More Weapons to come

After the weekend I am in two minds, focus on Ki and the Spirituality of Aikido or build confidence and practice more with bokken and jo.

As with all our classes there is lots to learn and little time to cover it all, although eventually all will unfold and become part and parcel of our training.

I enjoy Ki development, as it is fundamental to building posture and stance, and enables us to maintain balance when performing techniques. It gives the ability to centre on our inner strengths, which are instilled in all of us, although seldom called upon.

As speed of attacks increase, then so our ability to escape becomes more vital. However escape is the primary path, getting a technique into play is secondary. As always if you're not there, you don't get hit. Aikido is "The Way of Harmony", although maintain the harmony within yourself and move to maintain it always.

Our class is growing, and with this space for weapons practice is reduced. Therefore I will bring other weapons to the class to bring the urgency of weapons attacks. I am looking at batons and possibly short swords.

If you have further ideas, please add here as I am always open to ways to improve my teachings, whether these are positive or critical, all helps you get what you require from the classes.

I also need to find my camera and get some recent pictures you all at work, please bring your cameras to the next few sessions and we'll see what we can get.

Class Dynamics

Summer seems to have passed us by, although the last weekend brought out the shorts and sunglasses and got me sorting my garden out at long last.

As the Aikido class goes I am now finding that the class dynamics and selection of topics to choose from varies with whoever walks through the door.

I have a topics and lessons planned in my head, then 10:30 comes and all goes into the pot to deal whatever I think of at the time, although there is always a base plan that I try to follow.

With the increasing diversity of skills and levels within the dojo, I am trying to ensure that all get a fair chance to keep interests up and progress at the necessary level. However I am also maintaining the fundamentals of Aikido and keeping an eye out to ensure that these basics are still thought of and practiced.

So whatever your grade, you will find that I cover fundamental stuff and emphasise these basics to ensure they are firmly installed.

To keep the flow of the class, this weekend will be the start of an earlier class to run through, some weapons and advanced techniques. This coming weekend I have decided that various Jo and Bokken techniques will be addressed, so see you all at 09:30, if you are interested in this. Otherwise normal class starts at the usual time 10:30-12:30.