Basic Requirements

Basic Requirements of Syllabus

The following requirements and fundamental principles are listed in groups to help assist in remembering the techniques and terminology used by the aikidoka in their everyday training.

KAMAE...........................................................POSTURES
SHIZENTAI......................................................Natural
MIGI SANKAKUTAI.......................................Right triangular stance
HIDARI SANKAKUTAI...................................Left triangular stance
Ml-Al.................................................................Distance
Al-HANMI........................................................Mutual oblique stance
GYAKU-HANMI..............................................Reverse oblique stance

Postures should be natural, yet stable; offering flexibility to both uke and nage to work in harmony. Rigid stances restrict movement.

UKEMI............................................................BREAKFALLS
CHUGARI.........................................................Rolling
MAE..................................................................Front
USHIRO............................................................Back
YOKO...............................................................Side
KAITEN Rotary

Breakfalls are required to stop injury but to maintain the flow of movement. Students must be able to take breakfalls from any angle with a degree of intensity from soft to hard.

TE-GATANA.....................................................Handblade
KI Life................................................................energy
KI NO NAGARI................................................Stream of spirit
IKI......................................................................Breath (physical)
CHIKARA NO DASHIKATA............................Extension of power
CHlKARA 0 DASU............................................Extend power
CHIKARA 0 IRERU..........................................Force power
SEIKA TANDEN...............................................Central point
SEIKA NO ITTEN.............................................The one point

Recognizing the difference between natural ki and physical power is important in developing Aikido. Students should strive to adopt correct breathing and understand the power they can create and extend beyond themselves.

TANDOKU DOSA............................................SOLO EXERCISE
TAI NO SHINTA................................................Locomotion
TSUGI ASHI.......................................................One foot leads - and the other follows
ASUMI ASHI......................................................Cross-over step walking
TENKAI ASHI....................................................Pivot on the spot
TENKAN ASHI..................................................Pivoting backward turn
KAITEN ASHI....................................................One step forward pivot
TAI NO HENKA.................................................Posture changing
KOKYU NO HENKA.........................................Breath movement
KOKYU RYOKO................................................Breath power
KOKYU TENKAN-HO......................................Breath turning
TEKUBI KANSETSU JUNAN-HO...................Wrist joint exercise
KOTE MARWASHI-HO.....................................Wrist in-turn exercise
KOTE GAESHI-HO............................................Wrist out-turn exercise
KOTE HlNIRI-HO...............................................Bending wrist back exercise
TEBUKI SHINDO-HO........................................Wrist shaking exercise

SONTAI DOSA..................................................PAIRED EXERCISE
TAI NO TENKAN-HO........................................Body tuning
KATATE TENKAN-HO.......................................Grasped hand body turning
RYOTE-TORI TENKAN-HO..............................Grasped hands body turning
USHIRO RYOTE TENKAN-HO.........................Behind grasped hands body turning
RENZQKU TENKAN-HO...................................Body turning series
HAISHIN UNDO..................................................Bending back exercise
KOKYO-RYQKO NO YOSE-HO........................Breath power exercise
RIPPO...................................................................Standing exercise

Firstly, solo exercise helps one to gently warm up at a pace we can work to as individuals. It teaches one to be aware of the potential of aikido as an art to be practiced alone. Many elements can only be realized on a personal level, to mentally, prepare one for training.

Paired exercise is necessary to develop harmony and understanding with our partners. We need our partners to assist us with the back stretching and bending exercises, to build rapport and confidence with others, and to practice the techniques of aikido.

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Listed below are some of the more commonly used terms:

Term ......................................Pronounced .......................................Meaning
DOJO .....................................Doe Joe ..............................................Training Hall
TATAMI.................................Ta-Ta Me..............................................Mats
KEIKO....................................Kay Coe..............................................Practice
KEIKOGI................................Kay Coe Gi.........................................Training Suit
OBI.........................................O-Bi......................................................Belt
REI..........................................Ray.......................................................Bow
HAGIMI..................................Ha-Jimmy............................................Begin
YOUI......................................Yoy.......................................................Be Ready
YAME.....................................Ya-May................................................Stop
SOREMADE...........................Sorra-Mad-A.......................................Finish
SENSEI...................................Sen-Say................................................Teacher
TORI.......................................Tor-Ree................................................One who does Technique
UKI.........................................You-Key...............................................One who is thrown
NAGE.....................................Naggy....................................................One who does Technique
UKEMI...................................You-Kem-E...........................................Breakfalls
KAMIZA................................Kar-Me-Za............................................High place of Dojo

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Practice Methods

JYU NO KEIKO...............................................To practise softly
JO NO KEIKO..................................................To practice hard
RYU NO KEIKO..............................................Advanced practice using Kokyu power
KAKARI KEIKO..............................................Constant randori
RENRAKU KEIKO..........................................Sequence techniques
RENZOKU KEIKO..........................................Combination techniques
KAESHI WASA................................................Counter techniques
TACHI WAZA..................................................Uki and nage are both standing
SUWARI WAZA...............................................Uki and nage are both kneeling
HANMI HANDACHI........................................Uki standing, nage kneeling
TANINZU WAZA.............................................Multiple attack
TANINZUKAKARI KEIKO.............................Randori in line up form

IRIMI
Performing: a technique by controlling the flow of ki and redirecting it back to the source.

TENKAN
Performing: a technique by entering and turning the flow of ki in the direction of the attack.

OMOTE
Performing a technique from the front.

URA
Performing a technique from the rear.

KATA
Kata is a way of learning a series of techniques or demonstrating a set form. Although the essence of aikido is free-flowing, kata may be used to aid memory and hone techniques. Kata is commonly used in demonstrating jo and other related weapons. Students must be aware of the risks of rigidity and restriction of free-flowing movement. The spirit of aikido must be expressed in any demonstration of kata.

KEN/JO/TANTO TORI
Weapon-taking or disarming must be performed with composure, skill, precision, and spirit. Working with weapons helps one to sharpen one's reflexes and perfect one's techniques. It also stops one from being complacent. Both uke and nage must be committed and precise in their actions and responses. Every care must be taken for the safety of not only nage and uke, but also people in the immediate vicinity. Proper etiquette must be observed at all times.

THESIS
To gain insight into a student, and their responsibility to carry their grade. Academic genius or writing skills requirements, as long as the student is free, to express their views on any part of Aikido. An average of a thousand words is not beyond the scope of anyone even with limited writing skills. Long hand is acceptable provided it is legible, grammatical errors will not be taken into consideration. However, students are advised to think of presentation and layout as it reflects their discipline and commitment.

GRADINGS
Gradings are not just an examination but a way of assessing one's progress to determine if certain aims and goals are met. If a grade was not obtained, it should not be seen as a failure, but as an education. Attending gradings promotes the art, generates confidence, and strengthens the growth of the art. It focuses attention on the standards within the system, thereby helping to unify the various facets that make the system.

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Basic Methods or Forms of Attack.

1. AIHANMI-KATATEDORI...................Right hand to right hand or left to left

2. GYAKUHAMI-KATATEDORI............Right hand to left hand or left hand to right hand

3. KATADORI..........................................Hand to shoulder

4. MUNEDORI.........................................Hand to chest

5. SHOMEN-UCHI...................................Side of hand to center of head

6. YOKOMEN-UCHI................................Side of hand to side of head

7. RYOTE-MUNEDORI............................Both hands to chest

8. RYOTE-KATADORI.............................Both hands to shoulders

9. RYOTE-KATATEDORI.........................Both hands to both hands

10. MOROTE-KATATEDORI....................Two hands to one hand

1 I . SODEDORI.........................................Sleeve grasp

12. USHIRO RYOTE-KATATEDORI........Both hands from behind

13. USHIRO RYOTE-KATADORI.............Both shoulders from behind

14. MUNE or CHUDAN TSUKI.................Punch/thrust to chest or middle

15. AGO/MEN/JODAN TSUKI..................Punch/thrust to jaw/head/upper

16. USHIRO KATATE ERIDORI...............One hand to collar from the rear

The above forms are listed for convenience and the student must be aware of the infinite ways of attack. Higher grades are expected to deal with any attack from any position. Below are a few examples that the student should expect. Learning the terminology simplifies the examiner's request for combination attacks.

GYAKUHANMI KATATE DORI SHOMEN UCHI............Reverse stance hand grip with strike.

USHIRO KUBI SHIME.......................................................Choke from behind.

USHIRO KATATE DORI KUBI SHIME.............................Wrist grab and choke from behind.

USHIRO TORI......................................................................"Bear" Hug from behind.

USHIRO HIGI TORI............................................................Grasp elbow from behind.

ERITORI AGO TSUKI.........................................................Lapel grabs and strikes to the jaw.

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Basic Form or Methods of Defence

IKKYO.....................................................First principle
NIKYO.....................................................Second principle
SANKYO.................................................Third principle
YONKYO.................................................Forth principle
GOKYO....................................................Fifth principle
ROKUKYO..............................................Sixth principle
IRIMI NAGE............................................Enter body projection
SHIHO NAGE...........................................Four direction projection
KOTE GAESHI.........................................Small hand turn
TENSHI NAGE.........................................Heaven Earth projection
KAITEN NAGE........................................Spiral projection
KOSHI NAGE...........................................Hip throw
AIKI OTOSHI...........................................Aiki drop
SUMI OTOSHI..........................................Corner drop
AIKI NAGE...............................................Aiki projection
JUJI GARAMI...........................................Cross twine
JUJI NAGE................................................Cross arm projection
KOKYU NAGE.........................................Breath throw

Again, the above defensive forms are basic and the variations are infinite. The practice of Aikido allows the student space to be creative, and expressive yet develop their individuality.