On Thursday March 17th Catherine Schnell sensei visited the Southbank dojo
and demonstrated concepts for practicing Aikido and personal safety
concepts. I (Dianne) had the opportunity to watch the class and take some
notes of the information flowing through the room. The first hour of the
class dealt with aikido concepts, focusing on the continual energy
connection between nage and uke. The following 2 hours related to personal
safety concepts with the focus of this session being to trust your intuition
and use your voice to make short clear statements.

Aikido
Catherine demonstrated funakogi waza (the rowing exercise) emphasising a
strong movement through the hips/ bellybutton region. Catherine suggested
thinking of your hips/ bellybutton region as like a glass- you imagine the
pelvic region moving back and forward (like the rim of a glass) very
straight across. While undertaking the movement, use kiai to say ³he² (while
moving arms away from body) and ³ho² (while moving arms towards body).

Catherine discussed the importance of feeling ki and being able to give and
receive the ki energy. She indicated that ki is as important as the
movements in aikido. As uke, you should give energy as you would during the
waza. One way to achieve this is by continually feeling ki going back into
the tanden/ center region of the body.

Catherine emphasized to move from your center- keep the belly button sucked
in and keep the pelvis level. Move and breathe together as one.

Catherine demonstrated a technique was that involved just having the palms/
fingertips touching each other. Any technique can be completed from this
blending exercise. The leading hand is kept level with the centerline.

Catherine said that feeling is believing and emphasized the importance of
having a dynamic connection between nage and uke.

Catherine spoke of practicing ukemi is about feeling the ki. As uke,
constantly keep connected to nage at all times, constantly think of
directing ki into their tanden (one point), even after the throw. Keep
connected for the entire time you train with someone. It is about being
able to move out of the movement forward or backwards or whatever direction
the energy is being directed- continually feeling where the energy is.
Continually being aware of where you are in relation to nage throughout the
technique allows you to be responsive as uke. Think of the tanden (one
point) and move in accordance to keeping balance at all times.

Catherine demonstrated an interesting foot movement for undertaking any
tenkan (same side) technique. For example: - Left side katatedori (same side
hold) - slide in with left foot forward, then just do a 180 degree turn
inwards towards uke. This is an interesting move and puts you in the same
position.

Catherine¹s dojo in Melbourne is based on the Japanese concept of a willow
bending with in the wind and being flexible. She demonstrated the ³Willow
feeling² Kokyu dosa- keep the same connected feeling between nage and uke.
Don¹t have an expectation of the outcome. Nage should grip lightly with
little finger. Once uke feels the move, stretch legs out once thrown. Nage
stays where they are- do not follow- just let hand drop next to side with
uke. Uke should rotate around their centerline and keep connected to nage,
once stretched; nage should relax uke back to upright position. Stretch
each side.

Self Defense
The second part of the class was more relaxed with students donning street
wear to feel a little less like martial arts students. Catherine opened the
class with a discussion on some of the reasons you may be put in ³situation²
and what to do in different scenarios. The class was open for discussion of
³martial fantasies² and ³real life² scenarios to help put the class in the
³mood².

The main point suggested was to try to run or move away from the situation.
This turns out to be the best reaction to a threatening situation.

Catherine stressed the need to listen to your instincts and any early
warning signs.

Breathe deeply- this helps you to respond appropriately to the situation
quicker.

Be confident in any reaction you give towards the threatening person. The
reaction that Catherine teaches is a clear concise statement with a physical
barrier (a hand to the face) and move away from the threatening person.

Be positive and physically put distance between yourself and the threatening
person.

If you are grabbed use their body as a lever to push yourself away. Use
twisting and turning movement of escape from grips and grabs.

Don¹t be afraid to use hands/ fingers/ fist, elbows, knees/ feet, biting,
gouging (eyes). Use all your force and commitment when you strike and
escape.

Some of the scenarios practiced were
Someone asking for change/ directionsŠŠŠ
Put a hand up towards their face, make statement, and physically move away
from them. Make eye contact and continue to move away.

A man grabs a woman by the shouldersŠŠŠ..
Put hand away from their body towards face, make statementŠ. If they do
not let go, make another statement; use hand closest to body to push off the
twist away from situation.

Someone grabbing you by one arm with their 2 handsŠŠŠ..
Bring other hand to hand that has been grabbed, clasp fingers together, move
arm back towards yourself, driving through your elbow and twist arms
upwards. Swing arms in circular motion.

Overall the evening was very interesting with lots of things to think about.
Having studied aikido for a few years, I found it difficult during the
personal safety session to move backwards and not towards the ³attacker².
Strong kiai is the main point I learned from the personal safety concepts
class. Be aware of your surroundings and be prepared to react to anything.

Dianne


--
daniel james
griffith university aikido club,
nathan qld 4111, australia

http://griffithaikido.com
+61 (0)7 3875 5036 (w), +61 (0)7 3875 5384(f) ,
+61 (0)401 683 592 (m)

"..we're continually bombarded with promises of immediate gratification,
instant success, and fast, temporary relief, all of which lead in exactly
the wrong direction", G.Leonard