Motion Aikido

This will be a weekly class on motion practice (nagare Keiko) for students of Iwama style aikido.  We will build on the fundamental static (katai) and weapons (buki waza) practices that we are all familiar with and we will focus on practicing the unique physical and mental skills that must be acquired and developed when practicing aikido in the motion setting.  These include: 

• Sensing ma-ai (proper distance)
• Connecting ki
• Awase (matching ki)
• Making complete movements to maintain control (sensing and reading your partner, applying kokyu)

We will use familiar basic techniques as the starting point to illustrate what happens when we add motion skills to our response.  We will also build on and add to the motion skills that are built into our familiar kumitachi practice.  Motion practice also requires a shift in our mental and physical approach to ukemi, so we will highlight these dimensions as well.