Julian Frost Weapons Test - San Diego Aikikai, September 1989

Weapons practice was extremely important to Chiba sensei at the San Diego Aikikai. Chiba sensei's students, uchi deshi and Kenshusei, were regularly required to demonstrate their knowledge and proficiency in his weapons system. In September, 1989, a few months after my arrival in San Diego, we were tested on the newly-introduced 12 Jyo Basics from Kesa. My training partner is Frank Apodaca, currently 6th dan, shihan. At the time, we were both 2nd dan.
Throughout the years following the recording of this video, Chiba sensei continued to change and refine the order and methodology of the individual techniques. This is not a tutorial video, it's merely archival footage.

[@JohnMandersonBM]

This is awesome to see. We still practise it this way today with our teacher who spent some time out in San Diego in those days!

[@JulianFrostAikido]

I still laugh when I watch this video. So many mistakes. 32 years later, I hope I'm making fewer mistakes.