Working Ukemi

I had a very good class last night. Our regular instructor wasn't there, but one of our senior students taught class. We worked on break falls. We did a couple exercises where we worked in partners, and used our partner to either hold on to, or literally roll over while we did our break falls. I have some abrasions on my forearms from my or my partner's dogi rubbing on my arm as I went over and hit the mat.

I Discovered Stats

I like to write. I do not know computers. I am less familiar with this site perhaps than I should be. I found the stats page and discovered that there are people who have read my blog. Very nice. I have another blog, although over there it's known as a diary, which has a dozen or so regular readers who also make it a point to comment. That's the beauty of that other site; since I've been writing over on OpenDiary.com, it's been an accepted part of the culture that readers comment on others' diaries. Comments don't seem to be as big a part of this site compared to the other. I can accept that. I don't write to get comments. I write to clear the bad feelings away, or remember something that's special to me.

I've been writing on Open Diary since February 1999. The site was about four months old when I discovered it. I think there were fewer than 2,000 people writing on the site when I started my diary. Now there are over 350,000 diaries on the site, although many only include one or two entries before they were abandoned.

Now I discover that maybe someone else out there is reading this, too. I am not going to change the way I write, or what I write. Mostly it's still going to be about Aikido, but some classroom and home events may find their way here. Those topics tend to go into my other blog.

In Today's Email

Yesterday at the dojo, I, along with one other person who is one rank below me, was asked to demonstrate a technique to the rest of the dojo. There were about eight or nine of us in attendance yesterday. Andrew demonstrated Shiho Nage, and after, our Chief Instructor asked me to teach Ikkyo.


I received an email this morning, addressed to both Andrew and me, from our regular instructor.

"You both did a really good job demonstrating techniques at today's class!  Wow!"

It's nice to be recognized for doing well.


I've also recently noticed that I've taken another step on the path. Both my ukemi and my Aikido techniques have become better. I've been told that my forward rolls look like the ones done by our regular instructor, who is a nidan (2nd degree black belt). I'm taking break falls with much more ease and confidence. My techniques are becoming more effective, although I still have a ways to go here depending on the technique. I am also getting past the "issue" from April.

I Knew He Would Ask

I've been teaching this Aikido for Kids class, and doing a good job of it, if I do say so. Our dojo is also moving to a more permanent location, since our Chief Instructor purchased a store front. More than one person said that our dojo is only going to succeed if we have a viable kids' class. Ergo, our other instructor asked if I would be interested in being the full-time kids' class instructor when we move into our new space.

I said I'd have to think about it. I could go for it if I wasn't the only instructor. I wouldn't mind teaching a kids' class if there was another instructor or instructors, and I only had to teach once or twice each month. I don't think I could do it each and every week, even at the princely sum of $20 per class.

Randori

I had the opportunity to practice a more free-flowing form of randori last night. I've practiced more controlled versions before, but last night was more "anything goes." I did well. Some others said so, too, which was nice.

It's so rare that someone else comments on my Aikido. When Sensei demonstrates a technique in class, it's our dojo's practice that whoever's doing ukemi for Sensei will then work with Sensei after his/her demonstration, i.e. when everyone else is practicing what Sensei just demonstrated. When I do ukemi, then practice with Sensei, as nage, I'll do my technique four times: left and right, both omote, and ura. When I'm finished, Sensei will simply say, "Thank  you," then I'll go find someone else to practice with, while Sensei watches others looking for ways to help. And that's all I ever get with Sensei: four tries and a 'thank you.' When he works with other dojo members he seems to take more time with them and work more on their techniques.

Our chief instructor taught class last night. His girlfriend was there, too. I worked with her on an irimi nage, once palm up style, then palm down. Four tries, left, right, palm up, palm down. I played with Sensei's girlfriend, who is either 1st or 2nd kyu. Whichever, she's a brown belt, and she's very good. She complimented me on my ukemi.

So that was nice. One compliment on my ukemi, another on my randori.