For the more mathematically minded of you, this is a simplified theoretical (ideal) model, developed by Codrin Draghici (1st Dan), of the first part of the Irimi Nage Ura technique.
“It can be open to discussion and may not be entirely valid in practice, as there are some other forces involved (e.g. all sorts of frictions and collisions). Irimi Nage will work in slightly different conditions as well, this is only one view as to what the optimum “parameters” should be.”
Don’t worry - You don’t need to know any of this in order to master this technique.
While our aikido club is training in the evenings, the other side of the gymnasium is being used for acrobatic gymnastics.
They practice the same routines over and over again. And I mean over and over again. Most weekday evenings for hours and hours. I must have heard the each music track a thousand times, and the noise can get a little distracting.
Sometimes a pair will get it slightly wrong, and they’ll have to stop and start again. Seeing it so often, you can forget quite what they are doing. Even though some of them are world junior champions, and a lot of them are British champions.
I stumbled across some clips on YouTube of the gymnasts, which reminded me how impressive they are at their sport.
This is a clip of two of the boys in the gym we use:
It’s a salutory lesson that it’s not practice that makes perfect but “perfect practice makes perfect”. Their effort and concentration is terrifying and inspiring all at the same time.
We try to make beginners welcome and comfortable on their first night. We all been there: the only one not wearing a gi and not knowing what to do.
What to wear: It’s fine to turn up in loose fitting casual clothes, such as tracksuit bottoms and a T shirt. As you’ll be doing breakfalls, [...]
Aikido 31 Count Jo Kata Pairs Practice by Neil Brown (4th Dan, on the right, kata) and Codrin Draghici (1st Dan, on the left, anti kata). Filmed in sepia on 12th October 2006 at Ashford Aikido Club.
