Techniques
Unsoku - Foot movements
The basic foot movements of Aikido comprise of 3 sets of 8 movements. The exercise teaches avoidance using quick, sharp movements. The three sets are forward/backward, sideways and corners.
Key points:
- Flex your knees, as if skiing
- Move by sliding, not stepping
- Always use sharp movements, no matter the speed of the count
- Move after the count, not on the count
- Be centered at the end of the movement, do not be off balance
- Both feet should be flat on the mat
- Keep a good upright posture at all times
- Look straight ahead, not at your feet
Tegatana Dosa - Basic hand movements
The basic hand movements, Tegatana Dosa, comprise of 5 sets of 4 movements. The exercise teaches base hand and arm position and motion used in all Aikido techniques.
The sets are:
- Straight strike - Shomenate
- High side strike - Jodan
- Middle circle block - Chudan
- Low push - Gedan
- Cross block and corner full strike
Key points:
- Flex your knees, as if skiing
- Always use sharp movements, no matter the speed of the count
- Move during the count, not after
- Be centered at the end of the movement, do not be off balance
- Both feet should be flat on the mat
- Keep a good upright posture at all times
- Look straight ahead, not at your feet
- Keep an "unbendable" arm
- Keep a strong hand blade, tegatana
Ukemi - Breakfalls
Breakfalls are an essential skill to be mastered earlier, rather than later. It provides the confidence to practice aikido safely. There are
The breakfalls are:
- Front roll, from a kneeling position, staying down
- Front roll, from a kneeling position, getting up
- Front roll, from standing, staying down
- Front roll, from standing, getting up
- Backwards fall
- Side
- Kotegaeshi
- Sumiotoshi
Kihon no Tsukuri
The Tanto Randori No Kata (junanahon)
The following 17 techniques form the basis for tanto (knife) randori practise in the dojo. These economical but effective techniques are taught first as kata and then through various drills and forms of randori practise. This gives the student the opportunity to develop the skills of evasion, breaking of an opponent's posture and balance in a fluid, 'live' situation where the outcome is not pre-determined. Through this combination of learning techniques formally in sequences of movement as kata and then using them freely, as the situation demands, the student can internalise techniques and make them their own.
Atemi Waza
Atemi Waza (5)
Here tori (the defender) applies pressure to one point to disturb uke's (the attacker's) posture and throw him to the mat.
