My First Yoshinkan Aikido Grading

Yesterday I took part in my first Yoshinkan Aikido grading. It wasn`t a flawless grading by any means, but a successful one. The grading actually took place midway through the second class of the evening, giving me time to train and practice in the first class. By the time my sensei was ready to start the grading I was tired and sore, having grazed my knee during the previous class` training. However, as the moment arrived the adrenaline and nerves kicked in and I began performing the techniques as my sensei called them out. As this was my first grading I had to start from the very beginning including the two kamae stances (right and left) as well as kneeling from standing position and knee walking. This was uncomfortable and sore on already bruised and grazed knees!

After demonstrating I could perform the basic movements to a satisfactory degree, we began the Kihon Dosa, the fundamental movements that are foundational to the waza in Yoshinkan Aikido. There are six Kihon Dosa movements in all, three sets of paired movements that are designed to build good posture and hip strength. The power of Yoshinkan Aikido techniques lies in the hips and tanden and so developing a strong centre of gravity is essential. I was fairly happy with my demonstration although perfecting the Kihon Dosa will take many more months and even years.

After the Kihon Dosa came the first four waza in the Yoshinkan Aikido syllabus; Katate Mochi Shihonage 1 & 2 and Shomen Uchi Ikkajo Osae 1&2. For these waza I needed a partner and my wife very kindly acted as my uke. While I was very appreciative of her willingness to uke for me, being so much smaller than me makes performing the waza even more difficult. So in one way my waza had to be even better as I had to get my hips lower in order to execute the waza effectively. Here is where I made my mistake; instead of performing Katate Mochi Shihonage 1, I performed Shomen Uchi Ikkajo Osae 1 instead. I think it was a combination of tiredness and nerves, especially with my wife as uke, as I knew the order of the grading having practised it thoroughly in the class before.

Realizing my mistake and clarifying with my sensei his instruction I promptly demonstrated Katate Mochi Shihonage 1, followed by Katate Mochi Shihonage 2 and then both Shomen Uchi Ikkajo Osae 1&2. Afterwards my sensei, with a grin on his face, told me that I`d passed and that I had done well. He jokingly stated it wasn`t the worst mistake he`d seen in a grading before and at least I had performed a correct technique. I was happy and relieved to have passed my first grading in Yoshinkan Aikido.

Even though this was only my first grading and in many ways was a very low key affair being but the first rung on the ladder, I was happy to be allowed to grade after only a couple of months of training. Grading is important to my martial arts` journey. In traditional budos such as Aiki-Jujutsu and Aikido where there is no competition, grading serves as a place to put your waza to the test and see if you have truly understood the concepts and acquired the skill level necessary to begin making the waza effective; something which is important to the application of such techniques in a real self-defence situation.

Another reason why grading is important to my martial arts` journey is because it gives me a sense of ownership over the waza. You can learn a technique in class, but if you have not tested yourself using it then there is less feeling of accomplishment. Once you have passed the grading there is a real sense of accomplishment and skill acquisition that gives you ownership over the technique. You know, at least to a certain degree that you can remember and perform that technique. This builds confidence for learning the next set of waza and for future gradings.

The path of the martial artist is a lifetime of learning. Now that I have passed my first grading more will be expected of me and the standards will start to get higher. This kind of pressure, I believe, is good and healthy. The goal is simple. To strive to perfect each and every technique. This is also why gradings are important because they instill a sense of purpose into each and every training session. While that motivation should always come from within, nevertheless it is good to be given an indication of your ability and reach certain milestones in your journey.

I want to say a big thank you to my wife for being my uke and to my two sensei`s who have worked with me since we started. Their style of didactic teaching has really helped me mentally and physically to learn the techniques. I have been blessed in my years learning budo to have had such high ranking, qualified instructors who have taught me the techniques and opened this world up for me, who have been close to the source of many of these techniques and schools of budo. I have been greatly impressed by the quality of instruction and teaching I have received at my new dojo.

So to the next class, for this journey is one class at a time.

Perseverance

Even though I`ve been doing Yoshinkan Aikido less than two months, it has already tested my physical as well as psychological endurance. The Kihon Dosa requires much perseverance as the movements feel so unnatural at first. My sensei told me the other night as I was training that because I am tall (5`11 but taller than some of the other students in the class) that it is harder for me to get my hips lower, which is necessary for correct kamae. Jokingly he told me to go as low as I could (while maintaining correct posture) and when I can go no lower... to go lower! The Kihon Dosa is quite painful on my lower back as I try to align my shoulders and hips and place my bodyweight forward. Thus I am in quite a bit of discomfort as I train.

The other aspect of perseverance, which I am also now discovering is to do with bad habits. While practising Shomen Uchi Ikkajo Osae 1, I must block a strike with my forearm. However, the angle of my arm was too horizontal and therefore too weak to protect myself from a real strike. It is only a small thing, but so essential to correct and get right for effective self-defence. I am learning that Yoshinkan Aikido takes self-protection very seriously. The Kihon Dosa as well as the waza are designed to protect and to cultivate strong posture. As these slowly become ingrained into my muscle memory I will find myself naturally being far more able to defend myself without using brute strength, relying on bodyweight and good kamae to displace my attackers strength and assault.

Naturally all things are difficult when you first begin. Nevertheless Yoshinkan Aikido is proving a challenge I have not faced before in the use of my body. Due to the seemingly unnatural movement and training of the body through the Kihon Dosa and the emphasis on blending with your attackers force following the path of least resistance, Yoshinkan Aikido is not a martial art that gives you practical self-defence application quickly. This could frustrate many a student who seeks a much more direct approach to self-defence through the martial arts. However, I am even more determined now due to my exposure to Yoshinkan Aikido to persevere and master this beautiful and highly sophisticated martial art.

I believe perseverance will bear much fruit later down the path of my training and that Yoshinkan Aikido is a truly worthwhile pursuit and endeavour. The road will be difficult and will require much greater resolve than I am needing to employ now, but, "nothing worth doing is ever easy!"