AIKIDO OF ROCKFORD HAS CLOSED

With the Aikido club being down since the start of the pandemic, it is with profound regret that I now announce the "closing of the doors," for Aikido of Rockford.  For those in this locale, who would very much like to pursue the study of this martial art, I recommend our brother club, in Harvard, IL.  

31 jo Kata from Saito Sensei, Iwama Style Aikido

Many techniques in the Capital Aikikai style involve a body movement which emulates the movement of haso kamai in jodo.

This video is a lesson on jo kata.
Aikidoists are not practicing jodo, nor are they emulating combat situations.  They use the jo (short staff) and boken (sword) to better learn hand techniques.

Moriteru Ueshiba Inspires

A while back I remember watching a video in which Moriteru Ueshiba was showing how to do some basic techniques. I thought it odd when he showed iriminage that his arm went out to his side as much as it did. The reason I thought it odd was because when I watched him do iriminage earlier, his throwing arm stayed in front of him, in his center. I guess there's a difference between how to show a technique and how to do it fluidly. As I watched this video, again I noticed how his hands stayed in front of him. The ease with which he moves inspires me.

I originally came across this video at Aikicosmos. It was posted on the G+ Aikido community. The man who posted it on YouTube, Guillaume Erard, composed the beautiful music.

Yoshi Shibata Sensei on Rotating Through Uke's Center

Sometimes I come across something that seems so vital I know I just have to learn "that." When I saw this video by Yoshi Shibata Sensei, the first half drew me right into that experience. Shibata picked this up outside of his Aikido, but shows how valuable this it is for our practice. Rotating through uke's center happens all the time. I guess some people make it look easy.