Uke & Ukemi

Uke, who plays the role of the aggressor, will only attack with the energy allowed by their own confidence to take the fall (ukemi).

To be a good uke, we must strive to be the best we can be at our ukemi.  

This way we can offer each other the best practice possible.

Yokomen, Shomen, Tsuki

Yokomen, Shomen, Tsuki

The traditional attacks used as basic architypes for defense practice all have “extension.”  Yokomen is not a smack, shomen is not just a pat on the head, tsuki is not a jab.  In each the strike lands and continues to drive power (extend) deep into and through the target.  This creates an opportunity for the balance taking these techniques deliver.  Without this follow through, we need to use more static attack techniques.

This isn’t to say the other types of attacks can’t or don’t happen, but they are separate “what-ifs” that may use similar looking responses but are not the same.  Therefore, to practice yokomen hantai defenses, the attack should be a yokomen hantai, not a backhand.  Likewise, to practice backhand defenses, the attack should be a backhand, not yokomen.  

 

Henka Waza

 Henka Waza
--Technique Variation or Changing Technique Mid Throw.

At Spring Camp, Roni Sensei interpreted this as delaying the decision or commitment to a specific technique until the last possible moment.

When we practice a technique, it is a foregone conclusion, and we practice adaptation to conditions to execute that technique.

In real application, pre-selection does not and should not exist.  Our instincts and muscle memory should take us to a safe place and the aggressor to a point of maximum options.  In that instant we can then choose how to dispose of the attacker in the safest and most appropriate fashion.

Sword Arm?

A signature of many styles of Aikido is the out-splayed fingers or “Sword Arm.”  This is not seen in Aikido Kokikai®, so have we thrown out ki extension?  Not at all.  The point of eminence has moved to the point of connection.  Ki is extended through the wrist which is the normal point of connection with uke.  It concentrates the ki extension and puts it where it is most useful.  The hand is already a POW and the action is all at the front lines.  So, we extend ki there, where it can do the most good.

There are other benefits as well.  The wrist is curled therefore digits are protected from “rounding errors.”  Splaying the fingers also weakens uke’s grip, though useful at times, it is not when you want to promote connection to influence them.

 

“Listening”

Sensitivity  to Uke’s state of mind and balance crucial to executing good technique.  Yet it is one of the more difficult skills to develop.

If we are too eager to throw or otherwise overly engaged in broadcasting force.  We miss subtle things uke’s body is telling us about them through our point of connection.

The analogs to daily life are strong.  If we are simply waiting for our turn to speak, communication has failed agreement is impossible.

Congratulations to Theresa on an Excellent 3rd Kyu Test!

 

Practicing Kata With Purpose Requires Understanding Motivation.

Practicing Kata With Purpose Requires Understanding Motivation.

Where Is You Opponent?
When Turning, Why Are You Turning? 
Are You Blindly Turning And Attacking? 
Did You Have A Sight-line To See The Attacker You Are Countering?

Our Movements Should Always Take Us Offline Of The Attack.  They Need To Provide Situational Awareness By Angling Us So We Can See Areas That Were Previously Blind Spots.

This Will Change The Kata From The Fixed Orthogonal Look Of The Basic 101 Version That Teaches Us Generally Which Way To Face And Which Response Is Next.  101 Kata Is Useful, Necessary, But Incomplete.

Adding This Layer Reinforces Important Strategic Lessons For Your Open Hand Technique.

The “Danger Hug”

It’s difficult to articulate why, but when connecting with uke (our attacker)  if we think of hugging them to us, it is far more effective than thoughts of “pulling”, “yanking”, or “grabbing”. 

The thought of hugging implies a disarming softness.  We automatically are more attentive to the state of the huggee.  We can better sense their balance and mood (ki).  Uke resists less, or more accurately, has difficulty understanding where how to resist.

We often describe it as like hugging your teddy bear.  A strong yet gently endearing force difficult to contest.

Stress Begets Calm

 

We train in the dojo to have calmness be our natural response to an external stress-er.

That skill isn't just useful on the street. It becomes pervasive in our life. That doesn't mean we get to toss our co-workers into that table of cold breakfast pizza we got in lieu of bonuses. Unfortunately.... :) It does mean that we learn to operate through the stressing situation while being as calm as we can be.

Hey bosses....Calm doesn't mean obliviousness to risk or the present stakes. It is recognition of how best to approach the problems in front of us. It doesn't necessarily indicate lack of investment in a positive outcome, it can the maturity to know unchecked emotion doesn't solve problems. Leaders understand the difference. Leaders help their teams stay calm while focused.

#calm #keepcalm #aikido #aikidokokikai #chi #dojo #downtownrochesterny #ki #kokikai #martialarts #martialartslife #mindbody #rochesterny #selfdefense #grrrr #selfimprovement #rochesterny #StressManagement #leadershipdevelopment #leadership

4/18/26 Post camp regional practice is being hosted at our sister dojo, Eastern Sky at 3300 Monroe Avenue in Pittsford

 

Post camp regional practice is being hosted at our sister dojo, Eastern Sky at 3300 Monroe Avenue in Pittsford this Saturday from 10am-12:30pm.  So that means no 9am class at our dojo this week.  Come see what ideas people brought home from camp and have another opportunity to congratulate those that tested!

Congratulations!

 

 

 

Congratulations to Andrew Robertson on an excellent Nidan (2nd degree black belt) test at last weekend's Spring Camp.

 

We also received rank certificates for Scott and Mark who tested last year for Nidan. Dan level certificates are done by Sensei by hand back in Japan and are well worth the wait. They serve as a nice reminder of the progress people have made. We also received Brian’s 6th Kyu Certificate, the first on his Aikido journey.

 

We gathered last night in the dojo to present the certificates and formally recognize Andrew's Nidan. It was an extra special event in that it was our first opportunity to advance a name plaque on our new Nafudakake, a welcome new tradition. Afterwards we retired to the local Brew Pub for some well earned revelry.

#ki #CalmConfidence #CalmMind #rochesterny #womensselfdefense #aikido #MindBodySpirit #martialarts #aikidokokikai #dojo #selfimprovement #selfdefense

Practicing Spatial Awareness

 

12/30/26 No class

After consulting with the Tuesday night regulars regarding tonight’s weather, we’ll forgo tonight’s class in favor of hot chocolate and binging Godzilla movies.  Stay toasty my friends!

 

See you all bright and early at 10am on New Year's Day!!!!!

 

Beginners Welcome!

 

2025 Holiday Schedule

 

Welcome!

 New students are always welcome!

Tuesdays 6:30pm-8pm
Wednesdays 6pm-7:00pm
Thursdays 6:30pm-8pm
Saturdays 9am-10:30am

 

250 Cumberland St, Suite 216
Rochester, NY 14605-2803



aikidoroc@gmail.com

Tuesdays 6:30pm-8pm
Wednesdays 6pm-7:00pm
Thursdays 6:30pm-8pm

Saturdays 9am-10:30am

250 Cumberland St, Suite 216
Rochester, NY 14605-2803

aikidoroc@gmail.com

Calm

"When it comes to victory in everything, it is impossible to prevail without reason." Miyamoto Musashi, Wind Scroll

Aikido teaches you to be calm, to act with purpose, to react without anger. Thus our response is with reason and measured.

Martial Arts or Dog Walking?

Martial Arts or Dog Walking. Which do you need these concepts for?

 

• Balance
• Posture
• Un-bendable Arm
• Moving from Center
• Positive Mind
• Relaxed Feeling

 

The answer is both! Arguably, more often for the dog walking! 

 

I recently met a new co-worker who greeted us with an awkward left-hand shake because his right shoulder was hurting. In a moment of mildly-embarrassing honesty he admitted his tea-cup Yorkie had tried to take off and wrenched his shoulder in the process. Yes, a 7 pound critter hurt the shoulder of an average sized human male. I immediately thought about walking with my two 125lb Newfies who love people, other dogs, water, and well, everything else and were bred to replace horses on boats. In that moment I thanked whatever gods might listen for the existence of Aikido Kokikai® in my life. I use Aikido principles every time I snap that leash on them or come home after being away for more than 30 seconds.

 

The principles used in Aikido Kokikai® prove useful in so many aspects of daily life. It's easy to dismiss martial arts as only being useful for fighting. But they are so more more. They add richly to the quality of every corner of life.

 

Come see for your self! Try a few classes for free!

https://www.aikidorochester.com/p/about-classes.html

#aikido #MindBodySpirit #martialarts #aikidokokikai #kokikai #dojo #selfimprovement #selfdefense #dogwalker

 

 

Halloween Seminar Success

 

Thank you Matt and Todd Senseis for another excellent seminar! Thanks to all those who lent their energy, sweat, and willingness to learn knew things, especially those that traveled from a far. And thanks to our sister dojo Eastern Sky Aikido for organizing the event.

Working together to share our experience, perspective, and enthusiasm is quintessential to both personal and communal growth. Sensei Maruyama provided us with a leap forward in martial arts with Aikido Kokikai®. Each of us who have learned from him have a mission to share that gift with others, to distill it, and learn to communicate it more and more effectively so that those that come behind us can learn it faster than we did. This paves the way for a future generation to continue its evolution to meet whatever the future holds. Aikido Kokikai® is the response to the stimulus presented by the unique physiology of North American bodies and culture on Aikido. Whatever the future holds, our work now to deepen the understanding of the principles of Aikido prepares the next generations to adapt the manifestation of those principles to whatever may come.

#aikido #MindBodySpirit #martialarts #aikidokokikai #kokikai #dojo #selfimprovement #selfdefense

Camp, Regional Seminar, Upgrades, and No class 8/2

I want to thank everyone for all the extra hard work and sweat equity (#5s) poured into our test candidates the past several weeks. I look forward to enjoying their tests this weekend at Summer Camp.

 

Since we have such a large contingent of people going to camp, we will forgo our Saturday class this week (8/2/25).  We’ll make it up at the post camp regional seminar on the 16^th.

 

If you haven’t seen it yet, there is another welcome addition to the dojo.  Our new biggest fan!  Complete with remote control.  Special thanks to the IOMASDA guys for helping me install it Monday night before their class.  It worked quite well for us on Tuesday evening!