Is Jo similar to using a hoe?

Last night Don sensei had us working on Jo kata. We practiced katas one, two and three for most of the class. During kata number three, I was reminded or visualized the dropping block as something similar to the movements you'd perform while using a hoe! Rather than attacking my partners jo, I instead dropped my jo while pulling back in a sweeping motion. It kept me on the line with my partner and put me in the correct position for the next movement.

Pretty wild in my opinion.

Healthy Treats

As I strive to keep to my aikidoka lifestyle I find quite a few temptations to stray from that course while I'm off the mat. Now, I'm not talking about anything serious, no drugs or deviant behavior, but I do have a tendency to indulge in the occasional cocktail or my sweet tooth. Since I just found out yesterday that I'm ill and I'm now on antibiotics, I've decided to look again at my off the mat practices in order to live more healthily off the mat.

This is where I start finding substitutes for candy bars and fried foods. I'm talking about gourmet nuts. I know it might not seem like a big deal, but I often find it easier to grab a Snickers and forget about something a bit healthier. Luckily for me though, every time my sensei invites me in to his place after class he almost always serves cashews and cheese.

Tonight I started thinking about returning the favor and getting my sensei some fancy cashews or something along those lines for Christmas. I found a site called Zenobia NutsOnTheNet.com that sells quite a few varieties of nuts: peanuts, cashews, almonds, and pistachios are all available in time for the gift giving season. Your health conscious friends will love it.

My Newest Tanto

So, last week my sensei gave me a tanto to inspect, and I must say I was impressed. The fit and detail of the fittings was great, everything was snug without being too tight, the tsuka ito is some of the tightest I have ever seen. This Tanto is probably the best blade I have in my collection, which to be honest, isn't really saying much. The overall length is 15.5" with a blade length of 11".

Here are a few images you all might enjoy:

I've been trying to cut back, but...

Lately I've been trying to cut back on my coffee consumption, I think it has something to do with the caffeine and my recent reactions to it. Every time I do try to cut back I always end up starting back up again, and now that I've switched over to decaf I might actually be able to cut down on my coffee intake.

Over the past two years or so I've really been into best gourmet coffee, I've selected whole beans only and stayed away from all those chain coffee houses. I must say I thought it was great, I supported local coffee roasters (who produce the best tasting coffee btw) and was able to really feel like I was able to contribute to others, especially when I bought fair trade coffee.

Here's where the cut back thing comes in, I always felt a little jittery when I drank regular coffee, like I took in a little too much ki, and artificial ki at that. Now, I drink one cup of decaf a day brewed from the best coffee beans I can get so I still make a meaningful contribution to the coffee industry.

Shodan Test Randori

I just found a very interesting, Aikido Channel on Youtube and I thought I'd share this example of a shodan test randori. All in all I thought the movement looked good, especially in such a tight space. Do you have any thoughts? I'd like to know.

HandmadeSwords.com - My experience

Last week I received a Tanto from HandmadeSword .com and I would like to share my review of it with all of my visitors. First I'd like to say that the website over at Handmade Swords looks great, they definitely thought out the layout and set it up right.

But...
Fancy websites aren't really what practitioners are looking for in a company that sells user blades. We're (practitioners) looking for blades that use traditional, solid construction methods. Blades that can stand up to kata and even cutting, without having to worry about the reliability of all to components. Let's face it, no one wants to cut with a time bomb.

The Verdict :

First and foremost I have to say that the price was right. I paid, in total $65 on my new tanto. Handmade Sword sells on their website and on eBay, I checked out eBay and got this piece for twenty bucks under retail. The service was extremely fast as was the shipping.


Now on to the quality. This blade arrived as stated, it does show layers in the steel, but I'm sure they're acid etched and the finish was rough. The inside of the saya was extremely rough, I can see wood putty or glue all over the inside of the koiguchi and from the way it feels during a draw I'm sure theres more within the saya. As for the fittings, the ito was low quality, the habaki has a bit of play in it, and I'm pretty sure the saya lacked any horn reinforcement where it should be.

Now, don't get me wrong, I understand that for the price I paid I can't really expect much more than I got, but I do want to give an honest opinion. Here are a few images that you might enjoy!

Wow, it's been a while again.

Sorry for the lack of posts last month, I've been prepping for my shodan exam and haven't had a lot of spare time to write. Here's a list of all the requirements.

Rokyu (30 hours/3 months)

Tenkan
Shomenuchi ikkyo and iriminage
Munetsuki kotegaeshi
Katate dori shihonage
Yokomenuchi shihonage
Kokyu tanden ho

Gokyu (60 hours/4 months)
All previous techniques plus:

Shomenuchi nikyo
Kata dori ikkyo and nikyo
Munetsuki kaitennage

Yonkyu (60 hours/4 months)
All previous techniques plus:

Shomenuchi sankyo and yonkyo
Yokomenuchi ikkyo, kotegaeshi and iriminage
Ryote dori tenchinage and shihonage
Katate dori ryote mochi kokyu tanden ho

Sankyu (70 hours/4 months)
All previous techniques plus:

Ushiro ryokata dori ikkyo
Ushiro ryote dori shihonage
Ushiro kubi shime kotegaeshi
Ushiro waza kokyunage
Nikyu (80 hours/6 months)
All previous techniques plus:

Yokomenuchi nikyo, sankyo and yonkyo
Koshinage from shomenuchi, yokomenuchi, katate dori and munetsuki

Hanmi handachi:

Katate dori shihonage
Ryote dori shihonage

Suwariwaza:

Shomenuchi ikkyo
Kata dori ikkyo
Yokomenuchi ikkyo

Ikkyu (90 hours/6 months)
All previous techniques plus:

Jiyu waza:

Standing
Hanmi handachi
Suwariwaza

Tanto dori:

Munetsuki
Shomenuchi
Yokomenuchi


Requirements For Yudansha Examination [top]

Aikido has a basic structure, kihon waza, which allows you to study the fundamental principles of the art. The structure of this training process is the same as a scientific formula. As a formula is an exacting international language that allows scientists to communicate and explore the depths of scientific principle, kihon waza is an international language allowing Aikidoka from all over the world to communicate and explore the basic truths of Aikido. If this basic structure is lost, Aikido is lost.

During the examination you are expected to demonstrate an understanding of the principles of the art through this very exacting structure of kihon waza, clearly and precisely, not your personal ideas or your personal expression. Yudansha examination is not performance art.

The following points are critical:

*

The execution of formal kihon waza, an understanding of it’s proper application and of the fundamental principles it demonstrates - most importantly kokyu; musubi; irimi tenkan.
*

Hanmi at all times; before, during, at the conclusion of and following the technique.
*

Control of your own center; control of your partner’s center; control of the technique.
*

Application of power appropriate to the attack.
*

The proper pinning technique to demonstrate the conflict is finished.
*

Timing.
*

Zanshin.
*

Attitude.
*

Martial Awareness.

The Proper Role of Uke in Yudansha Examination [top]

Taking ukemi for yudansha examination is a very serious responsibility. Each technique is developed to study a specific direction and application of force. As uke you must understand this and have the ability to give an honest, strong and focused attack that is appropriate for the technique required.

A weak attack is unacceptable. A deceptive attack is unacceptable. Since you know the technique your partner is being asked to demonstrate it is easy to stop it’s execution.

There are no friends or enemies during examination. It is not uke’s job to make value judgements. You do not take ukemi to make your partner look bad. You do not take ukemi to make your partner look good. Do not jump into a spectacular fall if the power is not there. Do not make a point of taking a bored and resisting fall to make it look as though your partner didn’t really throw you. Either way is dishonest. Remember, you take ukemi to avoid injury. You are not taking ukemi to show off. Uke must only do what is appropriate to the situation. This requires much training and much soul searching.
Time and Technique Requirements for Dan Promotion [top]

Shodan (120 hours and 12 months after receiving ikkyu)

A candidate must have attended at least two seminars with Saotome Shihan and/or Ikeda Shihan since attaining ikkyu grade. During the seminar it is the responsibility of the regional instructor to inform the Shihan so that he may observe the candidate more closely.

All basic techniques and previous requirements plus:

*

Kumi tachi: First five basic kata.
*

Tanto dori: A different technique from each - shomenuchi, yokomenuchi, tsuki, two
different techniques from ushiro.
*

Tachi dori: A total of five different techniques. Attacks will be shomenuchi, yokomenuchi,
tsuki.
*

Randori: Three people attacking.