Practicing
Entering a Dojo is a celebration.
Before we step on the tatami we take care about our appearance, body and our soul.
We arrive in time, so we have time to arrive - mentally too. If we are late, we wait for the instructor to indicate that we can come in.
We practice well-groomed, in ordered and clean clothes, not causing accidents (slide fastener, snap, jewels). For the first training sessions it is enough to have jogging-trousers and a t-shirt. The keikogi (training clothes) or other equipment is needed at the first examination.
When stepping in and out of the Dojo we bow to thank for the work of O-Sensei, our teachers, the practitioners we have, and for the possibility to practice here.
The so-called Ki-exercises are important parts of learning Kiaikido - also known as Shin Shin Toitsu Aikido (aikido based on unification of mind and body). Sensei Koichi Tohei, the founder of Kiaikido created the Ki-exercises, and Doshu Kenjiro Yoshigasaki developed them further. Using these exercises is the base of our practice. With them we can maintain our attention continuously, and have a deeper understanding about ourselves throughout our movements and posture.
The average practicing time is one and a half hour. At the beginning and end of lessons we greet each other in seiza (the traditional Japanese kneeling sit).
After greeting we continue with breathing exercises and prepare ourselves with kenkotaiso (gymnastic exercises) and aikitaiso (technical warm-up) for the technical practice.
Usually in the main part of the training we learn unarmed and armed techniques in the form of hitoriwaza, kumiwaza and tsuzukiwaza.
- Hitoriwaza - practicing a technique alone
- Kumiwaza - practicing a technique with partner
- Tsuzikiwaza - practicing a group of techniques with partner(s), in harmony
We ask a companion to practice with us and we try to practice with everybody in the Dojo.
In the last part of the training we practice kenkodo (the health caring part of aikido) through breathing exercises, meditation, cleaning exercises and teateho or sotaiho (massage types).
After the training we don’t change ourselves, we remain aikidokas. We try to thrive this special feeling in our everyday life.