Training in Saigon, in the absence of a common language or a particularly motivated and ambitious training environment, I think a lot about how I should be structuring my own training regimen. Knowing that I am heading for Belize where I will need to create my own opportunities for aikido practice is another factor. I had better be sharp when I get to Belize if for no other reason than that I will need to convince others of the value of aikido as a martial art.
So I am looking at structure in training and I will revisit that structure from time to time to modify or expand it as my understanding allows.
To begin with, I am breaking down training into categories of flow:
Kihon Waza (Basic Technique)
This is the starting point. Uke and nage work cooperatively to create an ideal situation for mastering the text book version of the technique. Unfortunately, I think most aikido stops here and kihon waza becomes 99% of people's training.
For myself, I want to focus my kihon waza on few key ideas:
Off the line
Attack the center (Atemi is a must to get the right distance and alighnment for throwing)
Take Balance (through both atemi and extension/ projection)
Lead to Kuzushi (tipping point)
Give uke the space and motivation to fall
Further, I especially want to perform kihon waza in a smooth, controlled and continuous manner - no herky jerky interruptions. I am striving to use committed resolute atemi to inform the structure of every technique.
Kihon waza can be performed statically and dynamically. Grabbing attacks ususally are practiced from a static start and striking attacks from a dynamic one. I want to mix it up. Sometimes I need to start statically and force uke to apply a strong grip. Other times I want to respond by blending with uke's movement and never allowing a good grip. Either way I need uke to attack with a clear intent.
Jiyu Waza (Free Technique)
This is a must. It's one thing to perform a technique when the attack is pre-arranged. It's something else to move appropriately when you don't know what the attack will be or which direction it will come from.
I think randori is the final outcome of jiyu waza practice. To get there, there are smaller steps I can take and incorporate on a regular basis.
Core Technique
I don't have a better word to describe this. To me, some techniques are just much more practical and efficient in an open-ended situation. They are quick, direct and very malleable in that they require only the slightest modification to adapt to uke's evolving attack. Irimi Nage is an example. It doesn't matter a whole lot what uke throws at me. I just have to move and take the technique.
On the mat I can incorporate this into daily practice. If I am practicing general technique, I can include five or ten minutes of having uke throw anything they want at random. My response is always the same, Irimi Nage.
If we are working on kokyu, then my response might be Kokyu Nage #4. For koshi, I focus on Koshi Nage #4 or #8. As much as possible I take it to uke. I don't really even need to wait for the attack.
I can up the pace and the stakes by working with two or more uke.
Futari Garami
Working with two or more uke, I now implement all of my core techniques. Again, I take it to uke. No waiting around for the attack.
Randori
The way I understand it, randori is not much different from futari garami except that maybe the pace is quicker. Ukes do not necessarily proceed in an orderly sequence but attack all at once as best they can.
Kaeshi Waza (Counter Technique)
Countering someone else's technique really demonstrates the weaknesses in the mechanics of the technique. Knowing the weaknesses helps to tighten them up.
The most elemental way to incorporate this into daily practice is to keep an aiki mindset when acting as uke. I mean flow with tori's movement. Don't simply hang there like dead weight. Don't lock down and try to thwart technique. Instead, go where they lead whether they meant to lead you there or not. Keep the mind open to the moment where their control can be usurped.
A regular example of this is with Koshi Nage #3. Tori leads my arm across my center. For some reason, they tend to lead my arm out and up without taking my balance. As the arm comes up I have the opportunity to turn my position into a basic kokyu nage. I can choose to take it or not to take it, depending on tori's skill level. I don't want to frustrate them excessively and ruin their practice although I do want them to see the flaw in their technique and correct it.
The other more direct way to practice kaeshi waza is simply to save five or ten minutes to directly practice a particular technique.
Sutemi waza is included as kaeshi waza.
Henka Waza (Changing Technique)
In reality, technique often fails. If I am locked on a specific outcome then I will just get stuck and give up my advantage. Henka waza means flowing into the next available technique. I do this because I screwed up my first technique or else the situation changes and I see that my intitial intention is no longer going to get me the outcome I wanted.
Some ways to incorportate this into practice:
With any technique that inititates from ikkyo, just go for ikkyo. If it fails, flow into the next logical technique. Another option is to take ikkyo and having secured it, allow uke an appropriate escape. As they take the escape, cover it with the right technique.
A good example is Kokyu Nage #7. This technique is really ikkyo. Ikkyo is either aborted or resisted. I can choose to bail half way through and take uke another way. Or I'm late and uke meets ikkyo with physical resistance. I yield to that resistance and take uke another way.
Another way to incorporate henka waza is to not allow myself to stop techniques and start over. Too often I have a particular technique in mind. When it starts to go wrong, I back off and start again. Instead, when it starts to go wrong, go elsewhere. Combat Aikido is a good video series for addressing this. Additionally it shows how to use aikido to initiate rather than waiting for a text book attack. In ititiating, the flow can go in different directions. From the same guard positon, if I get to uke's outside, ikkyo is my point of contact. If I end up inside, the same guard positon leads to shihonage.
A Daily Regimen for Well Rounded (Flow) Practice
Kihon Waza (30 minutes)
Smooth and continuous, no start and stop (henka)
Pursue uke and initiate the next repetition.
As uke, keep an aiki mindset and awareness of opportunities to be exploited (kaeshi)
Kaeshi Waza (5 minutes)
Select one specific kaeshi waza and drill it
Jiyu Waza
Core Response (5 minutes)
Futari Garami (5 minutes)
Solo Regimen for Flow and Skill (Slow and continuous)
Kihon Waza
Visualize and rehearse technique practiced that day
Visulaize and rehearse technique in preparation for tomorrow
Suburi
Tai Sabaki (with Atemi)
Jiyu Waza
Visulaize and Rehearse core techiques
Visualize and Rehearse futari garami
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