Dear Gyokushin Ryu aikidoka,
The COVID-19 has completely shut down many countries around the world. We know that of you have had your work outs impacted by the virus. How do we keep up our skills when we have no access to a class?
With a bit of creativity!!
Do your normal class warm-ups on your own to stay in shape and reduce stress. Set a fixed time to practice. Perhaps your usual workout times would be best. Generally do a modified version of your usual warm up with flexibility and strength training. Modify them for your own preferences and circumstances.
Practice basics without a partner:
tai sabaki,
te hodoki,
nigeri kaeshi,
karate strikes,
stances,
karate kata,
suburi and
ken roppo.
While some avoid doing basics; they are the key to proficiency. All Japanese masters say “the secrets are in the basics.” Murai Sensei was the most senior of Minoru Mochizuki Sensei’s students. He was fond of saying the reason instructors become stronger than the casual student is because they have to practice the basics they as they teach. The goal of mushin (no mind) cannot be obtained without innumerable repetitions.
Aikido is like math. If you do not know your multiplication tables, you cannot do algebra. If you cannot automatically do tai sabaki or te hodoki, you cannot do advanced aikido.
Follow basics with technique practice. Pick out techniques you need work on either to remedy problems or work on new techniques needed for promotion. Try to figure out entries from various unusual attacks.
If you have room, walk through the techniques with an imaginary partner. If not use mental imagery.
Hints for practice at home:
Use a pair of shoes to work on foot work for various techniques.
Place them where your attacker’s feet would be and practice entering until you can automatically put your feet in the right place. This is especially good for seoi nage, koshi nage, kata garuma and ashi waza. It can also be used for many sutemi.
A good exercise for karate stances is to start with a good front stance. When your feet are in the proper relationship practice shifting into a kokutsu-dashi (back stance) and kiba-dashi (horse stance). While doing this, do not move your feet other than pivoting on the balls of your feet. When that is comfortable, add a block or strike to each shift. See how many you can remember.
Another good exercise is to do keri yon ho. Do the version where you do all four kicks with one leg without touching the floor between kicks. Even without actually kicking, this is a great balance exercise. Stand on one foot and pick up your other leg. Even a foot of the floor is fine to start. Slowly move your foot through the four kicks without putting your foot down. Concentrate your mind on being aware of your seika no itten (center of gravity). Keep it directly over your supporting foot and you will be balanced.
Very gradually increase height and speed of your kicks.
Mental imagery is especially useful for practicing kata. I have done this for years to help keep all of our numerous kata fresh. Happo ken and the heian kata are designed to be done individually. For a two person kata, mental imagery is required when you do not have a partner. Again it is best to walk through the kata physically with an imaginary partner. However, mental imagery practice is almost as good as physical practice. Pick one karate kata or keri yon ho per session.
Advanced students will want to add a two person kata to each session. Go through all the kata you “know.”
Watch instructional and clinic videos! Look for details you might have missed. Use these images as a basis for your mental practice. These are techniques used by samurai to improve their fighting skills. Many Olympic and professional athletes use imagery to maximize their performance.
“Seven Samurai” by KUROSAWA Akira (1954)
For fun watch samurai films. Noir Nights, a free site on Roku, has Sanjuro and 5 Zatōichi films. Watch for the solar plexus strike for capturing people in Sanjuro. Check out the blinding speed of the iaijutsu of the blind masseur Zatōichi. The demonstration he gives for his master’s students is superlative.
The Zatoichi films influenced the contemporary Bruce Lee films and the later comedic Jackie Chan films. The John Wick films offer the best current representation of what we do, just with a lot of guns added. Ignore the body count and look at the techniques. Pat and I try to identify each technique as a game.
Also on Roku for free is NHK World Japan. This Japanese English language public TV channel offers Japanese language lessons. Go to contents and look under categories. Toward the end you will find first Japanese business language. Keep on going and you will find Japan Easy basic language lessons of about 15 minutes each.
Also every six weeks on NHK there are highlights of the Grand Sumo Tournaments. This is all action with match, reply, short commentary and another match. Better than being there, without the danger of a fast moving 300+ lb. man landing on you from a 3 foot fall. Wrestlers range from 99 kilo (217 lbs.) to 200 kilo (440 lbs.). Watch how the little guys deal with much larger opponents. Look for the origins of many of our techniques.
Being in lock down can be stressful. Try doing basics while mindful of your experience without thinking as a simple meditation technique. Tai sabaki is particularly good for this. Monitor your body. Notice if you are fidgety or tense, use that as a signal that you need to unwind.
Do something you enjoy: this is a good time to do some things you never have had time to do!
Martial arts are all about learning self-control. If you cannot control your emotions you are at a disadvantage in conflict situations. Relationships can become strained in close quarters. Everyone needs to have some private space and time. If you feel upset with someone at home, take a break, disengage and revisit the issue when both of you are calm.
Getting out of the house for a walk or jog can help if that is an option where you are. Playing board games, card games, charades etc. can be good stress reducers. Read a good book or engage in a hobby. Keep in touch with friends and family digitally to reduce feelings of isolation.
If you get bored sitting at home, start training. Of course please follow local Health Authorities guidelines and recommandations to avoid getting sick!
This will end eventually, but we need to be cautious to minimize this pandemic. Please feel free to share these ideas.
“Gambatte!”
UNITED STATES Division shibucho,
US Gyokushin Ryu Aikido Federation