Wont be in on Wed and this weekend is out. I got my big toe pretty good last night, and while it's not too serious, it'll definitely need to heal.

Frank Roberto featured on NPR this morning

Couldn't find the link on NPR, but there was an interview with Sensei Frank Roberto on NPR this morning. I was half asleep when I heard it but I seem to remember it being about teaching micro organisms to learn to blend with chimney soot in Yellowstone, or something to that effect. :)

Aikido in Jackson Hole

Bill Plank sensei has graciously offered use of his new dojo to promote exchange with his students, and add a few more training days each month for both our dojos. Here's the link to Jackson Hole Aikikai: jacksonholeaikido.com
Go to the "where and when" link at the top of the page to get a detailed map showing the dojo location in downtown Jackson, 290 N. Millward. We'll get started at about 10:30, and I'm going to try to be there about 10am. Bring your weapons if you have them, and I'll also bring a few spares.

Frank

Thanks for your flexibility

Dear students,
After working w/EITC to rearrange things, it appears the dance class that had the overbooking decided that the gym would not work for their class, so we are back to same time, same place (the new schedule was to have taken effect Wednesday).

Thanks again to all who responded for your understanding and flexibility.

Frank

Possible Class Time Change - Important!

Students,
If you happen to be checking the blog this weekend, EITC has a scheduling conflict, and wanted to know if we'd be willing to move our class to later in the evening (say starting about 8:30 or 8:45). It might be a good idea if this would work w/your schedules to help us build some good karma w/the administration. We would have class till about 10pm in this case.

It works for me, but it also needs to work for you. I need to know by Monday, so will also try to contact those of you I have phone numbers for, and also by email.

Frank

Sorry I was absent on Wed. My daughter, Kylee, had her tonsils and adnoids removed and I wanted to be home with her.

New semester enrollment

Thanks to everyone who showed up for the new semester last night. We had 6 students,including 2 new students. EITC says we need to have 8-10 enrolled to keep the class open, so please sign up if you haven't already (only 4 as of Monday), and if you're sitting on the fence, come out and train!
Sensei

New Semester is here

Don't forget that we need to get people signed up for the class.

On another unrelated note, today was my last day of work for the INL. I am now an employee at ISU. Friday is my first day. I'll be commuting to Pocatello five days a week.

To see what I'll be working on, check out www.isu.edu/erp

Hello everyone. Yes, Mike and I were the only ones to show up two Wednesdays ago. I took that as an indication that everyone's busy getting their last vacation in before Labor Day. We held class outside due to EITC once again parking all kinds of stuff in our mat space. We can't really complain because we're not officially in session. Stay loose and in shape, and don't forget to register (and bring your friends, since we're on the hit list again for not enough students). We start again after Labor Day.
Frank

I just got back from a short vacation. As far as I know from Mike, they've used our space as storage for the interim between semesters. I've not heard anything official yet; we did discuss taking the month of August off, but I'm not sure what the final say was on that.

Class Tonight?

Hey there everyone.....I was wondering if there was class tonight of it had been decided to take the rest of the month off.....I am assuming if that ws the case it would have been posted but I thought that I would check.

Karl

Aikido Seminar, 28-30 Sept, Missoula Montana

There is an aikido seminar in Missoula, MT featurin Mitsugi Saotome sensei. It is $100 for part or all of the 3 day seminar. I have already reserved a single room right across the street and am already planning on going. There are lots of double rooms left at the hotel and it's only $20 more to upgrade if someone would like to go too. If you'd like to go but doesn't have enough cash, I can help out some.

Here is the link to the info:
http://www.aikidomissoula.com/Seminars/Saotome/Saotome_Seminar_07.html

Jerry and I went to last years seminar with Ikeda sensei and it was a great time. There's a bit of shopping downtown and since it's a college town, there's some good coffee shops. On Saturday night, they have a big potluck with lots of food and beer, which makes having a room right across from the dojo a very nice thing to have. They also had two masseuses from the college giving free massages that night.

Brando for Wed

I called and left Sensei a message since I can't post to the blog from work. We had our MS Exchange database die and we finished getting everything back up just past 11pm. Sorry I couldn't be there. What's the plan for Aug?

Monday

I'll be there tonight! Did you guys see my last comment to Karl's post?

I will be there!

Sensei,

I will be there tonight and I hope that there are others as well!

Class tonight

Karl,

I haven't heard back from anyone, obviously. I'll show up tonight and I guess we can gauge interest by who else shows up (maybe that's harsh - gauge availability).

Frank

Class Tonight?

Hi everyone, I was just wondering if we were going to have class tonight or if we were going to take a break as Sensei suggested we might want to do. I am fine with whatever is best for everyone else in class, I just want to know so that I do not drive 35 miles to class and find out that we are not having it. I hope that everyone is doing well and not working to to hard and overly stressed out! Anyway, let me know!

Karl

Class in August

Thanks for the updates on status, students. Hope things are not too hectic for you, but they sure have for me. Sorry to have missed class Wednesday. I showed up tonight, but no one else showed, so wonder if we want to take the month off, as EITC would like us to? Let me know. I will be gone Wed, Aug 8.

Brando for Monday

I will not be in again tonight. If you've read the paper recently, you'll understand why..

Brando status for Wed

I've got some very pressing issues at work and there is a possibility that I will either be late or not make it at all on Wed. Then again, the stars may align and I'll be off work on time..

Class Tonight

I am still not feeling well enough to make it to class tonight, but I will be there on Monday no matter what! Brandon, do fifty extra rolls for me!

Karl

Class tonight

Sensei will be absent tonight, and so will I. Brandon is planning on being there however, so class will still be held.

Mike

Late tonight

Sorry, but I'm running late, and am still at work. I hope to be at class tonight, but will be late. In case I don't make it, remember that Wednesday is the 4th of July, and we won't have class. Enjoy the celebrations, picnics, and fireworks, and use your ki in daily life!

CLASS NOTES for Monday, 18/Jun/2007

In attendance:
Brandon

Class time:
7:05 pm - 7:35 pm Jo
7:35 pm - 8:15 pm Warmups w/50 rolls
8:15 pm - 9:00 pm

Since I was alone tonight, I decided to get in some suwari waza practice. I think it's been a while since I had done any extended suwari waza practice. I haven't been practicing it and also haven't been hiting the treadmill lately and I could really tell tonight. Reading the testing requirements also stated that I need to keep a log of training days for any eventual shodan application. I hadn't thought of that.. do Mike and I need to keep a log of our training time? Here's what I went over. (omote/ura, irimi/tenkan)

SUWARI WAZA
shomen uchi - ikkyo through yonkyo
yokomen uchi - ikkyo through yonkyo
kata dori - ikkyo through yonkyo

TACHI WAZA
shomen uchi - ikkyo through yonkyo
yokomen uchi - ikkyo through yonkyo
kata dori - ikkyo through yonkyo
shomen uchi - irimi nage
shomen uchi - kote gaeshi
shomen uchi - kaiten nage
tsuki - irimi nage
tsuki - kote gaeshi
tsuki - kaiten nage
yokomen uchi - irimi nage
yokomen uchi - kote gaeshi
yokomen uchi - kaiten nage

Some interesting videos

Doran Sensei
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8017562798133224282&q=doran&total=495&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=0

Iaido (sword drawing)
In Japan
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8566157551057113966&q=iaido&total=674&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=0

Good demonstration of applied sword drawing.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1487093840029613198

Jerry on Vacation

FYI, Jerry will not be here the 18th and 20th of June. Maybe if he takes some pictures of him taking ukemi on a white water rapid or something, we can get it posted here...

CLASS NOTES for Wednesday, 13/Jun/2007

In attendance:
Brandon
Jerry
Zach

Class time:
7:00 pm - 7:30 pm Jerry and Brandon Tai-no-henko practice
7:30 pm - 9:05 pm Main class
9:05 pm - 9:45 pm Jerry and Brandon Kokyu ho practice

Prior to class, Jerry and I worked on tai-no-henko blending exercises to reinforce concepts from Ikeda's seminar and looking at how we use them every day in our class. We also worked in the movement Sensei showed us last week from the Jackson seminar. We worked on the footwork that Sensei showed us for how to lead uke around.

During warmups, we put in extra time with Zach on footwork. I thought it might also be interesting to do the tai-no-henko turn with the jo so we incorporated that too.

After warmups, we went up to the punching bag and worked on shomenuchi, yokomenuchi, and tsuki. We discussed what an "honest" attack is. If doing an attack at 1% speed and power, it will still hit the bag and not go off to the side. We practiced hitting all three strikes on the bag which I'm finding pretty useful. I got the impression that Jerry had never seen how effective a blow a shomenuchi or yokumenuchi can be. I emphasized hand placement when attacking and demonstrated the difference between a tsuki (punch) in karate and boxing, and also generating power from your center/hips.

After that, we went outside for sword strikes. We went over posture and te/ashi sabaki (hand/foot position). We also went over the first few ken suburi.

Techniques:
Gyaku te dori kokyu ho, one variation review

Kata te dori shiho nage omote review
Zach stated that he got to try this one out on his dad after Monday's class to good effect. From my experience, my loved ones stopped letting me show them techniques after the first couple of years. Enjoy it while it lasts.

kata te dori shiho nage ura
Jerry and I did with this great emphasis on efficient and correct footwork. I worked with Zach on just the footwork portion of this technique.

At this point we ended class at 9:05. Jerry and I stayed and worked exlusively on three of the gyaku te dori kokyu ho until around 9:45.

I got a lot of great training from tonight. Thanks Zach and Jerry.

CLASS NOTES for Monday, 11/Jun/2007

I thought that while Sensei is gone over the next two weeks, we can post some class notes as to keep everyone up to date on what's happening.

In attendance:
Brandon
Shawn
Jerry
Rodger
Zach

Class time: 7:35 pm - 9:05 pm

Footwork:
Practiced normal footwork + ikkyo ura footwork going up and down the mat

Ukemi:
Shawn worked with Zach on rolls and footwork. Thanks Shawn!
Jerry, Rodger, and I did 50 rolls. We incorporated the forward roll to back roll on the last 10. We discussed using one's rolling energy and form when standing up from the roll to make our rolls more efficient.

Techniques:
For all techniques we discussed and placed an emphasis on good posture, breathing, and terminology

Kata te dori kokyu ho #1 (side hand grab breath throw)

Gyaku te dori kokyu ho, one variation (opposite hand grab breath throw)

Kata te dori shiho nage omote (side hand grab four corner throw in front)
Here, we emphasized how to blend by connecting and turning one's center slightly to extend uke and take balance. Proper positioning by staying close when going under uke's arm, and turning the center to get uke's arm around to their spine for the take down.

For next class we will continue gyaku te dori kokyu ho and reviewing shihonage omote. We will also add in shihonage ura.

We also discussed starting class at 7pm for the next three classes only. If enough people read this and show up at 7, I'll be there and we'll start class then.

Some terminology review:
kata - side
gyaku - other or opposite (side)
te - hand
dori - grab

kata te dori = side hand grab
gyaku te dori = opposite (side) hand grab

(Hopefully, I don't confuse anyone with this next bit)
Counting
1 - ichi
2 - ni
3 - san
4 - shi (yon, fyi alternate reading)
5 - go
6 - roku
7 - shichi (nana, fyi alternate reading)
8 - hachi
9 - kyu
10 - ju

Counting up to 100 works this way:
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9..
10 = ju (10)
11 = ju ichi (10 1)
12 = ju ni (10 2)
13 = ju san (10 3)
14 = ju shi (10 4)
...
19 = ju kyu (10 9)
20 = ni ju (2 10)
21 = ni ju ichi (2 10 1)
22 = ni ju ni (2 10 2)
30 = san ju (3 10)
40 = yon ju (note the alternate reading) (4 10)
50 = go ju (5 10)

for one hundred:
100 - hyaku

Now it works exactly the same
152 = hyaku go ju ni (100 5 10 2)

Reminder

Just as a reminder to everybody, there is a seminar coming up this month in Salt lake City on the 22nd through the 24th. Here is the link for the info: http://www.utahaiki.com/calendar.html

Not a lot of details there yet however.

Schedule for June 11/13, 18/20

Sorry, but it looks like I will need to be absent tomorrow, Monday June 11, and then on the next 3 class sessions as I indicated last week. Please continue to practice the omote/ura (or irimi/tenkan, if you are familiar with those terms) variations for entry into kokyunage, ikkyo, and shihonage. I will be back on the mat June 25.

Sensei

Sensei's schedule for June 4/6

I'm in town this week. Michael Cardwell and I will try to recall technique highlights from Clyde Takeguchi shihan's workshop held at the new Jackson Hole Aikikai dojo Saturday. It was a very good seminar, and the dojo, while not yet completely finished, already has fabulous mats and is a dedicated facility. We enjoyed the interactions with Bill Plank sensei and his students.

Dojo blog

Hello current students, and visitors interested in aikido in Idaho Falls. I'm trying a blog as a means of communicating information on my schedule, and any other information that might be of interest to you. For the time being, I'd like to keep posting limited to dojo members, and have visitors send me an email instead. Let me know what you think of this mode of communication.

Frank