Articles 5 March 2026

Feb 2026 Tanto Course

The day after the February 3rd and 4th Dan group course, Sensei O’Connell taught a tanto course. It was a very precise practice, with lots to learn.

Tanto course practice — students working on knife-taking techniques

Sensei O'Connell demonstrating a tanto technique

Close-up of students practising precise tanto movements

Students on the mat working through tanto techniques

Sensei O'Connell correcting students' form

Students practising the entering movement against a tanto strike

Detailed technique work in the afternoon session

Group photo at the end of the tanto course

Tanto practice occupies a unique place in Ki Aikido training. Working with a wooden knife demands a level of precision and awareness that sharpens every other aspect of one’s Aikido — timing, distance, commitment to the technique.

This February course, held the day after the 3rd and 4th Dan group course, drew students from clubs across the country who were keen to deepen their understanding of weapons work. Sensei O’Connell led the day with characteristic clarity, building each session on the foundations of the one before.

The morning began with basic tanto-taking: the attacker strikes with commitment and the defender must enter decisively, blending with the line of attack rather than retreating from it. Even students who had practised these forms many times before found new depth in the familiar movements.

Sensei O’Connell emphasised that the key to effective tanto work is not speed but timing — understanding the precise moment to move, and committing fully to that movement once it begins. Hesitation, he noted, is more dangerous than an honest mistake made with full intention.

Precision & Practice

Refining the fundamentals

The afternoon sessions moved into more complex territory. Students worked through several variations of tanto-dori, exploring how the same underlying principles apply whether the attack comes as a thrust, an overhead strike, or a lateral cut.

What became clear across the day was how tanto practice reinforces the core principles of Ki Aikido. Relaxation under pressure, extending Ki towards the attacker rather than pulling away, maintaining one point — all of these are tested more rigorously when a weapon is involved.

Several students commented afterwards on how the course had changed their understanding of distance and timing. When the stakes feel higher, the body learns faster.

Students refining their tanto-taking technique with careful attention to form

Careful paired practice during the afternoon session

Mind & Body

Commitment without tension

One of the recurring themes of the day was the paradox at the heart of weapons work: you must be completely committed and completely relaxed at the same time. Tension in the shoulders or arms makes the technique slower, not faster.

Sensei O’Connell demonstrated this repeatedly, showing how a relaxed entry creates a more powerful and more controlled result than a forceful one. The wooden tanto, wielded with intent, reveals any tendency to stiffen or pull back.

This is a lesson that extends well beyond the dojo. The ability to remain calm and centred under pressure, to act with clarity rather than panic, is one of the most valuable things Ki Aikido has to offer.

Sensei O'Connell demonstrating relaxed, powerful technique

Demonstrating the principle of relaxed power

Gallery

Photos from the day

Click any image to view it full size.

Looking Ahead

A practice that keeps revealing

Courses like this one are a reminder that there is always more to discover in Ki Aikido. The tanto is a simple object — a wooden blade — but the practice it demands touches on everything: posture, breathing, awareness, courage, and calm.

Thank you to Sensei O’Connell for another excellent course, and to all the students who made the journey to attend. The next weapons course will be announced in due course — keep an eye on the Federation calendar.

Want to experience Ki Aikido for yourself?

Find a club near you and come along to a session. No experience or special equipment is needed — just comfortable clothing.

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