Crane on a Rock and Entering Throw
Jujitsu was fun tonight. Who am I kidding, it is almost always fun. I feel like I didn’t have much time for kata tonight, but now that I think about it, I remember doing Goho No, Shiho, Chino, and all three Naihanchis. I can never practice kata enough. Love doing them, love collecting them. I’m working on Rohai, or Crane on a Rock, which is a super-fun green belt kata that I can use for extra credit alongside my eleven million other katas. The other students have dubbed me a “kataholic” and they aren’t far off. 
I worked with Sam (one of our green belt kids) as uke for his judo/jujitsu throws. Since I’m pretty small, it’s easy for Sam to load and throw me. Later Mr. B paired me with Sam and his dad as they learned an aiki technique: entering throw. I got a chance to try it and did it right the first time, which I hadn’t entirely expected.
Aiki jujitsu looks deceptively simple but it’s tough. You have to let your opponent attack first, lead them and stay ahead of them through the completion of the technique while not using any muscle. From what I understand, it’s all about the timing of your response and the angles you use to control the opponent’s joints. I believe it works best when your opponent is bigger than you and when their grip is very strong. Aiki techniques aren’t until third-degree green, which will probably take me about a year to earn. That’s OK; I’m in no hurry. Although aiki looks stinkin’ cool.
So jujitsu, in case you haven’t guessed, is pretty much the highlight of my week. I’ve started staying late after Tuesday and Thursday classes, whether to work on form or roll. Gumby and I rolled last week and she said I did okay, although I suspect she was going easy on me. I was hoping to roll tonight but it didn’t happen; a couple of us went out for ice cream instead. We’ve got Thanksgiving break before our next class; until then, I’ll be doing Rohai in my living room. (Dork much?)
Rohai Kata, as practiced by the Kunibakai style of Shito Ryu karate
Aiki Jujitsu; entering throw at 0:57
Really, has no-one commented?
Or has Jenn just not been around to approve the comments? Hmm…
you are so cool. I feel the need for an update. *demands nicely*
@ Id: Everyone was probably busy with Thanksgiving and neglected my blog. Or possibly they started reading but a combination of sleepiness from over-eating and too much martial arts detail put everyone to sleep (I don’t think my martial arts posts have a very large audience).
@ Rachel: Nothing interesting has happened to me lately, but when I can think of something to say I promise I will post again.
“until then, I’ll be doing Rohai in my living room. (Dork much?)”
Heh, I used to do my TKD forms in my dorm room. I could only fit one stance in one direction, though, so it was a lot of pulling back, pretending I’d stepped forward or turned, and then doing the next move.