Red Phoenix Aikido Beginnings

I moved back down to South Florida and am now training at the Red Phoenix Aikido dojo.  Although they are not an ASU dojo like North Florida Aikikai the head Sensei and senior student Josh are very fun to work with and very knowledgeable.

In the last few weeks we have worked on some Nikyo and Sankyo techniques from Yokomenuchi (strike to the temple) and Menutsuki (forward strike) strikes.  At the last class we worked on some multiple attacker focused techniques.  This was demonstrated from being grabbed to show how difficult it can be to escape from and disarm your attackers when they are trying to grab you.  When grabbed we trained on not focusing on the hand (which is a distraction) and focused on the actual conflict (the person and their center that is attacking you).  By accepting the grab and extending out to their body by, striking at the throat, nose or even eyes they can be deterred long enough to grab the loosened grip off and establish a Nikyo hold on the Uke.

We also practiced this from being held into a wall by the Uke.  When being lifted up we would lift one knee to protect the vulnerable stomach and groin areas and then strike out at the Uke's throat or face and then bring that hand down one of the grasping hands and turn out their grip and introduce them to the wall face first.  It is important to not get caught up on the actual hand and to remain relaxed, calm and feel the energy that Uke is giving.  If Nage resists the energy and fights with the grip then they will surely be harmed in a real conflict.

Another technique was having a moving attacker come in with a Katadori grab (one handed grab).  As the Uke reaches in for the shoulder Nage takes a long step back to mimic the speed at which the Uke is moving at to draw them into a chase to grab on and as the connection is made Nage secures the hand and again strikes at the face or throat of Uke to disorient and draw their hand down with a sword cut into a nice break fall as Nage draws them down and turns into their arm to flow with their energy.