Sankyo

(third principle) 14th form attack

Your partner holds your elbows from the back. Keep your arms slightly bent and push forward. Step back to his left side, with your body in a crouched position. Bring your right arm over and catch the back of his left hand, making sure that your fingers are well into his palm and your thumb against the knuckle of his thumb. Step round to his front with your left leg. Break his grip from your elbow. Hold his elbow with your left hand and guide him on to the mat so that he is face downwards. Kneel down, putting your right knee in the middle of his back. Your other knee should be bent and the foot flat on the mat. Change the grip from your left to right hand closing his wrist. Now use your left arm to pin his arm against your own body. Turn to the right until you get the submission.

Kokyu-nage 4th form attack

Your partner catches you by the lapels with his right hand. With his left he punches at your face. Side-step to your right by moving your hips and head. Deflect his blow by using your left hand, making sure that your arm is straight and that feeling is coming out of your fingers.Now turn into his body with your right arm coming under both of his armpits. Do not try to lift him over but lead his body down to the mat. Your left hand is still in contact with his left arm and now lead him down to the mat.

Kote-gashi (small hand twist) 6th form attack

Your partner attacks the left side of your head with his right hand. Step back with your left leg to your right rear corner.

Your left hand should be guiding his right hand. At the same time attack his face with your spare hand. Follow through with your right hand on top of his wrist. Push his hand in a circle in front of him whilst you move to your right. Now catch his hand with your left, with your right hand pushing on the back of his hand, step back with your left leg and throw him. Make sure that you keep his arm straight and project your power. The breakfall can be either forwards or backwards. But if it is forwards roll on the side that you are thrown. Do not try to forward roll on your left arm if you are thrown by your right.

Irimi-nage (enter body throw) 4th form attack

Your partner holds your lapels with his right hand. Step back to your right corner with your left foot. Attack his face with your right hand. Follow through until your arm is under his right hand. Swiftly turn back and with a big circle with your shoulder break his grip. At the same time, step into his right side with your left leg. Catch his neck with your left hand. Take a big step with your right leg so that you are in the opposite direction. Bring your partner in a wide, smooth circle. Keep his head into your right shoulder. Your knees should be a little bent and your shoulders relaxed so as to maintain balance. Now bring your right arm over his face and bend his head back. Throw him to the mat. Do not bend from the waist but use your hip movement to throw him.

Ikkyo (first principle) 7th form attack

Your partner punches to your stomach with his right fist. Step back with your left foot towards your right corner. Your right grasps the top of his wrist. Take it in a downward movement by bending your knees slightly. When you feel your partner resist slightly bring his arm back into him. Your left hand should be just above his elbow pushing towards his head. Step in with your left foot, pushing him into the mat. Make certain that his body and arm are flat on the mat. Push his arm more than ninety degrees towards his head. Put pressure on his arm with your arms so as to immobilise him.

Nikkyo

second principle) 8th form

Your partner catches your collar with his right hand. Step back to his right side in a crouching position, letting his arm go over your head. You will find that his wrist is now under your chin. Hold his right hand with your right hand and bend his elbow with your left hand. Now bear down on his wrist with your chin. Bend your knees slightly as you do this. This completes Nikkyo and he will submit by tapping.

Shino-nage

(four direction throw) 7th form

Your partner punches to your stomach with his right hand. Turn your body to the right and grasp his fist with your left hand in the same was as Kote-gaeshi. Step back with your left foot, bringing his hand in the same direction. Now catch his right wrist with your right hand. Your thumb should be across the inside of his wrists so that you can push his arm straight. Step into his arm, your left arm pushing against his elbow. Slightly lift his arm up and throw him.

Shino-nage

(four direction throw) 7th form

Your partner punches to your stomach with his right hand. Turn your body to the right and grasp his fist with your left hand in the same was as Kote-gaeshi. Step back with your left foot, bringing his hand in the same direction. Now catch his right wrist with your right hand. Your thumb should be across the inside of his wrists so that you can push his arm straight. Step into his arm, your left arm pushing against his elbow. Slightly lift his arm up and throw him.

Sankyo

(third principle) 6th form attack

Your partner attacks the side of your head with his right hand. Guide his right hand with your left. At the same time step back to your right corner with your left leg. Attack his face with your right hand. Follow on down his arm to grasp his wrist. Take his arm back in the direction of his head simultaneously stepping to his front catching the back of his hand with your left hand. Put your fingers in the palm of his hand and place your own thumb against his. Your right hand comes down just above his elbow and leads him to the mat.

Irimi-nage

(enter body throw) 5th form

Your partner's right hand attacks you to the centre of your head. Using your right hand push straight towards him so as to deflect the blow. At the same time step into his rear side with your left foot.

Your right hand should be on top of his right hand. Now cut down his right arm and catch his neck with your left hand. Step right around with your right foot bringing him in a circle outside you. Pull his head into your right shoulder and throw him down by bending his head backwards with your right arm.

Shiho-nage (four direction throw) 4th form

Your partner catches the front of your jacket with his right hand. Step back to your right corner with your left foot. Attack your partner's face with your right hand. Catch his wrist with both hands. Now use your shoulder against the inside of his elbow joint. Step through with your left leg. Turn completely around on the balls of your feet and kneel on your left knee. Your partner's arm should be bent backwards so as to break his balance.

Tentchi-nage

(heaven and earth throw) 3rd form attack

As soon as your partner's right hand catches your shoulder, turn to your right giving him no chance to punch you with his right hand. Try to keep contact with his arm across your back. Now with this movement, he should be moving on the outside of you. Change your direction by stepping back with your left foot. Your left arm comes over the top of your partner's right, with a cutting action towards the mat. Your right foot makes a zig-zag step towards his rear and your right arm pushes across his left shoulder. Keep your forward leg slightly bent and shoulders relaxed.

Nikkyo

(second principle) 4th form attack

Your partner catches your wrist with his right hand. Step back to your right corner with your left foot. Your right hand attacks his face. Follow through with the back of your hand brushing down his arm. Your left hand catches your jacket above his hand and with your right hand take hold under his hand. Now turn it over until his little finger is uppermost, making sure that you keep it tight to your body. With your left elbow, bend his elbow and bear pressure on his wrist until he submits by tapping.

Shiho-nage

(four direction) 6th form attack

Your partner attacks the side of your head. Step back to your right corner with your left foot. Your left hand should guide his right. Your right hand attacks his face. Follow through with your right hand, and catch his wrist with both hands then as in 1st form Shiho-nage step through and throw him.

Koky-nage from 11th form

Catching both of your wrists with his hands your partner comes in to you. Slightly bend your elbows so as to break your partner's power. Step in to him to stop him from pushing you back and kneel down. Your left hand should be pushing out and down to the mat. Your right hand goes down to your partner's right foot and you can throw him easily. Make sure that the small of your back is kept straight and your shoulders relaxed.

Aikido Posture

The posture in Aikido is in an oblique position. The reason for this is that you lessen the area of attack and you are able to move more easily and with speed. Stand with your left foot half a step forward as shown in the photograph. This is left Hamni. Right Hamni is the same except that your right foot is half a step forward.

Defence against a knife


Attack to the stomach

There are many ways in which you can be attacked with a knife but I am giving the most basic technique for you to practise. With the practice of Aikido, the others will come more easily to you.

Your partner lunges at you with the knife. Turn to the rear in a clockwise direction so that your partner is kept moving. Step back with your left foot, at the same time catch the back of his hand with your right hand and then throw him. As soon as he falls, lock his arm by placing your right arm on his elbow. Walk around his head bringing him onto his stomach. Now put your right knee on his neck and push his arm towards his head until he lets go of the knife.

Ukemi are important. You must remember that Aikido is not so much a sport as a fighting art. Therefore, I believe that Ukemi are as important as other techniques. If your Ukemi become proficient then you will follow your partner better because the fear of falling will have gone. This will allow your mind to be calm and as the body always follows the mind in Aikido then it will be more relaxed, giving you more speed and natural movement for your technique.