Workshop 14-16 February 2020
This workshop was build around basic aikido movements and the overlapping elements of different methods of aikido.
- Solo training: warming up, unsoku ho and tandoku undo
- Partner training: 7-hon no kuzushi – using the central line or seichusen
- Partner training: 2 aspects of tekubi waza – hineri & gaeshi
- Taijū no ido & Taijū no dendō or “using body weight”
Solo training is discussed in another blog-post.
Displacement & transmission
- The displacement of the body weight is when we move in such a way that we shift its center of gravity. Strictly speaking, the displacement of the body weight consists in moving by making of its body a single block. For example, moving forwards, or backwards, by being a solid block.
- The transmission of the body weight is the action of putting the weight into the opponent without giving access to the own center. For example when one is grasped at the wrist, use this point of contact to transfer body weight to another. It is not pushing or pulling! By performing tenshikei, an internal line of movement (運動線, undō-sen” is created, this internal line of movement is needed to be able to do body weight transmission without body displacement. The power of this transmission is called “Ido-ryoku”.
Although it seems these concepts (taïjū no idō and taïjū no dendō) are separed items, the thruth is different. Both items are interwinded and cannot be separated.
Ido-ryoku
Ido-ryoku is basically a kind of “power transfer” generated by using taïjū no idō and taïjū no dendō *. Both methods are using a different method to create power transfer into opponent’s body.
There are 2 kinds of ido-ryoku in martial arts
- long power – usually to throw an opponent
- short power – usually to create a shock into the body
*taïjū = body weight, idō = movement, dendō = transmission, conduction
Taijū no ido
Taijū no idō or body weight shift creates “power transfer” in the body of opponent by displacement of the body. There are different methods for causing power transfer. Those methods can be used indepentent or as a merged method.
- Ashi no korobi can be translated as “rolling feet” and uses gravity as a source of power.
- Tsugi ashi or short step displacement by using gravity and isometric opposing force.
- Tenshikei can be translated as rotational power and generated by external movements. For example de-mawari & hiki-mawari.
Taijū no idō need distance to create power transfer, if it is not possible to use external distance, creating internal distance is a solution. In this case we can speak of merging Taijū no idō & Taijū no dendō.
Tenshikei
One of the important elements of Tenshikei is the possibility to create a distance inside the body by utilizing the entire body. Generally, power transfer is thought to be increased by using a distance between the body and the object. However a distance can also be created inside the body. Twisting inside the body is creating distance and tension. By untwisting, the stored power is released. Using the skill of rendo (linking movements), the power can be guided to the arms or legs. Of course this is a very simplified explanation for a complex body action. It takes several hours of training to internalize the linking process of the different body movements.
Example
Opponent is grasping wrist. Without moving the feet, create some space by a diagonal stretch.
Taijū no dendō
Taijū no dendō or body weight transmission (body weight conduction) is a skill to transfer power into the opponent by using body weight and gravity.
Example
When opponent is grabbingr at the wrist, opponent is using power to push, pull or grab strongly. Don’t fight the power, but accept by using a flexible body (jukozo) and let the power goes into the back leg when there is a push, or into the front leg when there is a pull. Eventually you need to use ayumi ashi (stepping) of tsugi ashi (shuffle) to adjust the correct posture.
When the power goes through the body and reach the floor at the end of the leg, there is a rebound. When the body weight is going down by the push or pull, the rebound of the power will reach the opponent with the help of the body weight.
Body weight act as a tool to transfer power coming from opponent but also from gravity. The body joints, especially the knee joints are not activily bended, but are flexed and straightened by using the rebound and the added power of the body weight (gravity).
Compilation of workshop 14-16 Feb 2020
This compilation is covering some topics of the 6 hrs workshop.
Study Group Tomiki Aikido 