| Robert Bryner's
four count drills consist of hand movements that develop the eye and hand coordination
(also timing), and peripheral vision. Here, hand to hand combat combinations are used.
Both uke and nage, in the various exercises - change their roles from either attacker to
defender (or visa-versa), as the balance and advantage shift constantly during a series
strikes and defenses. In this video, you'll find that the defender will exchange not only
hand deflection(s), but also strikes to the attacker. As many of us know, such practice is
much more advantageous to Aikido training in a practical sense. 
The video clip above linked to the
icon above shows the four count drill with traditional kotegaishi throw.
This small clip is owned and copyrighted by
© The Dojo, 1995 All Rights Reserved
(Please use QuickTime 4.0 or Windows
Media Player
to view this file)
Much of traditional Aikido is practiced with proper
distance applied between both uke and nage, however in many real instances
--- the attacker and defender will be very dangerously close to each other. Bob Bryner
takes the viewer to the world of close-in-fighting, where
the four count drills and traditional Aikido practice are implemented together. Here, the
Aikidoist must deal with proximity issues of the
attacker's presence. Oftentimes, the assailant is moving into victim's space very rapidly,
and doing so while striking and/or kicking. The closeness of the attacker is not only
dangerous, but intimidating thus compounding the situation for an effective
defense. The four count exercises give the viewer an alternative method of training,
to deal with these situations.
After viewing this film, I firmly believe that
this video can make an excellent training addition to any advanced Aikidoist. It has
footwork, hand movement, bodywork, timing, focus, eye and hand coordination, practicality,
etc. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have.
For more information on this video,
please contact:
Chikako Higa Bryner
The Dojo
11554 Santa Monica Blvd.
West Los Angeles, CA 90025
(800) 564-2167 or (310) 445-0080
or E-mail to:
crbryner@ucla.edu
Special permission to
extract the various graphics, pictures, and film clips taken from the video Supplemental
Training Methods for Aikido, Volume I , was given by Robert D. Bryner
for this review only.
Thank you to Robert Bryner, Chikako
Higa Bryner, and their students for making this video review possible.
© 1999, C. A. Matrasko. All rights reserved
Cheryl Matrasko is a Network Analyst for the
department of Networking and Communications at a prominent Chicago hospital. Formerly the
LAN Administrator for Northwestern University Medical School - Department of OB/GYN, and
assistant LAN Administrator to the previous MIS of the School of Law. She started Aikido
in 1965, studying under Isao Takahashi as her first instructor. She enjoyed working out
under many well known Aikido instructors during her tenure with Takahashi Sensei and
therafter following his death in 1971. Cheryl has dedicated time with instructors in
Northern Shaolin Long-Fist, Seven Stars Praying Mantis, and Daito-Ryu Aikijujitsu.
Currently, she is instructing Aikido at Northwestern University's Chicago Campus,
Associate Instructor at NorthShore Aikido in Skokie, and supporting Aikido World Journal.
Literary materials, film clips, and
pictures are copyrighted by their respected authors and owners. Permission in writing to
the owners must be made for any duplication, display, or reprint.
|
