Aikido training

Aikido hip throws for rear chokes – Ushiro kubishime koshi nage

Ushiro kubishime koshi nage is a traditional Aikido technique which uses a hip throw (koshi nage) as a defence against a choke attack from the rear (ushiro kubishime).

Aikido hip throws have their origins in a battlefield techniques and not all Aikido schools and dojos train in them. At Aikido Warrior Dojo, they are a standard inclusion in our training and form part of our commitment to study the Aikido of O’sensei.

They were first introduced into our dojo in early 2014 after permission was granted by Peter Kelly Sensei, Chief Instructor, Aikido Yuishinkai Australia for us to train in them. Since that time we have slowly included a wide range of koshi nage techniques into our standard training repertoire, including ushiro kubishime koshi nage

In the below video Morihiro Saito Sensei (1928-2002) provides instruction on Ushiro kubishime koshi nage as practised by O’Sensei (the Founder of Aikido) in the post-war period of his life.

Training notes for other koshi nage techniques

See: Unarmed arts by technique – scroll down to “koshi nage” (list is in alphabetical order )

Brief Biography – Morihiro Saito Sensei (1928-2002)

Morihiro Saito Sensei’s practice of Aikido spanned 56 years and he is one of the most important teachers in Aikido history. Saito Sensei was a live-in student of O’sensei for more than 20 years at his home dojo in Iwama, Japan.

Saito Sensei spent his teaching life dedicated to preserving the technical style of Aikido as practised and shown to him by O’sensei in the post-war period. Without his commitment to preserving the Aikido of the Founder and extensive efforts to record and document his teachings, much of the Aikido of O’sensei would have no doubt been lost. The Aikido world owes him a great debt.

Ian Grant
Head Instructor
Aikido Warrior Dojo

Breakfalls and Aikido – Are they really necessary?

The question of whether breakfalls are really necessary in Aikido is one that seems to attract very different opinions even amongst those who practice in the same school.

I have heard senior practitioners on many occasions argue that breakfalling is pointless, dangerous and really only has a place in demonstrations where the nage needs the uke to make them look good or “wow” the crowd. I have also heard the converse argument to the effect that breakfalling is necessary to learn Aikido at advanced levels and is a critical skill to minimise the possibility of injury at the dojo.

The reality probably lies somewhere in the middle of these arguments. It is also in part influenced by the holder’s perspective as to whether Aikido is primarily a system of self-defence, a health art, a physical manifestation to study philosophical expression, or all of these things and more.

At our dojo, self-projected high falls from techniques are banned. “One flung dung” throws are also not permitted (i.e. techniques where the nage takes no responsibility for being the uke‘s safety anchor). We also have the philosophy of “severe technique – soft throw”.

Notwithstanding, breakfalls are part of our regular practice and dojo culture. Aspects of these falls are practised and studied at every class. There are 2 fundamental reasons for this and both are game changers when it comes to the decision to include breakfalls in Aikido training.

The first is that breakfalling allows us to study the full spectrum of Aikido techniques, including, for example, traditional techniques such as hip, shoulder and drop throws. Without breakfalling skills, many of these traditional techniques developed by O’sensei (the Founder of Aikido) would in effect be denied us. This is because a breakfall is the only option to receive them. While there is no doubt one can study Aikido by excluding traditional applications (and many do) – its just not what we are about.

Secondly, we also hold the view that for Aikido to have self-defence relevance, study of “kuzushi” is fundamental (i.e. the need to completely break the balance of a uke to a execute technique). Once a uke‘s balance is broken, it is critical that they have the full range of ukemi options at their disposal to allow them to land safely, including breakfalls. Admittedly, some Aikidoka regard kuzushi as being unimportant to their study of Aikido and even go as far as to suggest that it is contrary to their philosophical beliefs as to what Aikido is about. However, as that is not the position we hold at the dojo – breakfalling skills again come into play.

In the below video, various techniques are shown where breakfalling skills have been called upon by dojo members over the year to safely receive a technique.

Have a great week

Ian Grant
Head Instructor
Aikido Warrior Dojo, Brisbane

Tachi dori yokomenuchi udekime nage – Aikido Yuishinkai

In the below video Koretoshi Maruyama Sensei demonstrates and provides instruction for the Aikido technique udekime nage (arm extension throw). The technique is demonstrated as a defence to a diagonal strike to the head (yokomenuchi) where the uke is armed with a bokken.

Depending on the style of Aikido, udekime nage is sometimes classified as a form of kokyu nage (breath throw) technique.

Other examples of udekime nage

See – Munetsuki udekime (omote)
See – Munetsuki udekime (ura)

Have a great week.

Ian Grant
Dojo Cho
Aikido Warrior Dojo

Training notes: Yokemunuchi aiki nage

Yokemunuchi aiki nage is a technique that has a long history in Aikido. There are numerous videos of O’sensei performing it dating back to the 1930’s.

In the below video, Aikido Warrior Dojo seniors are recorded practising and experimenting with yokemunuchi aiki nage, including associated ukemi (falling skills). The experiments include adding atemi and kiai to determine the effect on the uke and the impact on receiving the technique.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

Yokemunuchi aiki nage – The fundamentals

In the below video Koretoshi Maruyama Sensei demonstrates and provides instruction for the Aikido technique yokomenuchi aiki nage.

Have a great week.

Ian Grant
Dojo Cho
Aikido Warrior Dojo

Static resistance training: Katadori kokyu nage

Dealing with grab attacks where the uke is holding or resisting with physical based strength is an important part of Aikido practice.

While as Aikidoka we train ourselves to use centred relaxed grips (i.e. “holding with ki”), the fact remains that in most self defence situations the attacker will typically be using strength based tactics. Failure to include responses to strength and resistance based attacks in our regular practice would in effect make our training effectively useless from a martial perspective.

Significantly, when Aikido is used against strong grip static attacks, the movements tend to be more economical and less complex. Centred sinking movements combined with taking balance by controlling the head or elbow are common. Atemi (striking) is also more often than not a critical component. The Aikido in general becomes less pretty.

Katadori kokyu nage

In the below video, Master Koretoshi Maruyama gives instruction on how to perform the Aikido technique kokyu nage (breath throw) in response to a static shoulder grab (kata dori) where the attacker is holding with strength.

Application against a sleeve grab

Kokyu nage as demonstrated in the video can also be used to address an attack in the form of a sleeve grab – see Sodedori kokyunage.

Alternate form of katadori kokyu nage

As is often the case in Aikido, there is an alternate method of executing a kokyu nage against a strong shoulder grab. In the 1950’s, O’sensei practiced the technique without taking the elbow and instead closed the gap between the uke and nage by executing a tenkan – See katadori kokyu nage (post war version).

Other examples of Aikido for static resistance attacks

Static resistance training is a regular form of practice at our dojo. For examples of other resistance based training that we undertake see – Working with resistance: static hand grabs.

Have a great weekend.

Ian Grant
Head Instructor
Aikido Warrior Dojo