Weapons
Aikido uses weapons training to enhance awareness on distance, create a better understanding on centering, contact and balance, as well as ensure alertness and intent are present at all times.
For our weapons syllabus we follow the teachings of two great masters who have been uchideshi (live-in students) for the aikido founder Morihei Ueshiba (O'Sensei).
These are Kazuo Chiba shihan and Morihiro Saito shihan.
Bokken (The wooden sword)
Five basic stances of sword
- Chudan no Kamae (middle stance)
- Jodan no Kamae (high stance)
- Hasso no Kamae (8 stages / octagonal stance)
- Waki Gamae (concealed stance)
- Gedan no Kamae (lower stance)
Suburi (basic exercises)
- Chiba sensei's - 8 suburi
- Saito sensei's - 7 suburi
- Saito sensei's - shiho giri (4-direction cuts)
- Saito sensei's - happo giri (8-direction cuts)
Saito sensei's - Kumitachi (bokken partner practice)
- Ichi-no-tachi
- Ni-no-tachi
- San-no-tachi
- Yon-no-tachi
- Go-no-tachi
- Kimusubi-no-tachi
Saito sensei's - Renzoku Uchikomi (continuous stepping and striking practice)
- Shomen Uchikomi
- Tsuki Uchikomi
- Kirigaeshi Uchikomi
Jo (The wooden staff)
Five basic stances of Jo
- Chudan Jyunte - pointing at partner (Normal grip - thumbs pointing to the same direction)
- Chudan Gyakute - pointing at partner (Reverse grip - thumbs pointing towards each other)
- Jodan no Kamae (high stance)
- Hasso no Kamae (8 stages / octagonal stance)
- Jyunte and Gyakute - Holding the Jo in posture vertically covering your front knee
Saito sensei's - 20 Jo suburi (basic exercises)
Tsuki no bu
- Choku tsuki (straight strike)
- Kaeshi tsuki (counter strike)
- Ushiro tsuki (rear strike)
- Tsuki gedan gaeshi (low strike)
- Tsuki jodan gaeshi (high strike)
Uchi no bu
- Shomen uchikomi (Front strike with stepping back)
- Renzoku uchikomi (Continuous front strikes)
- Menuchi gedan gaeshi (Front strike, low return strike)
- Menuchi ushiro tsuki (Front strike, thrust to the rear)
- Gyaku yokomen ushiro tsuki (Front side strike, rear strike)
Katate no bu (one-handed strikes)
- Katate gedan gaeshi (low strike)
- Katate toma uchi (long-distance strike)
- Katate hachi no ji gaeshi (figure of eight strike)
Hasso no bu
- Hasso gaeshi uchi (Eight direction return, front strike)
- Hasso gaeshi tsuki (Eight direction return, front thrust)
- Hasso gaeshi ushiro tsuki (Eight direction return, thrust to the rear)
- Hasso gaeshi ushiro uchi (Eight direction return, strike to the rear)
- Hasso gaeshi ushiro barai (Eight direction return, sweep to the rear)
Nagare no bu
- Hidari nagare gaeshi uchi (Left flowing counter strike)
- Migi nagare gaeshi uchi (Right flowing counter strike)
Kata (forms)
- Chiba sensei's - 9-count kata
- Saito sensei's - 13-count kata
- Saito sensei's - 31-count kata
Saito sensei's - 8 moves Jo awase (jo partner practice)
Body Art
See below for the complete teaching syllabus. Note that not everything will be part of examinations. People under the age of 18 will be graded in phases (tags) until gradually reaching a full kyu grade.
In aikido, grades start at 6th kyu and progress to 1st kyu. First degree black belt is 1st dan. Adults wear white belts until they reach their black belt. Juniors (under 18) wear coloured belts combined with tags.
6th Kyu Overview
10 solo exercises
9 partner practice movements
4 techniques - ikkyo, iriminage, shihonage, kokyu ho
Body movements - Solo exercises
- Tori Fune
- Ukemi - mae and ushiro
- Shikko - mae and ushiro
- Tenkan
- Irimi Tenkan
- Tsugi Ashi
- Ayumi Ashi
- Shomen Uchi
- Yokomen Uchi
- Chudan Tsuki
Body movements - Partner exercises
Ai hanmi katate dori
- Irimi
- Kaiten
- Uchi Kaiten
Gyaku hanmi katate dori
- Irimi
- Kaiten
- Uchi Kaiten
- Soto Kaiten
- Tenkan
- Ushiro Tenkan
Tachi waza (Standing techniques)
Ai hanmi katate dori
- Ikkyo omote (In front)
- Ikkyo ura (Behind)
- Irimi nage
Gyaku hanmi katate dori
- Ikkyo omote (In front)
- Ikkyo ura (Behind)
- Shiho nage omote (In front)
- Shiho nage ura (Behind)
Ryote dori
- Kokyu ho
Suwari waza (Kneeling techniques)
Ai hanmi katate dori
- Ikkyo omote
- Ikkyo ura
- Iriminage
Ryote dori
- Kokyu ho
Tori Fune: A rowing exercise. Also known as funakogi undo.
Ukemi: Breakfall
Mae: Forward
Ushiro: Backward
Omote: Front
Ura: Behind
Chudan: Middle
Irimi: Enter. Moving forwards.
Uchi: Inside
Soto: Outside
Kaiten: Rotation
Tenkan: Turning movement. Doing a full 180 degrees pivot.
Hanmi: Half-body stance. Aikido's basic triangular stance.
Ai Hanmi: Matching stance. Same foot forward.
Gyaku Hanmi: Opposite stance. Mirror image.
Kamae: Stance. Basic position.
Tachi Waza: Standing technique.
Suwari Waza: Kneeling technique.
Katate Dori: Wrist grip.
Ryote Dori: Two hands holding two hands.
Tsuki: Strike / thrust.
Shomen uchi: Cut to the front of the head.
Yokomen uchi: Strike to the side of the head.
Kokyu: Breathing
Kokyu ho: Breathing exercise and throwing technique.
Chudan tsuki: Strike at the solar plexus.
5th Kyu Overview
7 techniques - ikkyo, nikyo, shiho nage, uchikaiten nage, tenchi nage, iriminage, kotegaeshi
6 attacks - ai hanmi katate dori, gyaku hanmi katate dori, katadori, morotedori, shomen uchi, yokomen uchi
Suwari waza (Kneeling techniques)
Katadori
- Ikkyo - omote and ura
- Nikyo - omote and ura
Tachi waza (Standing techniques)
Ai hanmi katate dori
- Nikyo - omote and ura
- Shiho nage - omote and ura
- Kotegaeshi
Gyaku hanmi katate dori
- Nikyo - omote and ura
- Shiho nage - omote and ura
- Uchi kaiten nage
- Tenchi nage
Morote dori
- Ikkyo - omote and ura
- Nikyo - omote and ura
- Shiho nage - omote and ura
Shomen uchi
- Ikkyo - omote and ura
- Nikyo - omote and ura
- Irimi nage
Yokomen uchi
- Ikkyo - omote and ura
- Nikyo - omote and ura
- Shiho nage - omote and ura
Katadori: Shoulder grip.
Morotedori: Grip with two hands.
Shiho nage: Four directions throw.
Kotegaeshi: Reverse wrist throwing technique.
4th Kyu Overview
14 techniques - ikkyo, nikyo, sankyo, yonkyo, rokkyo, uchikaiten sankyo, shiho nage, uchikaiten nage, sotokaiten nage, irimi nage, udekime nage, tenchi nage, kotegaeshi, sumiotoshi
8 attacks - ai hanmi katate dori, gyaku hanmi katate dori, ryote dori, morote dori, kata dori, shomen uchi, yokomen uchi, tsuki
Suwari waza (Kneeling techniques)
Ai hanmi katate dori
- Sankyo - omote and ura
- Yonkyo - omote and ura
- Kotegaeshi - omote and ura
- Uchikaiten nage - omote and ura
Shomen uchi
- Sankyo - omote and ura
- Yonkyo - omote and ura
Tachi waza (Standing techniques)
Ai hanmi katate dori
- Sotokaiten nage - omote and ura
- Sumiotoshi
Gyaku hanmi katate dori
- Sankyo - omote and ura
- Yonkyo - omote and ura
- Iriminage
- Kotegaeshi
- Sumiotoshi
Morote dori
- Shihonage - omote and ura
- Udekime nage
Ryote dori
- Sankyo - omote and ura
- Yonkyo - omote and ura
- Rokkyo - omote and ura
- Shiho nage - omote and ura
- Tenchi nage
Katadori
- Sankyo - omote and ura
- Yonkyo - omote and ura
- Kotegaeshi - omote and ura
- Shiho nage - omote and ura
- Uchikaiten nage - omote and ura
Shomen uchi
- Kotegaeshi - omote and ura
- Uchikaiten Sankyo - omote and ura
Yokomen uchi
- Ikkyo - omote and ura
- Nikyo - omote and ura
- Sankyo - omote and ura
- Udekime nage
Tsuki
- Uchikaiten Sankyo - omote and ura
- Kotegaeshi - omote and ura
- Sumiotoshi
Sumiotoshi: Corner drop.
3rd Kyu Overview
17 techniques - ikkyo, nikyo, sankyo, yonkyo, gokyo, rokkyo, shiho nage, kaiten nage, sotokaiten nage, irimi nage, udekime nage, kotegaeshi, sumiotoshi, uchi irimi tenkan shihonage, uchi irimi tenkan kotegaeshi, uchi irimi tenkan udekime nage
11 attacks - ai hanmi katate dori, gyaku hanmi katate dori, ryote dori, morote dori, kata dori, ushiro ryote dori, ushiro ryo kata dori, ushiro munedakishime, shomen uchi, yokomen uchi, tsuki
Suwari waza (Kneeling techniques)
Shomen uchi
- Gokyo
- Sotokaiten nage
Hanmi handachi waza (One kneeling one standing)
Gyaku hanmi katate dori
- Ikkyo
- Nikyo
- Sankyo
- Yonkyo
- Iriminage
- Kotegaeshi
Tachi waza (Standing techniques)
Ai hanmi katate dori
- Uchi irimi tenkan - shihonage
- Uchi irimi tenkan - kotegaeshi
- Uchi irimi tenkan - udekime nage
Morote dori
- Ikkyo - omote and ura
- Nikyo - omote and ura
- Sankyo - omote and ura
- Yonkyo - omote and ura
- Irimi nage
- Kotegaeshi
- Udekime nage
Ryote dori
- Irimi nage
- Kotegaeshi
Shomen uchi
- Shihonage
- Sumiotoshi
Yokomen uchi
- Gokyo
- Irimi nage - jodan, chudan, gedan
- Kotegaeshi - jodan, chudan, gedan
Tsuki (jodan and chudan)
- Ikkyo
- Nikyo
- Sankyo
- Yonkyo
- Gokyo
- Rokkyo
Ushiro waza (Attacks from behind)
Ryote dori
- Ikkyo
- Nikyo
- Sankyo
- Rokkyo
- Shihonage
- Kotegaeshi
- Udekime nage
- Kaiten nage
Ryokata dori
- Ikkyo
- Nikyo
- Sankyo
- Rokkyo
- Shihonage
- Kotegaeshi
- Udekime nage
- Kaiten nage
Munedakishime
- Shihonage
- Kotegaeshi
Jodan: High
Chudan: Middle
Gedan: Low
Jodan, Chudan, Gedan: All these identify an attack level or a technique position.
Ushiro waza: Attacks from behind. Usually standing techniques.
Ryokata dori: Grabbing both shoulders
Munedakishime: Bear hug (from behind)