Aikido Tradition and the Competitive Edge

from cover

Aikido has spread steadily over the years and today it is known all over the world. This success is due to the exceptional aikido technique of Morihei Ueshiba and the efforts of many followers, including Kenji Tomiki (pictured above). This book is a translation of the Japanese-language

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textbook written for every school of aikido by Fumiaki Shishida and Tetsuro Nariyama Shihan and published in 1985. In 1997, Nariyama Shihan instigated the formation of a team to accomplish the formidable task of translating the book. This edition is the result, and includes the photographs and diagrams from the Japanese edition.

In their 1985 introduction, the authors wrote: 'Each aikido school establishes its own organization and makes efforts to develop its aikido independently. The founders of all these schools trained under Ueshiba and learned almost the same technique, so why did they establish their own schools? It is because of the many differences between each school, such as how they interpret techniques, the way they apply the techniques, or how they define the goals of mental training. This individuality makes the aikido world active.

...We would feel amply rewarded for our efforts if this book helps instructors and beginners of all schools to see aikido from various points of view. We hope every school will help each other through banyu aigo no seishin-the spirit of universal kindness (Ueshiba).'

Contents

Preface to the English edition
Acknowledgments
Websites
To the reader
1. Simple facts about Aikido
How to use this book-The outline of this book; The aims of this book; The order of practice
The history of Aikido-What is aiki?; Moriei Ueshibe-the road to aikido; The development of aikido after World Warr II; Kenji Tomiki and competitive aikido-the aikido of the future
2. Preparation
The correct spirit, clothing, and etiquette for training-preparing your mind, clothing, the way to bow
Warming-up and cooling-down exercises-The purpose of a warm-up; Light running or physical exercise; Stretching; Stretching for aikido; Cooling-down exercises and stretching
Ukemi (Breakfalls)-Koho ukemi (backwards breadfall); Yoko (sokuho) ukemi (side breakfall); Zenpo ukemi (forward breakfall)
3. Basic skills
Basic skills and basic movement-Sen-the secret of bujutsu; Metsuke (focus); Shisei (posture); Changing of posture, and kamai (stance); Unsoku (foot movements); Seiza (kneeling) and shikko (walking on the knees); Tegatane (hand-blade) and how to use it
Basic skills practiced with a partner-The principles and basic practice of maai (distance); Toitsuryoku (focus of power) and kokyuryoku (power of breathing); The principle and basic practice of kuzushi (balance breaking)
Basic 19 Techniques-Atemi waza (striking techniques); Kansetsu waza (joint techniques)
4. Techniques against grasps
Grasps from the front-Aigamae katate dori/Junte dori kote hineeri osae; Gyakugamae katate dori/gyakute dori kote hineri osae; Shomen ryote dori/zenpo aigamae ate; Shomen ryote dori/tentai aigamae ate; Mae eri dori/entai kote ineri; Gyakugamae sode dori/hiki taoshi waki gatame; Juji jime/tenkai kote hineri; Ushiro okuri eri jime/gyakute dori kote hineri; Katate ryote dori/tenkai kote gaeshi
Grasps from behind-Kata dori/tenkan kote hineri; Oku eri dori/gyakute dori kote hineri; Ryote dori/gyakute dori kote gaeshi; Kakae dori/ude hineri; Kakae dori to gyakute dori kote hineri
Grasps from more than one person-Ninin ryote dori/tenkai kote gaeshi and tenkai kote gaeshi; Ninin ryote dori/kote gaeshi and gyakute dori kote hineri
5. Techniques against punches, strikes, kicks
Suwari waza (kneeling techniques)-Oshi taoshi ude kujiki osae; Tentai oshi taoshi ude kujiki osae; Oshi taoshi tyakute dori kote hineri osae; Tentai oshi taoshi gyakute dori kote hineri ude ineri osae; Oshi taoshi junte dori kote hineri osae; Tentai oshi taoshi junte dori kote hineri ude hineri osae; Oshi taoshi tekubi osae; Tentai oshi taoshi tekubi osae
Tachi waza (standing techniques)-Shomen uchi/aigamae ate; Shomen uchi/tentai aigamae ate; Yokomen uchi/tenkai kote gaeshi; Yokomen uchi/tentai tenkai kote gaeshi; Yokomen uchi/gedan ate; Shomen tsuki/gyakute dori kote gaeshi; Shomen tsuki/tentai gyakute dori kote gaeshi; Shomen tsuki/aigamae ate; Shomen geri/shomen ate; Shomen geri/gyakugamae ate; Mawahi geri/usiro ate
Techniques against weapons-Tachi shomen uchi/mae otoshi; Tachi shomen uchi/tenkai kote gaeshi; Yari (jo) shomen tsuki/mae otooshi; Yari (jo) shomen tsuki/shomen ate
Techniques using weapons (after grasps)-Grasp to middle of sowrd hilt/gyakute dori kote hineri; grasp to end of the yari (jo)/mae otoshi
6. Competition Aikido
The outline of aikido competition-The different types and events of aikido competition; The special features of aiki randori; The necessity and significance of aikido randori; Misunderstandings of randori competition; The order of the practice of randori competition
Basic kata of aiki randori-Etiquette and behavior; Shomen ate; Aigamae ate; Gyakugamae ate; Gedan ate; Ushiro ate; Oshi taoshi; ude gaeshi; Hiki taoshi; Kude hineri; Waki gatame; Kote hineri; Kote gaeshi; Tenkai kote hineri; TYenkai kkote gaehi; Mae otoshi; Sumi otoshi; Hiki otoshi
Tree steps for randori pracitce-Kakari geiko; Hikitate geiko; randori geiko
Transferring from one technique to another-Sumi otoshi/tenkai kote gaeshi; Gyakugamae ate/kote gaeshi/shomen ate; Sumi otoshi/tenkai kote hinerei/waki gatame
Outline for randori matches-The purpose and meaning of a match; The way of thnking about a match
7. Daito-ru Aiki Jujutsu
The history of Sokaku Takeda-Sokaku and his training; Sokaku and Daito-ryu; Religious faith and training; Religious faith and training; Calling on Chikanori Hoshina; An encounter with Tsugumich Saigo; Determination to Spread Daito-ryu Jujutsu
Daito-ryu: Its origin and present state-Daito-ryu: its name and formation; Sokaku's successors
Hisa Takuma and Takuma-kai-Hisa Takuma joins the Asahi Pressa; Sokaku comes to Osaka and Ueshiba leaves; Hisa gets his license; Sokaku's way of teaching and his character; Sokaku's will and its imlementaton; The organization of teh Takuma-kai
Daito-ryu Aiki Jujutsu Techniques; Kakete (ryokata dori, ryoude dori); Kakete (katate dori); Kakete (ryokata dori); Kakete (Katate dori); Kakete (Katate dori); Sannin dori
Glossary

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