On we go; more happy snaps.

Part 1 is here.


As long as Chris wants to play around, I'm game. For the record; this really hurts.


I'm starting to lose patience with Chris - now he's getting The Look.
Honestly; he's a real nice guy and I like him a lot - but you don't mess around in my class.  


Much of aikido centers around technique. I don't - I use technique as a training tool to teach movement. It's calmness, movement and tactical clarity which saves butt in a real-life situation; not fancy-schmancy techniques. Here; I'm introducing them to the wonderful, painful world of lunge-stepping...


...and am even nice enough to allow them to practice it.
For a half hour straight.

Everything done today to this point has been a primer for the main technique of the day - Tenshinage. I demonstrate it on Joel, with my hakama hitched up so they can see what my legs are doing. (i.e. the lunge-step.)

Practicing Tenshinage as a group. Jill's good - here she's happily bowling me over in the center of the shot.


I finish every class with a 15 minute lecture about the concepts we've been working on. Gives them a chance to understand why things work, how they fit in to defensive theory and of course to catch their breath before bowing out.

...and that's how our first class went!

Neat shots! Good luck with it!