This section explains in semi-plain English some of the techniques you will practice at NJKS and other Ki Society dojo. Please note that these descriptions are not a substitute for a good teacher. They are only to help you memorize the names and procedures.
Unless otherwise noted, there are three different tests for each exercise. They are: (1) Physical test, i.e., push, pull, lift, or whatever the test is, using physical force only. Make sure to test "straight", so that you do not push up or down. (2) Hesitate, i.e., move in to test, but wait a moment, then do the test same as (1). (3) Test with Ki, meaning first send the mind, then test with as little physical force as possible. As a general rule, the more advanced your partner is, the more advanced your test has to be.
The following tests are based upon the exercises listed in Section 5.
Let us assume that you are testing your partner. Let your partner perform the exercise several times, then test as described.
1. Koho Tento Undo (Roll backward and forward)
Test: Push on the shoulders from the front while your partner is rolling forward.
2. Tekubi Shindo Undo (Shake hands as fast as possible)
Test: A) Push the wrist up toward the shoulder of your partner.
B) Push straight into the chest.
3. Funakogi Undo (Rowing exercise)
Test: 1A) From behind, stop your partner in the forward movement; push at the center of the back with the palm of your hand.
2A) From behind, push at the center of the back with straight fingers while your partner is moving forward.
3A) Same as 2A), but with Ki.
B) From the front, push the wrists towards the shoulders of your partner.
4. Shomen Uchi Ikkyo Undo (Swing arms as Ikkyo technique)
Test: A) Same as (1/2/3A) in Funakogi Undo.
B) (i) From the front, pull down on the wrists;
(ii) push the wrists towards the shoulders;
(iii) push up under the elbows.
5. Zengo Undo (Two directions of Shomen Uchi Ikkyo Undo)
Test: A) Same as (1/2/3A) in Funakogi Undo.
6. Happo Undo (Eight directions of Shomen Uchi Ikkyo Undo)
Test: 1A) Count slowly until eight. Stop your partner in the forward movement, and push at the center of the back.
2A) Count more quickly. On the count of eight, push at the center of the back with straight fingers while your partner is still moving forward.
3A) Same as 2A, but with Ki.
B) Same as A), but stop at any count.
7. (Kaho) Tekubi Kosa Undo (Cross wrists in front of the One Point)
Test: A) Push up on the wrists from underneath.
8. (Joho) Tekubi Kosa Undo (Cross wrists in front of the face)
Test: A) Push the hands straight towards the face of your partner.
B) Pull the hands straight from the face of your partner.
9. Sayu Undo (Extend arms towards left side or right side)
Test: A) Push up on the arm extended out to the side.
B) Push up on the hand in front of One Point.
C) Push sideways on the hip towards the side of the extended arm.
10. Ude Furi Undo (Swing arms without turning)
Test: A) Stop your partner and push on the shoulder of the arm across the chest towards the other shoulder.
11. Ude Furi Choyaku Undo (Swing arms while turning back and forth)
Test: A) Stop your partner and push on the shoulder that is in front. After testing one turn, repeat the test after two turns and then after three turns.
12. Ushiro-Tori Undo (Extend arms and make slope)
Test: A) Stop your partner on the count of one, and push down on the extended upper arms.
B) Stop your partner on the count of two, and push on the hip from behind,
C) and push down on the extended upper arms again.
13. Tenkan Undo (Turning exercise)
Test: A) Stop your partner and push the extended hand towards the shoulder. After testing one turn, repeat the test with two turns, then three turns.
14. Kokyu Dosa (Push and throw from seiza position)
Test: A) After being thrown, while your partner holds you down, push your wrists upward.
B) Have a third person push your partner from the back, as the test for sitting seiza.
1. Standing with mind and body unified (Hammi position, i.e., one foot forward)
Test: A) Push straight into the chest.
2. Unbendable arm (Hammi position)
Test: 1A) Try to bend the arm using your hands, one hand under the wrist and the other hand on the elbow.
2A) Same as 1A), but hesitate.
3A) Try to bend the arm as in Test 1, but lead Ki in a circle. (One hand redirects the fingers.)
3B) Place the wrist of your partner on your shoulder and try to bend the arm with your arms.
3. Thrusting out one hand with its weight underside (Hammi position)
Test: 1A) Push up under the elbow.
2A) Same as 1A), but hesitate.
3A) Push up at the wrist, hand, or fingers, with Ki.
4. Sitting seiza with mind and body unified
Test: 1. (i) Push on the chest
(ii) Push the wrist up toward the shoulder.
(iii) Push up under the knee.
(iv) Push on the back.
(v) Push on the back of the head.
(vi) Push up under the chin.
2. Push on the chest, then switch suddenly to (i)..(vi). Test a couple of times by changing the order of your test.
3. Same as Test 2, but with Ki.
5. Sitting down to seiza and standing up to hammi position with mind and body unified
Test: A) Push on the chest just before your partner settles into seiza.
B) Push on the back just before your partner settles into hammi position.
6. Breathing exercises with mind and body unified
Test: 1. Do not test while exhaling. Push on the chest just as your partner stops inhaling.
2. (A) Push on the back just as your partner stops exhaling.
(B) Push on the chest just as your partner stops inhaling.
3. Same as Test 2, but with Ki.
7. Sitting cross-legged (agura) with mind and body unified while being pushed from behind
Test: 1. Push straight into the shoulders with both hands.
2. Draw a "db" and up, then push forward just below shoulder blades.
3. Same as Test 2, but bigger figure and push up with Ki.
8. Sitting cross-legged (agura) with mind and body unified while being raised by one knee
Test: A) Push up under the knee.
9. Thrusting out one hand with mind and body unified, while being pushed by the wrist (Hammi position)
Test: A) Push the wrist towards the shoulder.
10. Bending over backward with mind and body unified
Test: A) Push down on the shoulder with both hands.
11. Stooping with mind and body unified ("tying shoes")
Test: A) From behind, push on the hips forward.
12. Unraisable body
Test: A) 1 person lift the body up under the armpits.
B) 2 people lifts the body up by the extended arms.
13. Leaning backward with mind and body unified
Test: 1. Your partner leans against you in a back-to-back position. You move away suddenly.
2. Same as Test 1, but extend Ki from your back when beginning.
3. Same as Test 2, but with stronger Ki.
14. Leaning forward with mind and body unified
Test: 1. Bend your body forward to make a bridge. Your partner leans forward, resting his weight on your back. Drop down suddenly.
2. Same as Test 1, but extend Ki from your back when beginning.
3. Same as Test 2, but with stronger Ki.
15. Leaning sideways with mind and body unified
Test: 1. Your partner leans sideways on your shoulder with extended arm, and same side foot raised up and away. You move away suddenly.
2. Same as Test 1, but extend Ki from your shoulder when beginning.
3. Same as Test 2, but with stronger Ki.
16. Thrusting out one hand and raising one leg with mind and body unified
Test: A) Push the wrist towards the shoulder.
17. Holding up both hands as if hanging from a bar
Test: A) Push straight into the chest.
18. Walking forward while being held
Test: 1. Hold your partner from behind around the chest. Your partner should walk forward.
2. Same as Test 1, but hold more strongly.
3. Same as Test 2, but hold with Ki.
19. Sitting cross-legged (agura) with mind and body unified
Test: A) Push into the shoulders with both hands while your partner holds your arms from underneath with both hands.
There are two basic groups of Aikido techniques, Nage-waza (throws) and Katame-waza (pins). The throws are performed to discard Uke. The pins are performed to control, and possibly, disarm Uke.
┌────
KOKYU-NAGE│
┌────
NAGE-WAZA ────┼──── KOTE-GAESHI│
││
└──── SHIHO-NAGE│
WAZA
───────────┤│
│
┌──── IKKYO│
│└───
KATAME-WAZA ───┼──── NIKYO│
├────
SANKYO│
└────
YONKYO
This sub-section briefly outlines and explains the Aikido techniques required for passing the Gokyu (5th Kyu) test. This is usually the first test performed by adult students.
First, it is required that you pass the Shokyu test in Ki Development, explained in Section 7. Then, you need to perform Hitori Waza, explained in Section 5 under Aiki-Taiso.
In the following scenarios, you would be nage and the attacker would be uke (and male, for the sake of brevity). Furthermore, uke attacks with the right hand.
1. Katate-Kosa-Tori Kokyu-Nage Irimi Tobikomi
(right foot forward, migi-hammi)
1a) Uke grabs your right wrist, cross-hand in a demented "How-do-you-do?"
1b) You leave your hand in uke's, jump past him and turn around while pointing with the right index finger.
2a) When facing the back of uke and with your left/free hand resting on his neck, paint a LARGE circle with your right finger, while moving forward/turning right with uke on the outside of your turn.
2b) Point down, point up, (BIG circle, y'hear?)
3) Turn toward uke and point down past his outside ear. Uke falls down.
You should now be standing with your legs crossed, pointing at an uke lying down.
2. Katate-Kosa-Tori Kote-Gaeshi Irimi Tobikomi
(right foot forward, migi-hammi)
1a) Uke grabs your right wrist, cross-hand in a demented "How-do-you-do?"
1b) You leave your hand in uke's, jump past his and turn around while pointing with the right index finger.
2a) Approaching/standing side-by-side with uke, let your left/free hand slide down his right arm to the wrist.
2b) Turn your right hand, held by uke, palm up and away from him, thereby releasing it, and take a large step back with your right foot.
3a) With uke's right hand loosely in your left hand, take a large step back with your left foot, thereby facing him, and place your right hand on the outside of his hand.
3b) As you turn around 180 degrees, "fold" uke's hand in towards his elbow. Uke falls down.
4a) With uke down, put your right hand on his elbow; with your left hand, put his hand in his face.
4b) Walk around uke's head, causing him to turn over on his bellybutton.
5a) Put your left foot under uke's right shoulder, his right hand still in your left.
5b) Push down with your left hand, and push on his arm with your left knee across his head. Uke pats.
3. Katate-Tori Kokyu-Nage Irimi Tekubi-Tori
(left foot forward, hidari-hammi)
1a) Uke grabs your left wrist.
1b) You leave your hand in his, glide walk in with your left foot and place your bellybutton in your open left hand, while putting your right/free hand on top of uke's wrist.
2a) Lightly grab with your right hand while pulling your left hand out of uke's grip. Keep moving in and put your left hand on the back of his neck.
2b) When side-by-side, make a right turn while brushing down, then up in a BIG circle with your right hand.
3) Turn toward uke and point down past his outside ear. Uke falls down.
You should now be standing with your legs crossed, pointing at an uke lying down. (Where have we seen this before?)
4. Katate-Tori Kokyu-Nage Irimi Tenchi-Nage
(left foot forward, hidari-hammi)
1a) Uke grabs your left wrist.
1b) You point out to the side, back and down past uke, with unbendable arm, and step left/forward, as if trying to pick up your long lost silver dollar.
2a) Your right hand "scoops" up uke's One-Point as if it was a pie.
2b) Your right hand moves up and places that pie in his right ear (as if drawing a backwards question "?" mark) while stepping through his right arm with your right foot. Uke falls down.
5. Katate-Tori Kokyu-Nage Tenkan Ude-Oroshi
(left foot forward, hidari-hammi)
1a) Uke grabs your left wrist.
1b) You leave your hand in his, glide walk in with your left foot and place your bellybutton in your open left hand, then turn around on your left foot.
2) Now side-by-side, shoulder-to-shoulder, with uke, with both hands out as if holding a bowl of soup, walk forward in a right turn.
3) Put the soup down on the ground.
4) Raise both hands up, and move them to your left, into uke's face, and take a large step 45 degrees back/left while looking forward. Uke falls down.
6. Katate-Tori Shiho-Nage Irimi
(left foot forward, hidari-hammi)
1a) Uke grabs your left wrist.
1b) You leave your hand in his, but bend it slightly towards you, so that your right hand can easily grab uke's right wrist.
1c) Step in front of uke with your right foot keeping your hands in front of you.
1d) Step through with your left foot.
2) With your hands in front of your head, bend knees if you have to, turn to the right until you face uke, and let your hands drop straight down. Uke falls down.
Your legs should be crossed so that your left knee is in back of your right. Ki test, anyone?
7. Katate-Tori Shiho-Nage Tenkan
(left foot forward, hidari-hammi)
1a) Uke grabs your left wrist.
1b) You leave your hand in his, glide walk in with your left foot, place your bellybutton in your open left hand, and place your right hand on uke's wrist.
2a) Lift your hands in front of your face (what time is it?), and take a LARGE step back with your right foot, thus turning to the outside.
2b) Take an equally large step forward with your left foot - hands still in front of your face - until you face uke's right backside.
3) Drop your hands straight down. Uke falls down.
8. Kata-Tori Ikkyo Irimi
(left foot forward, hidari-hammi)
1) Uke grabs (at) your shoulder/lapel. Your brush down on his hand with your right hand and step back with your left foot.
2) Uke's right hand is now in your right hand, at waist level. With your index finger, paint a LARGE circle (rainbow) until your hand comes to your right knee. Place your left hand on uke's elbow, as he is now bent over in front of you.
3) Step in through uke's elbow with your left foot, then your right foot. Uke falls forward.
4a) Kneel down beside uke, with your left knee in his rib cage, and your right knee under his elbow, with his arm at least 90 degrees away from his body.
4b) Put the outside edge of your left hand just above his elbow and push down; fold his right hand over on top of his wrist with your right. Uke pats.
9. Kata-Tori Ikkyo Hantai Tenkan
(left foot forward, hidari-hammi)
1) Uke grabs (at) your shoulder/lapel. Your brush down on his hand with your right hand and step beck with your left foot.
2a) Uke's right hand is now in your right hand, at waist level. With your index finger, paint a LARGE circle (rainbow) while you touch his elbow with the outside edge of your left hand and jump past him and make a turn to the right.
2b) Uke flies past you and lands on his bellybutton.
3a) Kneel down beside uke, with your left knee in his rib cage, and your right knee under his elbow, with his arm at least 90 degrees away from his body.
3b) Put the outside edge of your left hand just above his elbow and push down; fold his right hand over on top of his wrist with your right. Uke pats.
10. Zagi Kokyu-Dosa
(kneeling, seiza)
1a) You sit seiza in front of uke, who is also sitting seiza.
1b) You hold out both arms for uke to grab you by the wrists.
1c) You extend Ki through uke and "push" him over (not backwards), to your right side.
2) Your step after, on your knee, and hold down the mat by putting the edge of your right hand on his left wrist, and the edge of your left hand on the right side of his chest. Uke has now fallen, and he can't get up.
Printed Version (July 10, 1993) © 1992 New Jersey Ki Society
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