The Bokken Guide is to Return in 2009

With the absence of my posts to this blog, due to work, family and other commitments I do apologise.

The bokken blog will be taken to a new level with the additions of Bokken Katas, Bokken Exercises.

This is to give you the reader "and hopefully the practitioner" some great tips and advice on how to improve your bokken training.

Train Hard Train Focused Train Safe

Aikido techniques and variations

Many of the aikido techniques on kote-gashi, shio-nage, ude-garame do not have much documentation written about them. So I intend to correct this showing you the basic techniques, and then many of the different styles of variations.

These journals on aikido techniques. Will be kept in a short format of about 20 pages or so, these are to help you understand the basics of the technique that teach you the dojo techniques for pure dojo safety as by comparison, you'll see thay are completely different.

This will give you a very good insight into the actual techniques themselves opening up new training and avenues to you, these journals are being co-written to help cut down on the time to produce them and will try to cover all the major techniques in aikido.

Great Offer Not To Miss Out Katana E-Book

If you are interested about Bokkens then you may also be interested in Katana's, this is Great if you are, as i have had a conversation with a Sensei who has written a book on the Katana and the history, and how it was made.

This is a very well written and documented E-book, and as such i have just got him to give the readers of my site a Great Discount!

For a Short time only This book will be 50% off the normall price so keep checking bokkentips.com for this offer

i shall be placing it up on there as soon as i can time permitting so dont miss out!

I have my copy!

Cheers Tony Day.

Once again the bokkens book is Almost Finished

Yes i am pleased to say the book on the insiders guide to Bokkens is nearly finished, with the help of my friend and student Peter Davison. I've been able to almost complete the book barring a few pictures of which need to be taken using another student, John Manwaring,

so hopefully in a few weeks time, the e-book will be for sale.

Thank you, for your patience.

Train hard train focused train safe

Tony day.

When is Aikido not Aikido!

when is aikido not aikido

Author Antony Day from Kaizen aikido portsmouth.uk

With the large variety of martial arts, when does the aforementioned Aikido stay Aikido and not become Jujutsu or Ninjutsu or even Judo.Is it when you use a throw as in kote-gashi (outward wrist twisting) without using a leg to break their balance?As well as irimi-nage (entering throw) without putting a hip into it.Can we easily define the line which makes it just Aikido and not another martial art?
Judo uses legs hips and a variety of sweeps to take their opponent down, are we saying that we cannot use legs to throw uke with, also they use a similar system of balance breaking as in yoshinkan Aikido, they push to get uke to push back, they pull to get uke to pull and in return they are usually given the opponents balance.In the Art of Ninjutsu and Jujutsu some Throws are completed with a self sacrifice throw (dropping their own bodyweight) to off balance the opponent, is it wrong for us to attempt this incase we are told “its not Aikido”

So how does Koshi-nage (Hip throw) differ from any judo or Ninjutsu/ jujutsu hip throw? Do we still not have to break the opponents balance, or place our body in their path, of course we do, but I have heard in training many times “that’s not Aikido” I usually reply which part?

I was once at an Aikido Seminar taught by an 8th Dan sensei; I was training with a 5th kyu who was having trouble applying the technique (I do add I was not trying to obstruct his training) this is when the sensei came over and had to show him the finer points of where he was going wrong! The technique consisted of a Nikkajo, or Nikkyo into an Ikkajo or Ikkyo, the sensei then put me down on one knee with my right arm in a Ikkajo lock he then applied a quick kick to my ribs, at this point he said to the 5th kyu “if you see an opportunity take it” this was never shown to me in my training but I knew it was an obvious form of atemi, I would not tell this sensei with over 50 years of training “that was not Aikido” I am sure he is well aware of what is Aikido.

In a form of Sankkajo-nage (third teaching throw) do we not travel uke around us to be led over the trailing leg, or is this a case of “well that’s different”,

Also the most famous technique, of all agreeable Aikido Schools is Shio-nage (Four directional throw) but again which version is correct, I have trained with many teachers and lots of the Shio-nage techniques differ from the one I was taught in yoshinkan but I have also trained with Aiki kai and other styles, the Shio-nage technique is one of the most fundamental parts of Aikido training.When does it not become Shio-nage? As each school has its own way of Practice.

Some techniques even completely mimic another style of martial art so how is that one explained, surely not by the color of the gi, the name is the only different factor.We have to remember that most of the general styles of martial arts come from the same background.There are only so many ways to lock a limb or throw a body, and I am sure that judo, aikido, Ninjutsu and all the other arts with kicking punching have covered all the angles that are there.
The true style of any martial art lies within the effort and consistency of the student and the heart they apply to it; I believe that is when Aikido becomes Aikido,

Train Hard Train Focused Train Safe; Tony day

Visit my other sites for more information http://www.aikidoinportsmouth.com/

Bokken instruction

Learning to become one with your bokken takes a lot of time and repetitive cuts
To improve your bokken training. You must attend classes regularly or at least practice regularly as consistency is the key timing distance and awareness is vital to bokken training
When in your dojo, you must use a rack for your bokken or Jo, as this is the proper place to keep them, out of the way of danger, to show respect, and for tidiness. Also as they are wood to stop them warping out of shape, which happens a lot of the time when there are hot and cold spells in dojo's. Performing the happo giri is a good way to become one with your bokken, also becoming aware of spatial awareness is very important to training in bokken's, there are actually eight cuts to the happo giri the ninth cut is a return to the first position, each position gives you the correct distance from tip of bokken to the center of your posture telling you where you could make a strike, but also where you... also are vulnerable,the happo giri can be learned in quite a short time, that is just the basic movements, then you begin to learn and understand the flow of the bokken and how with each of the eight cuts How you defend yourself in a circle.
When transporting your bokken, you must do so with it fully covered, as you move it from dojo to dojo or from your home to a dojo as is in most countries It is against the law to carry an open weapon, which can be used readily. You must have a bag or a container. Nothing which allows you easy access to your bokken or Jo or tanto. You'll gain a great workout with the bokken. It will improve your health and mobility, and even your grip, which will aid with your overall circulation
Always check your bokken's for splinter's after training as loose pieces of wood can be very dangerous to the eye your's or your opponents, always keep them clean and remove excess sweat from the(Tsuka) handle.

Train Hard Train Focused Train Safe.

The many styles of the bokken

The many styles of the bokken

Happo giri with the bokken is a very useful and meditational exercise
To improve your bokken training. You must attend classes regularly or at least practice regularly as consistency is the key timing distance and awareness is vital to bokken training
When using a partner for training with bokken's. Make sure first of all about safety, ensure you find the correct distance and timing, never train at full speed As this is too dangerous ,work with your partner to make sure of all the angles, and again do not make full hard contact as the cheaper bokken's do shatter and splinter.Training with a partner in bokken's is a good way to enhance your reactions, but be aware of the increased possibility for accidents using a bokken, remembering these are not just for training and were actually used as weapons. Always remember that no two bokken's are the same, some bokken's are longer. Some are heavier. So when using a stranger's bokken, be prepared to adapt as your timing will be out.

Bokken's in aikido are used primarily to understand distance timing and awareness to techniques You'll gain a great workout with the bokken. It will improve your health and mobility, and even your grip, which will aid with your overall circulation
When you're finished training with your bokken. Please return it to the rack for safekeeping so can afford no one any danger or mishaps

Train Hard Train Focused Train Safe.