As I’ve become more serious about aikido I’ve found myself wanting to write more about it. To that end I have started writing the occasional blog entries under the name avparker on Aikido Waza Journal.
I don’t really expect anyone to read what I write, it’s more for my own benefit, but there’s a lot of great info there by other contributors. In particular Eric, who runs the site, posts an amazing amount of material.
Now that I’ve finished training for the year I thought I’d post my follow-up to Time on the Mat for the second half of 2010. My goal for the 6 months was 120 hours, and I’m happy to say I exceeded that, training 129.5 hours, despite my slow start in July and August.
Here’s the data broken down by number of days training per week – it’s clear that I was much more consistent in the second half of the year:
Note that the dojo was closed in weeks 32 and 52, meaning I trained at least once every week the dojo was open!
My total training for the year was 231.5 hours of classes (188 lessons) on 172 days.
One of the great things about living in Tokyo is the amazing opportunities to learn Aikido from the masters. Today I was lucky enough to attend the 15th Special Seminar by Tada Hiroshi Sensei (9th Dan), held at the Aikikai Hombu Dojo, Tokyo. I also attended the previous seminar in April, but quickly forgot the finer details of what he taught. This time I thought I’d try to record some of what I remember about the seminar in the hope that I’d be able to retain a bit more.
I attended the Intermediate Gakko at Aikikai Hombu Dojo Tokyo from October 2009 until August 2010, after “graduating” from Beginners Gakko in August 2009. I thought I’d write about my experience during the course.
Intermediate Gakko, or “Intermediate Academy” (合気道学校 中級課程) is open to anyone holding 3rd Kyuu or 2nd Kyuu. You do not need to have taken the Beginners level, but you must sign up before the course begins and places are limited. The course runs in two 5-month semesters per year, April-August and October-February. There are two 90-minute classes a week, Wednesday and Saturday evenings. At the end of the semester students who have attended at least 2/3 of the classes are eligible to take a grading test (up to 1st Kyuu). The classes are taught entirely in Japanese. More information about “Aikido Gakko” is covered on the Aikiaki web site, in English and in Japanese.
Back in May I wrote about my experience at the 48th All Japan Aikido Demonstration. Here are some videos from the day of the Aikikai Hombu Dojo Instructors.
The current head of Aikikai, and grandson of O’Sensei. I’ve taken some of the Doshu’s regular classes.