Wow—Ikkyo is dominating my channel right now! According to my YouTube analytics, the top 3 videos from the last three months have all been about Ikkyo.
Here’s the number one—already approaching 2,000 views:
Is Ikkyo a challenge for you or your students?
One common issue I see is the collapse of the lower hand during execution. To compensate, many people reach out abruptly and stiffly—which doesn’t work either.
If you saw my previous video, you’ll remember we used a shoto almost like a horse whip—calling uke’s attention to the space under their arm, encouraging forward movement. But that exercise wasn’t just for uke. It also helped nage become more aware of the space—and that awareness is key to real progress.
In today’s video, we continue this theme, now without the shoto and from a standing position. We return to a more orthodox version of ikkyo, but with an amplified focus on space.
Instead of reacting stiffly to our partner’s arm, we use an upward motion that invites cooperation—rather than “tripping the alarm,” so to speak.
I hope today’s video gives you some new insights, inspiration, and motivation to help you make the most of your training and take your Aikido to the next level.
🇩🇪 🇳🇱 Attending my Germany or Netherlands seminars? Reserve your personally engraved, limited-edition shoto now—I’ll set one aside for you.
💙 Enjoying these weekly Aikido insights?
You can support the project and help keep them coming — starting at just $5/month.
Support the Newsletter →
Let’s dive in. And be sure to stick around until the end for a special announcement.
🎥 WATCH: Fix This Common Ikkyo Mistake | Aikido Technique for Advanced Progress
💬 Question for You:
Let me know in the comments:
- Do you find Ikkyo to be a challenging technique?
- And if you’re an instructor, what kinds of exercises do you do with your students to help them with Ikkyo?
Lia Suzuki
Author
• The Teacher
• Mastering The Shoto
Director: Aikido Kenkyukai International USA
❤️ Support
LET'S TRAIN TOGETHER!
🗓 Upcoming Seminars
2025
- September 12-14
Ima Juku Aikido
Lia Suzuki Sensei
Baarn, Netherlands - September 16
Aikido-Shinboku-Verein
Lia Suzuki Sensei
Düsseldorf, Germany - September 17-21
Bewegung & Lebenskunst Bonn
Lia Suzuki Sensei
- - September 17-18: Yudansha Seminar
- - September 19-21: Mixed Levels Seminar
Bonn, Germany - September 22-23
PSV Heidelberg Aikido Sansuikai Dojo
Lia Suzuki Sensei
Heidelberg, Germany - October 10-12
Aikido & Healing Arts Center of Roseville
Senseis Michael Friedl, Craig Fife, and Lia Suzuki
Roseville, CA, USA - November 14-16
Denver Aikikai
Lia Suzuki Sensei
Denver, CO, USA
2026
- March 27-29
Cherry Blossom Seminar in Kumamoto, Japan
Senseis Sakabe, Johansson, Lin, and Suzuki
Kumamoto, Japan - July 3-5
Aikido Aishinkan Latvia
Lia Suzuki Sensei
Riga, Latvia - July 15-19
AKI USA Annual Summer Camp & 30th Anniversary Celebration
Senseis Daiyu Takeda, Lia Suzuki, and others
Los Angeles, California, USA - September 16-20
Bewegung & Lebenskunst Bonn
Lia Suzuki Sensei
- - September 17-18: Yudansha Seminar
- - September 19-21: Mixed Levels Seminar
Bonn, Germany - October 2-4
Mountain West Aikido - Livingston
Lia Suzuki Sensei
Livingston, CO, USA - More Seminars added soon...
Click here for details on all my seminars.
🇩🇪 🇳🇱 Reserve your engraved, limited-edition shoto for Germany & Netherlands seminars—last chance!
👉 Click here to reserve yours.
💙 Enjoying these weekly videos?
If you’d like to support my work and help keep these coming, you can subscribe at any level that feels right for you:
All tiers receive the same content — it's just a way to support the project and keep it sustainable.
Unsubscribe: If you'd rather not receive these weekly videos, you can use the unsubscribe link at the bottom of this email. You'll still stay subscribed to my other lists unless you opt out separately.
