Make list of basic aikido concepts and choose 1 for each class; pay attention to that concept during class

• hanmi
• maii
• extension
• breathing
• head up, looking at walls, not uke
• back leg straight with heel off ground when throwing
• correct arm position when starting (up at chest height)
• zanshin - follow thru at end of throw

• Keep arms extended for tsuki age
• Keep extension in general throughout the technique
• keep uke's hand low during kotegaeshi and reverse kotegaeshi
• Drop your center (weight) when doing kotegaeshi - just before and as you throw
• katatetori shihonage ura doesn't work if uke is coming in fast right through you
• block all atemis
• When doing technique statically, don't rock back for momentum before starting technique; just start the technique immediately.
• Tenkan - make sure your hand is at your centerline, not over your thigh when you start. If uke pushes, you want him to push along your centerline.
• 3 different kotegaeshi reversals - all different footwork
• Kokyo motion comes from raising the bokken. Make sure your left wrist has a crease in the top of it. The left hand o the bokken is the power hand. the right hand just guides the bokken.

jo tsuki - raise the jo vertically wiht your left hand; put your right hand just underneath; then slide your right hand to the back (bottom) of the jo, as the jo comes horizontal for a parry (to a tsuki from uke). This is the initial movement; now you are in position to tsuki at uke.

When you tsuki with jo, the jo should be pointed at your uke, so that uke only sees the front of the jo. Uke should not be able to see the rest of the jo or your back hand.

Jo kata

1 Tsuki

2 Bring jo back over your head. Your hands should be at the middle. The jo should be parallel to your shoulders.

3 Shome strike - bring your right hand down so it is 6 inches above your left hand

4 Slide back and block with jo over your head, with jo pointed toward uke. Your right hand slides down from where your head was. (Uke was striking at your head. When you slide back, moving your head back, uke's strike is still going to where your head was. You don't want your right hand at that spot, so you slide it down further toward the end.)

5 Downward parry to our left rear. The top of the jo should be at chest height. (This motion is intended to suck uke into you, and then you come back toward him and block or strike him)

6 Step forward with your left foot and raise the end of the jo overhead to block your right side. The top of the jo should be directly in front of you, just above head height. The rest of the jo should be protecting your right side. You are presenting uke your left side as his only target.

7 Push the top end of the jo down and do a hasso movement. Tenkan on your left foot and bring jo up next to your right shoulder.

8 Step fwd with rt foot and do shomen with your right hand thumb up (rotate your right hand as the jo is coming down.

9 pivot 180 degrees to your right and block the left side of your body with the jo. Raise the end of the jo overhead to block your left side. The top of the jo should be directly in front of you, just above head height. The rest of the jo should be protecting your left side. You are presenting uke your right side as his only target.

10 Step back with your rt foot and pull the top end of the jo back with your right hand.