Apparently the entrance that we do for shihonage omote has a name. Something like "sokomen", if I remember correctly. I had no idea; I thought it was just irimi. However, because we are changing directions, it becomes "sokomen". Again, I have no clue, that's just what I heard.
I find it interesting to break down all the names of the entrances, movements, techniqes, and so on. Bring on the knowledge; let's cram it in!
-gHopper
Friday, June 26, 2009
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Mind yer manners, see.
With an exhilarating night of bokken comes some thought. (Wow, how sentimental can this get?)
I think I found myself drifting from aikido to complete and utter savage primordial instinct. Somehow, my being nage turned into uke. I could see the fear in "uke's" eyes as I slashed wildly at the poor fellow. Not exactly the best illustration of the "art of peace". I says to myself, "What's wrong with me?" There's nothing wrong with me. It's just that there's a time and a place for savages and a time and place for civilized sword-play. How ironic the previous post was about balance, precision, etc.. Personally, I find it easier to go savage, but no one said aikido would be easy. Quittin's fer wimps, and I ain't one of them.
-gHopper
I think I found myself drifting from aikido to complete and utter savage primordial instinct. Somehow, my being nage turned into uke. I could see the fear in "uke's" eyes as I slashed wildly at the poor fellow. Not exactly the best illustration of the "art of peace". I says to myself, "What's wrong with me?" There's nothing wrong with me. It's just that there's a time and a place for savages and a time and place for civilized sword-play. How ironic the previous post was about balance, precision, etc.. Personally, I find it easier to go savage, but no one said aikido would be easy. Quittin's fer wimps, and I ain't one of them.
-gHopper
My good friend Bo
Last night we did some bokken form and work. Let me tell you, I don't like bokken. I LOVE bokken. There's just something about that wooden sword that I thoroughly enjoy. I even named mine "Bo." Not "Beau". Bo.
Rant and rave aside, practicing with the bokken gives me a better sense of centering, balance, and blah blah blah. With this one particular kokyu-nage we did, we had to be stable enough so that we didn't fall on uke. When doing ude-kimenage, we had to time our entrances and hip turns while being stable as well.
My favorite part had to be at the end where Sensei let us play around with some jiyu-waza. Despite somewhat sloppy technique, I had a blast. I can't wait till I get better at it; crisp technique + bokken jiyu-waza = Muy diversion!
-gHopper
Rant and rave aside, practicing with the bokken gives me a better sense of centering, balance, and blah blah blah. With this one particular kokyu-nage we did, we had to be stable enough so that we didn't fall on uke. When doing ude-kimenage, we had to time our entrances and hip turns while being stable as well.
My favorite part had to be at the end where Sensei let us play around with some jiyu-waza. Despite somewhat sloppy technique, I had a blast. I can't wait till I get better at it; crisp technique + bokken jiyu-waza = Muy diversion!
-gHopper
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Prioritize
They say you don't know what you have until you lose it. I get it now. At 3:28 this morning, I saw my little brother off to a week with the Boy Scouts of America to Camp Ottari in Pulaksi, Virginia. It's only 8:50 a.m and I miss him already.
This week I had planned to attend a seminar at Brevard Aikikai featuring Robert Zimmerman. The seminar is on the day that my brother returns. As of this morning, I canceled that seminar plan.
Days like today remind me of my priorities. I believe I can now say that I am honestly content with them so far. I will get to see my newly transformed brother, fresh from camp with that look in his eye that says, "Hey sister, I did it." Seeing that will be better than seeing Ueshiba himself.
"Be prepared- WE ARE PREPARED!"
This week I had planned to attend a seminar at Brevard Aikikai featuring Robert Zimmerman. The seminar is on the day that my brother returns. As of this morning, I canceled that seminar plan.
Days like today remind me of my priorities. I believe I can now say that I am honestly content with them so far. I will get to see my newly transformed brother, fresh from camp with that look in his eye that says, "Hey sister, I did it." Seeing that will be better than seeing Ueshiba himself.
"Be prepared- WE ARE PREPARED!"
Troop 35, Riverbend District, North Florida Council
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Whoa, nelly..
One of the problems I seem to have is speeding through techniques. I think my brain is moving faster than my body. Very frustrating for me.
It's not just in aikido, though. Often times, I find myself thinking so fast that I can't speak. In our youth services at church, I turn the lights on way to fast. (And it looks very very weird.) Once in first grade, I rushed so fast through my test that I ended up getting a D. Yeah. It was sad.
So I guess one of the ways to solve this problem is to just force myself to slow down. I expect to see a big difference as far as proficiency and appearances in technique go. And who knows, maybe during our youth services, I won't keep getting these weird looks.
It's not just in aikido, though. Often times, I find myself thinking so fast that I can't speak. In our youth services at church, I turn the lights on way to fast. (And it looks very very weird.) Once in first grade, I rushed so fast through my test that I ended up getting a D. Yeah. It was sad.
So I guess one of the ways to solve this problem is to just force myself to slow down. I expect to see a big difference as far as proficiency and appearances in technique go. And who knows, maybe during our youth services, I won't keep getting these weird looks.
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