The next two years...

The next two years...


Author
jd2b
Aiki Queen BeePosts: 1370(9/29/05 7:01 pm)

The next two years...
Seems so long, and far away. My sensei said for the next two years when your getting ready for shodan...All I really heard was shodan.... Even a few days after my test it's a little weird to say that. It sounds so..different. I feel kind of lost now that my ikkyu test is all over with. Now, it's time to learn to enjoy my training. Anne Marie

Edited by: jd2b at: 9/30/05 10:30 am


jd2b
Aiki Queen BeePosts: 1377(10/3/05 10:36 pm)
Re: The next two years...
October 3, 2005Well, it's back to training. My shoulder that I crashed three weeks ago is still a little sore and I discovered another technique that aggravates it -- seated kokyu-ho. Ouch. Sensei opened class with this tonight to warm up instead of a back stretch kokyunage warmup. I was training with one of our bigger guys and he's pretty strong and doesn't let me get away with anything. Well, it didn't help my shoulder. Then later on in class, sensei made me put a piece of black tape on my shoulder. It only hurts a little bit, but when it does hurt it I just can't do anything. It'll get better though, and now with the black tape I can easily ask my partner to ease up with the resisting or just do techniques on one side.We got to work on techniques from ryotetori tonight. After we did the seated kokyu-ho, we did a kokyunage throw with the same movement as in kokyu-ho. First, we did it with an irimi type movement then with a tenshin. With the irimi type movement, we sort of do a mini tenkan and stay in place then turn our hips back forward and cut down. You can slide forward a little on the cut down but it's not a step through. My partner kept wanting to do tenshin nage. Then with the tenshin movement you can do it two ways. The first you can do it like a regular tenshin stepping back with the forward foot, or you can stay in place and pivot letting uke go by you. Then sensei had us mix this up with our partner and choose between the irimi and the tenshin versions. Good for learning to follow a lead. I had some wheeee! moments in there for ukemi. I found that I was tanking a little when I was going down on my left side, my injured shoulder side. I discovered it was easier to go into a breakfall than to roll since it aggravated the injury less or not at all. Next, we did another kokyunage this time it was a more of leading kind of throw. Here you enter stepping with your back foot while your rear hand goes up towards uke in a soto type fashion like a strike to the face then you pivot back around to the opposite direction and go down on your knee leading uke into a forward roll. Then we worked on shihonage with an omote and ura version. In the omote version, we did an irimi step with the forward foor but changed hanmi standing on a perpendicular. Here, you'll be stepping to your uke's outside. In the ura version, you do a tenkan opening while grasping uke's wrist of your forward hand, here you turn your hand towards your stomach and push up against uke's palm. Then we did another kokyunage throw where as uke comes in and you slide back at a slight angle raising both your arms up and then swhing them around behind you as you go down on your knees and then you continue that motion and swing them back in front of you. (I got to uke for sensei for this technique). After this, he split us up into two groups: dans and an ikkyu getting ready for his shodan (well, he could be at least a nidan by now, since it's been about four years since his last test) and the other group was me, a nikyu and a new guy, but who is losing his newbie status. We just did jiyuwaza from ryotetori while Peter worked with the other group where on of the nidans and the ikkyu prepared for their tests. Hopefully, Steve will test. Then we got to do some randori. The dans did a three person randori and those of us kyus did a two person. After class we cleaned the mats, and I folded Peters hakama for Steve, the ikkyu who could be nidan/sandan. Peter handed it to him and he was clueless how to fold it. I just took it from him and show him how to do it. Funny, that. since he is my sempai. Any how, nice class. It was nice an relaxing, no pressure to test. I've got two years for that. I'm going to enjoy my final days of my kyu status.Until next time...

Edited by: jd2b at: 10/4/05 11:00 am

jd2b
Aiki Queen BeePosts: 1386(10/4/05 11:35 pm)
Re: The next two years...
October 4, 2005I got to the dojo early today and did some work for the office, just some paperwork. I was considering not taking class but by the time class was getting ready to start the only people there were some newbies, so I decided to get dressed and take class. Sensei, then calls and says that he'll be late and will need me to start the warm-up but if a dan rank showed up to let them take over. Well, by the time class should start I ended up being the highest rank a few minutes later Joe who tested for 1st kyu in January showed up, but he didn't seem to mind. I ran through the warm-ups, then some ukemi and basic drills. By about 6:25, Peter was still running late so I started teaching. I started with Tsuki kotegeashi with an irimi opening...for about 10 minutes...still no Peter...then changed to the same techniques with a tenkan opening (I was kind of doing a really basic Penny class) then while we were working on that Peter showed. I enjoy teaching and one of my fellow students told me he likes my classes because I let people work on the techniques. But, it turned out to be a good class. Peter continued my kotegaeshi theme and did kotegeaship from ai hanmi katatetori and ushiro ryokatatori. It's funny how relaxing class can be when you don't have to test. Anne Marie

jd2b
Aiki Queen BeePosts: 1399(10/11/05 1:27 pm)
Re: The next two years...
October 10, 2005I showed up early before the kids class to work with a couple of girls getting ready for their green belt test. I'm not too sure they'll get it though. They're mother is aware of that but wants them to do their best anyway. We have kids testing this weekend and I have feeling sensei is going to expect them all to be perfect. He said none of our yellow belts are ready for their green. He's right because they all still have hard time with thier ikkyo. I'll be working with the girls again on Wednesday before class. I helped with the kids class and worked with a small group of mostly 5 year olds who are still having a hard time learning their rolls. My goals was just to get them used to going over. The other kids I worked with were a little older a couple of 6 years old and a 9 year old. The 9 years old has a fear of rolling and has a hard time doing his forwards rolls the kneeling is harder from him than the standing. One of the 6 years old need to work on getting her rolls better as she wasn't tucking her foot properly.Sensei taught the adults class tonight and we worked on techniques from ushiro tekubitori. We started with kokyunage, then kotegaeshi, ude kime then another kokyunage. Sensei kept us broken up into groups. I was working a group of white belts a couple are new and the other are ranked. Because of my injured shoulder sensei doesn't want me pushing myself too hard until it gets better. The other group was a group preparing for their black belt tests -- we had one of ikkyus (HIM) and on or our nidans is going for sandan.

jd2b
Aiki Queen BeePosts: 1403(10/11/05 9:35 pm)
Re: The next two years...
October 11, 2005:Almost didn't go today, but went anyway. I'm glad I did. It was nice and relaxing. We had a newbie join us but he used to take classes in the kids class a few years ago. Sensei had me review the basic stances, opening movements, ikkyo exercise and rolls. He remembered most everything, so sensei had him work in after the first technique.We worked on techniques from g.h. katatetori and did kokyunage, tenkan exercise throw, nikkyo and iriminage. We did everything from a tenkan opening. Anne Marie

jd2b
Aiki Queen BeePosts: 1489(11/20/05 6:54 pm)
Needing to get back in the swing of things
I'm in one of those moods that after my 1st kyu test, I just don't have the energy to even think about shodan or what I need to know. I don't want to think about it. I put so much time into my 1st kyu test, that I just want to sit back and relax. At the moment I've been doing about two classes a week and lost a couple of weeks because of Hurricane Wilma. Also, I just don't have the desire to help with the dojo much anymore. It's starting to feel more like a burden than a joy in helping sensei out. I think I need to talk to him about it. I watch most folks come and go and do thier thing and their little part for the dojo. I don't want to worry about anything else. I just want to train do the attendance sheets and record the money coming in but not worry about all the other stuff I threw myself into. It's just getting to be too much and I need to focus on myself -- finding a decent job, I have a new one again, but it's not the best. I guess I feel a little with everything and a little catholic girl guilt thrown in.

jd2b
Aiki Queen BeePosts: 1498(12/2/05 3:34 pm)
Re: Needing to get back in the swing of things
Well, I'm starting to feel a little better about my aikido, but I'm still pacing myself better. I was away a week for Thanksgiving and came back to class on Wednesday. The dojo is so empty this time of the year. Wednesday was a nice class we had four ladies on the mat -- we were half the class!! Sensei had us work on katamenuchi and we did kokyunage (hitoe iriminage version); sankyo; shihonage; iriminage; kokyunage (180 degree throw) then some randori and bokken kumitachi work. We did a tenkan open, but sensei emphasized more of a half tenkan than whole. On my ukemi with hitoe iriminage I need to make sure I don't leave myself open. I also had a strong nage who was dragging the top of my body and the bottom wouldn't go. It's my old, "I hate iriminage" tense up. As you do the tenkan you sort of circle your partner around. This is easy to do if they give a committed shomen strike, if it's less committed I found grabbing their wrist helps. Then I got to do sankyo with one of my friends who just tested for her 4th kyu. This was one of her first times venturing into the regular mixed class so she was really unsure of herself. She did well though. We did the sankyo (omote and ura) on the striking hand. You can do it on the grabbing hand, too. You do a mini tenkan, enough that uke takes a step then you do the sankyo steping under that arm and doing an atemi with your elbow. For ura you cut straight down on the hand. Then we did shihonage. We started with the same kind of opening movement and then you duck your head between both of uke's arms as you swing the arm up. Then we did iriminage with three versions of it -- an irimi from an ikkyo setup, a tenkan and a tenshin. I found with the tenshin if you let uke go buy you as you step back it's easier to do the throw. Finally we did the 180 degree kokyunage throw. The one where as uke strikes you tenkan to your knees and sort of disappear. It turns into a roll if uke commits their attack. You can make it a breakfall throw if you grab uke's arm. Then we did a bokken kumitachi. We have no names for our weapons work. First we practice the individual strikes then put it together. We sort of look like: The attacker raises in high guard position while stepping forward with their rear foot then you step through again shomenuchi. The defender raises in high guard and steps back slightly off the line then does a slight tenshin as you perform shomenuchi.Then sensei added in the final part:Attacker then raises again to perform shomenuchi and the defender comes in with a cut to the wrist.If you do it right the first part is almost simultaneous. But I kept forgeting to raise to strike shomeuchi the second time. Last night we had a basics class and sensei taught techniques from gyakyu hanmi katatetori. We did techniques from an uchi opening. We first did the forward roll kokyunage from uchi. I did this with one of the teens who had made the transition to the adults class. He's pretty good and centered. Actually, I've always noticed that of our teens who went up through the kids program. Maybe the adults should, too. Then we did the ude garuma pinning technique (nikkyo pin). You start as if you are going into kaitennage. Then as you cut down and before they start to come up you get control with your lower hand. Then step behind and tenkan. I had a big awkward uke who was having a hard time with the ukemi. Sensei reminded the class to bend at their knees and keep them selves pliable so they can move better. Then we did kaitenage with the same opening. I need to make sure to draw the hand all the way down to the mat to bring uke's balance off. My newbie partner was really herky jerky and stiff. He sort of thought it worked better going faster, but it just resulted in him losing his connection with me. I then proceeded to do the whole technique slow. He laughed a bit when I did that because I think he realized what I was showing him. Then we did an iriminage throw where you step under uchi and draw uke back as you step behind uke in a 45 degree angle behind them. I felt like my partner was going a little too easy with me, but I was okay with that as it was the end of the night. He's junior to me in rank but has been practicing off and on for years never really finding a dojo that he truly enjoyed. So he has actually been training longer than me. But he's a real nice guy no big ego and great to train with. We did then some jiyuwaza with this technique. I thought that one of our new guys was going to take people's arms off and then one of our temporary dojo members almost through him into a koshinage. The guy can barely roll. Ummm, I'd thought she'd notice. But it was nice getting back to the dojo have such a break.

jd2b
Aiki Queen BeePosts: 1498(12/3/05 5:06 pm)
Re: Needing to get back in the swing of things
Today Penny taught and it was a great class, as usual. Before class she told some of us about the seminar in Berkely at Shibata's sensei's school. She told us how much more formal his school is compared to ours. They use bells and all. Todays class we did a lot of ikkyo, nikyo, sankyo and yonkyo as well as iriminage, kotegaeshi, and some shihonage. Penny would switch between standing, hanmi handachi and suwari waza. She finished with jiyuwaza at the end of class we just did the kokyunage/ forward roll throws from the different openings. In my group we have a new transfer student who thought he should resist me in it. I'm like...uh, you roll here. Later on I apoligized if I sounded like I was being mean. When we do this Penny likes us to work on our movement. I just told him that then it made sense to him.

jd2b
Aiki Queen BeePosts: 1498(12/8/05 10:54 pm)
Re: Needing to get back in the swing of things
Let's see. I don't remember too much from Monday's class expect we repeated the kumitachi that we did the other night. I wish it had a name. I told Peter the other night that I make up names for all our "kokyunage" techniques so this is Kumitachi #1. Tonight was a good class we worked on morotetori. We did hitoe iriminage, iriminage omote, nikkyo (two versions when you grasp the uke's hand), ushiro nage, kaitenage. We had a couple of visitors from New York tonight in class. I got to practice with one of the guys with nikkyo and he's pretty gumby for a guy. I'm glad I got to work with him and he was pretty nice, too. So I got to play around with the nikkyo working on getting the joints at the right angles. This version is so much harder than the one where you bring it to your shoulder. I had to make sure I brought my hand out around the uke's wrist more. I've been sick with the flu since Wednesday's class so I played wimpy and only did an hour of an hour and half class. I talk with Peter afterwards and apparently all the rooms for the seminar are already booked and we'll be sending out the new Winter Camp information out tomorrow.

jd2b
Aiki Queen BeePosts: 1499(12/10/05 6:04 pm)
Re: Needing to get back in the swing of things
It was a great class today. I taught the kids class and it was fun. Sometimes they're so wired they can be a handful, but they were just right today - energized but not hyper and not lackidazikal (Is that even a word? ) Any how, with the kids I worked on Ushiro grab ikkyo omote, ikkyo ura, and kokyunage (forward bow throw). They all did pretty good even the little ones. At the end of class I played "sensei says." And it's so fun trying to trip them up. I usually drill things like their footwork, rolls and ikkyo exercise. For the adults class Roger taught and he did a real good class. We worked on techniques from shomenuchi. We did a 90 degree kokyunage throw (uki otoshi), then a koshinage from a similar opening (hip toss version), then iriminage omote and iriminage ura. He finished up with jiyuwaza in groups of three. Good class.

Edited by: jd2b at: 12/20/05 12:13 pm
jd2b
Aiki Queen BeePosts: 1502(12/12/05 2:02 pm)
Re: Needing to get back in the swing of things
I got up this morning and took class because a group of us were taking Peter out to lunch for his birthday. Class was four of us ladies -- Janet, Gerry, Mina and me. We worked on morotetori and it was more of a round robin/ jiyuwaza type class rather than a more formal sit down and sensei demonstrates. I love it when Peter does this because I get to train with him, too. But we were pretty low key. I'm coming back tonight and will be teaching the kids class again and then I'll do class again.

jd2b
Aiki Queen BeePosts: 1503(12/13/05 6:03 pm)
Re: Needing to get back in the swing of things
Monday night we worked on g.h. katatetori kokyunage, shihonage, kaitenage (variations) and then we did some of the same kumitachi that Peter has been working on.

jd2b
Aiki Queen BeePosts: 1505(12/15/05 12:15 am)
Re: Needing to get back in the swing of things
Wednesday night Peter taught. Attack: g.h. katatetori.Techs: -- with uchi opening- kokyunage- uchi kokyunage- nikkyo omote and ura with uchi opening: I did this with a 4th kyu friend of mine. The omote you go under uchi then continue into nikkyo by circling the arm back up and around and down. You make a big circle like with ikkyo and then change your grip with your outside hand to a nikkyo grasp. Then finish like an ikkyo by not taking the hand up to your shoulder. The ura version you enter uchi and then take the hand to the shoulder and do a slight tenshin. You don't tenkan on this version.- shihonage omote (one handed version with a sweep to knee) My partner who's a transfer from another association and school did understand why we did it without the other hand. I told him it is more like a "connection" exercise. Which it is. You learn to lead your partner and control them with your grasp hand instead of just grabbing them and forcing them down.- hijiki otoshi: woo hoo breakfalls!! I love this throw if you can time it right, and the ukemi for it is really fun. Here, sensei emphasized trying to lead uke into your center and then stepping into them as they come in. I was working with a couple of new but not so new people who were afraid of the fall since the demo uke did breakfalls. They thought they had to breakfall which made them tense. I don't blame them though. I used to have the same fear. The one guy was newbie to our dojo and I think he was trying out a class. He didn't sign up so I'm not too certain if he'll return.- jiyuwaza with iriminage variationsWeapons:Bokken-more of the kumitachi. I'm still trying to get it. Sensei breaks it up into 3 parts and the get the first part and then the second is okay but then I get the uke/nage roles confused. And the third part well, I'm still lost. I was with my 4th kyu friend again. I found if I pressed the attack some she could feel it better than if I didn't. She more naturally responded when she felt attacked. I hope sensei keeps doing this until I "get it." I'd love to know at least ONE kumitachi. Otherwise I'm more like this:

Edited by: jd2b at: 12/20/05 12:24 pm

jd2b
Aiki Queen BeePosts: 1508(12/19/05 9:25 pm)
Re: Needing to get back in the swing of things
I taught the kids class today. Because of the Christmas and Hannakah holidays we only had 6 (as compared to 25) in class. One of the boys begged me to teach something with the jo. So after warmup exercises and rolling I taught them some jo nage. The little ones were particulary cute. Our brown belt helper did really well. He's the one with ADHD and appears to do better in a smaller group. He even was correcting the other kids when they started goofing off. I should tell sensei that as too many kids in the class is sensory overload for him. Then Peter taught the adults class. It was a mixed class but we had about 5 no kyu beginners, two black belts and two 1st kyus. Sensei taught techniques from a.h. katatetori. We did hitoe iriminage variations, iriminage omote with irimi opening, sumiotoshi with irimi opening, nikkyo ura with uchi opening. Then we got to do the kumitachi Peter has been teaching. It was just the first part so I didn't get confused.

Edited by: jd2b at: 12/20/05 12:25 pm
jd2b
Aiki Queen BeePosts: 1509(12/20/05 11:07 pm)
Re: Needing to get back in the swing of things
Tonight was the basics class and we had more people 1st kyu and up than no kyu. The ratio was 5 to 3. Jeff and Ron came tonight in addition to Richie. Jeff and Richie are sandan and Ron is a nidan, then it was us two 1st kyus. Attack: RyotetoriOpening: tenshinTechniques: Iriminage, kaitenage, hijiki otoshi, shihonage, and another iriminageJiyuwaza with everyone.The two beginners did really well in their jiyuwaza. Well, I felt really sloppy with mine. I felt like I lost my center a lot. But, the guys weren't going too easy either.

jd2b
Aiki Queen BeePosts: 1512(12/29/05 12:53 am)
Re: Needing to get back in the swing of things
I got back to Fort Lauderdale yesterday in time to catch the last half hour of class, but I didn't work out. I sat and watched. We had about 12 people on the mat and it was good to see that number there this time of the year.I took class tonight and a visitor from Woodstock taught since Peter couldn't be in tonight. He and his wife have been visiting for a few weeks and will be leaving in January. He taught a class with techniques from shomenuchi. I trained with our female guest from Woodstock all class as our guest instructor kept us in two groups. There were three other guys from my dojo and I think they were a little too intense for our female guest. Heck, one of the guys is almost too intense for me. I can take his ukemi but he wears me out fast. She has such a hard time with ukemi. She reminds me of myself when I first started. She has a distinct fear of taking ukemi especially forward rolls as she walks out a lot. It was nice to work with her, and our male guest kept the class at a good pace so I still got a good work out. While I was working with our female guest I made sure I lead her well and softly, but not patronizingly soft. I did my best to follow her energy and skill level, but still practice proper form and technique. I noticed if I went too hard she would pull back and stiffen up. I eventually found a good balance so she felt safe enough to practice her ukemi as the guest instructor worked a lot with her on her ukemi. He point out the importance of relaxing, but it was funny because she's like "I am relaxed." A lot of good pointers, though, that I could apply as well as far as following the lead so you can eventually reverse, being relaxed so you can feel that lead. I still need to learn to do this just at a faster pace.Technique-wise we worked on:--Shomenuchi iriminage omote and the we would switch partners. I got reminded to get the uke's heads. I thought to myself but he's falling out early and I don't want to crank on his neck. I hate it when people crank on my neck in iriminage. But I did, but this was with the guy I mentioned above so he could take it anyhow.--Shomenuchi shihonage omote and ura. The omote version we did a tenshin opening and with the ura we did a tenkan opening to cut uke's arm back and around. I got to be uke for this technique. woo hoo!--Shomenuchi iriminage omote with a tenshin opening. You start it like the shihonage omote but then continue drawing ukes arm around and slide in irimi with your front foot then tenkan into the throw.--Shomenuchi shihonage henka waza into iriminage. You go into iriminage when uke pulls their elbow down.--Shomenuchi sankyo uke attempts to reverse by pulling their elbow down then your maintain your sankyo grip and cut them down to the mat. Is this a henka waza? It sort of is since you are changing the type of sankyo you are doing. I was told to make sure to keep the sankyo than to turn it into a shihonage.--Shomenuchi nikkyo ura. On this version we didn't go for the elbow like in ikkyo ura. Rather you get the wrist and take uke down to the mat then back to your shoulder for nikyo. You do this to let the uke come up but then you apply the technique and as a result uke ends up applying it to herself. Also, I noticed that if I got a little under the arm and then turn it up and over you can get a similar effect as you do with going for the elbow.--Shomenuchi jiyuwaza.

Edited by: jd2b at: 12/29/05 1:15 am
jd2b
Aiki Queen BeePosts: 1512(12/31/05 11:49 am)
The last day of 2005
Today is New Year's Eve and I'm sick again, and it's worse than before. I'm more conjested in my chest and sinuses. There is no class today. Actually, we don't have a New Year's Eve class like so many dojos. I just think we don't have many people around. Most people want to go out some where in South Florida, I guess. Me, I'm stuck staying home coughing it out with the Time's Square celebration on television. I know it's a mad house there, but I'd like to at least once, go to Time's Square on New Year's Eve.

jd2b
Aiki Queen BeePosts: 1521(1/3/06 9:59 pm)
My first class of 2006...
Tonight we had 14 people in class and it was a wonderful and dynamic class. We had a good balance of beginners and advanced people. This was not one of those days where I ended up the lowest ranked person in class, and I'm 1st kyu. I even got to train jiyuwaza with the black belts as there were enough mid level ranked people to help the newer folks. So I got to join the 1st kyu and up jiyuwaza group! woo hoo! I even worked out with "him." While practicing jiyuwaza I could tell he was having a hard time with one of our sandans giving him a hard time, well, he always does that to everyone. While the sandan (my closest sempai) was tossing one of nidans, I reached out to him and told him, "see, he gives everyone a hard time." At that time, sensei called for seated kokyudosa, and we ended up together. So while, I'll always be tentative with this guy and watch out for his bad moods, I think I've gotten past a lot of my emotions towards "him." But, I don't think I'll still actively seek him out. Class itselt was very dynamic and a good work out. We worked on techniques from Morotetori. --Tenchinage: make sure you draw uke in first and step in and throw--Uchi kokyunage--Iriminage: let uke pass by infront of you--kaitennage omote and ura: with the uchi kokyunage opening, instead of leading uke into a forward throw continue cutting down and bring uke's hand up into a kaitennage throw--nikkyo omote and ura: I worked with my 4th kyu friend. We did this from a tenshin opening. As you step back tenshin draw uke's hands down in front of your center placing your forward hand on top of uke's hand. Grabbing it turn it over and bring uke's arm up in a circular motion. It helps to do it in one big circular motion without stopping. It's like ikkyo, but your maintain the nikkyo grip. I was playing with this a little and discovered a rythym to it. Once I described it to my friend she got it, too. On the ura version, my friend asked me if she did this on her 4th kyu test. I told her, well, sort of, you did it in suwari waza. It's good to see that she's starting to make connections like that between techniques. After class I was talking to my 4th kyu buddy about the number of classes she took last month, because I know I saw her in December, but she didn't put her hours down. She's worried she's going to be made to test for 3rd kyu and doesn't feel ready. I told her that sensei won't make her test if she really doesn't want, too, but also I need to know when she comes so I can keep track of people's attendance rates for sensei.

jd2b
Aiki Queen BeePosts: 1530(1/7/06 8:38 pm)
Re: My first class of 2006...
Wednesday, January 4,I got to class a little late today due to my temp job. But thank the Lords of Kobol I'm working and earninig money. When I arrived one of our yondans was teaching class as Peter wasn't there. Apparently he was out working on flyers for winter camp. But he did show up in the middle of class, but our yondan continued teaching. Mike was teaching techniques from shomenuchi. When I arrived they were working on kokyunage and I got on the mat right at the end. I really don't remember what happened next. ugh...For the last 30 mintues we worked on bokken.

Friday, January 6, Well, I finally made it to a Friday night class. It's one of my favorites but I haven't been going to it. Jeff, one of our sandans, taught. We had some newbies there and two of our young guys showed up about an hour into the 90 minute class. And Brian and Sally were there, too. We worked on shomenuchi, too. We did kokyunage, iriminage, ikkyo omote, kaitennage from a sankyo opening, sumi otoshi. I worked with Brian on ikkyo and he showed me a variation of the ikkyo pin. He's a pretty strong guy like Jeff and of course, I had then to go try it out on Jeff who although the pin worked he was refusing to tap out to give me a hard time. I sort of deserved it 'cause I was getting a little cocky. He always tells me to "not get cocky." I'd just grin and say, "you never let me "And of course, we did jiyuwaza for the last 30 minutes. I noticed with my jiyuwaza I've regressed a little since my 1st kyu test. I'm just not as "on" as I was. But I had one good go through by just running through the different shomenuchi test techniques -- iriminage, ikkyo, shihonage, kotegaeshi, kaitennage, ude kime. But I held my breath the whole time -- you never know when you have to use aikido under water. My plan for now on is just to reinforce my basic techniques then move into more advanced ones on jiyuwaza. My goal is to eventually do a variety of techniques without having to think about them.

Well, Friday night was the premiere of TNS of Battlestar Galatica It was awesome. If you have caught the new series on scifi yet you must. It's different and no way near as campy as the original. Although the original was great for its time.Anyhow, the weather in Florida is:

Saturday, January 7. I just couldn't get up for class. I just had to sleep. I'll go to class Sunday, though. I'm so not used to working regular full-time hours. For the past year I made my own hours and come and go when I pleased. But I'm making more money. I just hope the temp assignments keep coming. So far they want me back for Monday. Hopefully, they'll want me back a couple more days next week. I went to my Jenny Craig check-in this morning and I lost 2.8 pounds this week for a total of 9 pounds so far. Less of me next week. Also my JC counselor asked me if Aikido is like Tai Chi. I described it to her and then she asked if you punch ~she punches~. Then, I entered behind her and lead her around extremely gently into an iriminage ura up until the point we throw. Of course I didn't do the full technique to her. I told her to google aikido to find out more.

jd2b
Aiki Queen BeePosts: 1532(1/9/06 10:09 pm)
Re: My first class of 2006...
Monday, January 9.Still temping, but I still got off soon enough to get a good hours class in. Peter taught. We worked on techniques from ai hanmi katatetori. We had a good mix of advanced and beginners, mostly 1st kyu and up. We had four guys who are new, the other seven was one 6th dan (Penny!), three nidans and three 1st kyus. I got to work in the 1st kyu and up group on jiyuwaza at the end of class. I really have to work on keeping people in front of me. I was nice watching Penny, though. She has great movement. The techniques we worked on: Kokyunage; shihonage; iriminage then jiyuwaza. It was a nice low key class though. After class Peter held the Winter Camp meeting and plans are being made to get our tatami to the location.

jd2b
Aiki Queen BeePosts: 1537(1/10/06 11:26 pm)
Re: My first class of 2006...
Tuesday, January 10.Peter taught a good basics class tonight as we had a lot of lower kyu ranks and non-ranked folks on the mat tonight. He focused on ukemi - the basic rolls. Focus on keeping your rolls small and round. Then we worked on techniques from g.h. katatetori. We first did kokyunage, then kokyunage, then shihonage. I worked with one of my 4th kyu friends. It was on the second kokyunage, you know the tenkan forward roll version. She told me she was having problems with hitting her head on forward rolls. I watch and suggested that she stop looking at her knot and look at mine. Voila! It did the trick. She was thrilled and made a really good breakthrough. Looking at me did two things for her it got her head tucked more and her body positioned so that she would roll more sideways than straight. I worked with one 5th kyu guy on the first kokyunage, which Peter likes to call Hitoe Iriminage. Got a good workout with him. With the shihonage, Peter first had us do it one handed to work on connection and extension. I like practicing it this way as it really forces you to focus on doing the technique right instead of forcing it with your other hand. Good class. Able to focuse on details of techniques.

jd2b
Aiki Queen BeePosts: 1543(1/14/06 6:29 pm)
Re: Finally getting into the swing of things...
Well, I'm feeling good after last Friday and this Saturday. I took my regular Friday night class and we're starting to get a good group of guys again. You know, those who really want to go at it. For the past year and half the guys who started in this class didn't come back, apparently they decided it wasn't for them, and the guys who do like to go at it haven't been able to come. At times, Jeff can come off abrasive, but he really isn't. He just wants you to learn.Jeff taught techniques from shomenuchi. I was late, due to my new job (temp position but so far they don't seem to be making an effort to fill the position I'm filling. So cross your fingers on that one.). I get off at 5:30 and it's a 45 minute drive to get to the dojo. The South Florida traffic just won't allow me to get there any sooner. I get to the parking lot at about 6:15 and get dressed by 6:20 and warmed up an on the mat by 6:25. I got to watch the first techniques which was sankyo. Then Jeff worked on other techniques from a similar opening. He was emphasizing the whole night to raise both arms as you enter. At the end of class we did the "circle of death" but it wasn't so "death-like" because there was too many newbies and too many people about ten of us. 10 people attacking in jiyuwaza really slows things down. I was third highest rank that night. There was only one dan rank and that was Jeff. The other person higher than me was another 1st kyu who's been a first kyu for about 5 years now...about as long as I've been training. He's just never tested for shodan. He should be one, though. Then, there were three 2nd kyus, a 5th and three no kyus. When I was up for my turn Jeff would call out technqiues then "jiyuwaza" which means any technique. He did that to me a couple of times to start helping me with my shodan test...which is a while from now. But I start preparing now and working on my movement, spontanaity, and variety of techniques.Today, I taught the kids class and started working them on their test techniques. The white with stripes are two little 5 years olds and they still have learn to tenkan right. Our yellows got to work on their green belt techniques -- a.h. katatetori ikkyo omote and ura and the greens were working on their blue belt techniques -- a.h. katatetori nikkyo omote. I had some older higher ranked kids and they did shomenuchi iriminage and g.h. katatetori shihonage. Penny got on the mat to help me when she arrived as I had about 13 kids on the mat and it was just me. It was kind of weird to have Penny helping me and not teaching, though. At the end of class she lined up with the class and bowed out to ME!! THAT was weird.Penny taught the adults class and it was a classic "Penny class" as we call it in our dojo. You usually end up like this at the end of class: If you've taken a seminar with her she actually slows down a bit and explains things. In our dojo, she does that a lot less. Although today, she would stop the hold class and let us take a break. Or mix in some suwari waza to make us slow down and take a break. I was pretty much kuput about 5 minutes beforew class is over. It's actually a pretty advanced class and today we had a lot of advanced people I was the third lowest rank with everyone else ranked above me from 1st kyu to yondan. We had about 12 folks on the mat. It was a good class and hard work. I got to take a few breakfalls and did them pretty naturally. I threw in some shihonages and miss one shihonage breakfall. I did a regular fall, but thought...damn...missed that one. I'm still not spontaneous enough to take it as a breakfall.

jd2b
Aiki Queen BeePosts: 1545(1/17/06 9:05 pm)
Re: Finally getting into the swing of things...
Monday, January 16Peter taught tonight and we had more beginners in class than advanced folks even though tonight was a "mixed class." He worked us and pushed us. We did jo kumitachi at the end of class. I wouldn't dare explain how it went. I got to be uke for sensei, though and it was too funny as I kept flinching and he kept trying so hard not to get frustrated. Tuesday, January 17Even though tonight was a "basics" class out of 14 people in class 10 were 1st kyu and up. Peter started the class and Jeff taught the last 20 minutes. We worked on techniques from shomenuchi. --kokyunage (hitoe iriminage)--nikkyo omote and ura--iriminage with variations--makiotoshi--kotegaeshi--reverse kotegaeshi--ogoshi koshinage--iriminage with chokeJiyuwaza...first we broke up between 1st kyu and up. This made three groups of about four. We had two groups of advanced people. Then Jeff had us split up into two groups and had me and Mr. You Know Who be nage in our own separate groups. If was fun, all I remember is Jeff telling us to move, move, move.

jd2b
Aiki Queen BeePosts: 1549(1/18/06 9:28 pm)
Re: Finally getting into the swing of things...
Wednesday, January 18 Well, Peter, couldn't teach tonight because he has the cold/flu that's been going around Fort Lauderdale. One of the girls at the office have it, too. So, one of our nidans taught. We practiced techniques from tsuki. Bob focused on different openings from tsuki -- irimi, tenkan and tenshin. We practice kokyunage (sokumen iriminage) from tenkan, ikkyo from tenshin, kotegaeshi from tenkan, hiza tate kokyunage from irimi, tai otoshi from tenkan, shihonage from irimi. Then we did jiyuwaza.

jd2b
Aiki Queen BeePosts: 1561(1/21/06 9:02 am)
Re: Finally getting into the swing of things...
Friday night was Jeff's class. I'm going to start taking it more again. It was a small class this week with Jeff, another 1st kyu, me and two newbies. The newbies trained for a year in another school and actually took their first test there, but they said they want to retest in our system because it was a lot different from what they do here. We did techiques from Yokomenuchi -- this is my most challenging attack to get the most variations. Jeff started the class with nikkyo you enter irimi blocking the stricking arm with both arms and then step under drawing uke's hand down and into nikkyo. Then we did gokyo omote. This time we did a different variation of the irimi opening. Enter with one hand to the solar plexus and the other to the striking arm then do gokyo. There was two different rationales for each opening. The first you block and go under right away if you stay there uke can come around and reverse you so its really important to do it in a fluid motion. With the second you enter irimi but this time with a strike to their body (well, it's more like an extension than like a punch) It's important on the second one to have the strike to the body to keep uke from coming around. Then we did what I call a "reverse" kokyunage. As uke strikes yokomen, nage steps in and drops their rear arm down at uke's elbow. Jeff emphasized to just let your arm drop and keep it heavy (i.e. weight underside). After you do that you tenkan into the person and throw like kokyunage. Then we did ude kime with a tenshin but almost a irimi tenkan opening. Make sure you draw uke around. Then we did as a group kotegaeshi and shihonage. Finally we did jiyuwaza. It was a good class and not as intense as it usually is, but it was good to be able to really focus on yokomenuchi since that's been my nemisis.Well, I'm off to get ready for Penny's class this morning. Well, I'm back and Penny did a great class dynamic as usual. She really just emphasized the different openings from different attacks today no real focus on any techniques. We started with katatetori, then ryotetori, then morotetori then each of those in hanmi handachi. Then we did ushiro tekubitori then ushiro ryokatatori in hanmi handachi. The we got to work on a couple of different reversals. One we started from ikkyo then uke would switch into another technique. Uke would turn so the arm is behind the back, take a step until you get enough moementum from nage then turn back into a technique. I just did ikkyo, but then my partner and I discovered I could do kaitenage and iriminage from the same opening I was creating. My partner was creating openings more towards kotegaeshi and iriminage (tenchinnage variation). We also did a henkawaza where you start out doing ikkyo, then uke is resisting and you step under uchi draw them down, strike to uke's head eliciting uke to strike shomen again then do another ikkyo. Fun fun fun..and we're have our annual Chinese New Year party tonight!!!

Edited by: jd2b at: 1/21/06 2:28 pm

jd2b
Aiki Queen BeePosts: 1578(1/27/06 9:48 pm)
Re: Finally getting into the swing of things...
I haven't posted yet this week. Since I started working fulltime at a pretty awesome lawfirm, I leave work and go straight to the dojo, and by the time I'm home I'm too tired to write. I'm going to start take Tuesdays and Thursday off and spread my aiki workouts over the week and so I can take the weekend classes. Usually, I don't take them because I'm usually too tired since I usually train Monday through Friday. Any how good classes this week. Peter was sick and didn't teach Monday and Roger taught. He taught classes from tsuki and off course we got to do some koshis. I haven't done those in a while. I don't know what we don't do them more. Wednesday, Peter taught and we had a good class. We worked on yokomenuchi. And tonight Jeff taught and we worked on Shomenuchi and off course we did jiyuwaza. Jeff is trying to get me to work on my posture, which one of the things I really need to work on.

jd2b
Aiki Queen BeePosts: 1587(2/5/06 7:18 pm)
Winter Camp was AWESOME!!!
As some of you may know we had to postpone Winter Camp to February due to Hurricane Wilma striking the South Florida area a week before it was scheduled to occur. Well, things finally came together and the seminar started on Friday. Due to a change of location -- the Holiday Park gym to the hotel ballroom and due to the number of people sensei added in extra classes and included extra dan and "kyu" (yeah, right) classes. Friday--Yamada Sensei kicked the seminar off in the first "kyu" class. Sensei announced at the beginning of class that he was "colored blind" and that he couldn't tell the difference between white and black belt so everyone could train. Sensei emphasized taking uke's balance as your entered irimi from the ai hanmi grab. He taught basic techniques from ai hanmi katatetori we did kokyunage, kotegaeshi, shihonage and nikkyo. At the end of class Sensei announced that he was no longer "colored blind" and that the next class will be for dans only. In that class he taught the same techniques from attacks. Also, I took the opportunity to take some pictures, and so did Karen. Karen and I were like the Yamada Sensei paparazzi. "Yamada Sensei, look here!" Well, we didn't really do that, but we wanted to at least. The third class was taught by Donovan Waite Sensei. We worked on the uchi opening and did ude garuma from standing then from suwari waza. Then we did nikkyo ura from standing then nikkyo ura from kneeling. Donovan emphasized moving both your hand and foot at the same time. What I realized if I don't over think what I'm doing and just imitate his movement that the technique falls in place much easier.We then had a four hour break for lunch. Clyde Takeguchi, sensei kicked off the afternoon classes. I really enjoyed his teaching method. He would have us work on various openings of a technique to a strech and then we would all break up into groups. I remember one set with iriminage he did three entering "depths". On the first you enter irimi but infront of nage and you do kokyunage, then the middle you do iriminage, then the deepest you end up behind nage you do more of an ushironage throw. Also, he emphasize the balance taking points on each. Then the next two classes were by Shibata Sensei. I made it through about half the class, and I don't really remember much of what we worked on. I tried to take pictures but it was so hot in the room that my camera lens fogged up. Saturday-- the longest day of the seminarPenny Bernath kicked of the day at 9:00 and taught what we call at Florida Aikikai a "Penny Class." But considering we were practicially on the same size mat we have in dojo. (We used our tatami from the dojo plus about 12 other old mats from another school.) Penny started the class with the tenkan throw and she ased us to work in groups of three. Well we had so many people on the mat we worked in groups small enought to get through the line quickly enough before she had us do something new. I was in a line of about 6-8 people, and we could only use about two tatami length ways. After tenkan throw, we did it in hanmi handachi, then we did the irimi throw standing then hanmi handachi, then we likewise did: tenshin, uchi and soto. Then after doing each one individually we mixed up all five openings. After that Penny had us do any technique from g.h. katatetori (the same attack we've been using the whole time) then while utilizing the same openings perform a technique. The next two classes were by Yamada Sensei and like the previous day we had a "kyu" class and a dan class. It's "kyu" because everyone is allowed on the mat. I took the kyu class. I really don't remember what we worked on. And once again during the dan class I was taking pictures.Then we had testing: only about 11 tests in all, which is really small amount of tests for Winter Camp, but many people either tested at the seminar in New York in December or at their own dojo. We had three people test and they all did really well. I was really happy for my one friend who tested for nidan. He moved away to Texas last year and we all really miss him. He's like an uncle to me as I've always been able to talk to him about my Dad, Mom and other family stuff. Also, or guy going for sandan had really nice clean technique and really had a great test. The shodan had the biggest change. Sensei actually had an ukemi test where he would call up another higher rank to throw the shodan candidate around. They all did great and they all passed. The evening classes were kicked off by Shibata Sensei and this time I took his first class. I really don't remember what he taught but I am beggining to really grasp what he's demonstating. For example we worked on gyakyu hanmi kotegaeshi and reverse kotegaeshi. He demonstarted both at the same time. I began to realize that he was demonstrating different but related techniques. The next class he taught was for all dans, and this time I was able to take pictures.And Peter Bernath closed the evening teachnig techniques from morotetori. We first did variations of kokyunage. He did an irimi and two different tenkan variations. Then we did a one-handed shihonage. Here, I was working with this really big man -- tall, and big. The thing with this technique is it depends on nage holding on as it is more of a connection exercise. I think I annoyed him a bit because I was trying to tell him how it works. He finally asked me where I traind and I said with Peter. He was like, "oh, so you're familiar with this technique." I said, "yes, and I know what he's trying to teach you." Well, we didn't much any where and thankfully the technique changed soon. We were on to line drills this time. One was two different versions of kaitennage with a tenshin opening. You would perform it on each one of nage's hands -- the top one or the bottom one. Then the night was over and on to the cocktail party. Thankfully, Karen allowed me to stay in her room along with Mary and Gaia (from AikiWeb). I got to take shower in their room along with my friend Mina. I went out with some of my dojomates for dinner after the cocktail party then back to the hotel. I think the four of us stayed up till about 11:30 talking, and I know we all could have stayed up all night talking. The next morning we had two 90 minute classes. Shibata Sensei taught the first class and Yamada Sensei taught the second. I took part of Shibata Sensei's class but then got off the mat because I got really moody and grumpy and little anxious, too. But I did get to practice with Gaia here. I had fun training with her. I need to get off the mat. But I got back on for Yamada Sensei's class, and I'm really glad I did. It was a really great class. We worked on techniques from Shomenuchi. He did a lot of "break fall techniques" sumi otoshi, maki otoshi and uki otoshi. Lots of fun, and for the first time at a winter camp I didn't bow out and avoid the breakfalls. I just jumped right in and got throw into them like a big girl! Well, at the end of the seminar Yamada Sensei announced that Winter Camp will be in February again, and at the hotel in the ball room. Everyone really liked having classes in the same hotel -- although we could have used more mat space. I think this helped add a lot more camaraderie to the seminar than previous ones.Also, I had a really great time hanging out with Karen, Mary, and Gaia. They are some pretty great ladies even though they like to wear bathing suits and to swim in the "cold" Florida Winter. See you all next year!!!!!

jd2b
Aiki Queen BeePosts: 1602(2/11/06 9:56 pm)
Post -Winter Camp Trianing this week...
MONDAY Did I mention that sometimes the seminar "continues" after it's over. Well on Monday night Donovan Waite sensei taught class. We did iriminage omote from a.h. katatetori, yokomenuchi and morotetori. We used the same footwork and technique for each. It was interesting to explore the similarities between different attacks from the same technique. Then we did kokyunage from the same attackes. In the first set we entered irimi, but first we drew uke towards our enter by taking a slight tenkan. I got to work with Gordon from the Aikido List on the morotetori version. Make and opening and let uke fall into it. On yokomenuchi Waite Sensei pointed out that I was turning 360 degrees instead of just 180 degrees on my tenkan. We don't need to keep turning. Although, I felt like I was taking my tall lanky partner's balance that way. But I explored his method. On the second set of kokyunage -- it's a version where your uke keeps going past you. I was working with a beginner on yokomenuchi and it was really hard working him as he seemed to want to feel it but even though he is big I didn't want to throw him too hard. Also, I was leading him very well. Waite Sensei emphasized keeping his striking hand pinned against my body infront of my center so he wants to get shoulder to shoulder with me. On the morotetori version Waite Sensei told me to use my partner's energy and move as soon has he begins to touch me. On morotetori, I tend to wait for the grip to happen instead of just moving. I really do enjoy Donovan's aikido. I have to get his Aikido3D program.TUESDAYPeter taught tonight and we worked on techniques from g.h. katatetori. He seemed a bit inspired from Shibata Sensei and kind of taught his way. Sensei told me this later on, so my observation was correct. I can't believe I can actually recognize Shibata Sensei's style because in the past his method has always been very confusing for me. We did for kokyunage varitions -- two irimi, and two tenkan, then varitions of our forward roll (aka zempo nage) type throws, two versions of kotegaeshi (regular and reverse), iriminage variations and then two types of h.h. nikkyo variations. On the zempo nage set, I worked with a visitor, from Venezuela orColumbia, Cesar. He was at the seminar and stayed in town until the next Sunday. I fun training with him because he was throwing me into breakfall after breakfall. Even though I didn't know him I felt comfortable and safe enough to follow his lead. He even threw in some surprises and I was really happy that I just went with it. He did tire me out, though. I haven't trained intensely like that now that I can. I also got to work with Gordon from the Aikido List again on the h.h. nikkyo. I had fun working with him, too. After I drew him down to the mat he would get right up immediately as if he was trying to attack me again and I would go straight into the nikkyo (omote or ura). He also gave me a good pointer on the pin to make sure I really draw the elbow into my body.THURSDAY:Tariq Baig, one our yondans, taught class. He always teaches a "slow" class because his focus usually is on moving from your center and control your uke's center. We worked on techniques from shomenuchi and practiced s.w. ikkyo omote, s.w. ikkyo ura, kokyunage (irimi opening), kokyunage (tenshin opening), kotegaeshi, iriminage, and tantotori shomenuchi kotegaeshi (two versions). During iriminage I got to work out with Luis from Miami Aikikai. Tariq was empahsizing pushing up uke's arm while you pin there head. Luis was giving some good-hearted resistance and given the smiles when I threw him he seemed happy that I was throwing him. If I didn't get a smile from him I kind of felt like he "fell for me." I got worn out training with him. I like to push my intensity level higher and that seems to be happening the more advanced I get. I guess I really need to work on my cardio more and increase my endurance some more.FRIDAY:Well, I got to the dojo, but I got off work late and by the time I got there there wasn't really enough time for me to train. Which was fine with me as I noticed Jeff was teaching a couple of guys (Milty and Cesar) some judo throws. I don't like those. Booo-hiss.

jd2b
Aiki Queen BeePosts: 1864(8/7/06 1:53 pm)
Re: Post -Winter Camp Trianing this week...
Well, I haven't posted for a while. I've been busy as a bee. I won't complain, though. I'm working a great job and getting good pay, and I still have time for aikido, even if I do make it to class late.But, today, I'm taking a personal day and just giving myself a rest -- a mental rest. I've just been playing on ebay, and trying to figure out this whole Yuku thing. I think the board will be a little generic again until I can get it figured out. I need to at least figure out how to create my own skin.Anyhow, this weekend we have kyu testing coming up. Well, at least I don't have to test for a kyu rank again, but I've been helping a friend get ready for her 3rd kyu. She's doing really well, but not as well as she thinks she is. She's come a long way when she first started. I remembered she was one of three women who started at the same time and she had the hardest time with the rolls, but she hung in there. Now, she's coming to the mixed classes and Penny's classes which can be really overwhelming if you don't know what's going on. So, in getting her ready for 3rd kyu, I've been learning which 3rd kyu techniques I know or don't know as well as I thought. Now, I of course know how to do them, but to explain them is a whole other ball of wax. I had the hardest time explaining the hanmi handachi shihonage ura. You know, when you do this thing with their wrist and it hurts really bad? Well, I couldn't explain it any much better. But, we enlisted the help of a nidan and he taught it to her right.For my training, I haven't really thought too much about shodan expect when someone asks when I'm going to test. I tell them next year, which it has almost been a year since I tested for 1st kyu. This time last year I was going nuts with Peter who was still trying to decide whether I was ready or not.Now, I don't want to rush my shodan after seeing the tests in Chicago and then hearing about the tests at Summer Camp. I really want to do well and to do my best. I don't want to let Peter down either. This is a biggie since it will be my first in front of Yamada Sensei. But, I'm more concerned about the ukemi portion of the test since I don't feel my ukemi is totally up to par. I still hold back when I'm training with someone advanced especially if they throw fast and I don't know what's coming. Trying to still be sensitive enough to know what's coming is pretty hard especially when a scary mean dan rank is trying to throw you. I still bail, not like I used to all they time, but I bail when they go fast and all out. I still can not keep up with that. But after the test this week I'm sure my Friday night class instructor will keep working with me, but it's hard to get my ukemi up to par when people still "go easy on me." I've gotten to the point, where I pout when they don't go rough. I take it as an afront that I'm not good enough and they have to treat me like a token aikidoka. I'll go to class tonight. I'll get to talk to Peter afterwards and ask him about the shodan tests at Summer Camp

jd2b
Aiki Queen BeePosts: 1868(8/8/06 10:34 pm)
Re: Post -Winter Camp Trianing this week...
Well, I haven't been able to ask him about the tests. I don't want to seem too anxious, but we're having a seminar this weekend and maybe I can talk to Penny and get the scoop on this whole new testing thing. Regardless, of whether they will actually test ukemi I still need to work on it and have it up to par so that I ever end up taking ukemi then I won't have to worry about it, too much.Tonight was a small class. It rained A LOT today. The parking lots where I work were flooded and I had to walk through about 8 inches of water, which soaked my boots and jeans. But, I get to class and hardly anyone was there. We had one of our temporary dojo members (those visitors that come down and stay a while in Florida) in class today. He's really nice and great to train with. And we had a couple of newbies and us "oldies." Since class was small Peter just had us all circle up and we just took turns in a circle. Not really jiyuwaza as he would demonstrate a technique and we would go a few rounds then switch.

jd2b
Aiki Queen BeePosts: 1870(8/9/06 9:51 pm)
Re: Post -Winter Camp Trianing this week...
Today was a great class. Wednesdays have been the "big class" for a while, but I haven't been able to make Wednesday nights for a few weeks because of work. The class had a great energy. But I was floored when Gordon Wormser wanted to work with me on the jo kata and counter kata. I just don't know what to say when I'm complimented. I'm afraid if I say thanks that I'll sound cocky, but is not responding (I'm like really?) can be cocky, too. Tonight I was talking to Peter and he said that I have come such a long way. In the past he said that you could just tap me and I'd fall over and now I've become centered and strong. Hugh compliment that I wasn't expecting. I really need to go to class Friday night so Jeff will keep me from getting cocky.

jd2b
Aiki Queen BeePosts: 1871(8/10/06 8:22 pm)
Re: Post -Winter Camp Trianing this week...
We had a really great class again tonight. We had a couple come in from out of town for the seminar and we also had a couple just starting their first day. Penny was there, too, so I got to train with her. Oh, and out of the 13 people on the mat 5 were women! Wooo Hooo!!! It's always nice to see that. We worked on techniques from ai hanmi katatetori. I got a litte frustrated with a new transfer to our dojo. He's really nice and he had some really good points. But I just wanted him to throw me around. Also, I would go to roll he'd throw me into a breakfall then I'd go to breakfall and he'd let go for me to roll. I was so I just had to tell him, "please either let me roll or let me breakfall." He just kept switching back and forth and it was driving me nuts. I know he's just trying to adjust and he's been out of training for a year, but still. He's nice and has a good attitude. Hmmmmm...although I think my current cocky 1st kyu/ brown belt syndrome probably wore on him. But it's all okay. I think he will adjust. And after class, I ran my friend through her 3rd kyu test and she did great! She really has it down really well. I was so proud. I just called each technique and she did them well and with confidence.