tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71006972008-05-21T21:26:22.687+01:00olifanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16857931747375992051noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7100697.post-48884685364850168252008-04-19T20:09:00.002+01:002008-04-19T20:10:36.795+01:00

The founder applying a shime waza.

olifanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16857931747375992051noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7100697.post-29385921120066912352008-04-16T16:42:00.003+01:002008-04-16T16:45:18.295+01:00

The Olifant got a youtube channel.

olifanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16857931747375992051noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7100697.post-24185702695942581332008-02-07T13:06:00.001Z2008-02-07T13:09:16.225Z

- Saito Morihiro , Traditional Aikido, Vol. 2

olifanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16857931747375992051noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7100697.post-91468861454242070932008-01-14T15:31:00.000Z2008-01-14T15:33:37.622Z

I guess that "SALA DE ESGRIMA" means "Fencing Hall". The two gentlemen with the double-handed swords in the foreground maintain a nice hanmi.

olifanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16857931747375992051noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7100697.post-69121998204999356562007-12-10T15:11:00.001Z2007-12-10T15:15:31.752Z

"There are often those who fancy themselves great by virtually knocking their partners downflat on the mat. Their concept of hard training is utterly wrong. The essence of real training lies in the throwing process. When let loose mercilessly, Aikido techniques do not allow Ukemi. It therefore behoovesyou to throw your partner in such a manner that he can respond with Ukemi without fear of

olifanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16857931747375992051noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7100697.post-5088330379251325102007-11-14T22:32:00.000Z2007-11-14T22:36:11.893Z

Zanshin means "the remaining mind" and also "the mind with no remainder". This is the mind of complete action. It is the moment in kyudo after releasing the arrow. This is "Om makurasai sowaka" in oryoki practice and drinking the rinse water. In shodo, it is finishing the brush stroke and the hand and brush moving smoothly off the paper. In taking a step, it is the weight rolling smoothly and the

olifanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16857931747375992051noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7100697.post-50515809576297899082007-11-09T16:46:00.000Z2007-11-09T16:52:50.350Z

Slide around to the side of your partner and control his joints as if folding them up. Then twist your hips, feigning a blow to his face with your right (left) hand, and throw him down. This is a KOKYU-HO turning throw technique. - Saito Morihiro , Traditional Aikido, Vol. 3

olifanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16857931747375992051noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7100697.post-75794701845904288502007-10-26T12:31:00.000+01:002007-11-05T21:36:11.433Z

old skool...

olifanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16857931747375992051noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7100697.post-65872786568484143362007-09-23T23:46:00.000+01:002007-09-23T23:47:50.595+01:00

Defense is not mentioned in training. Blending, moving on the intent, "Yamabiko no michi". But not defense. As to "self", most of Aikido training seems to emphasize the distance between the practitioner and his "self".

olifanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16857931747375992051noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7100697.post-63569750342212630332007-09-16T21:27:00.000+01:002007-09-16T21:28:50.329+01:00

It has occurred to me that the distinction between soft and hard Aikido is superficial and confusing. Fierceness is much more interesting and revealing property. While difficult or impossible to quantify, it is very obvious when it is there and when it is not.

olifanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16857931747375992051noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7100697.post-748584613017942712007-08-11T20:47:00.000+01:002007-08-19T19:09:10.243+01:00

Picture this: You and the uke stand facing each other. Both of you hold a shinken, a proper razor sharp steel sword in front of you, tips barely touching. The uke, raises his sword, steps forward an cuts strongly with the intent of slicing you in two, head to stomach. You step to the right while raising the sword above the head and cutting down to slice through the uke's hands, stopping just

olifanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16857931747375992051noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7100697.post-20056143288892696132007-06-07T23:32:00.000+01:002007-06-14T12:40:33.819+01:00

Morihiro Saito in slow motion, Iwama 1964. I wonder who the uke is. Things that look diferent to me: 6:35 Uke initiates on shomenuchi ikkyo. 5:00 Sankyo ura looks different. 5:45 Very deep entry on shomenuchi nikkyo ura. 4:45 Seated pins on yonkyo (omote and ura). 1:50 A bokkken suburi (shomenuchi-kaitan-shomenuchi). 1:50 The 3rd bokken suburi as we know it

olifanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16857931747375992051noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7100697.post-41903852948356331472007-05-18T13:24:00.001+01:002007-05-18T13:24:49.177+01:00

Everything is simple, nothing is easy.

olifanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16857931747375992051noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7100697.post-83220398628764427012007-04-21T23:30:00.000+01:002007-06-14T12:41:15.626+01:00

olifanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16857931747375992051noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7100697.post-35906948271748235312007-03-17T21:54:00.000Z2007-06-14T12:41:33.717+01:00

Saito Morihiro applying a sankyo. The uke's hand should be attached to the sternum (breast bone), otherwise the technique is "easily" reversible.

olifanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16857931747375992051noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7100697.post-44505965462039363312006-12-23T16:22:00.000Z2006-12-30T14:17:56.400Z

Seiza is written with two Chinese characters. The character pronounced sei- means "proper, right, true," and by itself can be pronounced tadashii, meaning "just right" or "proper." The character -za means "sitting posture," and is written with an ideograph depicting people sitting on a raised platform under a roof. Furyu

olifanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16857931747375992051noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7100697.post-54090094079564221362006-11-25T23:11:00.000Z2006-11-25T23:17:03.255Z

Something to keep in mind when reading Osensei: "Prior to the late nineteen century and the introduction of Western worldviewes, liturgical and ritual systems centered on shrines and temples were the vehicles through which the Japanese conceptualized their universe, and they provided the only available terminology for questions of physical science or philosophy. For this reason, any effort to

olifanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16857931747375992051noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7100697.post-1163267081947943052006-11-11T17:38:00.000Z2006-11-12T17:18:32.745Z

Appalachian Hickory (grade 6) from Kingfisher. Weight: 580 gr. Length: 104 cm. Center of gravity: 48 cm.

olifanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16857931747375992051noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7100697.post-1159130127261350652006-09-24T21:30:00.000+01:002006-11-12T17:18:32.630Z

Japanese white oak, made in Tsukuba, Japan. Weight: 590 gr. Length: 104 cm. Center of gravity: 48 cm. The inscription is 'AiKi', not sure why the 'Do' was dropped but I have seen this on other Iwama weapons too.

olifanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16857931747375992051noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7100697.post-1152459307337296802006-07-09T16:30:00.000+01:002006-11-12T17:18:32.532Z

From the "Last Samurai"

olifanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16857931747375992051noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7100697.post-1150204896916040322006-06-13T14:21:00.000+01:002006-11-12T17:18:32.434Z

This thread on e-budo is much better then my comments on the subject. Much, much better. I suspect that in a way, Kyudo, is even more susceptible to dilution then Aikido. The cultural dynamics are the same though. Kokoro No Yoi was written by Saito Chobo, hitoharikyu menkyo of Ogasawara Ryu school of Kyudo. I especially liked the following: "Among those who practice kyudo, there are those

olifanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16857931747375992051noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7100697.post-1145914600329943942006-04-24T22:28:00.000+01:002006-11-12T17:18:32.330Z

As I was reading "The Unfettered Mind" by Takuan Soho, I noticed that the author makes an analogy between a sword parry and a Zen koan. Here are some relevant bits from "The Mysterious Record Of Immovable Wisdom": if the mind stops with the sword with which a man is going to strike you, there will be an interval, and your own action will be lost. But if in the interval between your

olifanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16857931747375992051noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7100697.post-1144010999159323092006-04-02T21:49:00.000+01:002007-10-15T17:17:18.366+01:00

"Aikido is generally believed to represent circular movements. Contrary to such belief, however, Aikido, in its true Ki form, is a fierce art piercing straight through the center of opposition. The nature of the art being such that you are not supposed to adapt to your partner by making a wide oblique turn of your body but are called upon to find your way onward while twisting your hips." -

olifanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16857931747375992051noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7100697.post-1140989701749856322006-02-26T21:34:00.000Z2006-11-12T17:18:32.162Z

1. Hands are last. 2. Hips before hands. 3. Feet before hips. Now, what to do with Kokkyo? Is it is always there?

olifanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16857931747375992051noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7100697.post-1139608710068800972006-02-10T21:56:00.001Z2008-02-17T22:24:14.345Z

When one searches Google images for 'osensei' ,the resulting images can be classified as "old sage" and "virile budo master". The ratio is about 30:1 in favor of the "old sage". I think that this is a cultural choice which also reflects the popular interpretation of Aikido. Here is my contribution to the popular vote: and another one:

olifanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16857931747375992051noreply@blogger.com