Today, in the Aikido class, our teacher gave an interesting exercise. I was asked to place the palm of my hand on my opponents shoulder, and he was asked to grab above my elbow with both his hands and pull down. I managed to resist, but my hand bent a little and I was straining my arm muscles.
Teacher explained that when you resist with just your arm muscles, then you have to use lot of strength. Then he asked us to imagine that water is flowing from the center of our body through the arms and going out from the palm. The water represents energy.
Now when my opponent grabbed my arm and tried to pull, he was not able to bend my arm. I did not even have to use strength to resist him. Teacher said that when you move from your center it is not easy for your opponent to overpower you.
Teacher also said that it is important to use your center while standing in ready position. He stood with both his hands on the side of his body, and asked two strong guys to lift him. They just lifted him easily. Teacher said that these are strong men and their muscle strength is stronger than his. Then he took position again and asked the guys to pick him up again. This time both the guys were struggling to pick him up. It took them longer and lot of strength to pick him up. Teacher said that if you use your energy correctly (by centering) then your opponent will not be able to get you off balance.
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Showing posts with label Aikido. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Aikido. Show all posts
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Friday, April 3, 2009
Little Miss Anu
While surfing the net searching for Aikido related material, I came accross this lovely blog called little miss anu. Anu was an aikidoka from my dojo. Her poems are very touching. She was suffering from renal failure and was on dialysis. Yet her passion and zest for life is amazing.
It has been three months since I have started practicing Aikido. Anu has captured the experience of practising Aikido in her post spirit of Aikido. I couldn't have captured it better. You will get a glimpse of my teacher and a typical practice session in the dojo.
Unfortunately this beautiful soul passed away in December 2006 in an accident. Though I have never known her or met her I couldn't help feeling connected. May her soul rest in peace.
It has been three months since I have started practicing Aikido. Anu has captured the experience of practising Aikido in her post spirit of Aikido. I couldn't have captured it better. You will get a glimpse of my teacher and a typical practice session in the dojo.
Unfortunately this beautiful soul passed away in December 2006 in an accident. Though I have never known her or met her I couldn't help feeling connected. May her soul rest in peace.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Ukemi
When the nage applies an Aikido technique, the uke takes a fall. This act of the uke is known as ukemi.
As a beginner I am quiet awkward at taking an ukemi. As a nage also I tend to think about the move and at times it gets confusing. The teacher does not pair two beginners because both of them might not do the technique correctly. Moreover, the beginner Aikidoka can learn from the experienced partner.
Some of the senior Aikidokas are quiet helpful and show me the moves if I don't get it. I would have expected this from all Aikidokas but that is not the case. There is one guy who avoids pairing up with a beginner. If you approach him he will pretend that he did not see you and go to some one else. Once he did not have any choice but to pair with me. While practicing he had an eye on the others. At the first available opportunity he ran off to some one else even though the teacher had not asked us to change partners. I was a bit amused at his selfishness.
There are a couple of Aikidokas who don't show much regard to the beginner and tend to rough you up. Couple of times my arm muscles hurt because of this. Another beginner who had started practice around the same time as me had the same complaint. He was wondering if it would be useful to point this out to the techer. I told him it was not a good idea. Once we start getting the basics right then it should not matter if our partner is rough.
As a beginner I am quiet awkward at taking an ukemi. As a nage also I tend to think about the move and at times it gets confusing. The teacher does not pair two beginners because both of them might not do the technique correctly. Moreover, the beginner Aikidoka can learn from the experienced partner.
Some of the senior Aikidokas are quiet helpful and show me the moves if I don't get it. I would have expected this from all Aikidokas but that is not the case. There is one guy who avoids pairing up with a beginner. If you approach him he will pretend that he did not see you and go to some one else. Once he did not have any choice but to pair with me. While practicing he had an eye on the others. At the first available opportunity he ran off to some one else even though the teacher had not asked us to change partners. I was a bit amused at his selfishness.
There are a couple of Aikidokas who don't show much regard to the beginner and tend to rough you up. Couple of times my arm muscles hurt because of this. Another beginner who had started practice around the same time as me had the same complaint. He was wondering if it would be useful to point this out to the techer. I told him it was not a good idea. Once we start getting the basics right then it should not matter if our partner is rough.
Aikido Practice
In a typical training session two Aikidokas face each other to practice Aikido technique. The person who attacks is called uke and the person who defends using Aikido technique is called nage. Nage employes a throw or pin technique demonstrated by the teacher to defend and the uke recieves the technique or takes a fall.
So far I did not find any specific sequence in which the techniques are taught. In each class we learn few new techniques and practice them. This is the basic training.
Aikido is one martial art which cannot be practiced alone. You need a partner to practice.
So far I did not find any specific sequence in which the techniques are taught. In each class we learn few new techniques and practice them. This is the basic training.
Aikido is one martial art which cannot be practiced alone. You need a partner to practice.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Aikido
Couple of months ago I joined the Aikido of Bombay dojo. Aikido is a Japanese martial art developed by Morihei Ueshiba. At the heart of Aikido is the Eastern concept of Ki - the universal creative principle. Aikido seeks to unite this universal Ki with the Ki found within each person. Literally, Aikido translates as "the way of harmony with Ki".
Aikido is performed by blending with the motion of the attacker and redirecting the force of the attack rather than opposing it head-on. Aikido movement emphasises on spherical rotation characterized by flowing, circular, dance-like motions. These pivoting, entering and circling motions are used to control and overcome the opponent.
Aikido is not as simple as it appears. When the teacher demonstrates a move, it looks quiet simple and doable. But when I am on the mat facing my opponent, I fumble to make the move. However, I am learning and having fun.
Aikido of Bombay
Aikido is performed by blending with the motion of the attacker and redirecting the force of the attack rather than opposing it head-on. Aikido movement emphasises on spherical rotation characterized by flowing, circular, dance-like motions. These pivoting, entering and circling motions are used to control and overcome the opponent.
Aikido is not as simple as it appears. When the teacher demonstrates a move, it looks quiet simple and doable. But when I am on the mat facing my opponent, I fumble to make the move. However, I am learning and having fun.
Aikido of Bombay
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