Aikido Class Note 1

Class Note at Central Coast Aikikai Gosford Dojo explained by Jimmy Poolman of Sutherland Dojo, 2022

I had heard often of Tatsu San since I had started at Aiki Australia’s Sutherland Dojo, after a break from Aikido that included the Covid period, and moving to the area. So I was looking forward to the opportunity to meet and train with him during his visit.

As part of his goal this trip was to make new friends, I was also pleased to be able take to Tatsu San up to my old Dojo in Gosford, the next city north of Sydney, both for him to meet some new friends, and also for me to catch-up with old friends. It was a windy spring afternoon as we drove through Sydney from it’s southern fringe in the Sutherland Shire, and started up the highway north. We stopped at the Brooklyn bridge on the Hawkesbury River for a break and to admire the scenery before continuing on. We stopped again at Gosford on Brisbane Waters for a coffee by the water after a long drive before heading to class.

The Class

Once on the mat, Tatsu San stressed the importance of Manaka (engagement of centre), extension (Shinchoryoku) (Aiki-age) and the integration of gravity as the core of his focus during his visit, and as an essential core of Aikido principles that if correctly utilised and understood (more than one lifetime may be required here), your Aikido will improve.

After the warm up, we started on an exercise that emphasised the importance of connection of centre (Manaka), gravity and extension movements.

With flat palms in centre (Manaka) making contact palm to palm with Uke, we explored the reduction of strength experienced as one’s force is taken outside of ones centre by having Uke work through various positions through 90 degrees from facing to being at your side. It is clearly apparent that the further out of your centre you are the less you are capable of exerting an influence on Uke’s posture, and the more capable Uke is of influencing yours.

Gravity exercise – one and two person at either side trying to resist downward force applied with downward extension (fist on palm) and a straight back using gravity to influence Uke to show the importance of being centred to be able to utilise gravity based techniques, by extending your centre through their resistance with confidence (challenging but a great exercise than genuinely shows the effectiveness of properly applied technique). Really helps to instil confidence that even a smaller person can have a strong impact on a much larger attacker, if they keep a fluid mind and body and focus on the basics.

Extension exercise and centre exercise – Gyaku Hamni start, Irimi entry cutting through jodan (Aiki-age) An excellent connection exercise, I found it critical to connect my centre with Uke, rotate hips to face them (feels similar to connecting gears, is a definite ‘notch’ when they’re in the right spot for you to cut through) then cut through Jodan USING YOUR CENTRE and EXTENDING OUT. If a proper connection is made and maintained, this is powerful and clearly shows the relationship between connection of centre and gravity, a relaxed but firm extension, and proper Hamni.

Techniques

We worked on two techniques that further cemented the principles of Manaka, Extension and Gravity (leverage);

Iriminage – through Jodan utilising centre engagement and aiki-age principle, cutting through Jodan in a circular movement

Shomen Uchi Ikkyo – Using Te-Gatana “rolling” cut around bottom of tricep /elbow (Aiki-otoshi) then continuing cut to ground. I found that proper control of arm all the way through (constant connection) was important to control Uke and their centre/movement and highlighted the importance of connection for being able to influence Uke in this and all techniques and highlighted the importance of studying and refining the basics.

Suwari-waza Kokyu-ho – We finished the class with the traditional Suwari-waza Kokyu-ho using the extension principle we had examined throughout the class, with a variation starting at knees your knees in a position of “weakness” and extending through their centre with Aiki Age.

Overall it was an excellent class, and it was a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the fellowship and community of the Aikido family we are all privileged to be part of. I am grateful for the friends I have gained and the lesson I’ve learned on my Aikido journey, and we enjoyed a cheerful Chinese meal after class with a couple of cold and frosty beers to finish!

Many thanks to Tatsu for his considerable effort and contribution travelling to Australia to be part of re-opening the Aikido connections in the post Covid world, I look forward to spending more time with him on the mat when next he joins us at the mighty Sutherland Dojo!

Jimmy Poolman 1st dan Aikikai
February, 2023

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