Counting tatamis
Learning: Counting in Japanese Attributes: tatami, obi or taped ‘lines’ Depending on the dojo’s tatami floor you can do this fun-damental. Otherwise ‘Go Ai-ki-do’ works for you. Each row of tatami is ‘one count’. So when you have 10 rows the last row is ‘Yu’. Everyone has to stand on the first row which is […]
Sumo
Learning: Basic moves like tenkan are very powerful even in Sumo! Attributes: Obi’s to set a ring, but some these can be replaced with tape or slippers Use two or three obis to make a circle (or mark 4 corners of the tatami). And let’s wrestle Japanese style. So two people get into the circle […]
Koshita
Learning: The wrong distance gets you ‘killed’. Attributes: Foam bokken, folded obi or rolled up news paper will work too. The senpai or sensei (who wears a hakama) is in the middle and has to protect their back. There for they have a foam bokken. (A folded obi/rolled up newspaper does the trick, too.) Whoever gets […]
Mikajo
Learning: Slow is good, no movement is better. Need: Jo’s (more is better) Everyone in the class has a (marked) Jo. This will be collected in the middle of the group, like real mika-do. (So stack everything on top of eachother.) One by one everyone gets a chance to pick a Jo, until there is […]
Blind volley
Learning: Nothing can prepare you for the unexpected, all you can do is work together Attributes: Big screen, duvet cover on a rope or XXL tatami (which you hold with two people) Rules are not as strict as in real volleyball, but the goal is to pass the ball on to each other at least […]
King of the Tatami
Learning: Basic movements like Kokyu ho are applied here Attributes: Big tatami (or normal tatami on top of the regular tatami) This looks a lot like the sumo fun-damental, but this time you need a thick gym mat. Or you can put some extra tatami on top of the current tatami (so you will have […]
Group picture
Learning: Remember people’s names (who changed place), or techniques if you want. Attributes: Non Everyone in the dojo goes standing in a nice group picture pose. The funnier the better. One person is there to observe where everyone stands or sits. Once (s)he absorbed all that information (s)he will leave the room (or turns his/her […]
Pile of Aikidokas
https://vimeo.com/347944965 Learning: Even when you think something is stuck, it can come off. Just like in Aikido. Attributes: Non Make a few piles of Aikidokas, stacked on top of eachother. Every layer has to grab real tight, to make more difficult for senpai. Each pile has a senpai who has to unravel the pile of […]
My name is…
https://vimeo.com/347942865/78738d9af8 Learning: Knowing one another’s name can save you a hit. Attributes: foam bokken (or folded obi) In this fun-damental you learn very quickly each others’ names. Start by making a big circle. One person will stand in the middle with a folded obi, or an foam bokken. First round everyone speaks their name. Then […]
Cross the dojo with taisabaki
Learning: Know your taisabaki and you can make it to the other side. Attributes: Non Everyone stand on one side of the dojo, with a good kamae. (Same foot in front.) Now it’s up to sensei or assistant to tell the students what to do. Make a <tenkan/irimi-tenkan-henka/kaiten> only by following/doing what you ask they […]