Sunday, April 22, 2012

The big three in Tomiki Aikido

Recently this document was published on Face Book. It is a fascinating paper for you Tomiki lineage historians out there. It was the core curriculum of the tradition at that time.

 I am guessing this paper comes from the Yamada line out of Europe. My other guess is that this dates from the early 1960s. Although these are complete guesses - I do have a pretty good record of Tomiki document guess work so far. I will edit as I learn more information.

The first thing to note is there are three major exercises. The Tandoku - meaning solo exercise. Then there is the Sotai - which is the paired exercises. Then there is the base techniques. At the time of this printing Tomiki Sensei had 20 techniques. Preious to this Tomiki's 15 had been what was practiced. This appears to be an evolutionary bridge between Tomiki's early 15 to the 17. In my mind this demonstrates that the meat and potatoes of the system has long been what I consider the big three - what in America we often call the walk, the releases and the 17.

There is a lot to process on for the Tomiki lineage historian. Notice this is labeled as a Judo kata. Aikido is not mentioned. There has long been talk that Tomiki Sensei had been trying to introduce aiki waza into the Kodokan. While he succeeded in doing that with the Goshin Jitsu kata, perhaps this paper shows his goal for a comphrensive system of aiki for the judo world. Along this same thinking - the old film of Tomiki sensei doing aikido is called Judo Taiso.

 Lots to ponder. Of course these are all just leading up to randori.

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Shodan Certificate




Last night Matl Sensei informed my that it was time to promote one of my students to shodan - black belt. I respect Sensei's opinion. I do not do any grading of my own group. I let my seniors decide on all gradings for the people that train with me.

I have long dreamed of having a artistic certificate for the aikido group that I teach. I have only had two guys so far reach this grade, and I have never made a certificate before. I have long been disappointed in most certificates - I don't want to hand my students and friends a photocopy, I want to hand them a piece of art as a reward for the art that they have developed in their own practice.

This is made from the canvas that covered the floor of the dojo I first learned aikido on in Lewisville, Texas. Years later, after my sensei gifted it to me, it became the floor covering of my first dojo in Austin. Sweat, blood and a lot of training stained the canvas. It is now the fabric that makes the certificates for the unfortunate few that call me teacher. It has 'ki'.

The symbol is ancient Chinese for 初. It means beginning or first rank. The pictograph is scissors cutting into cloth as a beginning of making clothing. Cool. I love getting into the old Chinese meanings of words. Poetry.

Eventually the bottom right will be covered in signatures of high muckity-mucks.

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Daito Ryu Lines

I have been deep in Daito Ryu research. I was curious how many branches there are. I found this incomplete list of the schools/organizations in Japan. I had no idea there were so many.



Daito Ryu Shimbukan
Headed by Katsuyuki Kondo, student of Tokimune Takeda.

Takedaden Daito Ryu Aiki Budo
Headed by the current Masanobu Takeda, son-in-law of Tokimune Takeda.

Daito Ryu Aiki Budo
Headed by Nobuko Yokoyama, daughter of Tokimune Takeda.

Daito Ryu Aiki Jujutsu
Headed by Munemitsu Takeda, great-grandson of Sokaku Takeda.

Nihon Daito Ryu Aiki Budo Daito Kai
Headed by Shigemitsu Kato, student of Tokimune Takeda.

Daito Ryu Bokuyokan
Founded by Katsumi Yonezawa, student of Kodo Horikawa.

Daito Ryu Daibukan
Founded by Kenkichi Ohgami, student of Takuma Hisa.

Daito Ryu Gidokai
Founded by Hideo Hoga, student of Mae Kikutaro and Tokimune Takeda.

Daito Ryu Hakuhokai
Founded by Shogen Okabayashi, student of Takuma Hisa.

Daito Ryu Kodokai
Founded on the teachings of Kodo Horikawa, student of Sokaku Takeda.

Daito Ryu Renshinkan
Headed by Toshimi Matsuda, student of Sokaku Takeda.

Daito Ryu Shofukan
Headed by Ikuo Ota, student of Toshimi Matsuda

Daito Ryu Roppokai
Founded by Seigo Okamoto, student of Kodo Horikawa.

[Daito Ryu of] Sagawa Dojo
Founded by Yukiyoshi Sagawa, student of Sokaku Takeda.

Daito Ryu Senpukai
Headed by Sumiyoshi Yamamoto, student of Sokaku Takeda.

Daito Ryu Shodokai
Headed by Kazuoki Sogawa, student of Hiro Yamashita.

Daito Ryu Shouyoukan
Headed by Shige Ozeki, student of Shogen Okabayashi and Hakaru Mori.

Daito Ryu Tendokai
Headed by Masahiko Terahara, student of Takeshi Maeda and Tetsuo Shima.

Daito Ryu Takumakai
Founded on the teachings of Takuma Hisa, student of Sokaku Takeda.

Friday, April 13, 2012

400 years ago Miyamoto Musashi vs Sasaki Kojiro

On April 13, 1612 Musashi had his most famous duel.

From Wikipedia

On April 13, 1612, Musashi (about age 30) fought his duel with Sasaki Kojirō, who was known as "The Demon of the Western Provinces" and who wielded a nodachi. Musashi came late and unkempt to the appointed place — the island of Funajima, in the Kanmon Straits separating Honshū and Kyūshū. The duel was short. Musashi killed his opponent with a bokken that legend says he had carved from an oar used on the boat that carried him to the island. Musashi's late arrival is controversial. Sasaki's outraged supporters thought it was dishonorable and disrespectful, while Musashi's supporters thought it was a fair way to unnerve his opponent. Another theory is that Musashi timed the hour of his arrival to match the turning of the tide. The tide carried him to the island. After his victory, Musashi immediately jumped back in his boat and his flight from Sasaki's vengeful allies was helped by the turning of the tide. Another theory states he waited for the sun to get in the right position. After he dodged a blow, Sasaki was blinded by the sun.

Musashi briefly established a fencing school that same year.

Friday, April 6, 2012

Kakushitoride

I have bumped into a few of this guys videos over the past few months. I like his thinking and relaxed nature of his work. He has about 50 videos up so you can spend a bit of time getting into his art.







Kakushitoride YouTube