Tag: Kenji Tomiki

Shu Ha Ri, a question of Mutual Respect

A personal view on the concept of Shu Ha Ri

Keep, break and leave

As a westerner, am I to understand “Shu Ha RI”? If we simply read the words “keep, break and leave”, it gives a sense of “no respect” to your teacher. Of course, in the history of martial arts, there are numerous examples of the breakup of the founder after an argument, mostly a “money” argument.

However, there are many examples of leaving the teacher after he has given permission to leave. The teacher understood very well that the disciple needed a certain freedom to grow as a person practising martial arts. The teacher trusts the disciple, and the teacher knows that the legacy is safe in the hands of the latter.

When Kenji Tomiki became an 8th Dan by Morihei Ueshiba, this was a sign of confidence and also an indication of liberty permission. Of course, there are also signs of political motives as far as relations between Tomiki and Ueshiba are concerned. This topic is not central to this article and will not be expanded.

The idea of leaving is a mutual decision between the master and the disciple, and depends entirely on the understanding of the concept of “keeping and breaking”.

Keep and break

As a matter of fact, the concepts of “keep and break” are very simple. On the other hand very difficult to understand by a western person. There is a famous quotation by Morihei Ueshiba and for him the Westerners are “yes, but people”. If he really made that quote, I don’t know, but it’s going around in martial arts circles.

During the “Keep” relationship with our teacher, we learn from the teacher’s experience and we may ask questions about something we do not understand. Of course, we never criticize the teacher. We learn the basic elements of our martial art.

Depending on the time we practice and study, our understanding goes in the direction of “Break”, and this can lead to a very difficult situation. This is a period of your formation where you can see that truth has different aspects. You always learn from your teacher, but you can add personal insights into your training. Your teacher acknowledges this and sometimes will give you some advice.

The two, teacher and disciple, are still interacting positively during the breaking period. Otherwise, the outer world will see disagreements and this can have a negative effect on the functioning of the martial art school.

Randori, 3 types of practising

The relationship between the 3 kinds of randori and Shu Ha Ri may not be obvious. But they certainly have something in common.

  • Kakari geiko – Shu
  • Hikitate geiko – Ha
  • Randori geiko – Ri

In kakari geiko, the roles of attacking and defending are determined. We can talk about teachers/attackers and students/defendants. Sure, there is some freedom in timing and distance.

During hikitate geiko, the attacker has the freedom to interact during the actions of the defendant. There is still the role of teachers/attackers and students/defendants.

Randori geiko is not a shiai, not to win medals. Randori geiko is a process for the physical discussion of the art of fighting. Both practitioners recognize the equality of the two.

The Shiai Paradigm

Shiai should reflect the power and beauty of martial art during a public performance. Spectators must be attracted by the skills of the competitors and not by their brutal and aggressive nature.

It is true that in the shiai there is a certain rivalry, but also the respect of the adversary. When we figure that out, winning a medal is no longer important. The most outstanding performance you can offer is your reward. Whatever you know may be used depending on the circumstances. When you become obsessed with earning medals, your approach will be inflexible from a living human perspective. Respect for other people’s lives and ideas is more precious than winning medals.

The role of the teacher and student is an important factor when approaching the competition. In particular the role of the teacher is significant in the education of the martial art career of the student. The teacher’s respect and attitude toward the student without a medal should be positive.

How to improve someone’s skills comes in the first place.

The Kata & Randori Dilemma

“A kata is not fixed or immoveable. Like water, it’s ever changing and fits itself to the shape of the vessel containing it. However, kata are not some kind of beautiful competitive dance, but a grand martial art of self-defence – which determines life and death”….Kenwa Mabuni….Okinawa

Some martial arts instructors believe that they execute “kata or formal exercises” in the same way as the founder of their system. If you understand something about “Shu Ha Ri”, then you know that’s a little beside the truth.

The development in kata is already discussed in another blog post on katachi and kata. Kata and randori are 2 sides of a coin, but there is a 3rd part of a coin: kata and randori and….

In martial arts, we see the evolution of basic body movements to katachi and further to kata. Again, the term “Shu Ha RI” is like that.

Once you find the freedom of Kata, the application will go smoothly to randori. There will be no difference between kata and randori.

Of course, if you stick too much to Shu Ha RI without understanding the real meaning, you will be locked up into fixed forms without flexibility of mind and body. You will never find the liberty of Kata and Randori, which is the true dilemma of martial arts.

Tomiki Aikido: Past and Future

In her book “Past and Future”, she attempts to explain the real values of Aikido as a martial art with a message. There are no techniques explained, but the value of the book is at a much higher level: How to practice Aikido!

More books on Tomiki Aikido

Books & Video & Magazines

I have a huge collection of books and videos about martial arts, particularly Aikido, Iaido and Jodo, my major arts of study. It’s an effort to catalogue my library, but it’s going to take a long time. Be patient……more will follow……

Tomiki Aikido Books

Kenji Tomiki began training under Morihei Ueshiba in Daito-ryu Aiki-jujutsu in 1926. He was largely responsible for the compilation and editing of the text in Morihei Ueshiba’s 1933 training manual “Budo Renshu” (published in English under the name “Budo Training in Aikido“).

In 1954, Kenji Tomiki published a book “Judo Taiso – A Method for Teaching Aiki – Jutsu according to Judo Principles”, demonstrating his efforts to combine the scientific methodology that he took from Judo founder Jigoro Kano with the teachings he received from Aikido founder Morihei Ueshiba.

judo-taiso-aiki-no-jutsu-kenji-tomiki01Download

Kodokan Judo’s Self-Defense System ─
Kodokan Goshin-jutsu
by Llyr C. Jones, Ph.D., Martin P. Savage, B.Ed. and W. Lance Gatling, M.A., M.P.S.
Journal of Asian Martial Arts • Volume 25 Number 1 • 2016

1958 – Kenji Tomiki – Kodokan Goshin-jutsu
Tomiki’s 1958 book “Kodokan Goshin-jutsu” is the first and most important book on the exercise. The 144-page text provides an illustrated explanation of the complete Kodokan Goshin- jutsu – including step-by-step black and white photographs of the attacks and defenses, line drawings of the footwork patterns, and advice on how to execute the wristlocks and various atemi-waza. However, consistent with the informal intent for Kodokan Goshin-jutsu, no emphasis is given to any reiho aspects. Recall in this original text, the final technique, Haimen-zuke concludes with Tori simply disarming Uke by capturing the gun.
The demonstrators are Tomiki himself as Tori, and Mr. Sakamoto, a former captain of the Waseda University Judo Club as Uke. Regrettably as with many Japanese judo books of that vintage, the paper is delicate and the printed photographs are of poor quality. The text is only available on the used book market, and given its historical significance, the asking price is often high. For these reasons its major usefulness is for reference and research purposes, rather than a practical text for studying Kodokan Goshin-jutsu.

Goshin jutsu no kata TomikiDownload

Aikido Nyumon by Kenji Tomiki 1958

“An Introduction to Aikido.

Edition 1983

Aikido NyumonDownload

Goshin jutsu nyumon

Edition Showa 49 (1974) – 206 p. This book by Kenji Tomiki: “An Introduction to Self-Defense” is an interesting sequel to another book by Kenji Tomiki: “Judo Taiso – The Method of Teaching Aiki – Jutsu Based on Judo Principles” showing the basics of self-defense in Tomiki Aikido

Goshin jutsu completeDownload

Edition 1970

Senta Yamada

The-Principles-and-Practice-of-Aikido_Yamada.pdfDownload

Senta Yamada

6 volumes featuring Tsunako Miyake

The six volume “Gendai Aiki” series of books is a 1970’s correspondence course in Aikido – the type of course one often sees advertised in the back of Manga and other popular magazines. The series was not authored by Kenji Tomiki, but was clearly written by someone who had experience with the Tomiki system of Aikido

gendai-aiki-completeDownload

1966 – Book designed for beginners in Tomiki Aikido. 34 pages with explanation of exercises and techniques accompanied by many step by step B/w photographs of the author assisted by J Elkin.

Aikido – a dialogue of movementDownload

Aikido: an Introduction to Tomiki-Style by M. J. Clapton is a volume on techniques and kata of the unique Tomiki style of aikido. The book focuses on the execution, application and variations of Randori-No-Kata, the 17 basic techniques of free practice. Included are the categories of: attacking techniques, elbow techniques, wrist techniques and floating techniques.

Besides this book, Clapton wrote some articles for KOA, Karate and Oriental Arts magazine.

Koryu dai san Clapton KOADownload

6 Koryu no kata by Takeshi Inoue & Kitayama

This book is used as an inspiration for dr Lee ah Loi’s books

kata-no-subeteDownload

First published 1978 – dr Lee ah Loi with Takeshi Inoue and Leslie Hepden

Re-published 1982 – new photogtaphs with author and Leslie Hepden.

1979 – Koryu no kata with the author dr Lee ah Loi and Leslie Hepden

Published 1988 – Reflections on Tomiki Aikido

Copy for proofreading 2001

Reflections on Hideo Ohba by his students

Tomiki Aikido Video

Some of these videos are on my Vimeo Channel

Koryu no kata Dai Roku

Takeshi Inoue & Leslie Hepden

June 2003 – Yawara Dojo (London/UK)

1989 – Koryu no kata – Budokan/Tokyo

Takeshi Inoue & Lee ah Loi

  • Dai ichi
  • Dai ni
  • Dai san
  • Dai yon
  • Dai go
  • Dai roku

1976 (?) Koryu no kata – Okubo Sports Kaikan

Hieo Ohba & Takeshi Inoue & Tsunako Miyake

  • Dai Ichi
  • Dai ni
  • Dai san
  • Dai go
  • Dai roku

Seminars with Senta Yamada in UK

2000 – Teruo Fujiwara – Early student of Kenji Tomiki

1989 – Osaka & Tenri/Japan

Koryu no kata Daisan

2001 – Osaka/Japan

Basic 17 and Koryu no kata Goshin

Magazines

AikiNews 80 – Report injuries & death

aikinews-80-injuries-deathDownload

AikiNews 81 July 1989

Tomiki’s biography by Fumiaki Shishida

AikiNews 81 July 1989Download

AikiNews 82 – October 1989

Interview Riki Kogure – part 1

Appeared in BBC Docu: The Way of the Warrior – (Tomiki Aikido) – also with Jim Elkin

aikinews-82-kogure-part-1Download

AikiNews 83 January 1990

Interview Riki Kogure part2

Appeared in BBC Docu: The Way of the Warrior – (Tomiki Aikido) – also with Jim Elkin

AikiNews no.83 – 01/1990Download

AikiNews no.85 – Summer 1990

Hideo Ohba Biography part1

aikinews-85-summer-1990Download

AikiNew 86 – Fall 1990

Hideo Ohba Biography part2

aikinews-86-fall-1990Download

AikiNews 93 Fall 1992 – Interview dr Lee ah Loi

AikiNews 93 Fall 1992Download

AikiNews 97 – Fall/Winter 1993

Featuring Lee ah Loi with “Weapon training in Tomiki Aikido”

Weapon training in Tomiki AikidoDownload

AikiNews 98 1994 vol21 no.1

Kata training and Aikido by Diane Bauerle

AikiNews 21 1994 Ueshiba & TomikiDownload

AikiNews 2001

Tomiki AikiNews 2001Download

Hiden magazine – Special Tomiki – June 2015

Hiden TomikiDownload

Mochizuki – Yoseikan

Books

Published 1971

Hiroo Mochizuki – Son of Minoru Mochizuki – Yoseikan Budo

arts-martiaux-traditionnels-hiroo-mochizukiDownload

Published 1971

Yoseikan Aikido method explained by Alain Floquet

progression-de-laikido-moderne-floquetDownload

Unusual Books on Martial Arts

Some martial art books described unusual techniques. Most of these are published in books with good intention by the time they were written. But in modern times, it seems very odd or comical.

There are also books using elements of other disciples such as engineering, music or other activities of human interest.

Moshe Feldenkrais

Moshé Feldenkrais was born in Russia in 1904. He left home at age 12 and immigrated to what was then Palestine. He supported himself during his high school years as a construction worker in Tel Aviv, and as a tutor to failing students.

He developed great interest in hypnosis and autosuggestion, taught himself and others self-defense techniques, played soccer, and was a weight lifter.

As a young man, Moshé Feldenkrais was looking for a way to provide Jewish civilians living in what was then Palestine a way to defend themselves against the periodic massacres and killing of Jews by the Arab population. He taught himself Judo from a book he found and taught classes in self-defense.

In the early 1930’s, Jigorō Kanō, the creator of Judo and the Minister of Education of Japan at the time, came to Paris looking to find a white man to train in Judo with the intent to open the first Judo club in Paris, France.

Moshé Feldenkrais gave Jigorō Kanō a book that he wrote on self-defense. In this book, there was a self-defense move that Dr. Feldenkrais developed specifically for being attacked by a short knife, which was a common way that Jews were attacked and killed at that time.

Kanō realized that he had never seen this move before. When back in Japan, Kanō had his people check that this was an original movement created by Dr. Feldenkrais. When this was confirmed, he selected Dr. Feldenkrais to be the white man who would be trained by one of the original 12 black belts whom Kanō had trained.

In 1954, Feldenkrais book on Jiu-Jitsu was reprinted. Some advice was given for special situations. For example defending against animals.

Hubert Klinger-Klingerstorff

Professor of judo and jiu-jitsu at the University of Wien/Austria – Black Belt 1st dan

There is an interesting comment about this book: This is one of those old books that made its way on to the internet in digital form. It has some legitimate techniques, even a few that I might have to try out on the mat. However, the context in which they’re applied is silly. There must be thirty or more defenses against strangling attempts. The defenses against dogs are ridiculous. The illustrations are hand drawn, and actually do a fairly good job of showing the techniques, but many of them are complex judo throws that require more than one being “self taught”.

This book is originally published in German language.

French language 1960

Paul Maslak

As a magazine editor, Maslak introduced the use of statistical analysis to sport karate and kickboxing. He played a significant role in the national adoption of safety equipment and the mandatory seeding of the top competitors in major national open tournaments. He also successfully advocated for the establishment of separate women’s divisions for both kata and kickboxing competition. In 1979, he co-authored the Schlesinger Rules System of Martial Arts Competition with prominent tournament karate and kickboxing referee Tom Schlesinger. He also wrote the first Official Rules of the World Karate Association in 1980 as well as the revised Official Rules of the World Kickboxing Association: Third Edition, in 1987. After leaving Inside Kung Fu in late 1981, he discontinued the STAR tournament ratings.
Maslak authored two books, Strategy in Unarmed Combat and What The Masters Know, based on a statistical study, he undertook of contrasting fighting styles in professional boxing, full-contact karate (early kickboxing), Japanese kickboxing, Judo and collegiate wrestling

Describing techniques and strategy by music connotations -Published 1980