Solo Training For Aikido

Aikido is mostly an art that is practised with a partner.

Our techniques may be seen as katas that not only help us to improve in our technique but also help us to develop our bodies and our minds and gradually master the principles of Ki.

How then can we train Aikido on our own?

Some people suggest that the masters of Aikido from the past engaged in rigorous solo training outside of the dojo.

This occasionally comes with a claim that they practised secret exercises that they did not share except with their very closest students.

I personally find these claims a little silly and almost like a conspiracy theory.

From what I can see there are really no secrets other than to train more.  Through training our body gradually finds the movements more comfrotable and starts to mre effortlessly execute the movements with power, precision and relaxation (or minimal unncecessary tension.

We can certainly train aspects of our Aikido alone.

– The weapons syllabus has a set of katas that can be trained alone.
– We can train our basic movements and footwork on our own.  Footwork in particular can easily be practised alone.
– We can go through the movements of our techniques, like a form of shadow boxing for Aikido.  This is very useful for memorising techniques.
– We can practise the Ki principles almost in any moment of any day.  They are constantly useful for bringing us back to a relaxed and positive state.
– Ukemi (roles and falls) can be practised but we would need an appropriate place to train these.
– Dojo exercise can be trained alone. These are a set of exercises that come from Koichi Tohei Sensei. 

You can view some of these at the start of this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=is0EmLRWaBw

– Ki breathing and other meditation and relaxation exercises can be trained alone.

The best training always seems to be the training we get with other partners at the dojo.  This is where we will get challenged and will learn where our weaknesses are.

Through continuing to train, over time the “secrets” will start to become more obvious to us.