Vol. 1, Issue 3 September 11, 2017

TOMIKIQUARTERLY UPDATES FROM THENEWS TAA TEAM USA 2017!

Wade Current, Bob King, Bob Dziubla and Greg Linden served as officials at the WSAF games.

Report From the Games!

The 1st WSAF World Championship kicked off in London on Friday, August 18, and was comprised of youth, junior, cadet and adult competitions. On Saturday, the games continued with the senior competitions and in the evening the youth, junior and cadet award ceremonies. Finally, Sunday completed the adult competitions and concluded with the award ceremonies. Over one hundred children and nearly two hundred adult aikidoka participated in the games. Beside our own team from the United States, nations represented included: the United Kingdom, Brazil, Switzerland, Australia, Japan, Spain and Russia. A group photo of the first WSAF Bob Dziubla Shihan, Robert King Sensei, Greg Linden Sensei and World Championship. Wade Current Sensei represented the TAA as judges during the games, working alongside an international team of officials to ensure fair and Also in this issue: safe competition. 2 - WSAF Final Standings Overall, it was the United Kingdom that took home the most medals, 3 - Chairman’s Corner with Japan in second. Although Team USA did not medal in any of the 4 - Context in Evaluating Martial Arts events, they competed hard in all of the adult events: individual and 6 - Yudansha Exam Essays team tanto randori, embu and the kongo dantaisen mixed event. Team 11 - Losing is Better than Winning captains Will Ball and Tiffany Doan led a group of American competitors 10 - Professor Tomiki’s Radical Notion comprised of Gabe Adalem, Justin Chang, Ian King, Taira MacNeill, 12 - Upcoming Events Andy MacNeill, Shannon Meyers, Alec Niccum, Ruth Reinicke, Curtis 13 - On Jujutsu and Its Modernization Roberts, Michael Shaw, Caroline Spence, and Kalynn Voorhies. 20 - Moving Up! (Promotions)

TOMIKI AIKIDO OF THE AMERICAS 1 September 11, 2017

All of this was made possible through the hard of the games with efficiency and class. Thanks to work of David Fielding Sensei and Vanda Fairchild them and countless other volunteers this 1st World Sensei, who coordinated the hosting and conduct Championship was a tremendous success!

Youth, junior & cadet players from Ireland Some of the top players from the United Kingdom

WSAF 2017 Open Championship Final Senior Standings

SENIORS

Women Men Gold Silver Bronze Gold Silver Bronze

Individual Randori L. Anderson (UK) F. Yamasaki (SW) Y. Takaya (JP) P. Carr (UK) S. Komori (JP) F. Kamara (UK)

Shingo Ikeda, Team Randori Andrew Rigby, Paul Carr, Daniel Rory Daniels, Louise Saul, Christopher Yuki Takaya, Eri Laura Anderson, White, Scott Kazuma Okura, Gemma Leslie, White, Max Kurosaki, Naomi Morgan Murphy, Pearce, Fred Shuhei Komori, Rachel Johnson Ladbrooke, Paul Uemura (JP) Ellie Gander (UK) Kamara, James Takayuki (UK) Myhill, Daniel Bird (UK) Namekawa, Joe Ramsden (UK) Adams (JP)

Combined Gold Silver Bronze

Randori no Kata (kyu) K. Kasammeongkol/K. Mabuch (JP) A. Van Kamfen/D. Zeciri (SW) M. Flores/G. Bueno (SP)

Randori no Kata (dan) J. Adams/S. Ikeda (JP) I. Solonitsyn/D. Olkhov (RU) S Pearce/A. Rigby, (UK)

Jiyu Enbu P. Carr/D. White (UK) F. Gomez/S. Peretti (SW) K. Yotsutsuji/K. Shutani (JP)

Goshin no Kata S Pearce/A. Rigby, (UK) F. Yamasaki/L. Thorimbert (SW) N. Roberts/S. Middleton (JP/UK) Kongo Dan Taisen Andrew Rigby, Scott Pearce, Paul Carr, Frederique Gomez, Sebastien Peretti, Nilifer Roberts, Taishu Takizawa, Joe Daniel White, Laura Anderson, Fred Fumika Yamasaki, Adrian Van Kamfen, Adams, Shingo Ikeda, Nao Mitani, Kamara, James Bird (UK) Loris Thorimbert (SW) Takayuki Namekawa, Shuei Komori (JP)

Youth, Junior and Cadet Results were not available at the time of publication.

TOMIKI AIKIDO OF THE AMERICAS 2 Vol. 1, Issue 3 September 11, 2017

Chairman’s Corner Robert Dziubla, Shihan (8º Dan)

The WSAF2017 World Aikido Championship in ability to function well and cohesively, so please do London was fabulously hosted by our friends at the consider how you can help the organizing committee. British Aikido Association, in a great facility (University On a separate note, I am delighted to say that our of East London), with a record-breading turn-out. Over long-serving Treasurer, Antonio Gonzalez (3rd dan, 100 children in the under 18 tournament, and almost Orange County, Californai), is a father for the third time 200 in the adults’ tournament. (a son to complement his two young daughters), and We had players from Russia, Spain, Switzerland, has unsurprisingly asked to retire, which we have Japan, USA, Ireland, Ukraine, England, Scotland and accepted with reluctance and great thanks. Greg Brazil. We owe a big thank you to the BAA, who now Linden (4th dan, Baltimore), who was one of the looks to the USA to live up to their standard as we founding directors of the TAA in 1990, has graciously host the 2019 World Aikido Championship in San agreed to rejoin the Board, replacing Antonio as Diego (either the last weekend in July or the first Treasurer. weekend in August, depending on venue availability – For the first time, the TAA instituted a formal so mark your calendars). organization for Team USA and its entry into the World The WSAF Executive Committee made great Championship. We appointed the winners of the Gold progress on addressing key issues: Medal at the last US Nationals in 2016 at UNC (or the Silver Medalist if the Gold Medalist was unable to 1. We have revised the elements of the kongo attend) as the Captains of Team USA. A big thanks to dantaisen event by eliminating women’s tanto Will Ball and Tiffany Gonzalez for assuming that role taisabaki and men’s toshu randori. In their and obligation. Bob King, our Technical Director, place, we have installed kyu rank tanto served as the coach of Team USA, and provided much taisabaki and women’s tanto randori. I support in London when he wasn’t busy on the mats personally thought these changes were long as a judge. Sean Flynn was the Manager of Team USA overdue. The kongo dantaisen will be a and helped to coordinate the logistics for the “festival” type of event to encourage interaction tournament. and international friendship rather than a pure competition event. Accordingly, the names of I am pleased to say that the TAA fielded a team of all players will be tossed into a hat, and the four judges in London to help fulfill the WSAF goal of various teams will be constituted at random by having fair and independent judges from each country drawing the names out of a hat. We have been participating. TAA judges were: Bob Dziubla, Bob King, doing this in the USA for several years with Wade Current and Greg Linden. Deep thanks to each great success (thanks in large part to Tiffany’s of them for judging, as several of them would have organizing ability!), and the WSAF Executive much preferred to be competing on the mats. Please Committee thought it was a great idea. remember that without the judges and referees, we cannot have tournaments where you have the chance 2. We have established a Rules Sub-committee to to impress the World with your ability and win a medal. revamp, revise and improve the rules of Once your days as a competitor have concluded, competition, with an explicit request to however, then your duty to the younger generations is implement a “shido reduction zone.” [Smile.] to become a judge and ref. This Sub-committee will do its work over the n e x t t w o y e a r s a n d s u b m i t t h e i r Finally, the TAA spent over $7,000 providing recommendations to the Congress of the WSAF subsidies and financial support to many members of at the 2019 World Championship to be held in Team USA who competed in London. We look forward San Diego. The final competition rules to be to all of those recipients sharing their new-found approved by the Congress in 2019 will then be knowledge, commitment and experience with all of the implemented at the 2021 World Championship. TAA for many years ahead. 3. The 2021 World Championship is tentatively In aikido friendship, scheduled for Brazil. Bob Dziubla, Chairman We have much work to do here in the USA, and I Shihan & 8th dan appreciate all the help and support of all our members. The 2019 World Championship will be a real test of our

TOMIKI AIKIDO OF THE AMERICAS 3 September 11, 2017

Shodokan Hombu Workshop

The day before the WSAF games, Sussex Aikido During the workshop, the Shodokan instructors and Paul Bonnett Sensei organized a workshop taught a number of forms from the Goshin Ho no with several Shodokan Hombu instructors Kata, which is required for Yondan through including Tetsuro Nariyama Shihan, Sekio Endo Rokudan; and they worked on some intermediate Sensei, Ryuichi Omori Sensei and Shinnosuke and advanced principles in the more familiar forms. Sakai Sensei. The Shodokan instructors also conducted Originally, the workshop was going to be held at yudansha grading. Yondan candidates were Sussex Aikido’s facility, but there was tremendous Diarmuid Buckley, Justin Gallagher and Rob interest. The WSAF organizers therefore opened Milliner. Godan candidates were Erik Dopp and their venue to the event, which filled even that Matthew Houlton. Paul Bonett graded for rokudan. larger venue to capacity. While independent of the Since all of these gradings include the Goshin Ho WSAF events, this workshop was attended mostly no Kata, the videos available on the Tanseikan by participants in the WSAF games. For many, it Aikido Club’s Youtube channel is an excellent was a unique opportunity to work with instructors resources for these materials. they had only seen on Youtube.

TOMIKI AIKIDO OF THE AMERICAS 4 Vol. 1, Issue 3 September 11, 2017

Context In Evaluating Martial Arts Alec Niccum, UNC Aikido Club

Everyone loves to talk about ‘practical martial Another core premise of aikido is that your arts’ and ‘real martial arts’ as if watching a video attacker might be stronger than you. That’s why we from their living room makes them an expert on the focus on small joint manipulation and concentrate entirety of that style. What no one mentions is that the entirety of our body’s force into a single each combative system is a tool made for a specific strategic point. The other reason why our art job and, just like you wouldn’t pick up a hack saw focuses on locks and throws is because Aikido and declare it the single greatest tool, you cannot came from techniques a samurai would use when say one martial art is superior to the others. disarmed on the field. You cannot safely punch a man in armor but you can still preform a wrist lock At best, one style could be argued to be more on them. suited for a specific context. For instance, if you are looking at close range combat, then Brazilian Jiu Keeping this in mind, it is understandable why Jitsu is a fantastic system. However Brazilian Jiu someone looking from a groundwork perspective Jitsu might not be a good idea if the person you are would find Aikido impractical. Grappling was not a fighting has buddies that can kick you in the head reasonable answer for our art’s context. You would while you’re on the ground. Similarly, if you are quickly be trampled or stabbed if you fell in the looking for a quick way to learn how to hurt field. Because of that, we do not train for or against someone than a striking art is a good choice. In a grappling. (It is worth noting, however, that our couple of weeks you’ll be able to throw a decent sister art, Kodokan Judo, offered extensive ne waza punch, however, striking arts assume an unarmored or groundwork for situations where grappling was opponent; and size will be a factor in your prudent. Still, no one would look down on a boxer techniques effectiveness. who lost a fencing match, or a Kali practitioner who lost a sport tae kwondo tournament. Similarly, we Those weak points are evidence of the context cannot judge others by our criterion and should theses martial arts were designed for. Brazilian Jiu expect bad results when judged by standards not Jitsu isn’t focused on multiple opponents because our own. the Gracie family carried it around Brazil and honed it through one-on-one matches and exhibitions. In There can never be a ‘best martial art’. Be it ring, contrast, aikido’s context is rooted in the fact that it street, mat, or movie, there are only skilled martial was synthesized from old Japanese war arts. artists who have learned to apply a specific tool for Accordingly, its techniques were meant to quickly the specific context they have chosen to work disarm while either maiming or tossing an opponent within. to the ground. One could then move to the next attacker or could easily finish off the downed enemy who was encumbered by heavy armor. That is why, even with intensive training in ukemi and controlled resistance, it’s so easy to accidentally injure an uke. Our techniques were designed for highly efficient violence, not sports, not movie sequences, and definitely not for friendly sparring. Aikido was also made with the understanding that there could be multiple opponents. That is why we stay standing and emphasize finishing every technique balanced and ready to immediately begin the next. It’s also why every move must be smooth. To stop mid-technique and struggle against an opponent is all the pause needed for one to be surrounded and stabbed by a group.

TOMIKI AIKIDO OF THE AMERICAS 5 September 11, 2017

Off Balancing Uke Prepared by Brand Allred for Promotion to Nidan, Piqua Tomiki Aikido

In aikido, it is significant to off balance uke efficiently. There are many different ways to do so, and the references to them have changed over time. In recent history, the description of how to off balance uke has become very complicated. This is most likely due to how in depth many of the upper- rank have gone. In Dr. Lee Ah Loi’s books, very little detail is given and there even less reason for why the moves work. In oshi-taoshi, for example, Dr. Lee suggests a simpler off balance than what we currently have. In her suggestion, she says to “...step back forty five degrees to your left, maintaining right posture” (Dr. 53). While her suggestion doesn’t sound like a part Lee, 42). In more recent history, the off balance has of the move in today’s standards, the effects are still been described as stepping back on or parallel to the same. This is because, in both descriptions, the toe line. This description makes it so that what there is no slack in uke’s arm. Because of that, it is the toe line is must be known, but allows for a more easy to connect to uke’s center. universal reference than just a degree. Both The glossary of terms will grow over the course of descriptions have the same effect of moving uke’s time. This is due to study and knowledge of the center towards their right little toe. principles of aikido. Therefore, while Dr. Lee’s books In sumi-otoshi, the modern convention of how the are old, they still hold useful information. This is off balance is done by keeping uke’s hand at a because the principles of aikido will never change. lower level than uke’s hips. This is to move uke’s Reference balance to the heel of the right foot. Dr. Lee suggests to “...lift up [uke’s] right hand as high as Dr. Lee, Ah Loi. Tomiki Aikido Book 1: Randori. possible, but keep your own posture low” (Dr. Lee, Paladin Press, 1981.

WHO IS DR. LEE AH LOI? Dr. Lee Ah Loi is a well known aikidoka from Britain who now lives and teaches in Australia. She began training under Yamada Senta in 1961 and worked under both Professor Tomiki and Hideo Ohba while they were the heads of the JAA. She was the first woman outside of Japan to receive the rank of shichidan in Tomiki Aikido, and in 2011 she was awarded the rank of hachidan. Dr. Lee is also a shichidan in Iaido and Jodo through the ZNKR.

One of Dr. Lee’s contributions to the Tomiki/Shodokan world was publication of a volume on the six Koryu no Kata. For a long time, her book was the only widely available published resource on the forms. This was the second of her books, which accompanied a video series The standard single volume called “The Art of Aikido” which can still be found among the VHS collections of many Tomiki practitioners. Most of her works are now edition of Dr. Lee’s works out of print in the United States, but they can be purchased online referenced in the article above from resellers on Amazon and Ebay. can still be found online.

TOMIKI AIKIDO OF THE AMERICAS 6 Vol. 1, Issue 3 September 11, 2017

Aikido: Functional or Purely Dramatic? Prepared by Bahman Tavili for Promotion to Shodan, Mansfield Aikido Club

Can an aikidoka thwart a dangerous attack and how to coordinate so that he will be less pressed take out the attacker? Or is it all for show; and less annoyed. Putting all these together, we displaying launches and locking of the joints? Is it realize that the true use of aikido cannot be shown. really possible that aikidoka can manipulate their uke understands its application better than the one art on a hard-hitting opponent who has worked in watching. another style, or can they only play when their The main goal of all aikido techniques is control opponent is coordinated with them? and to defeat an opponent using his own power. To These are probably the most often asked gain this goal, Aikido presents some basic questions from others to aikido players. Most principles which I will discuss some of them here. people, especially other marital arts players, have First, circular movements neutralize direct some prejudice against aikido based on what they attacks. Aikido follows such a principle. Second, have seen in TV shows but not based on practicing one coordinates with the opponent's attack and and felling Aikido techniques. digests his force, then transfers the force against It is almost impossible to understand the him and controls the opponent. (Achieving such a weakness and strength of any martial arts without skill requires serious training in a long-term period.) knowing about the basics and background of that art. Aikido, regardless of the many branches it has, is originally a traditional Japanese marital art. It is based on a comprehensive system of throwing, joint-locking, striking and pinning techniques, coupled with training in traditional Japanese weapons such as the sword, staff and knife. Trainees, mostly samurai, should have learned how to survive the middle battle of death and life. The crux of this martial art was to neutralize armed attacks without any weaponry, and then control the opponent. This art is the heritage of aikido. Aikido art does not really have anything to display (as a show) because the appearance of aikido techniques is personal defense. To demonstrate its techniques, there must be a false attack. So, some of aikido's plays seem artificial, unresponsive, and inappropriate. Many of the techniques of this style cannot be understood by watching. For example, how does the viewer understand what pressure enters into uke (the person who "receives" a technique) from tori (the executor of a technique in partnered practice)? Because many techniques target the joints, some techniques impact the nerves directly. The viewer will not understand the pain that uke suffers (unless he himself experiences it). On the other hand, uke (who himself is an aikidoka) knows

TOMIKI AIKIDO OF THE AMERICAS 7 September 11, 2017

Tadayuki Satoh presented a seminar on August 17. Moe Stevens Shihan and Jeff Davidson Sensei attended.

Because most of the aikido techniques target conditioned practitioner to negate or redirect an the joints, the risk of joint damage is greater than opponent's power on contact). muscle. Therefore the training process should not Therefore, some of the techniques may appear hurt students. One of the reasons for uke's to be slow and merely for demonstration but this is coordination, with Tori, is to minimize this kind of not the correct way to look at it. Those techniques damage. For example, in advanced training, the are actually the aikido technical support, and they Tori speed rises, and uke, in this situation, often have very important role to help grow other needs to flutter on the air, to avoid any serious techniques and motions together. damage. aikidoka are complementary to each other. So, each one should practice techniques The display of martial arts, regardless of whether alternately, with tori, and, with uke, to help each it is true or false, cannot be a criterion for other learn the techniques well and experience determining whether a discipline is functional or themselves falling down. not. Most martial arts cannot be displayed. For a skilled aikidoka, the height and weight of But even if a show is arranged, some of the an opponent's strength and endurance is not movements might looks unnecessary or important, because he must control the opponent exaggerated. This applies to the aikido. In aikido anyway. techniques, only uke understands the intensity and the pain; not the viewer! The purpose of the aikido exercises is to achieve the "aiki" skill (most basic principle that allows a

Coming to Aikido Late in Life Prepared by Robert Medina for Promotion to Shodan, New Jersey Shodokan

Having begun training in Tomiki Aikido at the age disadvantage and to the tori’s advantage. Striking, of 39, I am often asked why I didn’t start sooner or punching, and kicking are rare in this style. Being a at a younger age and what was it about this style more “seasoned” person with a larger than average that drew me to it at an advanced age. After the frame, I find that through subtle adjustments, I am obligatory quip about being a glutton for able to continue to train as my age and body type punishment or a little slow on the uptake, I have to changes. I also have more recently found that our think about the answers a bit. The answer to the style of Aikido has a rich history and that many first question is that I never knew about this martial practitioners of Tomiki Aikido have a passion for art until I was introduced to it fourteen years ago by studying and advancing not only physically but also a colleague of mine who is now my friend and mentally. Sensei. What drew me to this sport and has kept While the basic principles of performing my interest is the fact that unlike other forms, Aikido techniques in Tomiki Aikido do not change, subtle uses the uke’s (opponent) energy and force to his adjustment in movement can assist the older

TOMIKI AIKIDO OF THE AMERICAS 8 Vol. 1, Issue 3 September 11, 2017 players or ones with certain body types in listening to their stories about the history of our performing an effective technique. For example, a style, how each person found Aikido, their interests wrist twist along with a slight lowering of the hip and and hobbies, and their families, so evidently a shorter step maintains the correct form of a illustrated this point. When I first arrived in Ohio, I technique but adjusts it to the tori’s body/age. shook everyone’s hand to greet them. By the time I These subtleties can often be the difference left six days later, I not only hugged them but felt between a successful counter or technique and one the embrace and love of a family. that does not succeed. As a Shodan, I hope to continue growing as a Kenji Tomiki himself said, “There are no martial artist and to be able to teach others in our prearranged situations in martial arts. You must be dojo the techniques but also the ways that Aikido able to defend yourself from any attack.” Using an can impact lives. I plan on continuing to practice attacker’s anger or force and seamlessly flowing Tomiki Aikido, but also to take this to other levels this into a technique that leaves him vulnerable or in through further study in areas like swordsmanship, a worse situation is the true essence of this style. In Samurai history, kinesthesiology (body mechanics preparation for the black belt exam, I have watched and physics), and the history of Tomiki Aikido. a variety of videos and have noted many minor but As I have been preparing and training for my Sho- very important grips, movements, positioning, etc. dan exam, I have naturally felt anxious and nervous. Studying these movements and having the However, I have tried to keep all that I learned in opportunity to see them in action from high level mind and to use all the lessons constructively. I feel Sensei, as well mentally picturing them in my mind’s blessed to have a Sensei who is also a good friend eye and practicing them over and over, has given and to be part of a dojo that is growing. I want to me an appreciation for these adjustments. It has continue to be a part of that as a black belt. I am given me the confidence to be prepared for any also pleased to be a member of great organization attack in any situation. in the Tomiki Aikido Association, who has welcomed me and taught me so much. This is the beginning a In training for my Sho-dan test, another of the new journey for me as a black belt, not the end of many lessons I learned from some of the best one. So, perhaps I am a glutton for punishment or practitioner is the blending and flowing of all these a bit slow on the uptake, but I am confident that parts. I needed to remove the “stops”--short even at my “advanced” age, I will continue to grow pauses to think about the next step of the as a practitioner of this martial art...and as a techniques. With much practice I was able to blend person...until a ripe old age. all levels of a technique, from unsoku (positioning and footwork), to kuzushi (breaking the opponent’s balance), to hip, body, and hand movement, to REFERENCE ukemi (opponent’s fall), and make each technique more fluent. “Writings of Kenji Tomiki - Nature of Modern Martial Arts.” www.http://aikidojournal.com/article.php? Furthermore, Aikido has become for me more articleID=430. than an art to study and practice, but also a path by which to try to live my life. Training in Tomiki Aikido has helped me bring various aspects of my life into perspective and has often helped calm the waters. As I have gotten older I have struggled with some injuries that have slowed my progress through the ranks. However, my Sensei has shown me that Aikido is a sport and an art but also a way of life. Nowhere is the more evident in the experiences I shared in Ohio as I trained and tested for my Shodan. The acceptance and hospitality that I received from these long-time students and teachers of Aikido was unbelievable. Learning from them,

TOMIKI AIKIDO OF THE AMERICAS 9 September 11, 2017

Aikido In My Everyday Life Prepared by Eric Burlingame for Promotion to Shodan, Mansfield Aikido Club

A little background about myself, I work for a would like to do with them, whether it be contracted research organization or CRO; this can presenting their legs for blood collection also be called a contracted research lab or CRL. A procedures or by not acting wild when you go to contracted research lab is a facility that provides remove them from their cage for dosing support to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and procedures. All these acclimation procedures medical device industries in the form of research require a technician to have patience and to be services outsourced on a contract basis. So relaxed if something isn’t going their way. When I’m basically, that means my company gets contracts working with monkeys I always try to repeat in my from larger companies wanting to bring a new head to be patient and to relax when animals aren’t medications or devices into the mainstream market complying to what I’d like them to do. If I can be and we will test them before they get put in to patient and relax the animals see this causing them mainstream use whether that be a treatment for less stress and making them less aggressive not muscular dystrophy, some form of cancer, or just towards myself, but to others as well when anything else a large biotech or pharmaceutical other technicians must work with them. Patience company wants to try to put on the market. My and being relaxed hold most true when you must facility mostly deals with testing in animal models. physically remove monkeys from their cages. We have special heavy-duty leather gloves that we use I mainly work with non-human primates in the to hand remove monkeys from their cages; form of Cynomolgus macaques and Rhesus monkeys don’t like being grab by their arms or legs macaques. Most of the monkeys that we have at so they become aggressive. If a technician can be the facility have a mass of anywhere roughly patient, relaxed, and try to not show aggression between 2 kilograms and 4.5 kilograms (4.4 lbs. to when removing the animals from the cage it usually 9.9 lbs.), but on occasion we get mature males that goes a lot smoother. This once again holds true to range anywhere from 5 kilograms to 8 kilograms when practicing techniques or competing. (11 lbs. to 17.6 lbs.). You must take more safety precautions working with the mature males. The We must remember to be patient and relaxed not main thing I have learned with working not just with only in class or competition, but also in our the monkeys at work, but also the other animals everyday lives. This will make life flow more we have at the facility is that you must have smoothly when things aren’t going the way we’d patience and to be relaxed. In aikido, we must also like them to. have patience and be relaxed. In class if we don’t have patience we can potentially rush a technique causing injury to our self or to uke. In competition, whether it be toshu randori or tanto randori, if we do not have patience to look for openings and to gauge our opponent it can cause us to lose points After an and matches. If we are not relaxed it causes us to extensive be rigid and inflexible which causes us to try to online search, muscle through techniques, this is incorrect since we have aikido is “the way of harmonious spirit” meaning determined our techniques should be effortless and flowing. I that there are feel by training in Tomiki Aikido that I’ve gained a great deal of patience that translates over to my no images of everyday work schedule. non-human primates When you are working with monkeys; and performing especially the mature males, you must take the aikido. time to train them to behave properly to what you

Lorem Ipsum Dolor 10 Vol. 1, Issue 3 September 11, 2017

Losing is Better than Winning Robert Dziubla, Shihan (8º Dan)

I firmly believe that losing an aikido shiai (tournament Allow me a story. I trained at Waseda University twice match) is far better than winning. Aikido is full of during the 1970s when Tomiki Sensei and Ohba Sensei paradoxes, and they especially surface during randori: were still actively teaching there. The second time was a • Our techniques become more powerful when we much longer stay of about two years while I was working don’t use strength. on my PhD at the University of Chicago and doing research in Japan on Chinese communist party • We move better and more effectively when we are documents that the Japanese Imperial Army had emotionally distanced from the furor and tempest of captured during World War II and taken back to Tokyo. the conflict immediately confronting us. To my advisor’s great dismay, I spent little time on that • If we watch the knife hand, we repeatedly get research and much time on the mats training at Waseda. stabbed. I became very close to my teammates at Waseda and • When we push and aggressively move against our they would often tease me for spending so much time at opponent, we get hurled to the mat or forced into the first-aid box trimming off ripped finger nails and toe submission. nails, taping up broken fingers and toes (“Broken fingers and toes don’t count. Get your ass back out on the • The harder we try, the worse it gets. mats,” they would yell at me.), and applying iodine to the And: many scrapes and cuts that were incurred during our • We learn more from losing than from winning. incessant randori training. Yes, the emotional blow of losing is painful, but losing During my sobetsu-kai, my going-away party, while is better than winning. they were plying me with endless amounts of alcohol, my teammates said, “Oh, Bob-san, you are such a strange Why do I say that? foreigner (henna gaijin) coming over here to train with us I’ve competed in many, many tournaments over the like this. Most Americans are soft and lazy so we don’t decades. And you know what? I’ve always learned more have to worry much about more people like you coming when I lost tournaments. Why? Because I NEEDED to over to train, to learn real aikido… [and to beat us in know why I lost and what I could do better. Why? tournaments – was the unstated conclusion].” [At that Because I didn’t like losing. When I won, I self- time, Waseda had never lost a tournament.] I was, contentedly patted myself on the back and thought no unsurprisingly, a bit irked by this air of superiority and further about it. But losing was always a blow. None of responded, “I’m going back to America and putting us likes to lose. So, I reflected on my losses (I couldn’t together a team that will beat you…someday.” They watch the instant replays back then because this was in laughed in good humor at my temerity. the pre-historic days before easy access to smart phone Fast forward to 1982. I returned to Waseda with a cameras), tried to remember what I did wrong and what team of 13 Americans, and we beat Waseda by the skin the other guy did right to beat me, and I learnt from my of our teeth. At the end of the matches, it was a tie, so mistakes, trained even harder, and went out the next we had to fight a tie-breaker. I turned to Stan Nevin, who time and did better. was my close friend and classmate from University of That is the genius of Tomiki Sensei’s insight that we Chicago, and a most talented aikidoka. We conferred as need competition in order to preserve and improve to who would fight the tie-breaker. I wanted him to do it aikido, which is by its very nature self-defensive and because I had just fought the last match, and he wanted hence not readily conducive to competition. We have me to do it. So, we did rock-scissors-paper-stone. I lost been working for over 50 years to develop and refine and had to fight the tie-breaker. Fortunately, I won. how we can perform aikido as a sport in a competitive My friends at Waseda were not happy, especially setting, and I am pleased to say that with the Shishida Sensei, who had succeeded to Tomiki Sensei’s establishment of the WSAF we are improving how we do position as a professor of martial arts at Waseda. He that. The London World Championship was wonderfully demanded that we have a rematch a week later. hosted, and we saw lots of top-notch aikido. Given Japanese customs and the need to save face, At the same time, however, we must remember that we had no choice but to accept. Unsurprisingly, Waseda the goal and purpose of competition is not to win but, trotted out a roster that included several fresh players. rather, to improve the over-all level of our aikido skills. And they changed their line-up, as crafty teams do. They Naturally, in the process each of us will also learn what won. techniques work best for ourselves. We can only get And the first Team USA learned much more from better if we have a determined and committed attacker, losing that match than from winning the first one. who will push us to our limits. And that’s why Tomiki Aikido is so much fun, because we can give it our all and But it sure did feel good to win the first one. Oh, the know that by doing so we are helping our partner to get paradoxes of aikido. better. And that, in turn, may someday help save his or As we say in Japanese, “Gambatte!” which means, her life, or the lives of loved ones. hang in there, persevere, don’t give up, fight on, NEVER quit.

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Professor Tomiki’s Radical Notion By Erik DiVietro, Merrimack Aikido

Over the past month or so, I have been reflecting judo”). At this distance, bujutsu employed atemi upon Tomiki Sensei’s work On Jujutsu and waza and kansetsu waza to close distance. Modernization. This was one of Tomiki’s last works, According to Tomiki, these had not been included in completed in 1975 after he was already retired from the original judo system because they were viewed full-time teaching. (This document is included in its as too dangerous. Tomiki, like most judoka, held entirety in this issue of Tomiki News.) First of all, this that “the nage waza and katame waza belong to is an important text for any student of Tomiki’s [judo] randori training, while the atemi waza and aikido; but second, it provides so much of the kansetsu waza for the most part belong to kata context of this essay that it must be at hand when training.” reading the essay. All uncited quotations come from Atemi and kansetsu were reserved for kata Robert Dziubla’s translation of On Jujutsu and training because their primary functions were Modernization. destructive. To put it bluntly, they were meant to The question that has always nagged at the back maim and break break bones, allowing a warrior of my mind has been why Tomiki Sensei focused so into the kumi. Once there, he could employ nage closely on such a small set of techniques. While we and katame for toppling (taosu) and control or know he was seeking out techniques that best pinning (osaeru). There was no kuzushi in the demonstrated the three principles (shizentai no ri, ju application of atemi and kansetsu, as they were no ri, and kuzushi no ri), it is easy to see from practiced and they required great physical strength. archived footage that Tomiki Sensei’s aikido was Through his studies with Ueshiba, Tomiki became much broader than the narrow set of randori no kata they could be adapted and performed utilizing his which we have received in the curriculum. For three-fold understanding of the principles of judo. example, the randori no kata does not include kote (Shishida, “Judo’s Techniques Performed from a mawashi (nikyo), which is considered one of the Distance”, 168) basic techniques in the Aikikai curriculum. It is, Here is where Ueshiba’s use of aiki becomes however, present throughout the Koryu Goshin no important. Most bujutsu was concerned with Kata. Why did Tomiki Sensei choose not to include physical power and control. Takeda and Ueshiba such an important technique? The answer lies emphasized instead the idea of fluid movement and within Tomiki’s reasoning in On Jujutsu and joining with the attacker’s energy. This was easily Modernization. synchronized with the shizentai and ju of judo. Tomiki’s Purpose in Studying Aikido Filtered through this understanding, atemi and kansetsu did not have to be violent or destructive. When Jigoro Kano sent one of his best students, They were violent only because they were Kenji Tomiki, to study aikijujutsu under Morihei understood and performed in a violent way. Ueshiba, it was with the express intent of Ueshiba’s aiki approached them differently and incorporating the most dangerous techniques of translated from their violent antecedents to bujutsu into a comprehensive, modern budo something very elegant. It was this more elegant system. In forming Kodokan Judo, Kano had form of atemi and kansetsu which Ueshiba had successfully adapted nage waza (throws) and inherited from Daito Ryu Aikijujutsu; and Tomiki took katame waza (locks). Previously, these techniques the radical step of adapting the techniques for were used to finish an opponent after one had randori with this in mind. closed distance and removed weapons from the An additional piece of Tomiki’s radical thinking equation. This close distance was the foundation of was found in the lineage of judo itself. As a judoka, what Tomiki would later dub kumi judo. (Shishida, Tomiki had been exposed to the Koshiki no Kata, “History of Competition in Aikido”) one of judo’s higher kata which was drawn from The challenge he gave to Tomiki was the Kito Ryu Jujutsu. The kata features a great deal of adaptation of the techniques of the next distance, kuzushi, and is performed in kumi distance, what Tomiki later called hanare judo (“separation originally in armor.

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Within the Koshiki no Kata, there are a number of method is the potential for overstatement. If one atemi. For example, the second and fourth forms, compares forms from the randori no kata with the yume no uchi and mizu guruma, include a parallel forms in other aikido curricula or even with prototypical form of ai gamae ate to create kuzushi the Koryu Goshin no Kata, the adaptations fairly before a finishing nage. Other forms, like the fifth pop out. The three examples provided here are not form, mizu nagare, employ kansetsu. Other forms, offered as exhaustive or absolute, but rather are such as hiki otoshi (the sixth form), were adapted based on observation. directly into Tomiki’s system. One example, ai gamae ate, may suffice to Employed at the hanare distance, these illustrate this. Ai gamae ate is essentially the same techniques demonstrated non-destructive potential; as irimi nage but it is adapted to prevent neck and therefore, it was not out of the realm of injuries. Thus, instead of using the head as the possibility that they could be adapted for randori. primary contact point, the shoulders or chest are This equation between Koshiki no Kata and the generally used. The result is substantially the same atemi and kansetsu in Tomiki’s system is not novel. but can be performed at realtime speed against an Two of his living students, Tetsuro Nariyama and aggressive attack, as in randori. Tsunako Miyake, have noted that he stated this Another adaptation Tomiki made is the exclusion when teaching. (Nariyama, Aikido Randori, 68; of dogi mochi from his randori no kata. These Lowry, “Koshiki no Kata 1”) appear prominently in the Koryu Goshin no Kata, Examples of Possible Adaptations especially in the Tachi Waza but are absent from the randori no kata and not permitted in randori. This Tomiki Sensei never articulated a list of the might seem like a minor adaptation, but it served adaptations he made, so they can only be two purposes. First, like the use of the tanto, it hypothesized by observation. Inherent in this helps distinguish Tomiki Aikido from judo by

Chart adapted from Aikido: Tradition and the Competitive Edge by Fumiaki Shishida and Tetsuro Nariyama

Lorem Ipsum Dolor 13 September 11, 2017 keeping practitioners at hanare distance and out of This perfection, however, further awaits the kumi during randori. Second, it requires that cooperation of many people over many technique be performed with joining aiki energy. long years before it develops into a form of Grabbing the dogi provides a strong lever for competition which may unblushingly stand twisting and distorting joints. Without the grab, the beside competition kendo, with its 250 practitioner must rely on movement, posture and year history, and competition jujutsu, with softness. its 100 year history. A third adaptation was the requirement of attack It is difficult for those of us who already practice in tanto randori. By forcing tanto to attack toshu Tomiki Aikido to look back and really embrace how with honest intent, Tomiki added tremendous radical Tomiki’s approach was. The truth is that he energy into the system which could then be was tasked with and rose to an enormous employed by toshu. This encourages softness in challenge. He took techniques which were toshu’s response and provides an overwhelming considered violent and dangerous by virtually all of majority of the energy required for the performance his contemporaries, employed a relatively new of atemi and kansetsu. methodology in his use of the judo principles, and produced something extraordinary. His call to us as Conclusion his followers is to continue this process of discovery, experimentation and unification is part of Through these kinds of adaptations, Tomiki our responsibility in furthering his work. Sensei was able to adapt some, but not all, of the atemi and kansetsu he learned from Ueshiba. Tomiki Sources Consulted never believed he had completed adapted the atemi and kansetsu. He had never developed a method by Nick Lowry, “Koshiki no Kata 1” https://youtu.be/GvhZapwwUE0, which his aikido and judo randori could be accessed August 18, 2017. combined into a single, comprehensive kyogi style. Nariyama, Testsuro. Aikido Randori. San Diego, CA: Shodokan Based on the headway he had made, however, he Press, 2010. was convinced that it could be done. On Jujutstu Shishida, Fumiaki.“History of Competition in Aikido,” tomiki.org. and Modernization was his summary of the results ___. “Judo’s Techniques Performed from a Distance: The Origin of of that adaptation. He called later generations of Jigoro Kano’s Concept and Its Actualization by Kenji Tomiki.” aikidoka to continue and complete the work he had Budo: Science of Martial Arts vol 6, no 4 (2010): 165-171. begun.

West Coast Workshop October 7-8, 2017 Live Oak Recreation Center 1301 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA [email protected] Vassar Aikido Club November 4-5, 2017 [email protected] May at the Modokan May 4-6, 2018 More information will be available as soon as possible. August 2-4, 2018 Add it to your schedule! Start planning ahead!

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On Jujutsu and Its Modernization Kenji Tomiki, translated by Robert Dziubla

Preface principles of the martial arts well, we realize that they are exquisite techniques for toppling (taosu) or There are many kinds of budo (martial arts) in controlling (osaeru) an opponent without necessarily Japan. In recent history, kendo and judo have been harming him. In the same way, the nage-waza and the major ones and, as Gakko Budo - martial arts katame-waza of competition judo--in the way they systems taught as part of the PE curricula - they are taught and used by Judo players-- are superb have been required courses in schools, including techniques that have the same purpose, namely primary schools, since the Meiji period (1868-1912). controlling the opponent without injuring him. In this And, as is well known, both kendo and judo shared sensibility, both competition judo and incorporate competition and sparring. However, the competition aikido have been derived from the training in ancient Budo consisted only of kata essence of the ancient schools of jujutsu and practice, the practice of forms and pre-arranged developed in to modern, competitive sports. movements that one masters through numerous repetitions. Kendo and judo training were not kata From both an educational and historical point of alone. In order to make shiai (tournaments) view, aikido has a meaning and content which is possible, an etiquette and structure for competition inferior to neither kendo nor judo. Generally was devised. I think that competition developed for speaking, two reasons, one philosophical and one practical. few people understand that. The position of First, the saying "tournaments are possible" suits aikido within Japanese budo also is not well the expansive essence of budo. Second, the understood. This treatise will provide a summary of educational effect of tournaments is enormous. these points in order to clarify the situation. Aikido is much the same as judo because the 1: The Distinctive Features of Budo and the origins of both reside in the ancient schools of jujutsu. If we generally classify the kinds of System of Jujutsu Training techniques (waza) in the ancient schools of jujutsu, What are the distinctive features of Japanese there are four categories: Budo? They are surely matters of spirit and 1. Nage-waza (throwing techniques) philosophy. It has come to be said quite often that if we diligently develop our waza, our minds and 2. Katame-waza (locking techniques) spirits (kokoro) will be improved. Since ancient 3. Atemi-waza (striking techniques) times, this budo shugyo, or martial arts training and a p p r e n t i c e s h i p , h a s p r o c e e d e d f r o m 4. Kansetsu-waza (joint techniques) “techniques” (waza) to the "Way" (michi). The Among these, many nage-waza and some aphorism, “The act of perfecting our waza is equal katame-waza have been collected into the system to and achieves that act of perfecting our minds,” of training that is "competition judo" (judo kyogi), applies in its entirety to modern competition, as and various atemi-waza and kansetsu-waza have competition rightly engaged in helps us to perfect been collected into the system of training that is our waza, and so our minds. But a more thorough "competition aikido" (aikido kyogi). consideration of the distinctive features of budo and its philosophy is necessary here. Although one group of kansetsu-waza are included among the katame-waza of competition It has been handed down to this generation that judo, the many varieties of kansetsu-waza (and their the secret principle of martial arts techniques in implementation) should be combined with the kenjutsu (cf, The Book of the Five Rings) or in atemi-waza into a system of training so that these jujutsu (cf, The Heavenly Scroll of Kito Ryu Jujutsu) two groups of techniques will be sufficiently is to study thoroughly the principles of the arts so revitalized. Although the atemi-waza and kansetsu- t h a t w e w i l l u l t i m a t e l y a r r i v e a t “ n o waza can be viewed as techniques that can inflict a posture” (mugamae)--that is, we will develop true severe injury on an opponent, if we study the natural posture (shizen hontai). In the same way that

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thoroughly mastering the principles of the arts leads repetitious practice of kata. Randori and sparing the body to mugamae, such mastery leads the soul help to lead us closer to both the core principles of to mushin, which is often termed "no heart," or "the the martial arts and the true power that they quietude of spirit". Although there are various terms generate by letting us experience the techniques for mushin, such as the unmoving heart, the non- studied in kata as they were meant to be performed: living heart, the soft and pliable heart, and the against a smart, resisting, and aggressive opponent. every-day heart, they all mean exactly the same As an added benefit, randori training leads to an thing. And arriving at this state of mushin is indispensable and highly prized sense of security. congruent with the goals of the religious and moral We have to admire the foresight of Master Kano for systems that have existed in all eras and in all having expounded and promoted the benefits of places. randori training. The deep secret of ancient jujutsu is embodied in In reflecting on the evolution of Kodokan judo the saying, "True natural posture is the over the past century, one notes that those atemi- manifestation of mushin. Control strength through waza and kansetsu-waza that belong to just kata gentleness. These are the principles of jujutsu." training have lagged behind those nage-waza and Master Jigoro Kano (1860-1938), the founder of katame-waza that belong to randori as well as kata Kodokan Judo, well explained the subtleties behind training. The gap separating them is large. I suggest this principle when he formulated his Principles of the following reasons for this differential. First, a Judo--judo meaning gentleness--so that the original systematic classification and arrangement of jujutsu principle would be understandable to the materials relating to the atemi-waza and kansetsu- people of the current day. He did this by analyzing waza has not been made. Second, an analysis of this single jujutsu principle quoted above, and the characteristics of the atemi-waza and kansetsu- dividing it into three subsidiary principles. waza, on the basis of the principles of judo, has not been performed. That is, these techniques are 1. The principle of natural body (shizentai no ri), largely thought of only in terms of their original, which concerns posture. This is a natural, bloodthirsty jujutsu interpretations. Third, a unrestricted posture from which it is possible to systematic method of practice for the atemi-waza attack and defend, adapting to any kind of assault. and the kansetsu-waza has not yet been 2. The principle of gentleness (ju no ri), which established. Although there were concerns the position of defense. It says, do not important categories of atemi-waza and oppose the offensive power of any kind of kansetsu-waza in each of the jujutsu schools of the antagonist with force. Rather, render that force Edo Period (1603-1867), after the Meiji Restoration ineffective by moving your body out of the way in 1868 these categories of techniques became (taisabaki). formalized and staid, and their vitality wasted away. 3. The principle of breaking balance (kuzushi no It was during this time of general decline that ri), which concerns the position of attack. This says Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu was revived, first by Takeda to go and build a chance of winning by taking Sogaku (1860-1943) and then by Morihei Ueshiba, advantage of the breaking of your opponent's who was Takeda's leading disciple and the man balance or by adhering to his body. who would succeed Takeda as the head of aikido. I have taught both the kata and randori training Daito-ryu was a school of jujutsu that had been methods together, as a unified system of practice handed down for many generations in the old Aizu which can help the student to understand each prefecture and was justly praised by Master Kano. technique in light of the three principles listed Kano's praise was natural, as it takes genius to see above. I have also pointed out in my teaching that genius. Indeed, the achievements Kano and the nage-waza and katame-waza belong to randori Ueshiba are, in the annals of Japanese budo, training, while the atemi-waza and kansetsu-waza stupendous. Kano's work as a martial artist is more for the most part belong to kata training. well know, but Ueshiba, who was an especially pious person, expanded our understanding of the Jujutsu, which had techniques for hand to hand limits of enlightenment and of the unity of god and combat, studied "true power." In order for each us man. He also changed the name of the art from to experience personally the "core principles of the aikijujutsu to aikido, established a dojo in Tokyo in martial arts," we must not stop at the mere,

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the first years of the Showa period (1925-1989), and excel in any given art are clear only if we objectify propagated aikido both in Japan and around the measure real capabilities by way of competition. world. Budo is no exception. The historical and developmental circumstances of Budo, however, It is the case, though, that the method of training were different from those in other arts. This, of used in aikido today is not only based upon the course, affected the evolution of the practice of practices of long ago, but is indeed just about Budo, as well as the methods of determining unchanged from what was done back then. If we efficacy. consider the matter from the standpoint of an up-to- date education in budo, however, a system of It goes without saying that modern sports which randori practice ought to be added and should be use a ball were derived from recreational pastimes. based upon a method of training that incorporates Land and water sports were pragmatically designed both kata and randori. When one is young it is as a means of physical exertion, and served well not important for one's budo training to pass through only for the body but for the spirit in periods of rigorous bodily and spiritual ordeals in randori and, cultural decline. The people who excelled in these further, tournaments. And as for the vast array of activities occupied a superior position in life. Budo techniques that cannot be incorporated into randori confers similar benefits. But, because Budo training, the profound martial arts principles contains an element of danger, however, problems embodied in those techniques can be--must be-- peculiar to Budo have to be dealt with. Since it was mastered thoroughly through the practice of kata. In desired that one's Budo would work in a fight, this way, one may develop one's body to the techniques were esteemed to the extent that they wonderful state known as mugamae or shizentai, had the power to kill and maim. This, though, is a and thence through further exertions reach the turn off. And the saying that necessity is the mother ascetic practice of mushin. This is "the Way" for the of invention can be applied to the modern practitioner of austerities. development of the martial arts and how they came to allow a bloodless proof of skill and excellence. When we compare the atemi-waza and kansetsu- waza with the nage-waza and katame-waza, we When we consider the history of the development note that the element of a feat of strength is of Budo, its style and content went through minimal. That is, the former require less power than changes according to the ebb and flow of history. At the latter. For this reason too, randori is needed to the beginning of the 17th century, the establishment impose rigor. The practice of kata, as a lifelong of the Tokugawa Shogunate completely halted a physical discipline, is, however, an appropriate long period of war. Both kenjutsu and jujutsu method of practice for older people. evolved to become self defensive martial arts during the ensuing period of peace. That is to say, research Through the short treatise below, I want to progressed from hand-to-hand combat wearing elucidate historically and through the principles of armour to hand-to-hand combat wearing ordinary the martial arts the indispensability of both kata and clothes. It is said that kenjutsu developed into IAI randori in any aikido training system. and jujutsu developed into IDORI, that is into sitting 2: The Changes In Jujutsu And Its techniques (suwari-waza). Moreover, the sense of values in bujutsu changed greatly. The martial arts Modernization that had formerly embraced the doctrine of supreme Budo is not the only art that aims at mastery of victory on the battlefield evolved into KYOIKU the body. Others such as those on land or in the BUDO, "educational" BUDO. Their new goal was to water or those games in which a ball is used all promote the refinement of the warrior through the attain proficiency by repetition, and by trial and disciplined study of the martial arts. This was a error. People who have become masters, experts great break with the earlier schools, which cared and champions have spent long months and years little for the warrior's soul, concentrating, instead, practicing. They are people who well understand solely on victory. That is, the emphasis of training perseverance and who practice diligently. Their shifted from waza (techniques) to the Way. practice methods, of which there are an infinite The "Way" in question was the Way of the Warrior variety, bear the stamp of their respective (Bushido), which was founded on the religious personalities and characters. However, of all the beliefs of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Shinto. The practice methods, the practice methods which

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evolution of the Way of the Warrior allowed an ancient martial arts schools. Though the schools evolution of the martial arts, from an emphasis on were often quite antagonistic towards one another, techniques of killing and maiming to those of and most of them expressed the opinion that they submission and restraint. One can find were different and unique, Kano came to regarded documentary evidence of this shift of mind set in all the schools as all being fundamentally the same, the records of several martial arts disciplines. It is all of them being based on the precepts of reported that in kenjutsu the stated ideal was, "No Confucianism, Buddhism, and Shintoism. Their sword" (cf, The record of Kenjutsu Theory for the technical contents varied widely, of course, but by Shin-kage School). In Yoshin jujutsu the stated ideal taking the best of each of the old ju-jitsu schools' was, "Not to kill while using the art" (cf, The Scroll philosophies and technical expertise, Kano believe of Preparedness of the Yoshin School). In that the individual beliefs and creeds of the ancient Aikijujutsu, it was, "Avoid being struck, but do not schools could be holistically combined into a Way strike; avoid being cut, but do not cut" (cf, The Oral to educate all of mankind. Tradition of the Daito School of Aikijujutsu). That is Master Kano's insight must further be placed in a to say, the spirit of killing and wounding were historical context. Master Kano lived and developed disavowed, and, as they were, the techniques for Judo (in the late 19th and early 20th centuries) at a throwing or restraining, and thereby controlling an time when Japan was struggling to cast off opponent, developed tremendously. feudalism and become a modern, democratic state. At any rate, because Budo was in the ultimate It was clear to him that pure, unmodernized Jujutsu position of standing at the cross-roads of life and (precisely because it had long had as its main death, instructors emphasized that there was purpose the sole issue of victory or defeat) did not strength in the conviction that one need not fear comport with the modernizing spirit of the period death. This conviction that one need not fear death after the Meiji Restoration. Master Kano's creation, became confused, though, with a conviction that Judo, the Gentle Way, sought to bring together the one need not fear death because the instruction of best of the Japanese martial tradition into a system one's own school was superior. This conviction was of physical education which would improve the easy to have during Japan's Tokugawa era, when minds and spirits of Japan's youth, in addition to the nation enjoyed 200 years of peace: there were their physiques. But, more philosophically, Kano, no wars in which to test one's conviction of having examined winning and losing, and having superiority. Because there was no way of gauging discoveblack the principles behind each, imbued the credibility of one's belief in the conviction, the his creation with the insights gained, both spiritual martial arts community was divided into many and technical. antagonistic schools, each preaching an untested Judo is a way to refine our spirit by using the Way invincibility. But martial arts as they should be of those principles. The sentence, "The main welcomed the Meiji Restoration and made a brand purpose of jujutsu was the issue of victory or new start, eager to be challenged and tested, and defeat," means exactly what it says: the highest to further the moral as well as technical evolution of goal of jujutsu was nothing more than actual victory. Bushido. Yet, because jujutsu techniques have a dangerous The pioneer who modernized the feudal era and bloodthirsty nature, they are inappropriate for schools of bujutsu and brought them to into the modern times. Judo, however, manifests the deep context of modern physical education was Master significance that is embodied in the principles that Jigoro Kano, the founder of Judo. When I say that are mentioned in the phrase, "Having examined he modernized ancient bujutsu, what I mean is that, winning and losing, and having discovered the first of all, he categorized and arranged the principles behind each," and makes those principles techniques so that they transcended schools. The into a Way for the evolution of magnanimous human main feature of this rearrangement was organizing beings. And the way for you to examine victory and and categorizing the major techniques according to defeat yourself is to apply yourself diligently to both the form of combat, so as to make tournaments randori (sparring) and kata (forms) without favoring (shiai) possible. Tournaments, of course, allow one over the other; as one should not set out techniques and training methods to be compared favoring victory over defeat, but should look to them for efficacy. Second, and with an eye to education, both for insight. Kano philosophically and ethically examined the

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3: Techniques learned through kata can be Kaho were ridiculed. The ridicule stemmed from revitalized by randori these schools being revealed to have kata-only practices that made it easy to develop weak points. The method of practice traditionally used to It is said that the rigor of bujutsu training was ensure the safe study of dangerous techniques was forgotten, that training sank into easy-going ways, the kata system of practice. In ancient bujutsu, 99% that real power was not sought, and that of practice was completed by kata alone. That is to pretentious, bombastic activity increased. In short, say, in order to cope with an opponent's unlimited history sadly reports that the sword kata of Budo attacks, each response was practiced by means of degenerated into the sword kata of the stage. kata. That is the reason for the extreme number of This scorn that was heaped upon the kata-only kata in ancient jujutsu. For example, in Tenjin Shinyo schools, though, must be kept in perspective. Ju- Ryu jujutsu there were 124 kata sequences, each jutsu techniques were designed for--and were very comprising many techniques, and there were over good at--maiming and killing. Kata practice is 100 ranho (unstructured captures). To become performed to avoid the ultimate power of the masterful in the practical applications of the techniques, and for many of the techniques, this techniques required innumerable months. Then, aversion is wise. Yet, even when studying sword someone would be challenged and would go fighting using the comparatively safe weapons of directly from kata to a violent shiai (literally a street the wooden sword or the bamboo sword of Kendo, fight) called tsujinage or tsujigiri. This gave life to it is still necessary to one's full development as a kata and was the place to try to gauge objectively martial artist to experience the moment of the one's own real ability. ultimate clash in a fight. Even here, though, in nine But, a martial art that has no rules is nothing but cases out of ten, one could have absorbed the violence. The street fights of that day bordered on principles taught by the ultimate clash just through being nothing but violence. It is true that for a studying kata. But for that tenth point, one must warrior, in addition to cultivating the mind set of dare the moment of the ultimate clash. being prepared for death, must participate in shiai So it was that from early on jujutsu, feeling the to hone and gauge his skills; but the shiai of that need for sparring and fighting, devised midare geiko time, being as unstructured as they were, were (unstructured practice) training for the nage-waza rightly seen by martial arts instructors as violent and (throwing) and kansetsu-waza (joint locking) detrimental. In the traditional budo writings there is techniques that are used in the final moments of a prohibition against shiai. Novices entering into close-in hand-to-hand fighting. It was on the basis shiai unpreparedly were rightly admonished about of this kind of practice that Master Kano completed the very likely danger of losing their lives. his randori system of training during and after the Times changed after the middle of the Edo Meiji period. His system is modern competition period, when shiai that could cause injuries resulting Judo, which places emphasis upon the nage-waza, in death was rigidly proscribed by the authorities. the throwing techniques. There would be no more street fights. Consequently, Randori practice, sparring practice, is something it was decided by some that bujutsu training would that is done to give life to, and demonstrate the real be done from first to last only by kata. Soon power of, those techniques that were first learned afterward, that bujutsu which by the loss of the by the student through kata. That is to say, randori street fight had lost the opportunity for shiai training provides the means to complete a painted dragon showed signs of degeneration because it was by filling in the eyes. The martial arts techniques of impossible for its practitioners to experience the old jujutsu schools, however, were quite varied personally the true power of the martial arts and the and had numerous styles of hand to hand combat. core of the principles of the arts. As a means of Thus, it was impossible to incorporate all of these correcting this decline, the bamboo sword practice styles, let alone their accompanying techniques, of Kenjutsu and the free sparring practice (randori into a single system of randori training. In geiko) of Jujutsu were invented. emphasizing the nage-waza, the throwing For an example of the decline in skills incumbent techniques, Judo had perforce to largely leave out upon the loss of shiai, note that within Kenjutsu in the atemi-waza, or striking techniques, and the the middle of the Edo era, schools such as Kempo- kansetsu-waza, or joint locking techniques.

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Accordingly, I have brought together the kansetsu-waza. Against this latter attack, the attack important parts of the atemi-waza and kansetsu- from a distance, there is a need to establish such waza, and the organization of another system of system of randori training. randori training is the subject that remains before When we look at the history of budo, it is us. recorded that there were once 718 schools of 4: Jujutsu requires two systems of randori kenjutsu and 179 schools of jujutsu. Comparing kenjutsu to jujutsu, the former used to have far more training schools, but because the form of kenjutsu combat-- At its heart, jujutsu, of whatever kind, is for no matter what the school--was simply sword protecting oneself against the attacks of an against sword, it was easy to modernize kenjutsu opponent. Kenjutsu protects a person by the use of successfully, and have competitive shiai: one just a sword, and jitte-jutsu protects a person by use of brought the students from the various schools a jitte, which is a short metal truncheon. Jujutsu together and let them sword fight. From a practical protects a person without using any weapons point of view, however, it is impossible for the whatsoever. Moreover, jujutsu must be able to student of jujutsu to receive sufficient training in the protect a person from an opponent's attack, practical applications of the myriad techniques that whatever it may be, and whenever or wherever it is he studies through just one form of shiai. (For him, made. As a result, in order to cope with an doing Judo shiai is a very good way to improve his opponent's unlimited and unqualified attack without throwing and his ground work, but gives him no using a weapon, jujutsu made avoiding the brunt of chance to practice defense against a lunging, or an attack by the use of agile movements the first kicking, or stabbing opponent.) At the very least it is priority. This foremost principle of jujutsu is necessary to have two kinds of practice for the two taisabaki, moving your body out of the way. Its kinds of attacks described in points 1 and 2 above. relevance can be grasped if we categorize the In 1926, Master Kano spoke during a radio attacks against which one may have to defend. broadcast upon the subject of, "The Judo of Old When we analyze the essence of attacks, they fall and the Judo of the Future." During that broadcast into two general categories : and in the next year in an address to his students he touched upon the need for another category or 1. An opponent, from close in, tries to topple randori. He remarked as follows: "I think that there (taosu) or restrain (osaeru) you. must be a method of randori and shiai that includes 2. An opponent, from a distance, tries to strike, the atemi-waza, provided that we devise it gradually lunge at, or kick you, or with a weapon tries to and only after thorough investigation. That system, cut or stab you. however, will not be as easy to formalize as ones in which the relative abilities of the competitors are Whichever of the two categories an attack falls decided by throwing (nage) or restraining (osae) an into, you must protect yourself first by using opponent." It is clear from this remark that randori taisabaki to avoid the strong points of the attack. In and shiai training that would include the atemi-waza evading, you must avoid the attack by using the was contemplated by Master Kano; sadly, such a speed of locomotive power. Another secret principle system was not realized during his lifetime. of jujutsu, true natural posture (shizen hontai or mugamae), was developed because of this need for It was about this time (1926) that I entered the quick taisabaki using forceful locomotive power, dojo of my honored teacher, the founder of Aikido, and applies to defense against all attacks, whether Morihei Ueshiba, and there eagerly advanced in my made from close in or from a distance. The system research on the atemi-waza and kansetsu-waza. of randori practice that Master Kano formulated is Since that time I have had 50 years of trial and error for the situations described in point 1 above; it is experience with the old schools of jujutsu that have the category of nage-waza, where from close in you survived into the present era. Part of that apply a waza at the collar and sleeve of a Japanese experience was the aikido club that I founded at style judo jacket. A system of randori practice Waseda University in 1958. At that club, aikido was where you would avoid your opponent's attack from introduced to the local martial arts community as a a distance (as in point 2 above) and then apply a kind of proper, scientifically based form of physical technique would utilize the atemi-waza and training, one conditioned on the desire that it be a

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style of aikido brought to completion in competition. 5: A training course for Aiki-randori Since that time, my students and I have, as one, made strides towards the perfection of such a In organizing a training course for aiki-randori, system of aiki-randori. This perfection, however, two points particularly warrant attention. First is the further awaits the cooperation of many people over safety--or, rather, the potential danger--of the atemi- many long years before it develops into a form of waza and the kansetsu-waza around which the said competition which may unblushingly stand beside randori is to be structured. Second is the competition kendo, with its 250 year history, and relationship between kata and randori. Allow me to competition jujutsu, with its 100 year history. And first treat the subject of the danger of the this task will be a difficult one, as various knotty techniques. problems accompany changing bujutsu into a To begin with, it must be remembered that the competitive martial art. atemi-waza and the kansetsu-waza have up to the Despite the difficulties of introducing competition, present time been excluded from judo-randori however, doing so is a most appropriate endeavor because they can be dangerous. What kind of for professional martial arts teachers. The reason for guarantee of safety can be made to those practicing this is not only that competition, by allowing us to a randori, not to mention a shiai, that incorporates objectively gauge our ability, gives us confidence in these techniques? This question can best be our techniques and a justified feeling of freedom addressed, I believe, if we carefully consider the from danger. It also helps us to progress in our own ways in which the applications of the atemi-waza self- examination through our reflection in others, and kansetsu-waza have been contemplated and to expand without limit our circle of friendship historically. Views on this matter fall, fundamentally, in the profound harmony of budo. into two camps, one which interprets them as inherently injurious, and another which disagrees The introduction of competition is necessary to with this assessment. The two viewpoints are that, master that category of techniques which are allowed in the chosen form of competition. Yet, as 1. The atemi-waza control an opponent by hitting, has been stressed above, no single system of trusting into, or kicking the physiological weak competition will allow each and every technique. points of the body; while the kansetsu-waza Those permitted will of necessity be of only a single control an opponent by inflicting a sprain or type. Thus, if one were to devote one's training dislocation on a joint. That is to say, these energies just towards competition, one would be techniques were devised with the purpose of limiting oneself to the practice of only the maiming or killing, and so are fundamentally constrained category of techniques allowed in dangerous. competition. Such a drift, however, would be a one- 2. The atemi-waza topple an opponent by sided inversion, so to speak, of our intention in applying force to the mechanical weak points of introducing competition in the first place, which was the attacker's body in order to gain kuzushi, the of course to provide a means of honing one's breaking balance, and then push him over; overall skill as a martial artist. while the kansetsu-waza restrain an opponent The proper remedy for any such hyper- with a minimum of force by utilizing the limits of specialization in the competition techniques is, of joint movement to pin the opponent down. course, the time honored method of studying kata-- To date only the first interpretation of these and kata of myriad techniques and variations, which techniques has generally been emphasized, while may or may not be allowed in competition. It has the second has been, for the most part, been a special character of budo down through the untrumpeted. The techniques of the aiki-randori ages that it does not tend to abandon either randori discussed here were chosen and developed on a or kata, but rather embraces both, and sees value in physical training basis to be executed so as to both. So it is that my proposed system for training adhere to the second interpretation of the students in Aiki-randori embraces not only those techniques, and to mitigate the dangers associated techniques allowable in randori, but many others (as with doing them in the manner of the former well as many principles of jujutsu) through the interpretation. With the second interpretation in institution of kata practice and other training drills mind, I have selected as the form of hand-to- hand and exercises. combat to be used in competition one in which an

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unarmed person defends himself against a person armed with a dagger. For safety's sake, of course, the dagger used in the shiai is made of rubber. Furthermore, the shiai is regulated by specially designed refereeing regulations, designed with safety always in mind. By means of this competitive format, the important categories of atemi-waza and kansetsu-waza that existed in old style jujutsu can be safely revived as a new budo within the context of modern physical training and sport. Let me now briefly treat the relationship between kata and randori. It should be first noted that some have thought that kata and randori are separate from each other. Indeed, it has even been said by some that in order to cultivate real power, randori alone is fine. Upon this matter, I think it best that we take a lesson from history of jujutsu, which gathered both randori and kata into a unitary course of training so as to master thoroughly the spirit of atemi-waza and the kansetsu-waza. Kata and randori were made so as not to be divided. You will find them together, as they should be, in the following training outline, which summarizes the aiki-randori which my students and I have developed. NOTE: The remainder of Tomiki Sensei’s outlines an older version of the modern training program still utilized in Tomiki/Shodokan dojos. This portion has been omitted for the sake of space.

Moving Up On behalf of the Board of Directors and senior instructors, congratulations to everyone who was promoted in the past quarter! Never stop improving your skills through careful attention to instruction, constant participation in training. How do you get better? You show up and train!

Suraj Vege, UNC Aikido Lawrence Pan, Intel Santa Clara

Katherine Fischer, KCW Aikido 1º Bob Medina, NJ Shodokan Ryan Davis, KCW Aikido 1º Bahman Tavili, Mansfield Aikido

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