A few pics from here and there throughout last week.
Some kids class visitors to Meiryukan Sakado brought some fresh energy to the Sunday training. We went through quite a few basic techniques with some different partners, then finished it up with a few rounds of jiyu-waza.
Adults working on techniques after a hard 15 or 20 minutes of working on correct posture in sliding forward and pivoting movements.
Kids jiyu-waza at Tuesday Noda with the adults running through test techniques in the background.
Suwari-waza Wednesday morning at Omiya. Already really hard mats, getting harder with the cold weather. Ganbarimashou!
Kids tests are usually only held 3 times per year, Spring, Summer and Winter. But due to not being able to test both Spring and Summer, we decided to hold special Fall tests to boost the kids motivation.
With their last test being December of 2019, the kids really worked hard for this one.
Almost a full year without any tests, seminars, joint training camps or demonstrations. You could easily see that they were more nervous than during previous gradings.
With no competition in aikido, these are the kind of things that challenge and push us. Stepping outside the comfort zone of regular training in your little friendly circle.
They put in the effort, faced the pressure and did an amazing job!
Congratulations to all who passed!
Results are up in the Meiryukan "members only" section.