Aikido Kokikai of Rochester

Jo Kata 1, Steps 13 – 16

The attacker is weakened but presses on, we are at the ready but offering an opportunity for them to opt for peace (13). They choose to strike, we move slightly offline to our left, sweeping the jo as they close distance, deflecting the blade (14). We strike the mind that commands the blade (15), we flip the jo over and drive them back again with tsuki (16).

Jo Kata 1, Steps 8-11

The offline and hantai strike in movement (8) created a new sight-line to see a fresh attacker approaching, step offline and slap down on the attacker’s weapon (9). Play with the direction, try this moving to the inside or outside of uke (inside shown). See which feels more natural to you. Continue with a tsuki to their mid section (10). Using the twisting strike (practicing your kote gaeshi movement) strike down on the attacker’s right wrist to weaken their sword grip (11).

Jo Kata 1, Steps 2,3,4,5

(3) Move offline to your right, Striking Yokomen, the attacker parries to their left, invite commitment with tenkan around the point of the parry connection over the attacker’s “third” foot, holding the attacker’s ki as long as possible while moving well offline to your left, rotating the jo using your left hand to strike yokomen hantai (4). The offline movement opens a sightline behind you allowing you to see the new attacker approach. Transition to a simple driving strike towards the attacker face to drive them back while moving further offline (5).

Bokken

The Bokken is a wooden sword made to mimic the iconic blade of the Samurai, the Katana. It is often considered a practice weapon or a sword substitute. Being made from hardwoods that are specially selected for their strength, crush resistance, and impact strength, these objects are weapons in their own right. When practicing, subtle differences in how the bokken is used to parry and strike are determined by whether one is using it in place of a shinken (live blade) or as a bokken. Primarily this difference comes into play with the orientation of the edge. When mimicking a real sword edge, one uses the sides of the bokken for any weapon to weapon contact as one would not practice endangering the sharp but brittle cutting edge of a shinken. When using as a bokken, the structure and strength of the bokken invites using the edge for contact.

In our context, we generally treat the bokken as sword. When handling the bokken the edge is treated as if it were live, only touching it when first picking it up to examine for any structural flaws that may have developed from use. The sword is carried pointed down safely between techniques. Though movies and TV have indelibly marked our consciousness, flailing the bokken about in swashbuckling type movements is never appropriate. The bokken should be treated with a degree of seriousness as unsheathing a sword is no different in gravity than un-holstering a firearm.

The movements in kata reinforce the fundamental building blocks of our techniques. Open hand techniques are further enhanced by studying their roots in open-hand defenses against the sword. Balance, focus, extension, and what we call ki are all sharpened by the proper use of a simple but elegant piece of wood.

We had so much Energy in the dojo Saturday the power company called to thank us for feeding back into the grid!

We got to welcome home Ann whom we haven't seen since she moved out of state over a decade ago. She was only in town for the day so we are touched to have her make time on her itinerary to hang with us.

We also got to welcome a brand new student, welcome Jess!

Aikido cannot be practiced alone, so by nature we build a welcoming community to build a healthy dojo. That means you are welcome here. Come enjoy the art of Aikido while making lifelong friends from all walks of life.

At a business conference they had a what I initially thought was an odd choice for a keynote speaker. He was the conductor of the Boston Philharmonic. He was actually quite engaging, and one phrase has stuck with me ever since. He spoke of “one cheek playing”. He related that playing the notes was not enough. Unless you were moved by the music, you felt it throughout your entire body, the music would be flat, absent of character. One cannot sit still, fully planted on both cheeks; the keys are not enough.

Like music, Aikido takes practice, exercises, fundamentals before we get to that point. This can be discouraging. We know something is missing. But with perseverance we begin to hear the notes. Later the melody. Eventually we feel the music.

The path is there. But no one can climb it for you, and no one will see the view you see.

Everyone's experience is different. We bring our individual distinctiveness with us. Our history, our present, our future. But we can communicate and learn from those around us. We can benefit from our mistakes and accomplishments if we pay attention.

We all started on the path at some point. Never feel intimidated from starting because others are further along on the path, we just started earlier and we are eager to help you ascend more quickly and efficiently than we did.

Start the journey with Aikido Kokikai Of Rochester.

Tuesdays
6:30pm-8pm
Wednesdays
6pm-7:00pm
Thursdays
6:30pm-8pm

Saturdays
9am-10:30am

250 Cumberland St, Suite 216Rochester, NY 14605-2803
[email protected]

Practicing Kata With Purpose Requires Understanding Motivation.

Where Is You Opponent?
When Turning, Why Are You Turning?
Are You Blindly Turning And Attacking?
Did You Have A Sight-line To See The Attacker You Are Countering?

Our Movements Should Always Take Us Offline Of The Attack. They Need To Provide Situational Awareness By Angling Us So We Can See Areas That Were Previously Blind Spots.

This Will Change The Kata From The Fixed Orthogonal Look Of The Basic 101 Version That Teaches Us Generally Which Way To Face And Which Response Is Next. 101 Kata Is Useful, Necessary, But Incomplete.

Adding This Layer Reinforces Important Strategic Lessons For Your Open Hand Technique.

Tonight’s (5/28) CPR/First Aid Class is cancelled. The class will be rescheduled. Details to follow.

However, please join us for regular practice.