Basic Bukiwaza requirements

This is a list of our basic expectations for knowledge of jo and bokken waza. There is no test for these requirements, but I can give you evaluations of your technique as requested.

Basic Japanese terms

Bukiwaza — weapons practice, especially jo and bokken

Uchitachi/jo — the “striker,” the attacker

Uketachi/jo — the “receiver,” the defender who completes the form (note that this is the opposite terminology from tachi waza, unarmed practice).

Kata — prearranged forms, especially the jusan (13 movement) and sanjuichi (31 movement) jo forms.

Hitoemi — an important bokken footwork in which you twist your hips off the line of uchitachi’s attack with a movement like a 1/8 tenkan)

Uchi — to strike.

Migi — right

Hidari — left

Gamae/hanmi — stance

Level 1 – Basic

(All students should be very familiar with these techniques and practice them regularly.)

Bokken

  • 7 bokken suburi
  • Shomenuchi
  • Step back, jodan gamae, step forward, shomenuchi
  • Step back, gedan gamae, step forward, shomenuchi
  • Continuous shomenuchi
  • Continuous shomenuchi with deflection
  • Shomenuchi, sliding tsuki
  • Shomen uchi with deflection.cross-step tsuki
  • see 7 Suburi by Morihiro Saito Sensei

Jo

  • 20 jo suburi
  • Choku tsuki
  • Gaeshi tsuki
  • Ushiro tsuki
  • Tsuki gedan gaeshi
  • Tsuki jodan gaeshi
  • Shomenuchikomi
  • Renzoku uchikomi
  • Menuchi gedan gaeshi
  • Menuchi ushiro tsuki
  • Gyaku yokomen ushiro tsuki
  • Katate gedan gaeshi
  • Toma katate uchi
  • Katate hachi no ji gaeshi
  • Hasso gaeshi uchi
  • Hasso gaeshi tsuki 
  • Hasso gaeshi ushiro tsuki 
  • Hasso gaeshi ushiro uchi
  • Hasso gaeshi ushiro barai
  • Hidari nagare gaeshi uchi
  • Migi nagare gaeshi uchi 
  • https://youtu.be/O9U04EU_Qp8

Level 2

(These movements are built on familiarity with the foregoing suburi.)

Bokken

  • Shiho giri (turning in four directions)
  • Suburi 1 with four turns
  • Suburi 5 with four turns
  • Suburi 6 with four turns
  • Suburi 7 with four turns (2X, start both sides)
  • Happo giri 
  • Suburi 1 with eight turns (2X, start both sides)
  • (After first four, tenkan to diagonal)

Jo

  • Jusan (13 -count)  kata

Level 3

(Introducing partner practice. You should have a solid foundation in the suburi for this practice.)

Bokken

Awase forms

Hitoemi, shomenuchi, both sides 

Second suburi application 

Irimi cut to chest, quarter tenkan, kesa giri

 Ki musubi no tachi

Ki  Musubi No Tachi by Saito Sensei Iwama Aikido Techniques

Jo

Sanjuichi (31-count)  kata

https://youtu.be/4jm7x9dOzn4

Level 4

Bokken

  • Kumitachi 1-5  

https://youtu.be/cZV3ozGF07s (starting at 14:00)

Jo