Basics of Aikido

BASIC AIKIDO STANCE

HANMI no KAMAE - HALF BODY STANCE

1. ELEMENTS OF HANMI no KAMAE

An oblique, triangular stance with one foot forward and the other to the rear, body facing about 45o.

Frontal area is reduced and vital spots are turned away from the opponent.

Knees are slightly flexed, especially the front knee.

Balance is maintained and centered on the lower abdomen (the tanden, or "one point").

Mobility is maintained in all directions, ready to perform any of the basic footwork patterns.

2. THE FIVE BASIC KAMAE RELATIONSHIPS

Ideally Aikido has no stance: a natural body posture called shizen-tai is best. For training purposes, however, we usually employ a stance based on that use in Japanese swordsmanship. There are both right and left basic stances in a few variations. There are also two possible relationships between your stance and that of your partner.

THREE BASIC VERSIONS OF HANMI no KAMAE

BASIC

AIKIDO

STANCE

OPEN

AIKIDO

STANCE

REVERSE TRIANGULAR STANCE

There are several forms of HANMI stance.

The three most commonly used in Aikido are shown at the right. All embody the principle of triangularity call "Sankaku ho". Stance 3 is known as "Ura Sankaku".

All examples are shown in

Right Oblique Stance, known as

MIGI-HANMI or MIGI-GAMAE.

All are mirrored by corresponding

Left Oblique Stance, known as

HADARI-HANMI or HIDARI-GAMAE.

TWO BASIC RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN TWO PEOPLE IN HANMI no KAMAE

1. Matching stances, known as:

AI-HANMI or AI-GAMAE

Both partners assume the same HANMI-GAMAE,

i.e. both in HIDARI-HANMI or both in MIGI-HANMI.

In this case, their stances are the same and fit together.

This relationship is basic to OMOTE-WAZA, which are "frontal techniques" that enter toward the front of your AITE (training partner). HANMI NO KAMAE are basic to all Aikido movements.

OMOTE WAZA

2. Opposing Stances, known as:

GYAKU-HANMI or GYAKU-GAMAE

Each training partner assumes a different HANMI-GAMAE,

i.e. you are in HIDARI-HANMI while your AITE takes up MIGI-HANMI.

In this case, the points of your triangular stances oppose each other.

This relationship is basic to URA-WAZA; "rear techniques" that enter into the SHIKAKU, or "BLIND SPOT", behind the shoulder of your training partner.

URA WAZA

BASIC AIKIDO MOVEMENTS

ASHI-SABAKI - FIVE BASIC FOOTWORK

There are three types of footwork: IRIMI (Enter), TENKAN (Turn), and TENTAI (Pivot)

1. ELEMENTS OF IRIMI - Irimi-Isshoku (One-step Entry)

THREE WAYS TO PERFORM IRIMI

1a. Tsugi-ashi

(Shuffle Step Entry)

1b. Ayumi-ashi

(Walking Step Entry)

1c. Okuri-ashi

(Transport Step Entry)

Front foot moves first,

stance unchanged.

Rear foot moves first,

stance changes.

Foot to heel

Cross-step in front

Cross-step behind

All move from rear foot but stance will remain the same

2. ELEMENTS OF TENKAN

Enten no Ri

(Principle of Spherical Rotation)

3. ELEMENTS OF TENTAI

Enten no Ri

(Principle of Spherical Rotation)

TE-SABAKI - FIVE BASIC HANDWORK

1. ELEMENTS OF TE-SABAKI (HANDWORK PATTERNS)

Head erect over relaxed neck and shoulders

Open the hands and extend fingers as if lightly holding a large ball with both hands

The natural curve of arms is maintained during movement

Move up from the thumb and down from the little finger

Get off the Line of Attack

2. THE FIVE BASIC HANDWORK PATTERNS (TE-GATANA NO SOSA)

In Aikido, the hand is often referred to as the "te-gatana" (literally the "hand sword"). We form this "hand-blade" by holding our fingers open and extended so that the heel of the palm and bottom of the arm are elongated while the top of the arm remains relatively relaxed. In this manner the natural curve of the arm resembles the shape of a Japanese sword, the katana. Sometimes the basicte-sabaki are referred to as the te-gatana no sosa, or "the use of the hand-blade".

1. Soto-Gaeshi

Outside Reverse

(lead with the thumb)

2. Soto-Mawashi

Outside Rotation

(lead with the little finger)

3. Uchi Mawashi

Inside Rotation

(lead with the little finger)