Although I haven’t been blogging much about Aikido, I have actually been going reasonably regularly since the beginning of October – minus a week plus around an almost week long trip to New York City. Since we were in town for the holiday weekend I when to all three weekend classes.

Classes the weekend after Thanksgiving are usually pretty small for the obvious reason and another. ::Mitsugi Saotome::, the head of the our organization, holds a seminar in Chicago to which at least half of the active students go.

Steve Sensei (who is a 3rd dan) was around and taught all three classes. Because we had a lot of room he had us do a lot fo weapons work. Sword techniques using ::shinai:: Friday night and Saturday morning, and jo today.

Part of me wanted to do more sword today, but my shoulders were so sore from the previous two days I wasn’t too disappointed that we didn’t. We got through 4 each of the first 5 kumijo and kumitachi (staff and sword kata) – was especially nice for me and another student, Dave, since we will both be testing for 3rd kyu, and kumitachi 1-5 are required and many also show the first 5 kumijo as well.

What I enjoy most (and hate most) about doing weapons is how they amplify everything – which is the reason we do weapons in aikido. The little things you are doing wrong with your open hand technique suddently become very obvious when you extend things by a few feet with a stick of wood or bamboo.

Anyhow, soreness and upcoming testing not withstanding, it’s very nice to be going regularly again.