Welcome to South Austin Aikido

Last weekend George Ledyard Sensei traveled to San Antonio for his third annual seminar at Alamo City Aikido.  This year’s topic was on entries.  Sensei said he checked his notes from the last time he did this seminar and had to throw them out since his understanding had changed over the past several years.

This is an interesting concept, one that we all are subject to as we continue to grow and examine the inner workings of our technique.  Once our concept of connection and how the connection with uke changes, we must make subtle shifts within our technique to allow us to fulfill this new idea.

The seminar focused on how to use our entry, from a variety of attacks, to move next to uke’s sphere and gradually allow them to merge.  Once they merge, we both move as one unit.  If uke moves, nage moves.  If nage moves, uke moves.  This connection is necessary in order to find aiki within each technique.

Sensei also talked about the similarity of movement for both uke and nage and how each is attempting to do the same thing.  Uke seeks to connect with nage’s center, while nage seeks to connect with uke’s center.  The feeling within our body for both uke and nage should be the same relaxed extension..

All in all, this seminar was a wonderful learning experience for everyone that attended.  Thanks to all our friends in San Antonio for hosting us for this seminar and putting us up for the weekend.  Also, thanks to everyone who traveled to San Antonio to support this seminar.

• Seminar Pictures