Aikido World

Jun 18, 2013

James Nakayama Sensei demonstrating aikido at the Aikido Association of America’s National Instructor Seminar hosted by Tenshinkan Dojo in Chicago, IL.

#James Nakayama Sensei #Aikido #Aikido Association of America (AAA) #Tenshinkan Dojo #martial arts #pictures #National Instructor Seminar

Apr 18, 2013 / 3 notes

Levels of Instruction by James Nakayama Sensei

Levels of Instruction:

1) Traditional, and most common, is to just demonstrate a technique. This type of teaching has few restrictions that makes it possible for the student to explore the technique and adjust it to their individual nature, freeing them from formalized movement. The drawback is, without proper feedback, it’s difficult to recognize movement flaws, even for students who have proper training in mechanics. This ultimately leads to ingraining movements that become difficult to correct as time goes by.

2) Teaching forms by rote allows the student to see and hear what steps need to be done, and to be able to repeat the steps, making learning easier. To do this, the instructor needs to understand what the footwork and body movement of a technique are, and to be able to present it in an organized and systematic methodology suitable to the level of the students.

3) It’s important for the instructor to understand each step of a technique thoroughly. For the instructor to only be able to demonstrate step-by-step movement of a technique is not always adequate and efficient, because this often requires the student to memorize multiple, and unfamiliar movements. To alleviate this problem, an instructor must be able to explain the rationale of why certain setups and movements are done. If the student understands why something is done, then it becomes easier to remember.

4) An instructor needs to be able to see details and describe them to students. Step-by-step repetition is not enough to teach all the details that make a technique efficient. After the gross movements are learned, students then apply what they’ve learned through free practice. During this free practice, the students who are not grounded in proper mechanics will have to be reminded of basic principles and mechanics. Students who have good mechanics will need guidance in concepts of connection, extension, flow, rhythm, kuzushi (balance breaking) etc. It is the up to the instructor to bring these points to the attention of the students.

5) For an instructor to be able to see and point out corrections to a student is not always enough. Students may understand that they’re doing something wrong, but that doesn’t mean they will know how to correct it. An instructor must be able to address individual specific problems by demonstrating how to make corrections. Because there are innumerable and unique situations that need to be addressed, an instructor needs to have a depth of understanding that gives birth to innovation. This innovation leads to creating solutions to specific areas of training.

Nakayama Sensei is the Shibucho (Branch Leader) of the AAA Western Region, in charge of the Regional Test Committee and Black Belt Association. He is a member of the AAA National Teaching Committee, and the Aikido Association International (AAI) Teaching Committee.

#Aikido #Aikido Association of America (AAA) #James Nakayama Sensei #AAA Western Region

Mar 14, 2013 / 3 notes

Teaching basic rolling to beginners with Aikido Association of America’s Western Region Shibucho James Nakayama Sensei (Chushinkan Dojo).

#Ukemi #Aikido #Videos #James Nakayama Sensei #Chushinkan Dojo #Aikido Association of America (AAA)

Mar 1, 2013 / 2 notes

The Aikido Association of America is proud to announce an Aikido Seminar hosted by Aikido of Shreveport - Okuyukashi Dojo from March 1-3, 2012.

The training is open to students of any martial art or rank, and from any organization or dojo. Instruction will be provided by James Nakayama Sensei (Rokudan), AAA Western Region Shibucho.

#Aikido #Aikido Association of America (AAA) #Aikido of Shreveport #James Nakayama Sensei #Seminar

Jan 19, 2013 / 12 notes

James Nakayama Sensei demonstrating technique at Kenshinkan Dojo in Vista, CA, USA.

#James Nakayama Sensei #Kenshinkan Dojo #Aikido Association of America (AAA) #aikido #pictures

Another round of pictures from the Aikido Association of America’s 2012 Western Region Camp hosted by Kenshinkan Dojo in Vista, CA.

Nov 21, 2012 / 6 notes

Another round of pictures from the Aikido Association of America’s 2012 Western Region Camp hosted by Kenshinkan Dojo in Vista, CA.

#James Nakayama Sensei #Tatsuo Toyoda Sensei #AAA Western Region #Aikido #Pictures #Kenshinkan Dojo #Aikido of North County

Oct 15, 2012

Photo from James Nakayama Sensei Seminar in Logan, UT hosted by Jyushinkan Dojo.

Aikido students gathered in Logan, Utah last weekend for Jyushinkan Dojo’s annual seminar instructed by James Nakayama Sensei. In addition to AAA members from Logan, Salt Lake City and Orem, visitors representing the California Aikido Association (CAA) joined us from Idaho Falls, ID, Salt Lake City and Mount Pleasant, UT, and a Capital Aikido Federation member traveled from Jackson Hole, WY. On Friday night, several brand new students from Ron Sims Sensei’s Utah State University aikido class participated. Nakayama Sensei focused on the modular nature of aikido movement, emphasizing for the beginners how movements, once learned, could be recycled and used in other techniques.

#James Nakayama Sensei #Jyushinkan Dojo #Photos #Western Region #Aikido

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Levels of Instruction by James Nakayama Sensei