Study Resources

Study Resources

Below we offer some video and written resources for our students working to memorize forms or prepare for tests.

Aikido Vocabulary | Aikido Weapons | Aikido Techniques, Testing, & Hakama | Aikido Ukemi |  Tai Chi Forms

Aikido Vocabulary

We’ve put together a basic vocabulary sheet to go along with the USAF testing requirements. New students will eventually learn these words through immersion, but these vocab and technique lists may also help when once you’ve already been practicing for some time.

Open Sky Aikido Weapons Curriculum

Open Sky is lucky to have its instruction heavily influenced by two main aikido weapons systems: that of Saito Sensei (Iwama style) and Chiba Sensei (Birankai, former USAF West). Our Chief Instructor, Steve Kaufman Shihan, gained direct knowledge of both systems from these students of the founder of aikido over a number of years. In the spirit of aikido’s focus on seeking out diverse perspectives, many of our advanced students, while following the lead of our chief instructor, have also sought out instruction in both systems from other leading teachers. Advanced students at Open Sky maintain elements of both of those practice sets. We attempt to both draw commonalities from and distinguish between these two systems in our teaching and learning.

An important note on the below videos. We acknowledge that these were “living” forms even the to shihan themselves who translated them from the founder or created them. Even within their own lifetimes these forms changed. We do not share any of these videos (especially any from our school!) as perfect models. Some we selected more for good camera angles on gross movements than promoting details of their movements. Ultimately the fundamental basic movements and solo and paired forms, like aikido itself, must be diligently practiced with good teachers and partners of diverse perspectives to understand their essence. We direct all students to videos of the founder, Chiba Sensei, and Saito Sensei… as well as to actual training with living teachers trained by those teachers (including our own Steve Kaufmann Sensei).

Jo Forms

  • 6 count loop (Movements 13-18 of 31 count)
  • 13 count: Primary source. (with paired 13; movements 1-7 can be practiced on both sides as a loop) 
  • 31 count (Saito): Primary source. (Secondary sources: 1, 2.)
  • 20 jo basics (Saito): Primary source. (Secondary sources: 1 2 3)
  • 36 jo basics (Chiba):  Primary source should be purchased. (Secondary: 1, 2, 3)
  • Sansho paired forms
    • Sansho 1 (Primary source. Secondary: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
    • Sansho 2 (Primary source. Secondary: 1, 2, 3)
    • Sansho 3 (Primary source. Secondary: 1, 2, 3)

Bokken Forms

  • 7 count suburi (Saito): Primary source. Secondary: 1, 2.
    • List: (1) shomen; (2) shomen with step back; (3) shomen with step back, drop bokken to gedan/low kamai; (4) shomen uchikomi (alternating right left right shomen); (5) repeating shomen like #4, but jodan/upper defense in between; (6) right shomen, right tsuki, left shomen, left tsuki, right shomen, right tsuki; (7) right shomen, step left tsuki, (repeat thrice total).
  • 8 count suburi (Chiba): Primary source. Secondary sources: 1, 2.
    • List: (1) step back, (2) step forward, (3) tenkan to the back, (4) stepping forward tenkan to the back, (5) step forward right, (4) step right/back, (5) pivot left (like shihonage omote), (6) irimi tenkan. For all – X cut, step tsuki, pivot & shomen; X cut opposite side, step tsuki, pivot & shomen.
  • Kumitachi 1-5 (Saito, Chiba): Primary source (Saito). Context: 1, …
  • Ki musubi no tachi. Chiba & Shibata ki musubi variations.

Aikido Techniques, Testing, & Hakama

Aikido tests at open sky are in accordance with United States Aikido Federation common standards. See below for the last modified test list.

For those new to wearing hakama, find a few helpful diagrams on tying and folding hakama here.

Aikido Ukemi

This section is a work in progress, to be released in late 2022.

Tai Chi Forms

Open Sky primarily practices Chen Style Tai Chi under the guidance of Grandmaster Wang Haijun. We take as primary sources the excellent videos available from Grandmaster Wang Haijun or his instructor, Chen Zhanglei. We celebrate and learn from videos from other modern Chen masters, including Chen Xiaowang and Chen Bing.

Most students practice the short form and long form for basics. Our instructors and advanced students also practice Xinjia, sword, spear forms, and push hands on occasion.

Master Wang Hai Jun Tai Chi Applications video at Open Sky

Recommended Tai Chi articles by Nick Gudge: