First Aikido Class: What Do You Learn in One Hour? From Backward Ukemi to Sumi-otoshi This video follows a new member through about one hour of their actual first training session at Aikido Samsungdang. The session begins with backward ukemi, then moves through weight transfer, basic stance and hanmi, the positional relationship between ai-hanmi and gyaku-hanmi, and finally Gyaku-hanmi Katate-dori Sumi-otoshi. How a new member’s first class is structured is part of each dojo’

Simple training exercise using an ojami beanbag to check your body axis and unnecessary tension. Compare the same movement with and without the ojami and notice how your movement changes. お手玉を使って、身体の軸や余計な力みを確認するための簡単な稽古です。お手玉を使わずに動く場合と、乗せて動く場合の違いを比べてみてください。

A viewer with a judo background recently left an interesting question on my previous video about kata. As it happened, I was already preparing a video on the same subject. Kata repeats predetermined attacks and responses. Does that make it less effective than sparring or free practice when it comes to adapting to changing situations? And how should Aikido approach that issue? This video begins with that question. By limiting variables, kata allows us to repeatedly examine pri