Over

Upgrading Aikido

An ongoing process

by Eddy Wolput

I started Judo/Jujutsu (Kawaishi system) and some Chuanfa (Chinese Kenpo) in the early 60-ties. Later I switched to Shotokan Karate, but still was not convinced, which brought me to Aikido, Iaido, Jodo, Hakko Ryu Aikijujutsu….and again Aikido.
Soon I discovered many schools of “aikido” bringing forward the teachings of Morihei Ueshiba, filtered by the knowledge of the founder of the school.
The past decade Daito Ryu Aikjutsu became popular amongst many Aikido followers. They are trying to figure out the origin of their art. Unfortunately the masters of the past are all gone and we cannot ask them for advice anymore.

People sometimes tend to practice several arts when they do not have the discipline to deeply practice their main art. It is indeed easier to deplore the shortcomings in aikido and turn elsewhere to find easy answers, rather than to really get to the bottom of daily partner and/or solo training.

I don’t blame my previous teachers for not transmitting the necessary tools to improve my skills. Maybe I  didnt understood very well their messages. But still there is the question. How to upgrade your art?

One of the solutions to upgrade a martial art can be found in the work of  “martial arts bodywork” researchers. Of course, the difficulty is to find a compatible bodywork system.

Hino Budo, a search for the perfect movement

In my quest to find a suitable bodywork system I did research on the old methods of Kenji Tomiki’s Aikido. Also some material of Tomiki’s 1st generation students (after WWII) are included in the research.
Having an understanding of the original Tomiki concepts, I was able to find a compatible bodywork system. This was not an easy task, and I tried together with some members of the Study Group Tomiki Aikido different methods. By sharing experiences and following workshops and seminars by bodywork teachers I came to the conclusion the bodywork of Akira Hino is very compatible with Tomiki’s ideas.

Akira Hino is besides a martial arts teacher a professional jazz drummer and a classical and modern dance coach. In fact, he is an all-round bodywork teacher.