi kokyho Suwari ryoerijime kokyunage

 The techniques covered: Tai-jutsu Tai-no-henko Tai-no-henko ki-no-nagare Morotedori kokyuho Katatedori kotegaeshi (up & down release)  Katatedori shihonage (omote & ura)  Shomen uchi ikkyo (omote & ura)  Shomen uchi nikyo (omote & ura)  Bukiwaza Kumijo 1

Takemusu Aikido Fingal announces the opening of the Balbriggan branch dojo on Sunday the 19th of September at 13:15. New members are welcomed regardless of their age, sex or experience. We offer traditional training methods, efficient techniques, and regular weapon training. Website: www.aiki.ie Location:  51 Hampton St, Balbriggan, Co. Dublin, K32 KR65 We thank Beyond Jiu-Jitsu Academy for the provided space.