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What Does the Study of Yoseikan Aikido Involve?
Due to the lineage of the arts involved in the formation of Yoseikan Aikido, from both O'sensei Ueshiba, and Sensei Mochizuki, Yoseikan Aikido is a very involved art. In essence beginners first learn how to 'attack', or to be uke, the attacker. This involves learning how to strike correctly, which is done through the practice of some simple kata (a prearranged form of movements), namely the Happoken no Kata, and the Sambo Geri no Kata. It also involves learning to fall and roll, so that when an Aikido technique is used, uke can avoid being injured. Although at first falling is daunting, practitioners soon realize that it is important. It is far more probable that someone will fall, or trip over during their lifetime, then be attacked. Hence learning to fall is more useful then any other part of Aikido.
Aikido techniques include striking (atemi waza), joint locks (kansetsu waza), pinning methods (katame waza), strangulations (shime waza), take downs (taoshi waza), and throws (nage waza). These can then be broken down further. Joint locks in Aikido include those to the wrist (kote), elbow (hiji), shoulder (kata), and legs. Throws include those done using the hands (te), feet (ashi), hips (koshi), and by sacrificing ones own body position (sutemi). The vast number of techniques are learnt in a cooperative manner, to ensure that the technique is learnt correctly by tori, the defender, and most importantly to ensure that uke is uninjured. This is based on the principle of mutual welfare and prosperity.
In a self defense situation these techniques are applied with this spirit of cooperation and with the intent of not injuring the attacker, but rendering his attack harmless. If needed only minimal damage, such as temporary pain, is applied to the attacker. This ethical approach to 'self defense' (Budo) eventual leads Aikido students to a deeper understanding of their techniques and the underlying meanings and principles. This intern leads to the study and understanding of more advanced concepts and a greater understanding of ones self.
The study of Yoseikan Aikido also includes the use of weapons. The two primary weapons of Aikido in general are the ken (sword) and jo (4ft staff). The study of both these weapons is included within Yoseikan. The sword movements, unlike others styles of Aikido, are derived from Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto Ryu. The sword work includes sword vs sword techniques (Kenjutsu), sword taking (Tachi Dori) and sword drawing (Iaijutsu). The jo work includes jo vs sword, jo vs jo, jo vs empty hand, and jo taking. Finally the tanto (knife) and tanbo (baton) are also used.
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