Aikido

Aikido has no traditional solo kata — but tai sabaki (body movement), ukemi (falling) and ashi sabaki (footwork) can all be trained alone, and they are what set you apart in the dojo.

Starter program (from zero)

Daily: 5 min irimi-tenkan (20 pivots) + 5 min shikko
Every other day: 10 forward + 10 backward ukemi on soft ground
Twice a week: bokken/jo suburi — sword mechanics feed the techniques

Techniques & Strikes

Tai sabaki

Irimi: Entering straight past the line of attack.
Tenkan: Pivot 180° around the front foot.
Irimi-tenkan: Enter then pivot — aikido's fundamental 'walk'.
Shikko: Knee walking — the base of seated techniques.

Ukemi (falls)

Mae ukemi (öne yuvarlanma): Forward roll along the arm and across the back.
Ushiro ukemi (geriye): Backward roll — progress from sitting to standing.
Yoko ukemi (yana): Side breakfall — arm and leg strike together.

Basic strikes (uke side)

Shomen uchi: Overhead strike with the hand blade; same mechanics as a sword cut.
Yokomen uchi: Diagonal strike to the temple.
Tsuki: Straight punch to the abdomen, stepping in.

Core technique principles

Ikkyo: First principle: elbow control. Solo drill: ikkyo undo.
Shiho nage: Four-direction throw; drill the footwork with a bokken.
Kote gaeshi / Irimi nage: Wrist turn and entering throw — the tai sabaki patterns are 80% of the throw.

Tips

Ukemi (falling) comes before technique — practising throws before you can fall safely increases injury risk.
20 solo tenkan reps a day visibly improves your balance when working with a partner at the dojo.
Sword (bokken) and jo work directly feed aikido's body mechanics; many aikido dojos include weapons training for this reason.

Turn this guide into a daily practice: log your sessions, keep your streak, earn belts.