Systema in August 2012
Just completed a month with Russian Systema,Grab and escape fundamental to the training systema. I enjoy the warm-up exercises as they are different and focus on core strength on the ground. Adam's a wonderful trainer and only intervenes to add point or strategy to the tussel. He allows you to work your way and doesn't insist on correcting as in the other arts. Push punches and the leg work is an added experience and of course The Wave, I will continue to explore.

June 2012, Another season over

June 2012

Another season over, unfortunately I didn’t grade but there’s always next year.  Somehow didn’t feel encouraged so I wasn’t too confident and had a tight schedule that Saturday. The only problem is the older you get the more difficult to give time and commitment.  Having gaps between Aikikai training always re-enthuses me and I make new discoveries each time I return.

Aikikai  delves into higher levels of energy transmission,  dissipitating force and collecting/steering it to your advantage. I would not recommend it as a self defence because it is very dependant on cooperation and that’s not combat. Yet the training is geared to experience and develop “blending with the uke.”

Personally I take it one step further and ride the force so that I’m the driver and in control. It is exhilarating to say the least.

Aikikai

23/05/012 

Had a better session last night. I felt that perhaps I was a little more appreciated for my abilities and there was reciprocated understanding and respect. I guess people were concentrating on developing their own skill to worry about directing me. The concept introduced bought to mind the liquidity of water and the Russian Systema wave of energy flow. Something I look forward to exploring when I'm back with Systema. In the mean time practice for the Aikido grading.

19/4/012

I s the only discourse/discussion amongst warriors , criticism. All my Ukes comment to tell u what you should be doing. There’s no mutual respect. Is this the warrior spirit or is it the predicament of masculine regimentation and rank. Being a female I should be more submissive. Something I’m not so good at. Oh, lady of the fight, give me strength to continue to stay in their face.  They shake me away. What pisses me off the most is when they only know the procedure to a technique and have no explanation energy, movement, structure and balance which generates force.

Aikikai 2012

I've decided to use this blog as a record of my training and discussion on Martial Arts. Six months of the year I train Aikikai Aikido. This year, I was fortunate enought to go to Hotham for mountain training. The terrain was rough so we mainly engaged in boken combat, ie sword work. It seems over the years Aikikai has included more weapons training, a preference of mine.

At the dojo, the rolling sends energy into a whirlwind pouring across comfortable mats. I'm often disappointed at the patronising when the boys withhold their energy to throw me. Some can also become motionless, like a rock, to make it difficult to execute a technique. Aikido needs movement to be effective.

Training in the kimberleys

Tae Kwondo is popular and the only martial art in the Kimberleys. In Broome, Eskrima (phillipino sticks) is also available. The head instructor Tony Familari demands respect and students address him as "Sir". There are women training which is always a credit of the instructor. Sparring sequences with restraints were part of the training. I was honored when he told me that the Eskrimo session was championship training. I managed to keep up with it. I have not practised Eskrima very much.

Kununarra also has Tae Kwondo, these sessions are geared for competion sparring with double kicks to increase point scoring.

Travel 2004

This is an old article but with blogging it has to come up in order that u post
August 2004, Bangalore, India

Hello there MM,
I’ve resurrected from a month of spiritual confinement in yogic practices at Prashanti Kutri, Kanataka India. Yoga as was often stressed is a way of life not just asanas (postures), so
I’ve been lectured in Indian philosophy
chanted songs of praise and worship
Om ed until my aveoli have shivered with the vibration
breathed strength from the divine
sat in painful positions with a smile
meditated to see the light
and stepped closer to samadhi (super consciousness).
I feel rebirthed, ready to taker on the world again. I have been totally cared for in the last month. Something I haven’t experienced since I left my parent’s home.
What will I bring to you?
Pranayama: concentration on the breath as a cleansing and purification of the body. It’s also an entry point for vital energy (not just O2 ) and perhaps the divine(god), if you’re lucky. I already use a couple of the techniques and with limited time it is hard to include more.
Meditation: calming the mind to silence and bliss so as to reach an altered consciousness in direct communication with the divine (if you’re one of the choosen ). You never know what truths reach you at this stage. Your own or another soul’s, perhaps revelations from the divine.
I’d like to include 10mins in programs, but you know with the rush and noone has any time, this may be problematic.
To clear your mind and fill it with nothingness is a very difficult practice.
Asana the postures, yes, what we believe yoga to be. The stretching and toning of muscles and joints. They have qualified me to reach these but prefer me to enlighten people on yoga and use the integrated approach. Asana is only one of eight limbs of yoga. I already include these in the programs.
BUT I may have a 1 hour session to include all the above and no –selfdefence as one of the MM programs
Interested, I’ll be back in Nov.
Next I’ll do a month of Kalirippayatu, an Indian martial art. I’ll be in touch.

Women have an aversion to power and force, perhaps because they are considered masculine concepts, attributes and characteristics. Yet they must deal with these in every aspect of their lives whether at work, play, domestics or relationships. They may be physical in the sense of lifting, pushing, pulling or interpersonal in the games people play. Power is an absolute strength to dominate while force is an insistance or persistance to secure submission.

The way women regard, undertake and deal with force and power should not measure her femininity. Physical resistance as compared to submission is a right; an obligation to future generations so that those who wish to abuse power by using force are punished and dissuaded, social expectations are reversed and standards of femininity change.

Strength is not necessary for physical resistance. All martial arts work with the diversion/redirection of force.

In Aikido opponents learn to ride the force until they can gain control. The attacker co-operates when a technique is administered on them to prevent injury and can escape by rolling out. It's the movement which absorbes the force and can revert it against the attack.

Wing Chun's sticky hands works on a touch component where contact with the opponent allows the redirection of force and sliding past it to take control. Karate deflects force with turning of the hand-arm at the last minute.

In all martial arts there is no clashing of force.