Author Archives: andrew

Aikido Training Summary 2011

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Now that 2011 is over it’s time for me to update my aikido training log.

Training Summary
After a strong start to the year unfortunately I couldn’t train as much in the second half of the year as I’d have liked, training only 114 hours.


Training hours by month (2010/2011).

I finished the year with 250.5 hours, having taken 199 lessons on 172 days. Coincidentally this is the same number of days as I trained in 2010, however I trained more hours, an average of 20.9 hours per month compared to 19.5 hours per month in 2010. Not bad considering I “lost” 2 weeks training due to the Great East Japan Earthquake, and another week to vacation at the end of the year. Overall I’m pleased, but still hoping to train more next year.

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Aikido training summary – first half 2011

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2011 has been an interesting year so far, especially in my aikido. I thought it would be good to post a summary of the year so far, and compare it to last year.

Training Summary

I trained a total of 136.5 hours in the first 6 months of 2011, a nice improvement over the 102 hours in same period in 2010. I would have liked to train more, but I did manage to train regularly, making it to the dojo 3 or 4 days every week, except for the 3 weeks I was away.


Training hours by month (2010/2011).

Training hours by month (2010/2011).

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My aikido shodan test at Aikikai Hombu Dojo

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On 18th February 2011 I took my test for shodan (初段 – black belt) at Aikikai Hombu Dojo in Tokyo. I took the test along with 8 other people at the end of the winter semester of the ‘Aikido Advanced Gakko’ (合気道学校上級課程). The test was overseen by Katsurada Eiji Shihan (桂田英路師範 6th Dan), and Kobayashi Yukimistu Shihan (小林幸光師範 7th Dan). On 25th February 2011 I received my shodan certificate from the Doshu Ueshiba Moriteru.

Wearing my black belt and hakama to training for the first time.

Wearing my black belt and hakama to training for the first time.

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What does shodan mean?

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What does shodan (black belt) mean? I certainly do not profess to have the answer to this question. But I find myself contemplating this subject as I am faced with the possibility that I may be allowed to take a grading test for shodan in Aikido at Aikikai Hombu Dojo in just under 5 weeks (*see Note below). Here are some of my thoughts about whether I should take the test (assuming I’m actually allowed to). It is a much harder decision than I would have expected.

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Aikido Waza Journal

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As I’ve become more serious about aikido I’ve found myself wanting to write more about it. To that end I have started writing the occasional blog entries under the name avparker on Aikido Waza Journal.

I don’t really expect anyone to read what I write, it’s more for my own benefit, but there’s a lot of great info there by other contributors. In particular Eric, who runs the site, posts an amazing amount of material.

Aikido Training 2010 Summary

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Now that I’ve finished training for the year I thought I’d post my follow-up to Time on the Mat for the second half of 2010. My goal for the 6 months was 120 hours, and I’m happy to say I exceeded that, training 129.5 hours, despite my slow start in July and August.

Aikido Training Hours per month 2010Aikido Training Hours per month 2010

Here’s the data broken down by number of days training per week – it’s clear that I was much more consistent in the second half of the year:

Aikido Training Days per week 2010Aikido Training Days per week 2010

Note that the dojo was closed in weeks 32 and 52, meaning I trained at least once every week the dojo was open!

Total
My total training for the year was 231.5 hours of classes (188 lessons) on 172 days.

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