Proper Body Alignment in Movement
Self-Paced Online Course
Instructor
Lia Suzuki Sensei
6th dan Aikikai
Aikido Kenkyukai International USA
"A good stance and posture reflect a proper state of mind."
Morihei Ueshiba, O Sensei
Founder of Aikido
Preserve your body. Improve your technique.
It's easy to develop bad habits in your Aikido.
Take this opportunity to visualize your best Aikido by eliminating any inefficient or harmful patterns of movement.
Now is the perfect time.
Join my global community of Aikido-ka in this online course.
What You'll Learn In This 8-Week Course
Module 1
The 3 Lines of Equilibrium in All Budo
Ikkyo
There are 3 lines of equilibrium that we must maintain in order for our technique to be effective and in order to keep ourselves free from injury. In our first session, I'll introduce these 3 important lines and, most importantly, we will begin Ikkyo drills and shadow work to attain full embodiment of these principles by the end of the course.
Module 2
The 3 Basic Body Positions in All Budo
Nikkyo
In this second session, we will review and reinforce the principles of the 3 Lines of Equilibrium, using Ikkyo as our vehicle. I'll then be introducing the 3 Basic Body Positions, as we move on to Nikkyo.
Module 3
Reinforcing the New Muscle Memory
Sankyo
In this third session, we'll quickly review Ikkyo and Nikkyo, while maintaining our focus on the 3 Lines of Equilibrium and the 3 Basic Body Positions. Keeping these in mind, we'll continue to our study of Sankyo.
Module 4
Challenging Ourselves
Yonkyo
Can we maintain these new principles of equilibrium and body position through all techniques? This is the challenge we'll take on in Module 4, as we add Yonkyo to our list.
Module 5
The 3 Basic Turns in Aikido
Shihonage
In this fifth session, I will introduce the 3 Basic Turning styles in Aikido and what I'm calling "Footwork Pattern A". We'll be using Shihonage as our vehicle for practice. We'll also use this opportunity to reinforce the principles or equilibrium and body position that we've been working on.
Module 6
Building New Reflexes
Shihonage & Tenchinage
In this sixth session, I'll introduce "Footwork Pattern B". We'll employ Shihonage and Tehchinage to gain insights and begin building muscle memory.
And of course, the principles of the 3 Lines of Equilibrium and the 3 Body Positions will remain a priority.
Module 7
New Beginnings
Iriminage
In this seventh session, I'll introduce "Footwork Pattern C", based on kesa giri and kiri age. We'll examine the moving structure of the body through these cuts and then apply our findings to paired training and shadow training.
At this point, we will notice a more natural and subconscious adherence to the principles of equilibrium and body position, which we have been studying over the last weeks.
Module 8
Freedom in Correct Movement
Jiyu Waza
This eighth and final session will be a celebration of sorts - a celebration of your hard work in attaining the freedom that comes with creating correct muscle memory, freeing your body from stress and pain.
Program Content Description
Weekly Module Practice Videos
During the 8-week course, you will receive weekly practice videos based on the current module theme.
These practice videos are from past classes and are carefully curated to ensure their relevance to the current module we're studying that week.
Training along with the practice videos is optional, but highly recommended, so as to not leave too large of a gap between classes, thereby moving you toward embodiment of these principles.
Replays of live Q&A sessions from past courses
You'll be invited to stay for a 10-minute Q&A session each week at the end of the live class.
The Q&A sessions with Lia Sensei are a great way to help you to better understand that day's class, as well as get to know the other students from around the world.
Proper Body Alignment In Movement on the go via our Mobile App!
You can access all your course practice videos and downloads on your mobile devices via the Kajabi app.
The mobile app gives you full access to the program content for viewing or listening at your convenience.
Your Instructor:
Lia Suzuki Sensei
6th dan, Aikikai
Lia Suzuki Sensei is a senior student of Yoshinobu Takeda Shihan and National Director and Founder of Aikido Kenkyukai International USA.
For nearly 10 years, she lived and trained intensively under Takeda Shihan in Japan. Suzuki Sensei's experience in Japan also gave her the opportunity to train with the late Yamaguchi Sensei and other notable masters.
She currently is based in Los Angeles, and directly oversees several dojos in her network in the USA and the UK. Suzuki Sensei travels extensively throughout the world, teaching at dojos outside of her affiliation, as well.
Her mission is to foster inclusion in the Aikido world, rather than division, and to increase Aikido’s popularity among youth and those in their 20's and 30's.
What people are saying...
"It was surprising how much one can learn from an Aikido Zoom session. I learned a lot."
Anonymous
Germany
"Shalom Lia Suzuki Sensei,
In general, I was expecting 8 meetings of one hour. You gave much more! Sorry I could not join all the sessions. I will follow and watch all the videos.
You are doing a wonderful job. Keep going!
All the best!"
Moshe
Israel
"I wanted to let you know that your class is helping me in ways other than aikido. I was doing yoga the other day and was having trouble with my balance. After I shifted my foot to 65 degrees and made sure I was not in a tightrope, things got better."
Jem Sebastian-Wortman
Clayton, CA, USA
"We are basically back in the dojo once a week. I wanted to share that I am noticing improvements because of your zoom trainings, which I think is very cool! 😁 Like the nikkyo exercise with the jo; I really notice that now I'm finding nikkyo easier to do because of it, where before I was always struggling a lot. And many other small differences."
Sarah
Netherlands
"I learned to be more aware of my posture (alignment) when doing any movements (suburi, irimi-tenkan, etc) in Aikido, and it feels good. If I can get my body to learn the feet positioning, I know I will be more stable too. My two feet have the habit of 'standing on a tightrope'; I didn't realize that was causing me to wobble every time I change my hanmi direction. I will be looking forward to the recorded videos, and your other future zoom seminars too. Thanks for the classes and your feedback, they have definitely improved my Aikido.
Thanks for putting a lot of thought into the sessions. See you in the next one!"
R.N.
Germany
"Thank you again for your wonderful instructions and guidance.
The classes were very well structured and planned. Also, the videos were very helpful to deepen my understanding (although I sometimes had to motivate my lazy self :) (“Omoi Koshi Wo Ageru”)). I learned a lot and will keep working on the footwork, alignment and techniques with the help of the videos.
Thank you again Sensei and I will see you and hopefully others in September!"
Kaoruko Ando
Seattle, WA, USA
"Thanks a lot for your support this year. The virtual classes are so valuable for me. And more helpful than only videos. Some movements are new or not so well known to me. But the systems are so nice. I had some discussions about virtual aikido training and somebody said virtual aikido is not possible. But in my experience, it is. I've learned so much so I am very grateful to you for your help."
Anonymous
Germany
Proper Body Alignment In Movement
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What people are saying...
"I like your style of teaching; the intention behind it and your emphasis on martial arts as a vehicle to take people to a better place regardless of system or style.
I also enjoy lots of zoom Q&A type of sessions. It doesn't have to be martial. Getting inside the working mind and the philosophy behind the instructor are also instrumental for my growth both as a student and teacher.
I really heart your authenticity."
Edward
Canada
