April 2008 training schedule

April 2008 training schedule

Week one
Wed 2nd – 7pm to 8.30pm Beginner and intermediate training (SD)
Thurs 3rd – 7.30pm to 9.15pm Intermediate and black belt training (AM)
Sat 5th – 11am to 12.30pm Beginner and intermediate training (RD)

Week two
Mon 7th – 8pm to 10pm Intermediate and black belt training (AM)
Wed 9th – 7pm to 8.30pm Beginner and intermediate training (SD)
Thurs 10th – 7.30pm to 9.15pm Intermediate and black belt training (AM)
Sat 12th – 11am to 12.30pm Beginner and intermediate training (RD)
Sat 12th – 1.30pm Rank testing for Kyu grades

Week three
Mon 14th – 8pm to 10pm Intermediate and black belt training (AM)
Wed 16th – 7pm to 8.30pm Beginner and intermediate training (SD)
Thurs 17th – 7.30pm to 9.15pm Intermediate and black belt training (AM)
Sat 19th – 11am to 12.30pm Beginner and intermediate training (RD)

Week four
Mon 21st – 8pm to 10pm Intermediate and black belt training (AM)
Wed 23rd – 7pm to 8.30pm Beginner and intermediate training (SD)
Thurs 24th – 7.30pm to 9.15pm Intermediate and black belt training (AM)
Sat 26th – 11am to 12.30pm Beginner and intermediate training (RD)

Week five
Mon 28th – 8pm to 10pm Intermediate and black belt training (AM)
Wed 30th – 7pm to 8.30pm Beginner and intermediate training (SD)

(AM – Alex Meehan, SD – Shane Duggan, RD – Rex Dunlop)

Of particular note this month:

1 – Two new classes
April will see the formal start of two new classes at the dojo – designed specifically for new and intermediate students and taught by Shane Duggan (4th dan shidoshi-ho) and Rex Dunlop (4th dan shidoshi-ho). As the dojo continues to grow in size, these classes are designed to make sure students of all grades and abilities get instruction specifically tailored to their needs.

2 – Kyu grade testing
Testing for kyu ranks will take place at 1.30pm on Saturday April 12th. Please let me know in advance if you’d like to be considered for testing for your next rank.

General notes

Fees
It’s possible to pay for each class individually, but if fees are paid for the month in advance on the first training session of the month, each class costs significantly less. It is not obligatory to attend any particular number of classes per month, but training at least twice a week is recommended for optimum progress. Reduced fees are also payable for people in full time education or out of work.

Open mat training
Open mat training is not a class, but rather an opportunity for members of the Dōjō to get time to practice what they feel they need to work on. There is no teacher at these sessions, but senior grades will be on hand to supervise. Sessions are announced in the main classes during the week and on the discussion board. Note: Open mat training is open to all students of the Bujinkan Meehan Dōjō, but only to students of other Dōjōs of 3rd Kyu brown belt and above.

Monthly workshops
A workshop is usually held once a month to allow time to explore a particular topic in depth.

Other classes
Occasionally, weekly classes are offered in particular aspects of Budo Taijutsu – these are announced in class. There are also occasionally classes in Japanese language and culture, first aid, meditiation and more.

- Alex Meehan

Class Record: Gyokko ryu Koshijutsu + Ken/Keri Kudaki + Shinobizue

Class: Thursday March 27th

A fairly lively dynamic class with  elements of Gyokko ryu and Koto ryu coming out naturally under attacks that might be found outside of the usual Bujinkan basics. We looked at Ten Ryaku Uchu Gassho and Tenchi Inyo from Gyokko Ryu. Distance and space manipulation became important through the class and we saw how the Bujinkan idea of atacking the limbs might work.

We looked at ways of using the saya to control uke while being able to use the blade too. Various ways of using shuko also came out.

Thought provoker: We did “unusual” kicks/punches in this class. Do I really need to use quotes there? Why are they unusual?

- Ali Martinez 

Class Record: Ashi dori + moguri waza + syllabus

Class: Tuesday 25th March

Did some taijutsu that had elements of Koto Ryu and Kukishin Ryu in it… essentially attacking the center line so as to take balance and allow entry in to trap the foot in various ways. It could be seen that this technique would work well in armour. Use of decending movement – moguri – also helps.

For syllabus work the seniors looked at free Kyoketsu Shoge Waza with just the blade. We discussed the feeling needed with using this weapon, the lack of formal techniques or kata and applied it to some tonso gata from Togakure Ryu.

Thought provoker: What’s your kyoketsu loop rate now? Have you tried your other hand, different angles etc.

- Ali Martinez

New classes starting this week . . .

Just a reminder to let eveyone know again that there will be two new classes starting at the Rathmines Dojo this week.

Tonight, Wednesday March 26th from 7pm to 8.30/9pm with Shane Duggan

And

Next Week . . .

Saturday, April 5th,  from 11am to 12.30/1pm with Rex Dunlop

These classes are open to all existing members of the dojo and will be geared towards beginner’s and kyu grade students, although people of all rank are obviously welcome to attend.

Good luck to the guys with their new classes!

Class Record: Muto Dori + Randori

Class: Thursday 13th March

A bit late on writing this class record but Matt showed us the basic of  Atekomi tonso kata from Togakure Ryu. We studied the tai-sabaki of this and then did Kote Uchi Tonso Gata.

 Later on we did playing with some basic strikes in a loose, free flowing manner.

Thought provoker: What have you felt so far is different between Koto Ryu, Gyokko Ryu and Togakure ryu?

-Ali Martinez

Class Record: Ukemi + Musha Dori + Keri Kihon + Kyoketsu

Class: Tuesday March 18th

After some basic ukemi with some fine-tuning we  studied Keto  from Koto Ryu shoden gata. This kata has a lot of ideas in it and it was a good platform to examine basic kicking drills. So we looked at the structure, distance, the target area, the timing, the footwork, the hips etc.

The kata also opened up some variations of musha dori - and the timing of it allowed us to play with the kyoketsu .. just using the blade as an extra limb and ignoring the rope/ring for now. Seeing this weapon as a training tool rather than a weapon per se really helps improve footwork and “zanshin” I found.

Thought provoker: How does bag/pad kicking differ from using a partner?

- Ali Martinez

Class tonight cancelled

Please note that there will be no training tonight (Wednesday March 19th) at the Rathmines Dojo. Shane Duggan was to start his class this evening, but he’s temporarily off sick, so this will probably start next week instead. Get well soon Shane!

– Alex Meehan

Happy St Patrick’s Day!

Hi all,

Just a quick note to say Happy St Patrick’s Day to all our friends in Dublin and around the world.

Also, please note that there is no training tonight or next Monday due to bank holidays – instead, training will take place tomorrow. Check out the schedule for more information.

– Alex Meehan

Class Record: Santo Tonko + Koto Ryu Koppojutsu + Syllabus

Class: Thursday 13th March

We looked at some Santo Tonko ideas in Togakure Ryu and messed with the timing to allow balance breaking both pysically and mentally. Alex related this to how street-smart criminals might operate.

We examined 2 of the Koto Ryu Shoden Gata  Setto and Keto saw important it was to go back and look at the kihon kamae of this school. The dan grades did this during the syllabus portion of the class. We saw how our strikes can be pretty hard and how our footwork can also lead us to taking balance without the need for hard strikes.

The strike and kicks involved seem basic on the surface but when you consider all the different ways that uke’s structure is changed you can see that many types of kicks and strikes emerge as a possibility. We found too that the idea of “ki-ken-tai-ichi” literally “sword and body as one” or for us “strike and body as one” is massively important here and Alex  showed us this.

Though provoker: How can punching a bag help with “ki-ken-tai-ichi”? (Hint: that may be a trick question!)

Class Record: Ukemi + Koto Ryu Koppojutsu + Kenjutsu

Class: Monday 10th March

We did some interesting rolling drills with a partner holding one arm as you rolled over it. This came form a technique that involved being thrown on a muso dori. Later on we had some advanced ukemi done from an lateral attack that threw the uke head first with itemi waza….. a classic case of zempo ukemi being the only option to prevent injury.

Our study of Koto Ryu was with Hosoku and Hoteki. It was  a chance to practice structure breaking uke nagashi, footwork that drives the body for strikes and locks, and fairly hefty throws.

In between we practiced with the tachi sword and footwork  and saw how Seigan no kamae could keep us out of trouble against secondary cuts.

Thought provoker: Did you make any contact with the kukaki ken? Ever do any drills with this? What syllabus is this in?

- Ali Martinez