Newsletter no 22 November 1995 - The British Aikido Federation

British Aikido Federation
Technical Director: Minoru Kanetsuka 7th Dan Aikikai Foundation, Tokyo
Newsletter
November 1995
No. 22
SUMMER SCHOOL 1995
Despite the stifling heat which provided excellent
conditioning for anyone thinking of going out to train in
Japan in August, the well-tried formula of previous
Chester Summer Schools ensured a very enjoyable and
valuable week for all: a combination of hard Aikido
practice in a choice of three dojos − this year the
instructors were Kanetsuka Sensei, Terry Ezra (Chief
B.A.F. Instructor), Matthew Holland (Chief Instructor of
the Scottish Aikido Federation), and John Rogers (Chief
Instructor of the Irish Aikido Federation) − and pleasant
socialising off the mat in the charming surroundings of
Chester College (its flower-beds always a riot of colour),
meeting old friends, making new ones. As usual there
were quite a number of foreign visitors, but exceptional
this year was the arrival of 15 students from Russia and
Belorus. Milena Matveyeva from Moscow writes:
The week at Summer School passed so quickly. It was a
pity that nobody in our group spoke English well, so that
we weren’t able to communicate with our new friends as
we would have liked. But the Aikido dojo is a unique place
where we can communicate with each other without
words. In this Summer School we learnt not only
techniques but also the spirit of Aikido; and that’s the
most important thing.
We would like to express our appreciation to the
organisers of the Summer School for all their hard work.
As a result we felt really at home in Chester College.
What really surprised us was to find so many families
there with little children.
Kanetsuka Sensei with Nikolay Egorov, Chairman of the
Russian Aikido Federation.
We’ll soon forget the heat in the dojos and our tired
legs after the training sessions; but we cannot forget all
the friends we made and your beautiful country which met
us with shining sun and smiling faces. All too soon we
were on our way back home, but already our thoughts are
turning to our next visit to the B.A.F. Summer School 1996.
Milena mentions the organisers of Summer School,
and indeed we should not forget that behind the scenes,
both in the days leading up to Summer School, during the
hectic week at Chester College, and in the clearing-up
stage at the end, there are many unsung heroes assisting
Steve and Carole Parr, who run the event with impeccable
efficiency, dealing with a multitude of problems and
demands, big and small, with their customary unruffled,
easy-going manner.
B.A.F. SUMMER SCHOOL 1996
The intrepid Milena Matveyeva confronts a ruthless attacker
(Dr. John!)
At Chester, 27 July − 3 August
The B.A.F. has Full Recognition from the Aikikai Foundation (Aikido World Headquarters, Tokyo), President: Kisshomaru Ueshiba;
and it is a member of the International Aikido Federation and of the British Aikido Board.
Head Office: Yew Tree Cottage, Toot Baldon, Oxford, OX44 9NE. Tel. & Fax: 01865 343500.
A FIRST-TIMER AT SUMMER SCHOOL
“Why am I doing this?”
The question, having floated about innocuously enough
during the three hour drive to Chester, took on a more
concrete form as I parked the car and headed in the wrong
direction in search of ‘registration’.
“Should definitely have waited until next year” I
concluded, filling out a form giving contact numbers for next
of kin.
Just as bookmakers everywhere were shortening the odds
on my surviving the week − evening came. And with it the
pleasant and sociable atmosphere that was to remain for the
duration of the Summer School. That evening we followed up
a couple of pints with an impromptu singsong featuring a
borrowed guitar and half a dozen Italian teenagers bent on
practising their English. It was beginning to feel like a
holiday. Sunday morning I woke up humming ‘La Bamba’ and
headed for the dojo.
Memorable moment number one came as lines of Aikido
students, awash with hakama, rose from seiza for the first
time and soared out into the mat space like flocks of birds.
Tori-fune followed rousingly. Practice was challenging, varied
and hot; but remained for the most part beginner-friendly and
non-competitive. Exposure to a variety of teaching styles and
the opportunity to practice with a huge number of different
Working hard with a big Russian as uke!
THE DOJO
In old times in Japan dojo was the name of a place
where Buddhism was practised. Later the term was
applied to a place where Bujutsu (martial arts) were
practised. This perhaps demonstrates the depth of
meaning underlying Bujutsu, for the dojo, which
means ‘a place for practising a do’ (spiritual path),
is a place for the development of moral character.
The word ashram in the Indian tradition has a
similar meaning. On one side of the traditional
dojo, considered the upper side, there is a shrine or kamiza.
Therefore students train themselves in budo in front of a shrine,
and all entering and exits, posture, sitting-down and standingup − in fact all physical and mental activity − should be
D
J
Irish-Russian rapport: John Rogers explaining a technical point with
Maria Kotova.
uke were great benefits. But perhaps the most subtle insight
gained from the intensity of training was an inkling sense for
the ‘flow’ of Aikido. Through continuous practice a fluid and
natural feel for the movement was beginning to develop and
one became aware of carrying this ‘sense of flow’ around with
you both on and off the tatami.
Day three − muscular stiffness was setting in. We took in a
film on Tuesday evening and could barely stand up when the
lights came on. Wednesday’s half-day provided a welcome
physical break as well as pre-empting the onset of information
overload. A picnic seemed the best remedy on a hot afternoon;
so equipped with Tesco’s largest tub of ice cream we drove
into the country, found a castle, walked up a hill, sat down at
the top, did nothing in particular for several hours and
descended refreshed for two more days of practice.
The highlight of the latter part of the week was the Dangrading examination, which for the uninitiated spectator had
all the thrills and spills of a good movie: suspense and drama,
triumph and defeat. I even detected waves of ‘Oooohs’ and
‘Aaaahs’ from members of ‘the audience’ as successes were
announced with applause and all others with an understated
“please try again”. Plenty of inspiration for a new convert.
I drove back to Oxford on the Friday evening with a bike
and two more people than I’d travelled up to Chester with. It
had been a holiday from which I was returning physically and
mentally invigorated.
Chris Brunsdon
performed according to the rules of rei. This word means
literally ‘bow’ but embraces the etiquette and correct attitude
which the study of budo demands.
We should be discreet and refined in our practice of a
martial way and this attitude should be extended to our
surroundings, ie. the dojo. It must be kept spotlessly clean and
tidy. It should not be cluttered with pictures, posters and
badges. A photograph of the Founder should suffice. Likewise,
our keikogi should be always clean and well-maintained. The
dojo should have an atmosphere of serenity and serious study:
no frivolous chatter.
If we observe rei and practice seriously and with full
vitality, our mind and body coordinated, then surely our
original purpose in training will be realised.
M. Kanetsuka
2k
NIKYO
Demonstrated and explained by
Kanetsuka Sensei
(1) Suwari-waza Shomen-uchi Nikyo: Omote
The beginning of Shomen-uchi Nikyo (photos 1 to 3
below) is based on Shomen-uchi Ikkyo. The essential
distinction between the two techniques is in the
immobilisation at the end (photos 7 − 11). It is
important, therefore, to understand the principles of
Ikkyo first.
1
2
Photo 1: Tori and Uke are facing each other in seiza posture. Tori makes
shomen strike with his right hand at Uke’s head, coming up onto his toes (kiza).
This is essentially the same movement as in Suwari-waza shomen-uchi Ikkyo
omote (see Newsletter Issue no. 8) and Suwari-waza Kokyu-Ho (Newsletter
Issue no. 21). Notice that Tori’s striking arm is cutting up perpendicularly, the
hand raised above the head and the shoulder relaxed. The left hand rises at the
same time as the right, the elbow between the hand and the navel in a protecting
action, making contact with Uke’s elbow.
Photo 2: Keeping contact (that means with a
feeling of attacking the centre of the partner),
the right hand cutting down, the left hand
rising smoothly (as distinct from pushing
upwards), Tori shifts his weight onto his right
knee, sliding it slightly forward to his right.
3
4
Photos 3 & 4. The movement is like that at the end of Suwari-waza kokyu-ho with both arms extended as if making a circle, with a
feeling of extension from the toes to the fingers. While controlling Uke with the left hand gripping his elbow, taking Uke’s shoulder
towards the ground, Tori makes a circular movement with his open right hand, sliding it around Uke’s wrist, turning the thumb
downwards and passing it across the back of Uke’s hand. Note that Tori’s hand has been kept open from the very beginning of the
movement: there has been no attempt to grasp Uke’s wrist before this stage. Tori’s upper body inclines a little as in making a bow
(rei).
5
6
Photos 5 & 6. Tori’s upper body rises. The contact of Tori’s right hand with Uke’s wrist is basically along the lower outer edge of his
(Tori’s) hand, rather like hand-blade (te-gatana) contact. It’s not a matter of just squeezing with the fingers. The thumb is gripping at
the base of Uke’s thumb in the typical Nikyo grip.
7
8
Photos 7 & 8. Tori makes an irimi (entering) movement with his left knee, as if attacking Uke’s shoulder through the length of
his arm, pinning Uke’s shoulder on the tatami.
9
Photos 9 & 10. Controlling Uke’s elbow with the heel of the left
hand (if your partner has flexible shoulders his elbow should be in
contact with the tatami at this point), Tori pivots on his left knee to
finish with his knees on each side of Uke’s shoulder. Tori moves
around Uke’s elbow without applying force: simply controlling. His
left knee is in close contact with Uke’s armpit. Be careful to keep
unbroken contact between your right hand and Uke’s right hand as
you make this manoeuvre. In fact there should be good contact
between your tanden and your partner’s upper arm. To achieve this
you must be sitting up on your toes, your abdomen kept strong (not
slack).
Photo 11. Tori first folds his left arm firmly around Uke’s forearm
to lock it tightly against his body. Then he uses the te-gatana of his
right hand to pin Uke’s elbow against his abdomen. Keep your
shoulders and arms relaxed close to your body with your armpits
closed but without squeezing your partner’s arms into your body.
The power should be coming from your toes up through your
tanden. Immobilise your partner’s right shoulder as you take his
arm towards his left shoulder in a circular movement extending
from your toes to your partner’s head. Stop applying pressure as
soon as your partner taps.
10
11
AN AIKIDO YEAR
by Professor Peter Goldsbury
III: Autumn (October to December)
After the summer school the Aikido club of Hiroshima
University virtually closes down for the rest of the summer
vacation, but practice continues as usual in the headquarters
dojo of the Hiroshima Prefectural Aikido Federation. When
the practice resumes at the university in the autumn term,
the first item is another weekend training course given by a
Hombu Shihan. The second such course of the year is
usually given by Fujita Masatake Shihan, 8th Dan, the
B.A.F. Technical Adviser, but occasionally Fujita Sensei is
accompanied by another Hombu Shihan. One year we had a
dramatic weekend course given by Arikawa Sadateru
Shihan, 9th Dan, his first such course outside the Hombu
Dojo. Another year, we had a memorable weekend course
given by the late Shirata Rinjiro Shihan, 10th Dan, with
Fujita Sensei assisting. We spent the whole of the first
practice (from 6 to 9 pm on Friday) doing suwari-waza and
were completely exhausted. At the time he gave the course,
Shirata Sensei was a 75-year-old 9th Dan and his agility on
the knees was totally astonishing. The following day, we
practised henka-waza and kaishi-waza and Shirata Sensei
showed great delight in throwing university students who
were over 50 years younger than he was all over the mat. He
spent much time going round the mat and correcting
individual students. His way of explaining techniques was
remarkable. He would never say, “The way you are
practising is wrong; you should do it this way”. Rather, in
very polite Japanese, he would suggest that we might like to
consider his way of practice as a possibility. A couple of
anecdotes about O-Sensei would usually follow. This
weekend course given by Shirata Sensei was the best
example of the fact that proficiency in Aikido does not
decline with age.
Not long after Fujita Sensei’s weekend course, the third
such course is given by Yamaguchi Seigo Shihan, 9th Dan.
As I noted earlier, in Hiroshima we have the benefit of
seeing aikido interpreted by several high-ranking disciples
of the Founder and their way of practice is completely
different. Tada Sensei’s practice is very sharp and he always
emphasises foot work, taisabaki and eye contact. Fujita
Sensei always emphasises solid, basic techniques.
Yamaguchi Sensei always emphasises contact between uke
and tori, cutting the centre and a total lack of physical
strength. I think it is improper to use the word ‘style’ when
discussing aikido. In various magazines you can read about
aikido in so-and-so style. It gives the false impression that
aikido practice is all a matter of a choice which is
consciously made. Of course, one can practise the
techniques gently or severely, but I do not think one ever
consciously chooses a particular style in which to execute
ikkyo, for example. You follow your teacher, who is your
living model, and eventually your own body
However, it is also true that in Japan there are many highranking shihan who were directly taught by the Founder and
whose way of executing the basic techniques is completely
different. How is this to be explained? One way is to say
that only the Founder really understood Aikido: those who
followed him are pale imitators. This might be true, but is
not particularly helpful to future generations. Another way is
to say that Sensei X has the true way: other ways embody
The dojo at Hiroshima University
varying degrees of falsehood. This might be useful if we
knew the real identity of Sensei X. Another way is to resort
to metaphysics and say that the substance of the technique is
the same: only the external appearances are different. Again,
this is true, but unhelpful, for what is the real substance of
ikkyo? In a way, this is like asking what is the true faith. I
think this is a paradox which all Aikido practitioners have to
work out for themselves.
The final event of the year is the general grading
examination in December. This is the main grading
examination of the year and all the members of the
prefectural federation gather at the headquarters dojo.
During two hours examinations are conducted from 6th Kyu
to 3rd Dan and all the senior instructors participate. Since
there are about 50-100 examinees, they are divided into
three groups and for each group there are three examiners. I
usually join Kitahira Shihan in examining the advanced
group, from 1st Dan to 3rd Dan. In each group one examiner
calls out the names, the second chooses the uke and calls out
the techniques (this is usually my role) and the third, the
most senior examiner, presides in silence.
When I first witnessed a Japanese grading session, I was
very shocked. It seemed all too easy. For example, the
1st Dan examination usually consists of suwari-waza 1-kyo
to 4-kyo, hanmi-handachi shiho-nage, irimi-nage, kotegaeshi and kaiten-nage, tachi-waza ushiro-waza (5
techniques) and freestyle with one uke. I remember my
1st Dan examination, taken in the West Midlands in 1978
with Yamada Yoshimitsu Shihan as guest examiner. My
fellow examinees were Matt Holland from Scotland and
Ken Marsden from Leeds. I do not think our examination
was very severe, but it was considerably more searching
than the 1st Dan examinations in Hiroshima. Since I have
been involved with the I.A.F., I have often complained to
the Hombu Dojo about the blatant disparities in Kyu and
Dan examinations around the world and especially about the
relative ease with which Dan grades are obtained in
Japanese university clubs. Of course, ultimately a grade is
given to a student by his teacher and this bond should not be
broken. However, if a Japanese student 2nd Dan travelled
abroad and announced his grade obtained after four years of
practice, he or she would be massacred in many places. As a
result our Dan examinations have become a little more
severe. To obtain 2nd Dan, a student must do freestyle
against four attackers and a student taking 3rd Dan must
cope with up to six attackers. But this is not a test of basic
knowledge and the fact still remains that not enough
emphasis is placed on the correct execution of basic
techniques.
GREETINGS FROM AN OLD FRIEND
by Peter Megann
As B.A.F. General Secretary I was faced with a difficult
decision in the autumn of 1986. Kanetsuka Sensei was
scheduled to take a weekend course in Lille, Northern
France, in November. But at the beginning of October he
had just come out of hospital, having fought a gruelling
battle of life or death with the cancer which had beset him
earlier that year. Weighing under 8 stone (50 kilos) he was
just skin and bones, and due to recent chemotherapy
treatment he had lost all his hair and looked like a
Buddhist monk. Should I go ahead and cancel the course
in Lille as reason suggested? But this would have
revealed serious doubts on my part about Kanetsuka
Sensei’s recovery. On the other hand it would be only fair
to the French organisers to let them know one way or
another in reasonable time. Quite a dilemma!
Then I thought of Mr. Yuzuru Mizuno, who had
recently arrived in Britain as Managing Director of
Panasonic Finance UK. Not only was he evidently highly
competent in financial matters but he was also an Aikikai
5th Dan. I had met him when he came to Oxford in early
October to help with a ‘recruiting’ demonstration at the
University dojo, and I’d been very impressed by his
elegant but effective Aikido. Perhaps he would agree to
take the course at Lille if Kanetsuka Sensei’s health didn’t
allow him to take on this taxing commitment. I phoned
him and he said straightaway that he’d be delighted to
help out if necessary. At all events he would drive
Kanetsuka Sensei to Lille.
Because of a delay on the way to Dover we missed
our 10 pm sailing and had to wait in a cold and draughty
waiting room for the midnight boat. I remember
marvelling that despite the discomfort Kanetsuka Sensei
didn’t utter a word of complaint. We eventually found
ourselves crossing the Channel on a horrid, rain-lashed
night and driving in Mr. Mizuno’s car down Autoroute 25
to arrive in a deserted Lille, where we couldn’t find a soul
to ask the way to the hotel. We finally got to bed about
four o’clock in the morning. Could Kanetsuka Sensei
really manage to take the course that started at 10 am? He
looked dreadfully weak and tired. Fortunately Mr.
Mizuno was at hand and he offered to take the first
session. After a few more hours sleep Kanetsuka Sensei
was ready for action and gave a revelatory demonstration
THE B.A.F. NATIONAL COMMITTEE
Terry Ezra (Chairman)
John Czarnuszewicz (Vice-chairman)
Peter Megann (General Secretary)
Graham Hobbins (Treasurer)
Ken Cottier (Senior Member)
Don Morgan (Senior Member)
Dr. Ken Gannon
Maria Helsby
Ian McClarence
Ken Marsden
Dr. Alex Megann
Steve Parr
Allan Rowley
Mr. Mizuno and Kanetsuka Sensei at the Spring Course in Oxford,
1987
of how, essentially, Aikido did not depend on physical
strength.
In the following months, as Kanetsuka Sensei slowly
but steadily recovered, Mr. Mizuno assisted at several
national courses. I admired his flexibility, knowing that as
a senior personality in a Japanese company he would
have little time for leisure activities and could practice
Aikido only rarely. He confided that it was mainly thanks
to makko-ho exercises which he practices for 15 − 20
minutes religiously every evening. In 1990 he was
promoted to 6th Dan by the Hombu Dojo.
In 1991 Mr. Mizuno was recalled to the Panasonic
Headquarters in Japan. Knowing that he had moved with
his family to Kobe I was very anxious to have news from
him after the devastating earthquake that hit the city last
year. Happily his family had a lucky escape. Only months
before the disaster their house had been reconstructed
with strengthened concrete and although much of the
neighbourhood had been badly damaged the Mizuno
house had withstood the shock. The worst loss they
incurred seems to have been the destruction of Mrs.
Mizuno’s much-prized collection of Wedgwood china she
had taken back from England.
Far away in Japan Mr. Mizuno maintains a lively
interest in the B.A.F.. Typically, on a recent business trip
to London he gave me a call and and asked how things
are going here. He sends his warm regards to all our
members. We hope we’ll see him again sometime at a
B.A.F. course.
SHIDOIN AND FUKUSHIDOIN OF THE B.A.F. (1995-96)
Shidoin
Fukushidoin
(Senior Instructors)
(Assistant Senior Instructors)
Ken Cottier (6 Dan)
John Czarnuszewicz (3 Dan)
Terry Ezra (5 Dan)
Bill Davies (3 Dan)
Peter Gillard (4 Dan)
Dr. Ken Gannon (4 Dan)
Ian McClarence (4 Dan)
Tom Helsby (3 Dan)
Peter Megann (4 Dan)
Stephen Jones (3 Dan)
Don Morgan (4 Dan)
Alan Smith (3 Dan)
Cy O’Hara (4 Dan)
Brian Smith (3 Dan)
Stephen Parr (4 Dan)
Cliff Postings (4 Dan)
Allan Rowley (4 Dan)
AIKIDO TERMS EXPLAINED
3. FORMS OF ATTACK
Uchi means ‘a strike’ (not to be confused with another uchi that means
‘inner’, eg. uchi-kaiten). Shomen means ‘frontal’ and yokomen means
‘sidewards’; hence we get the formalised attacks of shomen-uchi and
yokomen-uchi.
Tsuki (in pronunciation the ‘u’ sound is almost lost so that it sound
more like tski) comes from a verb tsuku meaning ‘to lunge’ or ‘to
stab’. There are three levels of attack: jo-dan (‘top level’), chu-dan
(‘middle level’) and ge-dan (‘lower level’); hence jo-dan tsuki, chudan tsuki and ge-dan tsuki. Keri (in a word group geri) means ‘a kick’.
Thus we get ma‰-geri (‘forwards kick’) and yoko-geri (‘side-kick’).
Yokomen-uchi.
YUDANSHA PROMOTIONS AT SUMMER SCHOOL
SANDAN:
Alex Megann (Southampton Shiseikan)
NIDAN:
Vicky Marginson (Ryusuikan, Chester)
Michael Mullins (Komyokan, Birkenhead)
Spiro Gauci (Shobukan, Cardiff)
SHODAN:
Chris Boardman (Reading Aikido-ryu)
Mike Dickinson (Komyokan, Birkenhead)
Julian Gordon (Shobukan, Cardiff)
Mami Mizuta (Ryushinkan, London)
Yudansha Grading at Summer School
NATIONAL COURSES IN 1996
Instructors’ Courses:
9/10 March
in Cardiff
25/26 May
in Macclesfield
19/20 October
in Oxford
British Universities Aikido Federation courses:
24/25 February
11/12 May
in Oxford
9/10 November
}
NEW B.A.F. DOJO
Settling down in Leominster (Herefordshire) after a
10 year stay in Japan, Billy McAuley (3rd Dan,
Aikikai Foundation), hasn't wasted any time in
opening a dojo. He has named it Asoryu Dojo in
memory of his Japanese Sensei, Kinjo Aso, who
died three years ago, and affiliated it to the B.A.F.
We wish him every success.
For information phone 01568 780 359
B.A.F. SPRING COURSE 1996
13/14 April in Newtown, Montgomeryshire
with Special Guest Instructor
HOSOKAWA SENSEI
7th Dan, Aikido Federation of Italy
MARTIAL ARTS BOOKS
BOOKS ON JAPAN IN ENGLISH
BOOKSHOP
212 PICADILLY, LONDON W1V 9LD
TEL: 0171-439 8035 FAX: 0171-287 1082