29: Saturday 6:15 : February 4, 2006

"Thompson Sensei with Bokuto!" Class

Basic:
Back Breakfalls (40)

Kihon Dosa
Tai no Henko-1
Tai no Henko-2
Hiriki no Yosei-1
Hiriki no Yosei-2

Kihon Dosa with Bokuto

Kihon Dosa again without Bokuto

---7:00

Yokomen Uchi Practice with Bokuto
Yokomen Uchi Practice with Bokuto start from blocking Uke's Shomen Attack

Technique:
Shomen Uchi Ikkajo, Hijishime with Bokuto
Shomen Uchi Kotegaeshi-2 with Bokuto

Note:
Class of 3, the first time with Bokuto (木刀 or 杖) class. I really did not know what to do with those long sticks for the first 5-10 minutes, eventually started being able to, at least, stay in center, then its got interesting : )

We went through 3 sets of Kihon Dosa, bare hands, then with a bokuto, then again with bare hands. After practicing with a bokuto, it felt somehow easier to stay in center to do Kihon Dosa. Also, I think I could see the reason for staying in center and low.

For techniques, the basic movements are no different from when we do with bare hands, it makes it stronger in parts using a tool within a grip.

One thing or the biggest thing is that our dojo has so many things hanging from the ceiling (lights, air conditioning..) and it was very very hard to train with bokutos (which are long sticks). We only had 4 people on the mat tonight with Sensei, it would be too hard to train we had more people...

We hardly use weapon tools for training, I never really was interested in doing it, however I found it very interesting to feel the difference with it without it, how to balance, stay in center...not as using a tool as a weapon.

Well...with Roland sensei...110 back breakfalls in a week or in 2 classes!! Its amazing that I did not get muscle sore from it, yet my upper arms are sore from using a bokuto : ) The whole class felt like 7 minutes, we all had a great time on the mat, off the mat having drunken Aikido talk ; )