Iwama Style
described by Mark Jackson

Begin in left hanmi holding the jo vertically on the floor with the left hand.

News & Events

Photos from the recent Ikeda Sensei Seminar are now here

Congrats to all who tested this past week at Northeast Aikikai. Photos soon.

3/28/04 Mitsunari Kanai Shihan passed away in Toronto, Canada.

Sensei Hiroshi Ikeda Seminar May 14-16th, 2004.

New discounts program at the Methuen Aikido!

1. Perform kaeshi tsuki (2nd suburi).

2. Slide back to your right rear, raising the jo over your head into upper guard position (jodan no kamae).

3. Slide forward again, dropping the jo down to horizontal and perform kaeshi tsuki.

4. Slide back to your right rear, raising the jo over your head into jodan no kamae.

5. Slide your right hand in to your left hand, let go with your left hand and rotate the jo over your head counter clockwise so the butt of the jo is facing forward. Grab the butt of the jo with your left hand, step forward with your right foot, and perform shomen uchi.

6. Step forward and to your left with your left foot, rotate the jo over your head clockwise and perform shomen uchi. Your left foot is forward but your right hand is forward on the jo.

7. Pivot 180 degrees without stepping and perform shomen uchi.

8. Step forward and to the left with your left foot, rotate the jo over your head clockwise and perform shomen uchi.

9. Turn back to the front, pulling your right foot behind you in a tenkan-like movement. As you turn, cut diagonally across your opponent's body until your left arm makes a straight line with the jo. This is similar to the 18th suburi. The jo should not go behind your body. You are now in left hanmi with the jo pointing to the left.

10. Take a fairly large step forward and to the left with your left foot and bring your right foot up next to your left foot. As you step, raise the jo over your head as if you are striking the underside of your opponent's wrist as he strikes down on your head. The tip of the jo is pointing to your right. The jo is fairly horizontal.

11. Take a small step forward with your left foot and perform shomen uchi by rotating the jo over your head clockwise.

12. Take your left hand off of the jo, place it in front of your right hand and slide your right hand back to the butt of the jo. As you perform the hand change, slide back to your left rear. You are now in left guard position (hidari kamae).

13. Perform choku tsuki (1st suburi).

14. Slide back to your right rear, raising the jo over your head into jodan no kamae.

15. Perform shomen uchi as in number 5.

16. Slide back to your left rear, reach your right hand to the tip of the jo, push the jo back through your left hand until your right hand is against your chest and your left hand is next to your left hip. This is gedan no kamae. Number 16 should be performed as one movement with number 15.

17. Step forward with the left foot, pushing your left hand forward to perform a circular strike at knee level (gedan gaeshi). Pull your right foot back slightly. Both of your hands should be in front of your body. Arms are bent at the elbows.

18. Let go with your right hand and reach past your left hand from underneath the jo. Flip the jo over so that your left hand is in front. This vertical movement knocks down a thrust that is coming toward your chest.

19. Slide forward slightly and perform a low tsuki at knee level.

20. Raise the jo over your head with the tip still pointing forward. Slide your right hand in to your left, let go with your left hand and rotate the jo over your head counter clockwise so the butt of the jo is facing forward (as in #5 and #15). Grab the butt of the jo with your left hand, step forward with your right foot and step back with your left foot. Perform a yokomen uchi strike at knee level, dropping down onto your left knee.

21. Reach your right hand to the tip of the jo, push the jo back through your left hand until your right hand is against your chest and your left hand is next to your left hip. This is gedan no kamae. Number 21 should be performed as one movement with number 20.

22. Stand up from the kneeling position, stepping forward with your left foot. Raise the jo to horizontal so your right hand is near your right ear. Slide forward and perform a reverse thrust (gyakute tsuki).

23. Let go with your right hand and flip the jo vertically, sliding back slightly, as in number 18.

24. Perform choku tsuki.

25. Perform choku tsuki.

26. Reach to the tip of the jo with your left hand and push the jo back through your right hand until you are in gedan no kamae on your right side. The same as number 16 but this time on the right.

27. Step forward with the right foot and perform gedan gaeshi. The same as number 17.

28. Raise the jo to horizontal and perform gyakute tsuki with your left hand starting out near your left ear.

29. Let go with your left hand and flip the jo vertically, as in numbers 18 and 23.

30. Perform choku tsuki.

31. Raise the jo overhead with the tip pointing forward. Rotate the jo over your head clockwise, step forward and slightly to the left with your left foot and perform shomen uchi. You should be in left hanmi with your right hand forward on the jo. There is no hand change for this final strike.

Your advancing movements and your retreating movements should balance out so that you end up at roughly the same spot on the floor where you started.