The word "ikkyo" has a lot of meanings!
1) Ikkyo is a self defense skill. Ikkyo means "first technique", and it is the first technique that O Sensei taught to his students. Another more descriptive name is "Arm Bar" because in this technique, the arm is straightened at the elbow and used as a lever (or bar).
2) As a life skill, Ikkyo also contains multiple ideas:
a) To enter (or be) Without fear: learning to face and release the fears that stop us.
I think it is important to discuss with the children that "Fear" is not always bad!
Fear is designed to stop us from hurting ourselves:
fear of a hot stove
Other fears stop us from doing something that we really want or need to do:
fear of the first day of school, fear of failure
b) Without hesitation: learning to "stop trouble" before it starts!
I do this when I give my students the "evil eye" or (worse yet) "the eye+index point"
I shared with the students a story about how my neighbor has woken me up at 11pm all summer long as he puts out his trash on Sunday night. He has to drag the trash cans right past my bedroom window, and being woken from a sound sleep, this tends to sound like monsters coming in the window - giving me quite an adrenaline rush. I didn't want to be a bad neighbor (ie I was afraid to complain), so I just put up with it.
...Until last week, when I got really aggravated, and finally said something to the neighbor about it. Lo and behold, this week the trash went out during the day! Woo Hoo!
... what if I had said something WEEKS ago...instead of hesitating? Better sleep all summer long. This type of "Social Ikkyo" is a very difficult practice for me! If you hear a voice in your head that says "What will they think...?" you might need to use this Ikkyo.
I have more to say on Ikkyo, but I'll save that for another post.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Reminder: Upcoming Summer Break
Just a reminder that Aikido Kids! will be closed for two weeks:
We will open for the August Session on Monday August 11th. Enjoy your break!
I will be attending an Aikido Camp in Glenwood Springs, Colorado during this time, which is an important part of my ongoing Aikido training. If you'd like to know more about this camp and the instructors, please see these links:
http://www.bujindesign.com/seminar_reviews/2007_9_article_1.html
https://bujindesign.com/featured_articles/2006_11_article_2.html
http://www.bujindesign.com/featured_articles/2006_9_article_2.html
http://www.aikidojournal.com/article.php?articleID=241&highlight=kenji+ushiro
While I am gone, I will mostly be unavailable by phone or email. I recommend that you wait to email or call me until August 11th, so that your question doesn't get lost in the junk mail.
July 27 thru August 9th
We will open for the August Session on Monday August 11th. Enjoy your break!
I will be attending an Aikido Camp in Glenwood Springs, Colorado during this time, which is an important part of my ongoing Aikido training. If you'd like to know more about this camp and the instructors, please see these links:
http://www.bujindesign.com/seminar_reviews/2007_9_article_1.html
https://bujindesign.com/featured_articles/2006_11_article_2.html
http://www.bujindesign.com/featured_articles/2006_9_article_2.html
http://www.aikidojournal.com/article.php?articleID=241&highlight=kenji+ushiro
While I am gone, I will mostly be unavailable by phone or email. I recommend that you wait to email or call me until August 11th, so that your question doesn't get lost in the junk mail.
Word of the month (July/August 08): Strength
The word of the month for July is "Strength". The Japanese word is "Chikara".
There are many types of strength. A person can have a strong mind: they are very smart. A person can have a strong spirit: they have a strong personality, or great determination. A person can have a strong ability: they are good in a subject like math, or have a great physical skill, like soccer or baseball. A person can have strong talent in an art: like painting, drawing, writing, or even Aikido. Finally, a person can have a strong body: they have good health, or they may be physically strong.
In my personal Aikido practice, it has been my experience that when I developed my physical strength, my mental and emotional strength and my strength of spirit also grew. They are all linked - body, mind, and spirit! If your child has challenges in school, I highly recommend participating in organized sports or physical arts (like dance or martial arts) to help develop their physical fitness and coordination. Even if you just add a family walk after dinner, you will see improvements in your child's fitness and the family will benefit from the relaxed group activity.
For the summer, the Aikido Kids challenge is to build strength by jumping rope every day! I will provide the jump rope, and we will begin class each day by practicing jumping. I have been surprised by how many students don't know how to do this simple skill, so please work with your child to help them master it.
If your child is new to the jump rope: their challenge is to do 50 jumps a day, with a goal of triple that (per day) by Labor Day.
For students who already jump rope: their challenge is to do 100 jumps a day, with a goal of triple that (per day) by Labor Day.
Please help your child create a chart to track their progress toward their goals, and remember to celebrate their successes, rather than nag them about their forgetfulness. Make it your job to help them remember to do the jumping, and help them count their jumps as a way to stay involved in their Aikido practice. They'll love your support and participation.
There are many types of strength. A person can have a strong mind: they are very smart. A person can have a strong spirit: they have a strong personality, or great determination. A person can have a strong ability: they are good in a subject like math, or have a great physical skill, like soccer or baseball. A person can have strong talent in an art: like painting, drawing, writing, or even Aikido. Finally, a person can have a strong body: they have good health, or they may be physically strong.
In my personal Aikido practice, it has been my experience that when I developed my physical strength, my mental and emotional strength and my strength of spirit also grew. They are all linked - body, mind, and spirit! If your child has challenges in school, I highly recommend participating in organized sports or physical arts (like dance or martial arts) to help develop their physical fitness and coordination. Even if you just add a family walk after dinner, you will see improvements in your child's fitness and the family will benefit from the relaxed group activity.
For the summer, the Aikido Kids challenge is to build strength by jumping rope every day! I will provide the jump rope, and we will begin class each day by practicing jumping. I have been surprised by how many students don't know how to do this simple skill, so please work with your child to help them master it.
If your child is new to the jump rope: their challenge is to do 50 jumps a day, with a goal of triple that (per day) by Labor Day.
For students who already jump rope: their challenge is to do 100 jumps a day, with a goal of triple that (per day) by Labor Day.
Please help your child create a chart to track their progress toward their goals, and remember to celebrate their successes, rather than nag them about their forgetfulness. Make it your job to help them remember to do the jumping, and help them count their jumps as a way to stay involved in their Aikido practice. They'll love your support and participation.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Zanshin - Awareness (week 1 lesson)
The Power-word for June is Zanshin. Saotome Shihan defines zanshin as the "constant awareness of space and surroundings". As I was teaching the Week 1 lesson, I saw many parents listening carefully to see how I would present this idea!
The youngest students are just learning "awareness" - being awake and seeing what is around you.
The next word they stumbled on was "constant" - all the time.
Some students didn't know "surroundings" - everything all around your body
In the Week 1 lesson, we introduced these words and concepts and talked about using awareness in our daily life. When we lack zanshin, we trip, stumble, bump our heads, break bones, stub toes, spill milk, and run into people. When we have zanshin, we move gracefully, stay safe, and avoid accidents! What a handy ability to have! Finally, we discussed activities/places outside of Aikido when we might need good zanshin: on the playground, crossing the street, at the dinner table were a few examples.
Remind your student that "zanshin" is a skill that can be learned through practice. Gently remind them to "wake up" to their surroundings when you see them drifting off task. Tell them "You have great zanshin!" instead of "You need to focus".
The youngest students are just learning "awareness" - being awake and seeing what is around you.
The next word they stumbled on was "constant" - all the time.
Some students didn't know "surroundings" - everything all around your body
In the Week 1 lesson, we introduced these words and concepts and talked about using awareness in our daily life. When we lack zanshin, we trip, stumble, bump our heads, break bones, stub toes, spill milk, and run into people. When we have zanshin, we move gracefully, stay safe, and avoid accidents! What a handy ability to have! Finally, we discussed activities/places outside of Aikido when we might need good zanshin: on the playground, crossing the street, at the dinner table were a few examples.
Remind your student that "zanshin" is a skill that can be learned through practice. Gently remind them to "wake up" to their surroundings when you see them drifting off task. Tell them "You have great zanshin!" instead of "You need to focus".
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