I finally got the web site sorted out for Martial Arts and Crafts Jewelry - our jewelry company. It has been "in the works" for about 6 months now, but with a day and night push for the past three weeks of being locked indoors and unable to move about… more »

I passed! No comments at all really, so that is good. John and Den in front with me and Leo in the back I went in to the dojo an hour early and watched the class before the testing. A LOT of people showed up for class and stayed for the testin… more »

My 4th kyu test is tomorrow morning, so my blog should be FAR more interesting after that is over. The same techniques, the same goal, the same people, the same schedule, the same everything will be over and I can move on to just regular class after th… more »

So, I went to class this morning. I did every technique on my test several times during several run-through drills with some other students. There was also another student there who was preparing for his 3rd kyu test, so I did not work with him at all… more »

Well, in case I ever thought it was impossible, I have evidence today that there can be an aikido overload. I took the children's class at 5:00pm. We did irimi nage techniques with the older kids. There were only about 6 kids in the class, so it we… more »

Peter Sensei taught today's morning class. We opened with several irimi nage techniques out of tsuki. Irimi nage from tsuki seems to be something I have a pretty good handle on. At least I usually remember to get out of the way and I can usually figu… more »

Today's morning class was taught by Andy of yesterday's birthday fame. He likes to do this particular jo kata. It is a fun one. I am getting used to it and am not so afraid of the weapon when I do these katas that I can just practice and remember.… more »

Since my back was hurt and I was not training today, why did I show up at the dojo? Well, it was this guy's birthday. This is Andy. He is only throwing Bret, but it looks like he is a real bad ass who just threw Helen too and she was so smashed tha… more »

Today's class we split into a "boys'" and a "girls'" group and went through a set of 4th kyu test techniques in each group. In my group, I had one instructor and two other black belt ladies to walk me through each technique, polishing everything exce… more »

Well, you might think that there is no giggling in aikido. There is. Today's class had me downright giddy. Our class time began with a little chatter between sensei and one of our black belt ladies. They were talking about how their hair was frust… more »

So we ran into this little issue in morning class today. When doing shihonage ura from a yokomen attack, the opening is an irimi. It is the kind of irimi that does not have a crossover of the feet, just a shuffle in. There is a block with the front h… more »

So, there has been this joke about John and me testing before we go traveling on the boat (for some reason, when ever I type traveling, I always add an extra "l" even though I never do this when writing the word on paper... hmmm). Maybe it is not a jok… more »

So, considering that we will be doing aikido in different areas of the world, it seemed necessary to get used to wearing hakama. Though our dojo does not expect people to wear hakama until they are black belts, it is acceptable to wear hakama at 5th ky… more »

I got to do aikido today... 3 times! For my first time on the mat in weeks, since I got sick, I took the morning class. Janet taught a great class. We did Nikkyo just about every way I could think of. I was able to do the first several techniques… more »

Aikido. Our dojo teaches aikido to children. Sometimes I go back and forth on wether or not this is a good thing, I know some dojos do not allow it. I really want my kids to do aikido, and they love aikido, so I usually weigh in on the side of ya,… more »