Koshi-mawari & sotai-dosa

The main ways of moving the body and hands were picked from Aiki skills, then simplified and abstracted and organized as the exercise forms.
Teruo Fujiwara

In the Tomiki system, the use of solo-exercises and paired exercises are incorporated into the training method. Originally it was called Judo Taiso or Yawara Taiso and the purpose was to introduce judo students to Aiki-arts.

It was Senta Yamada who brought Judo Taiso/Yawara Taiso to the UK in the late 50-ties/early 60-ties. Most of his teaching are forgotten due to the focus too much on the sporting side of Tomiki Aikidō. Nevertheless, Judo Taiso is very valuable to understand Koryu no kata.

The creation of “Judo Taiso” (Judo Gymnastics)

The time when I studied under Tomiki-shihan in 1956-1958 is called ‘the age of Judo Exercise’ (Yawara Taiso). The main ways of moving the body and hands were picked from Aiki skills, then simplified and abstracted and organized as the exercise forms. These forms are ‘Judo Exercise’ (Yawara Taiso). The plan of making ‘Judo Exercise’ (Yawara Taiso) is that by doing them repeatedly, we can learn Aiki as if we learned hundreds of thousands of skills which can benefit our bodies in a positive fashion. . ‘Judo Exercise’ (Yawara Taiso) is the valuable legacy of Tomiki-sensei.

Around 1950-1952, Kenji Tomiki developed a training-system for the many aiki-jutsu techniques. It was called judo taiso or judo gymnastics. This training-system was created according to the judo principles, (Judo Taiso 1954 by Kenji Tomiki) and includes 11 solo exercises (Tandoku Undo) and 8 partner exercises (Sotai Undo)

What is Judo Taiso?

Judo taiso is a modern gymnastic training-system to learn atemi waza (striking techniques) and kansetsu waza (joint techniques). These fundamental movements are the expression of the power and rhythm in atemi waza and kansetsu waza.

Tandoku Undo are exercises to develop good posture and balance. Judo principle shizentai-no–ri (principle of natural posture) is clearly expressed in these exercises. The use of the handblade is a reflection of the many aiki-jutsu atemi-waza and kansetsu-waza learned from Morihei Ueshiba.

Tegatana soho 1 : Kihon no kamae – Fundamental posture, power is concentrated in tegatana (1)
Tegatana soho 2 : Uchi mawashi – Inside sweep (2-3)
Tegatana soho 3 : Soto mawashi – outside sweep (4-5)
Tegatana soho 4 : Uchi gaeshi – soto gaeshi – Inside turn and outside turn(6-9)
Tegatana soho 5 : Uchi mawashi tentai – Inside sweep with forward turning (demawari) (10-11)
Tegatana soho 6 : Soto mawashi tentai – Outside sweep with backward turning (hikimawari) (12-15)
Tegatana soho 7 : Ko mawashi – Compact method of tegatana soho 2 and 3 (16)
Tegatana soho 8 : O mawashi – Big turning forward and backward (17-22)

List provided by Senta Yamada

Sotai undo – 8 partner exercises

In paired exercises the primary concept is the relationship with the partner/opponent and the way of controlling the partner/opponent by using the different tegatana-soho.

Aigamae or regular facing posture
Gyaku gamae or reverse facing posture
Hineri or inward turning of partner/opponent body (or body part)
Gaeshi or outward turning of partner/opponent body (or body part)

Nr	Name technique	Grip to wrist (*)	Movement of tegatana
1	Ai gamae ude hineri	Ura dori	Soto gaeshi
2	Gyaku gamae ude hineri	Omote dori	Uchi gaeshi
3	Ai gamae ude gaeshi	Omote dori	Uchi mawashi
4	Gyaku gamae ude gaeshi	Ura dori	Soto mawashi
5	Ai gamae tenkai ude hineri	Omote dori	Soto mawashi tenkai
6	Gyaku gamae tenkai ude hineri	Ura dori	Uchi mawashi tenkai
7	Ai gamae tenkai ude gaeshi	Omote dori	Uchi mawashi tenkai
8	Gyaku gamae tenkai ude gaeshi	Ura dori	Soto mawashi tenkai

* Omote dori : grip to wrist on inside – Ura dori : grip to wrist on outside

Koshi-mawari and sotai dosa

Koshi-mawari is in general translated as turning the hips. From previous posts we know this is not correct. Koshi-mawari is a very complex way of moving with the lower torso. Koshi-mawari can be considered as the movement of a ball (kyūten*)

Kyūten – 球転 Ball rolling, ball rotation

In Chinese martial arts, the concept of Dantian and Chan Si Gong (silk reeling exercises) is related to kyūten and tenshi & tenshikei.

1- Ai-gamae ude hineri

From “Judo Taiso” book

Below: from 1950 movie

Senta Yamada performing sotai dosa “Ai gamae ude hineri”

The originals by Kenji Tomiki for this sotai dosa (1), give no indication of a focus on Koshi-mawari. When watching the performance of Senta Yamada, an early disciple of Kenji Tomiki and Morihei Ueshiba, we can see some indications of using koshi. There are many examples of Yamada sensei, where he is using koshi-mawari. Unfortunately he did fail to explain how to perform “koshi-mawari”.