This is quite good. The narration overlay is a great way of handling audio, is concise and informative on key points. The steady video and performance of the suburi in each direction allows me to see details of all sides. Close in camera work on feet and hands is helpful and well placed. The small frame in the corner identifying the suburi is also helpful. Glad I found it!
i do not practice aikido, but am beginning to work with the aiki ken forms to further inform other swordstles i have trained properly in. i came to youtube for the suburi, and ive seen about 60 videos on youtube and off of demonstratins and explanations but you are the only person that explains the hip and foot work, which i suppose is taught as basic forms in aikido (why they dont need to be explained and why i personally need them explained) the hakama makes it somewhat confusing thanks
My sensei teaches that drawing the ken to the spine expends 4x the energy and leaves a gaping hole in your defense. I study Seidokan, and for us it's about minimizing the expenditure of energy, so in my school drawing the ken back so far is a needless waste of ki. But the only right way to swing the ken is the way that emphasizes your teachings. If your sensei teaches an emphasis on power in the swing, then you're doing it right. But if mine emphasizes economy of movement, so am I.
Yep i completely understand and its good to see different ways to execute the same move. In our association we have a Sensei that teaches a very real form of Aikido that i find too raw but i guess it would probably work better in the "real world" so to speak.
Yeah, because its more prominent in partner work we're taught the to move that way in practice otherwise you have to basically learn to movements for the same technique. Great vid though any help is gratefully recieved.
Cutting with a live blade and the cuts used in Aiki ken are radically different. If you think you need to practice sword fighting in case you get in a sword fight then join a sword school - aiki ken is for improving body movement and is not a weapons system per se in its own right.
In the suburi the movement offline is minimal, basically only down to the engagement of the hips; this becomes more prominent in partner practise of course.
This is an "inert" demonstration of the basic 7 bokken suburi. I say inert because I try to show these on the DVD as neutral as possible - so that it does not fall into "Iwama" or Aikikai" style. My normal practice would be somewhat livelier than this and more extended. These are 7 solo kata that enable develoment of correct posture, coordination of breath and movement, and promote centralization.
I try to standardize suburi as much as possible, to make it a true 'basic'. Once you start developing partner practise, this core skill can then be adapted as required. I appreciate the comments.
I think the important thing to establish here is that Aiki ken is in no way swordmanship. Aiki ken is a body development tool, and in no way meant to provide the Aikidoka with sword skills. See my comments below with regards to detail.
Ahhh, good old Drunken Dunken, and his Broken Bokken. Not too bad.Although you might fix that whole in your gi, under your left armpit.Keep on slicing !
Bad technique for a dan level... you must hit your spine before the move, so you can have full power in a single cut, and you must have your arms well stretched since the cut begins until it finishes, and not only when it finishes (as you can see in the video). For last, you must have your palms facing down, or you take the risk of injuring a finger if you hit something hard with full power cut...
dunken Francis I am troubled. I have been thinking about how to best give you more details. I watched your video a couple of times. I read some comments. I don't think I have any new feedback to give, but I'm also not 100% sure what is so disagreeable. I study the sword for personal reasons of fulfillment. I don't train with anyone. Aside from swinging my bokken for strength and conditioning purposes, I hold it, visualize an enemy, and I engage; but not in the "sword dance" way, but more of a "he swings this way, what do I do now" sort of way. It's very slow and methodical. I happen to be gifted when it comes to bio-mechanics. Doing what I see comes naturally to me, and your strikes disagree with me on an instinctual level. I tried to evaluate my 'style' to make a comparison, but I understand that people have different reasons for swinging a sword. I don't think I can even attempt to answer your question without asking you a question. If you don't mind. Why do you practice? What do you see when you swing your sword?
Alpha KaiDom As a tool for the exaggeration of body movement, a way to reveal bio-mechanical imbalance. In this case this is a tuition video for novice students to get them to their first belt!
dunken Francis From my shallow understanding, Aikido is a way of sword fighting without a sword. Developed, alongside Judo, as a means to not become entirely helpless should you lose your weapon. In that sense, I can agree with your focus on using the bokken as an exaggeration of body movement. However, when it comes to the bio-mechanics of it, were you to use any practical force in your swings, I think you would find your form differs. I believe that disparity is what disagrees with me. For something to be mechanically correct, it's output should be proportional to the input. For example, if you flail your arms and stomp your feet when you run, you'll end up using more energy going the same distance, than if you were to run in the form of an Olympic runner. The katana is a slicing weapon, so the tip of the blade should resemble an arc to be most efficient. I think magneticskull's comment is relevant here. When you strike, you create that second pivot point, and you turn the blade into a blunt object with a small edge, creating a more axe-like impact (as if you were balancing the blade on your hand and you let it fall). Then you thrust slightly afterwards, giving the arc of the blade a kind of a cursive "L" shape. I think this is mainly why I disagree. It seems like any application of force would not translate well. Of course, this could just be a stylized difference. One I'm not keen on practicing, but these are my thoughts.
Alpha KaiDom The bokken isn't a live blade though, so the notion that it "cuts" is nonsense. One core aspect of good martial body movement is to be maintaining forward pressure and relaxed but full extension. That may be what you are seeing in the arc of the cut. To be fair this was a while ago and I cut a little differently now, a bit more wrist and slightly into the inguinal fold to allow the hips to engage. This is probably partly my buggered shoulders and old age.
![[Aikido Weapons] In-Depth 7 Bokken Suburi Tutorial](/img/1.gif)
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This is quite good. The narration overlay is a great way of handling audio, is concise and informative on key points. The steady video and performance of the suburi in each direction allows me to see details of all sides. Close in camera work on feet and hands is helpful and well placed. The small frame in the corner identifying the suburi is also helpful. Glad I found it!
合気道習い始めたので参考に成りました、
ありがとうございました!
Thank you sensei !
i do not practice aikido, but am beginning to work with the aiki ken forms to further inform other swordstles i have trained properly in. i came to youtube for the suburi, and ive seen about 60 videos on youtube and off of demonstratins and explanations but you are the only person that explains the hip and foot work, which i suppose is taught as basic forms in aikido (why they dont need to be explained and why i personally need them explained) the hakama makes it somewhat confusing
thanks
what a refreshing and visual review! thanks.
Best regards from Aikido Yoseikan, SouthAmerica
My sensei teaches that drawing the ken to the spine expends 4x the energy and leaves a gaping hole in your defense. I study Seidokan, and for us it's about minimizing the expenditure of energy, so in my school drawing the ken back so far is a needless waste of ki. But the only right way to swing the ken is the way that emphasizes your teachings. If your sensei teaches an emphasis on power in the swing, then you're doing it right. But if mine emphasizes economy of movement, so am I.
Good video and nice explanation
Yep i completely understand and its good to see different ways to execute the same move. In our association we have a Sensei that teaches a very real form of Aikido that i find too raw but i guess it would probably work better in the "real world" so to speak.
Yeah, because its more prominent in partner work we're taught the to move that way in practice otherwise you have to basically learn to movements for the same technique. Great vid though any help is gratefully recieved.
Cutting with a live blade and the cuts used in Aiki ken are radically different. If you think you need to practice sword fighting in case you get in a sword fight then join a sword school - aiki ken is for improving body movement and is not a weapons system per se in its own right.
In the suburi the movement offline is minimal, basically only down to the engagement of the hips; this becomes more prominent in partner practise of course.
In the suburi No. 3, should be hide the bokken so that the enemy can not see. 1:09
This is an "inert" demonstration of the basic 7 bokken suburi. I say inert because I try to show these on the DVD as neutral as possible - so that it does not fall into "Iwama" or Aikikai" style. My normal practice would be somewhat livelier than this and more extended. These are 7 solo kata that enable develoment of correct posture, coordination of breath and movement, and promote centralization.
Thanks - The saito bokken DVD shows them much more accurately though ;0)
I try to standardize suburi as much as possible, to make it a true 'basic'. Once you start developing partner practise, this core skill can then be adapted as required. I appreciate the comments.
that's also what I've learned, with the sword showing like that is easier for the enemy to predict your next movement
We're taught to move off the centre line on number 5 because thats how you use it in practical
Its solo suburi. Thats what it means. there is no "practical" its and exercise
Hi
have a read of the comments below - I think your query is answered.
Our organization had close contact with Saito sensei in the 1980's..
Is this a step by step tutorial or are all those moves diffrent?
7 different suburi / solo drills
I think the important thing to establish here is that Aiki ken is in no way swordmanship. Aiki ken is a body development tool, and in no way meant to provide the Aikidoka with sword skills. See my comments below with regards to detail.
Solo pratice? to fight with who, flies? Suburis are katana movements so you can pratice and aply them in a future fight...
yes, because all of those sword fights you are going to be in. Don''t be stupid.
Ahhh, good old Drunken Dunken, and his Broken Bokken. Not too bad.Although you might fix that whole in your gi, under your left armpit.Keep on slicing !
@2124161 What enemy? LOL
enemy??? LOL
Suburi is by definition a solo practice.
Bad technique for a dan level... you must hit your spine before the move, so you can have full power in a single cut, and you must have your arms well stretched since the cut begins until it finishes, and not only when it finishes (as you can see in the video). For last, you must have your palms facing down, or you take the risk of injuring a finger if you hit something hard with full power cut...
There's something very disagreeable about this man's strikes. But who am I to comment, I'm 6 years late.
details please?
dunken Francis
I am troubled. I have been thinking about how to best give you more details. I watched your video a couple of times. I read some comments. I don't think I have any new feedback to give, but I'm also not 100% sure what is so disagreeable.
I study the sword for personal reasons of fulfillment. I don't train with anyone. Aside from swinging my bokken for strength and conditioning purposes, I hold it, visualize an enemy, and I engage; but not in the "sword dance" way, but more of a "he swings this way, what do I do now" sort of way. It's very slow and methodical.
I happen to be gifted when it comes to bio-mechanics. Doing what I see comes naturally to me, and your strikes disagree with me on an instinctual level.
I tried to evaluate my 'style' to make a comparison, but I understand that people have different reasons for swinging a sword. I don't think I can even attempt to answer your question without asking you a question. If you don't mind.
Why do you practice? What do you see when you swing your sword?
Alpha KaiDom As a tool for the exaggeration of body movement, a way to reveal bio-mechanical imbalance. In this case this is a tuition video for novice students to get them to their first belt!
dunken Francis
From my shallow understanding, Aikido is a way of sword fighting without a sword. Developed, alongside Judo, as a means to not become entirely helpless should you lose your weapon. In that sense, I can agree with your focus on using the bokken as an exaggeration of body movement. However, when it comes to the bio-mechanics of it, were you to use any practical force in your swings, I think you would find your form differs. I believe that disparity is what disagrees with me.
For something to be mechanically correct, it's output should be proportional to the input. For example, if you flail your arms and stomp your feet when you run, you'll end up using more energy going the same distance, than if you were to run in the form of an Olympic runner.
The katana is a slicing weapon, so the tip of the blade should resemble an arc to be most efficient. I think magneticskull's comment is relevant here. When you strike, you create that second pivot point, and you turn the blade into a blunt object with a small edge, creating a more axe-like impact (as if you were balancing the blade on your hand and you let it fall). Then you thrust slightly afterwards, giving the arc of the blade a kind of a cursive "L" shape. I think this is mainly why I disagree. It seems like any application of force would not translate well.
Of course, this could just be a stylized difference. One I'm not keen on practicing, but these are my thoughts.
Alpha KaiDom The bokken isn't a live blade though, so the notion that it "cuts" is nonsense. One core aspect of good martial body movement is to be maintaining forward pressure and relaxed but full extension. That may be what you are seeing in the arc of the cut. To be fair this was a while ago and I cut a little differently now, a bit more wrist and slightly into the inguinal fold to allow the hips to engage. This is probably partly my buggered shoulders and old age.