Alexiel’s Heaven

As the account of my trip to Japan will take some time yet (I’ve finally finished it in German, but the English version is taking me awfully long to translate), here is a short update on my aikido training! =) On April 2nd, the first of us passed her grading to fifth kyu. Actually, our grading date was supposed to be April 23rd, but she had to have an operation on her wrist and would not have been able to grade otherwise. She had asked me to be her uke (attacker) and I had a lot of fun: the concentration and focus was almost tangible, and the pace was notably faster than usual.

The other four of us will grad on Thursday, April 23rd. Unlike our first test, I’m really looking forward to this one! =) Although there are some points I still am uneasy with (mainly the tests for the hitori waza and the entry/entering to katatedori ikkyo irimi when uke attacks while moving), but apart from that I’m feeling quite confident.

Change of subject: our teacher set me the task to improve my overall condition until September – by then I will need it for a 7-day-seminar as well as for being uke for her 3rd dan grading. (Yes, I’ve got stage fright. Already.) I half-heartedly tried several approaches, but as expected they had no effect. So now I’ve brought out my bike – for the first time in six years! – and go to work by bike four times a week, that’s more than 70 km each week. My legs, suprisingly, are not complaining much. I guess if this measure doesn’t improve my condition, nothing will… =)

Yesterday, for the first time in a long while I had an aha! experience in training. (“Aha! experience” – that word actually exists? In German we’re using exactly the same combination, how funny… ^^) I’ve been trying to soften my forward rolls on the right-hand side and to make them less noisy for a few weeks now. There seems to be a part of my pelvic bone I always hit when rolling, causing a slight audible bump. At least I know the cause, but right now I’m not able to consciously change it. However, yesterday all of a sudden one forward roll did not make a sound at all, so I guess I’ve done something right. I just wonder what it was… =)

I also noticed another improvement: several months ago, we had studied katate kosa tori kokyunage irimi (a diagonal wrist grab) slowly, step by step. Since that time we had repeated it often, but not as slowly as back then. When, yesterday, we did repeat it once more in slow motion, the difference to before was stunning. My arm has become more stable, and the technique itself feels … rounder, not as constrained as before.

Don’t get me wrong, I love training, regardless of whether I notice improvements or not – these things are just an additional bonus…

Last Friday, there were only two of us in training, both of us students. We used the time to roll extensively and to repeat techniques and the sword kata. For the past few weeks, we had only little time during the normal trainings to roll, and I noticed that my rolls started to lose some of their roundness again. So I was quite relieved when on Friday, after only a few minutes of practice, the rolls became as round and comfortable as before.

By now I’ve come to trust my right arm absolutely when rolling, but with my left arm, I’m not so sure. This had led me to use my right hand unconsciously as an additional support – which is not the point of the whole thing. On Friday, I finally found a trick to strengthen my left arm: just before I go into the roll, I brush along the outside of the arm in order to visualize the line better. =) It did not work miracles, but I did feel an improvement. =)

Yesterday’s training was quite exhausting for a change – we looked at two techniques in their fastest version, so much of the time was spent falling – getting up – attacking at a run – falling again. I guess someday advanced trainings will be a lot like that…?

On Sunday, I went to our second sword training. Sure, we had picked up the sword for some exercises in our “normal” trainings a few times, but three hours straight leave a completely different impression!

After we started with several exercises to get used to our swords again, we repeated steps one to four of the sword kata. Then we proceeded to the following nine steps. At the moment, I can’t even imagine doing those four shomenuchis (a vertical cut intended to split the head) at the correct speed. Every time we tried to execute these movements just a little faster I ended up with uncontrolled slashing. Well, I guess I already know the solution for this: practice, practice, and practice some more… =)

The turning at the end, however, did not pose any problem at all. I suppose my dancing’s responsible for that – yay, I knew it would come in handy some day (like when I have to decapitate several enemies at once)! =)

Taking stock of the aftereffects: compared to the first sword training, my muscles definitely ached less. Last time, my right upper arm felt as though it had swallowed a tennis ball; this time, the complaining muscles are concentrated in my palms and forearms. Who knows, this might be a sign of progress! =)

These past few trainings, I noticed an emerging pattern of my two main problems among many small ones. =)

Yesterday, we approached the katate tori irimi ikkyo technique (1 hand grabs the arm of the same side, joint lock) in the flow of the movement for the first time. As long as we only practiced the timing for the first step backwards, I felt quite capable. But as soon as we transferred this part to the complete technique I tried to think of every detail at once, which made me hestitate a little between the individual movements as my head needed some time to think about what came next. Only after this had been pointed out to me I was able to consciously “not think” and just let my body go with the flow of the movement, which improved my technique noticeably.

So, that is my main problem number one, and number two is keeping my space around me – I’m really despairing on this one, as I don’t feel the difference yet. At least I notice an improvement when I “shut down” my head and let my body take over.

Friday last week, October 17, I had just come back from Sicily in the early afternoon. As I just couldn’t miss another training =) I only stopped at home for a short time before continuing on to training. It was well worth it, anyway: once again I was the only student present (let’s face it: most people have something else to do on Friday evenings), and although of course I enjoy training with the other students, an individual training is even better. =)

We practiced the techniques we have done so far (not that many as we are moving at a really slow beginner’s speed), especially yokomenuchi shihonage (diagonal slash with the side of the hand, joint lock), monotsuki koteoroshi (punch to the stomach, joint lock) and shomenuchi kokyunage (vertical strike with the side of the hand ending in a throw).

Tuesday training

From the three potential students that visited us a little while ago, one has sinced joined us and is present at every training with visible enthusiasm. On Tuesday, there were again two new potential students (one, I think, had taken part once before during my vacation). It’s somehow so nice to see how we’re growing! =) Although – it does mean less room for each of us to practice rolls…

At first we examined the first four exercises of the ki gymnastics in detail and tried them with ki tests afterwards, then we practiced some more katate tori kokyu nage.

I guess I can expect to make some visible process soon… Why? Because I’ve read and heard that always before a step forward there’s a feeling that nothing’s working any more, and although it’s not that bad, I am currently a little annoyed with myself and my (virtually non-existent) understanding and progress… Oh well. I’ll just wait and see and continue to train. =)

Yesterday, three women visited us for a test training. The situation made me realize how fast you grow used to an environment and how easy it is to be unsettled by small changes, e.g. when someone new takes part in the training.

But apart from a slight feeling of uneasiness, it was interesting to try a technique (in this case katate tori ikkyo where the attacker grabs the same-side arm and gets joint-locked) with someone who does not yet know what to expect. You really get a much clearer, more direct feedback.

Otherwise, not much happened out of the ordinary… well, except for one thing, perhaps: one student managed her first roll from a standing position, and her joy was just so nice to watch. =)

On Friday evening, after 30 minutes of flow drills (close range exercises), which always take an incredible amount of concentration, I was grateful for several minutes of “uncomplicated” rolling. As rolls from a standing position don’t frighten me anymore – although they’re still far from being nice and round – we took a partner exercise we had only been doing from a kneeling position before and tried it from higher up. It was a little rough, mainly because of the unfamiliar movement, but apart from that it worked well.

Afterwards I was to pick a technique I wanted to repeat and deepen, and this way I received dozens of improvements for katate tori tenkan kokyunage (one hand grabs the same-side arm of nage, the defender), monotsuki koteoroshi (punch to the stomach, joint lock) and yokomenuchi shihonage (diagonal slash with the side of the hand, joint lock).

Between those techniques, we went through three suzuki waza for which I was Uke, the attacker – however, this time we did it complete with front rolls! =) And once even with “flying”… unfortunately, I don’t know how the technique is called – uke runs at nage, who drops to his knees and thus uke has to jump/fly/roll over him. I suppose I miscalculated my speed or the distance. Anyway, I went into the roll with too much speed and came to my feet stumbling and a little disorientated. Well, I’m not happy that I had no control whatsoever – but I am happy I didn’t get hurt at all, on the contrary, it was quite fun.