Sometimes just the instructor shows up for class… 🙃

A cold (not COVID!) runs rampant through the dojo members, leaving them coughing and exhausted at home in bed. 🤧 What’s a person to do as a solo participant? Pack it up and go home? No way! These are the times for solo weapons practice, bokken and jo suburi, kumi jo, and that basics favorite, happo giri. 😊

Below is a video I made back in May of 2020 when we still didn’t know much about COVID and practicing outdoors was our only option. 😷 For your consideration, happo giri…

—Stephanie

Eight Direction Cut (Happo Giri) is a basic aikido weapons exercise practiced with wooden sword (bokken). It teaches stance, striking, thrusting, moving from one's center, and a state of relaxed awareness (zanshin).