Friday Night: Friday Night Sempai taught.

I was able to get to class on time, which means I was able to leave work early (5:00 instead of 5:30). I really wish I only worked to 5:00. At least on Fridays. Sempai was already there when I arrived and it was just to two of us. He asked me what I wanted to work on and I said my ukemi, but breakfalls more specifically. Hmmmm...I didn't turn into that but it was still a good class.

We start off warming up before bowing in just doing entries from g.h. katatetori. First just tenkan throws then some irimi just to warm up. After we bowed in we did a more formal class.

First we did two versions of nikkyo:

Version one: From a tenkan opening: tenkan then apply nikkyo.

Version two: From a uchi opening: enter uchi cut down then apply. In both versions, Sempai was emphasizing tai sabaki using that hip motion found in the rowing exercise.

Then we did reverse kotegaeshi (sote tekubinage). Slide to the side you raise both palms to your face. Your free hand reaches under uke's hand and grasps around the meat of their thumb.

Next was shihonage: emphasized kokyu on both the irimi and omote versions. Sempai showed a version of shihonage when your uke is much bigger. Instead of taking uke's arm back behind uke, you step back re-gaining your ma'ai and bring their balance forward.

Then we did kotegaeshi, as uke goes to grab you enter irimi, your rear does a downward glancing type block and you strike atemi to ribs (these movements help you get the correct distance) then tenkan and throw. I was having a hard time getting my throw completed and Sempai pointed out that I wasn't drawing uke's arm out and keeping him off balance enough. Once I started doing that my kotegaeshi felt better, for the most part.

Then we circled up to practice jiyuwaza. After Sempai, me and another 1st Kyu were the next highest ranks. Usually, I'm one of the lowest for a Friday night. Sempai always empasizes that we keep moving and to approach our uke to get them to attack. Otherwise it turns into the Night of the Living Dead zombie uke attacks. I had a first couple of good rounds, then in my last round Sempai pushed my buttons, I get mad, then I bring on my intensity. It didn't help that my second uke squats when he receives kaitennage. (He bends at his knees facing you but doesn't bend over. It's really weird, as he doesn't roll out but sort of falls backwards. He is not a beginner so I don't know where he has gotten this from since we don't receive kaitennage that way) Any how...I just threw him intensely and he got all caught up under my hakama. Which really got my juices boiling. Finally, my next few throws were really tight and solid and strong. I just don't get it. Why can't I be intense without getting my feathers all ruffled. I know Sempai pushed my button on purpose because he said that I "was back." I need to get "there" again.

Saturday class: Sensei was in Columbia teaching a seminar and I think Penny was in class (she's getting her PhD) today.

Roger taught a typical Roger class with a bunch of weird throws that require a bunch of breakfalls. I swear he thinks everyone is made of rubber. Which on our current set up (tatami on tile) we just say "ow, ow, and ouch!" No way was I going to do a breakfall today, especially in the morning.

We did work on katamenuchi though which is an attack I need to know for shodan. We started off with kokyunage, but why couldn't we work on ikkyo, kotegaeshi, iriminage and throw in one or two koshi or otoshi type throws? Oh well... Sandan level techniques it is.

BUT... after we bowed out he did have me and the other 1st kyu who is going for shodan do randori a couple of times. Good ukes who attacked fast one after the other not like Friday Night of the Living Dead Zombie attacks. I just kept moving and tried to keep the ukes away from me no fancy techniques just my favorite short and quick ones like ude kime, kotegaeshi, sumi otoshi, kokyunage, iriminage and a quick koshinage or two. Friday night sempai says to go to the closest person then throw into the next closest then go to the person a little further away. If I didn't get someone I would at least try an irimi tenkan. Afterwards, I got some compliments from my sempai. They told me I did a good job moving around and kept good posture. They also like how I would try to go to the uke on the outside. I felt good after doing the randori as couple of times. First, I realized that there is some part of me that is really ready for shodan Second I was really able to get my energy up and throw a few people around. Because during class, I was a little frustrated that Roger was spending extra time with the other 1st kyu and how the techniques we practiced reminded me that I have a hard time with breakfalls.

This is how I feel about shodan. If there was a fence and on one side is "not ready" and the other side is "shodan" and the fence is "ready." "Ready" means I just need to drill and I will be ready and do fine on the test. "Shodan" means just keep doing more of the same, but you need to refine a few things. Well "not ready" means no matter what I do it's just not there. I feel like my ukemi is "not ready," my randori is "shodan," and my techniques are "ready." I talked with the other 1st kyu and Roger after class and they just encouraged me to keep training like I am testing in November even if I really don't test it will help me get ready. I told them I feel so much better and feel like my aikido is better now that I am not pressuring myself to test. I spoke with the other 1st kyu and he should show up to train tomorrow and we promised to work on our suwari waza together.

Happy Yom Kippur! (I'm not Jewish, but friends, co-workers and bosses are.