Class Record: Gyokko Ryu Ichimonji No Kamae + Ichimonji No Kata + Keto + Daisho Sabaki

Class: Thursday 19th June

Firstly we took on some long range dive rolling, trying to clear a tatami with good form and ending with Zanshin.

We then dedicated some time to specific kamae practice – Ichimonji No Kamae from Gyokko Ryu. The form was practiced methodically and demonstarted text-book style. Ichimonji No Kata was practiced with this in mind too looking at distance, timing, angles, targets, footwork, sabaki etc.

I picked “Keto no Kata” from Gyokko ryu Koshijutsu to show and this led Alex to teach dynamic dakentaijutsu attacks, defences, counters, strikes and kicking. Interesting to see how alll this led to effortless throwing which shows you what good throwing involves. We dipped into the Ten Ryaku Uchu Gassho aspects of Gyokko Ryu too and Alex spoke a bit about this concept of looking at the techniques with different feelings in order to be in/out of the moment.

We continued with a glance at Takagi Yoshin’s Daisho Sabaki movement and ended with a show of gyaku waza by everyone in the class.

Though provoker: Got a large mirror at home?

– Ali Martinez

Class Record: Ukemi + Togakure Ryu Ukemi Gata

Class: Thurs June 5th

Aoife was asked to lead rolling last night so we did zempo kaiten, ushiro and yoko.

Alex has a plan to have us do “kuten” or handsprings by the end of the Summer so we got to practice some preliminary ukemi -dive rolls, handstands and rolling from handstands. Controlling your body under extreme conditions is the obvious goal here and it’s going to build nicely on our zempo ukemi. Indeed, according to Japan resident Shihan Duncan Stewart at a semniar on Shinden Fudo Ryu in Sydney, 2006, Takamatsu Sensei was required to do kuten on finger-tips for his teacher as one of the SFR tests.

I was asked to pick a technique from the Togakure Ryu and so did Itto Dori from the Ukemi Gata. I’m pretty sure we did this with Nagato Sensei in Japan earlier this year so hopefully I did it with the feeling and not just the word-for-word description in the book.

Alex expanded on the importance of the Ichi no kamae in this technique and how it can lead to aspects of distance, timing and angles. Shuko were added as well as some koppojutsu. We all had to show our technique and it was interesting to see how a bad ichi no kamae might mess up the D.A.T.

Thought provoker: Have you ever used the mirror in the dojo or at home (or a video camera) to check your kamae?

– Ali Martinez

Class Record: Kihon Happo Nagare + Goshinjutsu + Happo Biken

Class: Tuesday 3rd June

Some ideas from the recent seminar with Doug came out here. We were asked to play with distance angles and timing in order to take look at the Kihon Happo in a way that was more responsive and flowy than the form we first learn it in. This lead on to a talk on self-defence ideas – goshinjutsu – of spacial awareness and types of attacks and using natural kamae and tactics to avoid hostile engagement.

Personally I recommend http://www.nononsenseselfdefense.com/ for a one-stop shop on the many areas covered on notions of self-defence and how your budo might fit into it, or not.

After tea we practiced some kenjutsu – tenchi no kamae vs tsuki which had it’s own timing, distance and angles to work with. We did this at half speed in the end in order to wrok with more control and to allow us to see things better in training.

Thought provoker: Is your budo applicable to self-defence techniques?

– Ali Martinez

Class record: Santo Tonko no kata, kieru no kankaku, randori & bojutsu

As the subject line says, last night we looked at bits and bobs from the weekend, including waza from the santo tonko no kata, kieru no kankaku, randori & bojutsu. Everyone was a bit tired from the intensive training over the last few days, so it was a relaxed class.

There was also a longer than usual talking bit in the middle, as we discussed some of the things Doug had to say regarding the practicalities of training and how important it is to keep things vibrant, alive and healthy. Lots of fun.

– Alex Meehan

Class Record: Bo + Choshi Dori + Nage Waza

Class: Tuesday May 6th

On a hot Summers evening Alex skipped formal ukemi practice and we went straight into taijutsu using the bo to manipulate kukan and mess with uke’s rthymn. We carried on this feeling with taijutsu and this led us to do some randori-like training where the idea was to occupy the space uke might have for recovery or counter-strikes or general balanced movement. This would lead to good positioning and “techniques” rather than having a pre-planned technique in mind.

Alex made an important point about the willingness to let go and to be hit or mess up. This letting go feeling was carrried through very well by Rex when he was asked to show something and he gave us some nice flowing nage waza. We practiced this with some technical modifications and use of footwork by Alex.

Thought provoker: Did you get hit during the randori? How did it affect you mentally?

Ali Martinez

Class Record: Ukemi + Koku + Takagi Yoshin Jutaijutsu

Class: Thursday 10th April

Continuing our robust ukemi sessions we did some ukemi  under pressure with rolling from strike attacks and drills on “last-minute” ukemi.  Remember, real ukemi doesn’t happen by choice!

We had a glance at some Gyokko ryu movement with Koku – the first Kata in the Shoden level. “Glance” is a good word to describe this kata. Plenty of kyusho attacks on this one too… but done in a way to effect structure. After some formal kata practice we loosened it up a bit  and saw hopefully how our natural kamae and footwork can work for us with the same feeling.

“Tatami-san” donned the hakama and haori as Alex showed some ideas from Takagi Yoshin Ryu. One may have noticed some  similar kyusho attacks as in Koku, but with a completely different angle.

Thought provoker: If real ukemi aren’t done by choice, can you say the same about “real waza”?

– Ali Martinez

Class Record: Ukemi Waza + Muto dori

Class: Monday 07th April

Another robust ukemi session started off the class with a good 20  mins on fluid rolling drills and breakfalls too. This led us into using ukemi as attacking techniques a-la Togakure Ryu. So we saw how really we would unbalance the uke with a block or strike before entering their space and exploiting their loss in balance using ukemi. There were versions of Osote Nage and Harai Goshi in there.

After tea we did some Koto Ryu style muto dori against various cuts and thrusts. This can be seen as  a sort of ukemi practice too where ukemi is “receiving” and the same control of balance and timing and space comes into it.

Thought provoker: How long did you spend on the ground after going there?

– Ali Martinez

First Saturday Class with Rex Saturday 5 April 2008

To my delight we had an attendance of 8 people for the first saturday class; 6 beginners and Dave’s O Rourke and Millist. It was great to have the 2 Dave’s present as it gave everyone a chance to train with someone with more experience and skill.

After a quick warm up which also included the stealthy inclusion of 2 kata from sanshin we began with Ukemi practice which went well and Zenpo Ukemi was introduced. Everyone got the hang of Zenpo very quickly and we closed ukemi section with a drill that involved a continuous movement from forward roll into zenpo, rolling off to the side and then back rolling to start position. Everyone enjoyed the drill and acquitted themselves well.

After rolling there was practise and exploration of ichimonji no kamae, hicho no kamae, and jumonji no kamae. Attention was paid to tweaking the form as everyone had a grasp of the techniques. In particular buyu were encouraged to find a relaxed, balanced and comfortable expression of each of the kamae for themselves while still observing form.In all subsequent classes we will be exploring the importance and role of balance distance and timing in the kihon.

Before breaking for tea some time was given to the Omote Gyaku as required for 9th kyu test. After a short tea break, some more rolling to shake out the cobwebs and the lesson moved onto throwing. It was great to have the two Daves for demonstrating and again for juniors training enjoyment ;-).

O Goshi gave us the oppurtunity to explore the importance of commanding distance, and the point was made (and received and practised), that it’s possible and in the case of O Goshi, desirable, to get off line by CLOSING DISTANCE with uke. This sets up the throw and everyone got this and throwing was much improved.

This took us to 12.30. Since next saturday is kyu grade testing, between 12.30 and 1pm we went through the entire 9th kyu syllabus. Very smooth. We will be doing this again at the end of our class on saturday 12 April. Grading will follow.

I had a great time and look forward to seeing everyone again next saturday.

– Rex Dunlop

New Saturday Class tomorrow!

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

Class Record: Kaiten + Kenjutsu + Yoroi Kumi Uchi

Class: Thursday 4th April

We did all sorts of forward rolling as a warm-up on an already balmy evening – including “oten” or cartwheels. The importance of kamae/zanshin was pointed out throughout.

We did some basic kenjutsu drills from dai-jodan, seigan and hasso no kamae. Within this we looked at cutting, recovering, distance, rhythmn breaking, footwork, timing, countering,  thrusting.

Alex donned his Yoroi and some of us used our dogi worn a certain way to mimic the compact feeling of weariing armour. Our movement changed completely as we looked at similar kenjutsu techniques done before break, but now with armour in mind. We also did some taijutsu with armour and it was interesting to feel the difference as uke. Everyone was asked to show  their techniques.

In the end myself and Chris were asked to “spar” with the padded swords to show certain aspects of kenjutsu kamae.

Thought provoker: How was your rhythmn during the kenjutsu drills?

– Ali Martinez