Master Koretoshi Maruyama

Round-up: Peter Kelly Sensei class and 1st kyu gradings (22 April 2015)

On Wednesday 22 April 2015, I had the privilege to grade two of our dojo founding members, Peter and Jeremy, to 1st kyu (brown belt) in Aikido Yuishinkai. The event was made extra special by our Chief Instructor, Peter Kelly Sensei, also attending and afterwards giving an informal “by request” format class.

Grading notes

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAA major emphasis in our dojo (and Aikido Yuishinkai Australia generally) over the last 18 months is that development of technical and internal art skills is contingent upon our ukemi skills continuing to develop along with them at the same rate.

With this in mind, Peter and Jeremy not only demonstrated the necessary techniques in taninzugake (free form) practice to fulfil their promotion requirements but also demonstrated they could readily receive them as well. I think it would be fair to say that the high quality of their ukemi was very much on display and did them both proud.

By way of more general comment, Peter and Jeremy are two of the most committed aikido practitioners I have ever met and very much embrace the training spirit that underpins Aikido practice. They are more than deserving of the hakamas they now wear and congratulations to them both.

Training notes – By request class  

For those not familiar with this style of class, essentially it involves Peter Sensei giving instruction and assistance with techniques in response to queries raised by the students on the mat. Unlike last year’s similar class where koshinage and ikkyo were the focus, this year it was kaite nage (“wheel throw”) and shiho nage (4 direction throw) applications which inspired the questions. Irimi nage (entering throw) and kokyu nage (breath throw) were also explored.

Key training tips and links to relevant video extracts from the class can be found below.

Commemorative video

As we often do at our dojo when an event occurs, we cobble together the best of our photos and video, to put together a visual memento of the occasion for our dojo record books.

Acknowledgments

A big thank you to Peter Sensei for visiting our dojo and our friends from Griffith Aikido Institute for supporting our grading and joining us in our Wednesday class. It was also great to have family and friends of Jeremy and Peter over to visit the dojo and join us for the gradings.

Last but certainly not least, a personal thanks to our dojo members for not only giving their all as ukes and nages on the night, but for making our dojo such a great place to train every other night as well. Thumbs up also to our wonderful admin team (Desiree, Eden and Darcy) who keep the dojo cooking behind the scenes.

Ian Grant
Head Instructor
Aikido Warrior Dojo

 

Training notes: Yokomenuchi shiho nage (ryutai level)

budo-shihonage-640Shiho nage (4 directions throw) is one of the most important, if not the most important pillar technique in Aikido training. It is commonly considered to contain within it the root of every Aikido throwing technique and there is no doubt its proper execution relies on the nage applying all of the fundamental principles that underlie Aikido practice.

The name of the technique stems from the fact that a skilled nage can throw the uke in any of 4 directions. In reality, however, it is possible for the 4 directions to be extended to 8. This ability to effect the technique in any direction makes shiho nage particularly attractive from a self-defence perspective, especially if dealing with multiple attackers.

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The below video examines various aspects of shiho nage in the context of a response to a circular blow to the face (yokomenuchi). The technique is demonstrated at ryutai (flowing forms) level from the Aikido Yuishinkai syllabus.

The demonstration is from a class at Seishin no Shugyo Dojo in Tasmania by Peter Kelly Sensei, Chief Instructor, Aikido Yuishinkai Australia.  Peter Sensei’s instruction emphasises the correct application of the change in direction cutting movement necessary for the successful execution of the technique.

Ian Grant
Head Instructor
Aikido Warrior Dojo

Relaxed arm striking – it’s not pretty

Capture3Atemi (or striking) plays an important role in Aikido practice, particularly from a self-defence perspective. Without the use of atemi, or at least the threat of it, most techniques would have substantially less chance of success. This is particularly so when resistance and counter offensives are thrown into the mix. Further, at the highest levels of practice, many techniques in essence are pure atemi.

One of the interesting aspects of Aikido Yuishinkai practice is that it includes the use of relaxed arm (suwaisho) striking methods as a self-defence response to addressing “punch based” attack situations. Exercises to develop skills in vertical and horizontal relaxed arm strikes are practised at the commencement of every Aikido Yuishinkai class.

Capture2Vertical suwaisho strikes in particular are a surprisingly effective self-defence response.  They also have the advantage of being relatively easy to learn. This in part is because they can be applied just using heavy downward and forward energy, rather than relying on a “heaven man earth” body structure which is more difficult to acquire. They are also quite simple in their execution – which is critical in a real life situation. The fact that the downward strikes simultaneously defend the nage’s centreline is another a benefit.

That being said, vertical suwaisho strikes are not pretty to look at and are a million miles from the graceful artistry that is often seen in typical You Tube clips of Aikido. Also, when you are the uke in two partnered practice, it can be a quite confronting and an “in your face” experience to say the least. It feels a bit like being bombarded by a series of oncoming swinging clubs. Although not necessary for general practice, I would also (from experience) suggest giving your uke some protective arm and head gear if you decide to put vertical suwaisho to the test against a “full-on attack” – it will save some major bruises.

The below clip is a brief introduction to vertical suwaisho strikes given at a 2007 seminar in Tasmania by the Founder of Aikido Yuishinkai, Master Koretoshi Maruyama.  The uke is Sensei A Williams.

Ian Grant
Head Instructor
Aikido Warrior Dojo

Related articles

Training notes: Hanmi handachi shomenuchi kotegaeshi

morihei-ueshiba-kobukan-c1935Hanmi handachi waza is a common form of Aikido practice whereby the nage is in a kneeling position and the uke  attacks while standing.   In this type of training the uke has the obvious advantage of both mobility and height. However, a skilled nage can still take the balance of the uke by taking advantage of their lower centre of gravity.

Training in hanmi handachi waza is particularly beneficial as it develops skills in taking a uke‘s balance with only minimal lower body movement.  The training also assists in understanding the importance of centre and use of the centre line in Aikido practice.

The below video extract of Master Koretoshi Maruyama demonstrates the application of kotegaeshi  (outward wrist turn) in hanmi handachi waza to address a straight blow to the centre of the head (i.e. shomenuchi).

Points of note in the demonstration include:

  • The nage is at an approximate 45 degree angle to the uke and not facing head on;
  • The nage’s initial movement is itself a shomenuchi cutting movement through the uke’s centreline;
  • The nage does not attempt to directly clash or in anyway block the uke’s downward strike;
  • The nage draws the attack into their centre and then uses their centre and centre line as the mechanism and line of movement, respectively, to execute the finish of the technique;
  • The balance of the uke is completely taken (i.e kuzushi) from the moment of first contact.
  • The technique is executed to take advantage of the “missing third leg” position to the rear of the uke.

Ian Grant
Head Instructor
Aikido Warrior Dojo

 

Training notes – Yokomenuchi irimi nage

In the below video Morihiro Saito Sensei (1928-2002) demonstrates the three traditional versions of  Yokomenuchi irimi nage as practised by O’Sensei (the Founder of Aikido) in the immediate post-war period of his life.

Irimi means to enter physically and spiritually into an attack while at the same time simultaneously side stepping it. In the demonstrated technique irimi nage (“entering throw”) is being used to address a traditional strike to the side of the head.  This form of strike is called yokomenuchi.

 

ADDITIONAL NOTES

  • Technical notes – Kihon application (1) – London Aikido Club 

 

  • Technical notes – Kihon application (2) – Morihiro Saito Sensei

 

  • Technical notes – Yokomenuchi – Ki no nagare – Morihiro Saito Sensei

 

  • Additional technical notes – Yoshimitsu Yamada Sensei 

In the below video Yoshimitsu Yamada Sensei (8th Dan Aikikai) gives instruction and training tips from an alternate perspective.

 

 

 

All the best

Ian Grant
Dojo Cho
Aikido Warrior Dojo