Welcome - はじめまして

Syllabus

Listed below is the material we cover that includes body art and weapons.
Click here for the grading syllabus.

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

  1. Chudan no Kamae (middle stance)
  2. Jodan no Kamae (high stance)
  3. Hasso no Kamae (8 stages / octagonal stance)
  4. Waki Gamae (concealed stance)
  5. 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)

  1. Ichi-no-tachi
  2. Ni-no-tachi
  3. San-no-tachi
  4. Yon-no-tachi
  5. Go-no-tachi
  6. 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

  1. Chudan Jyunte - pointing at partner (Normal grip - thumbs pointing to the same direction)
  2. Chudan Gyakute - pointing at partner (Reverse grip - thumbs pointing towards each other)
  3. Jodan no Kamae (high stance)
  4. Hasso no Kamae (8 stages / octagonal stance)
  5. 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 (the first grade in aikido)

The 6th kyu grade provides a student with the foundation of stances, positioning and body movement, that is required for their progression in aikido.

Junior belt colour: red

Body movements - Solo exercises

Body movements - Partner exercises

Tachi waza (Standing techniques)

Suwari waza (Kneeling techniques)

5th Kyu (the second grade in aikido)

The 5th kyu grade introduces different techniques from standing and kneeling positions and from different attacks.

Junior belt colour: yellow

Suwari waza (Kneeling techniques)

Tachi waza (Standing techniques)

4th Kyu (the third grade in aikido)

The 4th kyu grade includes more throws from different attacks and focuses on contact, connection and ukemi.

Junior belt colour: orange

Suwari waza (Kneeling techniques)

Tachi waza (Standing techniques)

3rd Kyu (the fourth grade in aikido)

The 3rd kyu grade introduces attacks attacks with grabs from behind, and focuses on movement, contact, connection and ukemi.

Junior belt colour: green

Suwari waza (Kneeling techniques)

Hanmi handachi waza (One kneeling one standing techniques)

Tachi waza (Standing techniques)

Ushiro waza (Attacks from behind)

Give it a go.

Come down on a Friday night to give it a go. First class is FREE.