Aikido Association Atlanta

Most of the class is new to wakizashi-no-kata so we are working on gross motor movements for now. Refinement will come in time with practice. Why do we practice with wakizashi?

Short‑blade control
A wakizashi’s 30–60 cm blade demands tighter elbows, better centerline awareness, and more precise cutting angles. You can’t “cheat” with reach.

Indoor / close‑quarters movement
Historically, samurai kept the wakizashi on indoors, where a katana was impractical. Many kata simulate confined spaces, quick draws, and defensive reactions at very short range.

Refinement of fundamentals
Because the blade is shorter, students must rely on technique, not momentum. Nukitsuke, kirioroshi, chiburi, and noto become more exacting.

Preparation for daishō understanding
Wakizashi work helps students understand the relationship between long and short swords—the “big‑small” pairing that defined samurai rank

Improving in Mugai Ryu Iaido one class at a time relies on the Japanese concept of Kaizen—the practice of continuous, microscopic improvement. Because Iaido features no active sparring partner to push you, your only opponent is your own form from the previous session. Here is how you build mastery incrementally, class by class.

The Power of Compound Gains

Small changes seem invisible daily but become massive over time.

The 1% rule: Improving a single detail by just 1% each class adds up to total transformation over a year.

Isolating variables: You cannot fix your grip, footwork, and gaze all at once. Pick one focus area per class.

Stacking habits: Once a tiny detail (like your pinky pressure) becomes automatic muscle memory, your brain frees up bandwidth to fix the next detail.

Saturday Aikido class.

These pix are from a recent Thursday evening class. During any given Aikido class, we may work on Bokken or Jo techniques. Sunday morning at 9:00am is specifically reserved for weapons.

Weapons training isn’t an optional side activity—it’s the backbone that makes aikido’s empty‑hand techniques make sense. The bokken and jo each illuminate different aspects of the art, and together they give you the complete picture.

Bokken: The Source Code of Aikido
The bokken shows you where aikido comes from.

Centerline becomes absolute. A sword cut instantly reveals when your posture or alignment is off.

Timing sharpens. A committed strike forces you to enter, evade, or blend with precision.

Footwork becomes functional. Irimi and tenkan stop being abstract and become survival mechanics.

Techniques reveal their origins.

Shihonage = four‑direction cut

Ikkyo = controlling the line of the blade

Iriminage = stepping through the cut

The bokken teaches decisiveness, commitment, and clean lines—qualities that transform your empty‑hand aikido.

Jo: The Bridge Between Sword and Empty Hand
The jo is not “just a stick.” It’s the missing link that connects sword movement to empty‑hand technique.

Circular power becomes real. The jo teaches how to generate force through arcs, spirals, and hip‑driven rotation.

Distance (ma‑ai) becomes honest. The jo’s length forces you to manage engagement range with accuracy.

Blending becomes tangible. Jo kata and partner drills show how to redirect energy instead of colliding with it.

Footwork expands. The jo demands fluid transitions—forward, backward, diagonal—without breaking structure.

Empty‑hand techniques gain clarity.

Kokyu power mirrors jo thrust mechanics

Tenkan mirrors circular jo movements

Entering throws mirror jo line changes

The jo teaches adaptability, fluidity, and connection—qualities that refine your aikido from the inside out.

The sword demands discipline.
The training demands consistency.

But the commute?

That part is easy.

We offer online iaido classes via Zoom every Monday and Wednesday at 7:00pm—a direct path from your living room to the dojo floor.

Iaido rewards anyone willing to show up with consistency, humility, and attention to detail. It shapes your mind, your body, and your character in ways few arts can.

Saturday at the dojo

Thursday night Aikido class.

Please join me in congratulating our two new 2nd kyu members: Kai Orenstein and Yumiko Furusawa. They both had fantastic tests!

My admiration for their consistent training, hard work on the mat, and sincere effort to recognize and overcome limitations. Well done. My thanks to Kai and Yumiko for setting a great example for us all.

Also, my thanks to our incredible staff of senior teachers for their leadership and support: Bob Hodge Sensei, Luke Maranto Sensei, Simone Maranto Sensei, Tom Wilder Sensei, Keith Washington Sensei, and Justin Thompson Sensei. We are blessed at Kyushinkan with talented leaders who exemplify all that is good in budo training. Great practitioners of the Art; even better persons.

Aikido is a lifetime practice. Keep plugging away!

See you on the mats.

Mike Goodman

Dojo Cho

Kyushinkan Dojo