Tag Archives: martial art

When can I be scary?

Posted on December 1, 2016 by maenosen

Two new people joined our iaido school last month, which means I am no longer the very bottom of the class. Which also means when we line up at the start and end of the class I need to be … Continue reading →

Posted in General observations, Training | Tagged Jikiden, Jikiden Eishin-ryu, martial art, Martial arts, Niten ichi ryu, teaching, training

Adaptability

Posted on March 24, 2016 by maenosen

I have been thinking a great deal about adaptability in martial arts of late. Every modern martial art has evolved over the years, no style has remained static. Of the martial arts I practise it is a requirement for the … Continue reading →

Posted in General observations, Training | Tagged disability, Injury, martial art, Martial arts, training

When does push become pull?

Posted on February 28, 2015 by maenosen

I have previously mentioned the perils of training with someone who continually over-steps the levels at which you feel confident at training at, but sometimes this a good thing. So what is it that differentiates the partner you train with … Continue reading →

Posted in General observations, Training | Tagged break falling, breakfalling, dojo, ipon seio nage, Japanese, Jiu Jitsu, martial art, Martial arts, training, uke

The Light Response

Posted on February 4, 2015 by maenosen

Some years ago, when I was working on ships, my boss asked me to tell the crew not to use compressed air for cleaning up the deck and tank tops. There was a danger paint chippings could go in their … Continue reading →

Posted in General observations | Tagged aikido, Japanese, Jiu Jitsu, martial art, Martial arts, not fighting, training

Falling with grace

Posted on January 18, 2015 by maenosen

Feedback Firstly, thank you to all that gave me feedback on my last post over on Google Plus. Your comments have been helpful in many ways, and I hope to write a follow up article on the matter. Falling On … Continue reading →

Posted in Training | Tagged break falling, breakfalling, hane goshi, Injury, ipon seio nage, jitsu, Jiu Jitsu, martial art, Martial arts, ogoshi, training | 1 Comment

What is the purpose?

Posted on January 9, 2015 by maenosen

A few months ago I was applying a technique called kote gaeshi, which is a wrist lock technique used in jitsu and aikido. Application can vary from a mild lock to generate a shock reaction, to a full hard application … Continue reading →

Posted in Technical, Training | Tagged aikido, application, Jiu Jitsu, kote gaeshi, martial art, Martial arts, movement, training, wrist lock

The calm in the storm

Posted on December 11, 2014 by maenosen

Three weeks ago, during a wonderful aikido seminar of which I really must type about, I re-herniated a disk in my lower back and was reduced to immobile agony on the mat. Having assured my training partner it was not … Continue reading →

Posted in General observations, Training | Tagged aikido, back injury, back pain, Japanese, Jiu Jitsu, martial art, Martial arts, moving on, muscle injury, resting, training

I don’t beat up people

Posted on September 13, 2014 by maenosen

Recently I was delighted to spend time (sadly too little time) with the man who first introduced me to martial arts, Graham Butcher, going over some basics in Stav. I like Graham’s teaching, he works through techniques in a way … Continue reading →

Posted in General observations | Tagged drunk lady, engage, fighting, Graham Butcher, martial art, Martial arts, not fighting, stav

Kyudo

Posted on September 1, 2014 by maenosen

Yesterday I accompanied a friend to watch a kyudo class. I wasn’t interested in taking up kyudo myself, pulling a bow with a shoulder injury is never a good idea, but my friend was curious and I agreed to be … Continue reading →

Posted in Other martial arts | Tagged bow, dojo, Japan, Japanese bow, Kyudo, martial art, Martial arts

The Dawning Wonder of Weapon Work

Posted on July 21, 2014 by maenosen

When you consider that at least three of the instructors I am training under in California hold rank of shodan (1st dan) or above in Iaido (Japanese sword work) or other weaponry, then it is not surprising that a good … Continue reading →

Posted in General observations, Training | Tagged aikido, bokken, dojo, fighting, Iaido, Japanese, jo, martial art, Martial arts, movement, training, weapon, weapons

The calm happiness of Aikido

Posted on July 14, 2014 by maenosen

Apologies for my prolonged absence from blog updates. Things have been hectic of late. As per my last post I am still in California, working away and fitting in Aikido as often as I can. End point of my part … Continue reading →

Posted in General observations, Training | Tagged aikido, Aikido of Monterey, blending, fighting, ki, martial art, Martial arts, not fighting, training

Dojo Discipline

Posted on May 6, 2014 by maenosen

Dojo discipline, it would appear, is a touchy subject. Firstly on the existence of it, and secondly on how it is administered. Last year I was on a course which spent part of the afternoon training with a boken. Not … Continue reading →

Posted in General observations | Tagged aikido, chaos, discipline, dojo, jitsu, Jiu Jitsu, Khaos, kote gaeshi, martial art, Martial arts

Mindfulness

Posted on April 23, 2014 by maenosen

It has been the Easter break here in the UK. While I don’t observe Easter, plenty of others do and consequently training has been on hold the past week. So I shall use this lull in training to draw your … Continue reading →

Posted in Other Blogs | Tagged aikido, fudoshin, martial art, Martial arts, mushin, senshin, shoshin, zanshin

Mixed up abomination

Posted on April 15, 2014 by maenosen

What is this abomination?! I admit I became a little snobbish when I saw a martial art school recently advertising in my area. “Little bit of everything, specialising in nothing,” I sneered to my companion. I know I’m not alone … Continue reading →

Posted in General observations, Training | Tagged aikido, Bxing, dojo, fighting, Japanese, jitsu, Jiu Jitsu, Karate, Krav Maga, Krav Maga Federation, Kung Fu, martial art, Martial arts, Mixed martial arts, Takekwondon, training | 1 Comment

Aikido and Movies!

Posted on April 12, 2014 by maenosen

Originally posted on Tenrokan Aikido Dojo:
Jokingly we were discussing the connection between Aikido and the movies as I pointed out Obata Sensei played the villain in the Ninja Turtle Movies. Well in life he’s very much the real deal. …

Posted in Other Blogs | Tagged aikido, Gozo Shioda, Japanese, jo, jo staff, katana, martial art, Martial arts, Obata Sensei, training, weapons, Yoshinkai Aikido