Ian Grant

Hitotsu no tachi – Aikido Yuishinkai

In the below video Master Koretoshi Maruyama, Founder of Aikido Yuishinkai, provides instruction for the partnered bokken kata – Hitotsu no tachi as practiced in Aikido Yuishinkai.

Hitotsu no tachi (like all partnered bokken practice in our school) is choreographed with both participants having predetermined movements and roles.

Skills developed through 2 person bokken kata directly transferable to unarmed training include those related to:

blending and parrying;
timing;
using small body movements to generate power and move off-line (this is achieved through correct use of the hips and moving the body as a single entity);
Entering and related footwork; and
Stillness of mind.

The video was recorded in 2012 in Rotterdam as part of an Aikido Yuishinkai International Seminar. It was made available courtesy of Aikido Yuishinkai International Instructor, Martijn van Hemmen Sensei.

Have a great week.

Ian Grant
Head Instructor
Aikido Warrior Dojo

“Four Gods” Bokken Kata – Aikido Yuishinkai

In the below video Master Koretoshi Maruyama, Founder of Aikido Yuishinkai, provides instruction on one of the three major bokken katas practised in Aikido Yuishinkai – “The Four Gods” kata (Shishin no ken).

The video was recorded in 2012 in Rotterdam. In addition to instruction by Maruyama Sensei, it includes a demonstration of the kata by Aikido Yuishinkai International Instructor, Martijn van Hemmen Sensei.

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank Martjin Sensei for both making available and giving me permission to publish his video recordings of the 2012 International Aikido Yuishinkai Seminar.

Have a great long weekend.

Ian Grant
Head Instructor
Aikido Warrior Dojo

Munetsuki kotegaeshi – Aikido Yuishinkai

In the below video Master Koretoshi Maruyama, Founder of Aikido Yuishinkai, demonstrates and provides instruction for the Aikido technique munetsuki kotegaeshi as practised in Aikido Yuishinkai.

Ian Grant
Head Instructor
Aikido Warrior Dojo

Katate kosadori kokyu nage (reitai) – Aikido Yuishinkai

In the below video Master Koretoshi Maruyama, Founder of Aikido Yuishinkai, demonstrates and provides instruction for the Aikido technique katate kosadori kokyu nage (reitai level) as practised in Aikido Yuishinkai.

Katate kosadori kokyu nage is categorised as a “breath throw” (kokyu nage) in Aikido practice and is trained from a traditional attack in the form of a cross-hand grab (katate kosadori).

Training at reitai level is sometimes described as “no touch” Aikido. The difficulty with this descriptor is that it suggests something pseudo mystical is happening which could not be further than the truth. The uke falls without being touched for no other reason than to avoid being “palmed in the face” (for want of a better description) by a centred nage.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

Katate kosadori kokyu nage – Other levels of practice

For training notes on katate kosadori kokyu nage as practised at kotai, juntai and ryutai levels in Aikido Yuishinkai see: Training notes: Katate kosadori kokyu nage.

Have a great week

Ian Grant
Head Instructor
Aikido Warrior Dojo

All the best

Ian Grant
Head Instructor
Aikido Warrior Dojo

Looking back to look forward – Exploring Aikido’s roots

Master Morihei Ueshiba (O’sensei), the Founder of Aikido, authored 3 instructional manuals in his lifetime. The first “Budo Training in Aikido” (originally called “Budo Renshu“) was published in 1933.

“Budo Renshu” contains 166 techniques, all of which are accompanied by hand drawings and training notes. The techniques in the manual represent an interesting blend of Daito Ryu and what would become to be known as Aiki Budo (and then later Aikido).

In the below video, Dojo senior Jeremy Gehrke draws on his studies of Aikido and Daito Ryu to demonstrate some of the techniques found in Budo Renshu and some of their extended applications. Please note the demonstrations are informal only and done with minimal planning or preparation.

Ian Grant
Head Instructor
Aikido Warrior Dojo