Shodokan Aikido
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 The Shodokan Aikido symbol | |
| Also known as | Tomiki Aikido |
|---|---|
| Date founded | 1958[a][1] or 1967[b][2][3] |
| Country of origin |  Japan |
| Founder | Kenji Tomiki (富木 謙治, Tomiki Kenji, 15 March 1900–25 December 1979) |
| Arts taught | Aikido |
| Practitioners | Tetsuro Nariyama, Fumiaki Shishida |
Shodokan Aikido (昭道館合気道, Shōdōkan Aikidō) is the style of Aikido founded by Kenji Tomiki.[2][4][5] Shodokan Aikido is sometimes referred to as 合気道競技 (Aikido Kyogi) meaning "Competitive Aikido" or "Sport Aikido" because of its use of regular competitions.[6][7]
The style itself could arguably have been founded with the formation of the Waseda University Aikido Club in 1958, although Tomiki didn't actually name his style Shodokan until 1976.[2][need quotation to verify] It was in 1967 when Kenji Tomiki established the Shodokan hombu dojo in Osaka, Japan, to teach, train and promote his style.[4] In 1974, Kenji Tomiki founded the Japan Aikido Association (NPO Japan Aikido Association). Since it was certified as a specified non-profit organization (NPO corporation) by the Cabinet Office in 2005, the official name was changed to "Specified Non-Profit Organization Japan Aikido Association". As of 2018, Masako Tomiki is the current chairman of JAA.
Today, Shodokan Aikido is organised with two major groups, the Japan Aikido Association (JAA)[6] and the Shodokan Aikido Federation (SAF).
Overview
[edit]Shodokan places more emphasis on free-form randori sparring than most other styles of aikido. The training method requires a balance between a randori training method and the more stylized and traditional kata training along with a well-developed set of training drills both specific for randori and for general aikido development. The participation in actual shiai (competitive randori) very much depends on the club with greater emphasis being found in the university clubs, although randori is core to all Shodokan clubs.[5]
Past directors of Shodokan Aikido
[edit]- First Director Kenji Tomiki (1967-1979)
- Second Director Hideo Ohba (1979–1986)
Shihan
[edit]Within the JAA there were two Shihan: Tetsuro Nariyama and Fumiaki Shishida. Nariyama as the technical director of the JAA and chief instructor of the Shodokan hombu dojo in Osaka, Japan. Shishida is Professor of Intellectual History of the Japanese Martial Arts at Waseda University in Tokyo.[8] Together, they wrote a key monograph, in Japanese, entitled "Aikido Kyougi",[9] which describes the history of, and many technical details about, the style of aikido propounded by Tomiki. This book, first published in 1985, was subsequently translated into English under the title, "Aikido: Tradition and the Competitive Edge".[10] Nariyama Shihan has also produced a further book, "Aikido Randori",[11] describing the practice system of randori within aikido.
In recent years, Sato Tadayuki was made Shihan of Waseda University Aikido Club. He, along with the now late Kenshi Uno, of Shikoku Japan, created Shidokan, with the blessing of Shishida Shihan. This system follows the same teachings of Tomiki, but with different emphasis, a return to Tomiki's earliest methods. Tomiki gave his art the name Shodokan, and many people were concerned with the introduction of a new name Shidokan. However this is just to show the various paths available within Tomiki's aikido.[citation needed]
As of 2012, the division between Nariyama Shihan and Shishida Shihan grew into a situation where the two of them remaining within a single organization became an untenable position. Thus Nariyama Shihan decided to resolve any conflict by resigning from the JAA and creating a new organization known as Shodokan Aikido Renmei (also known as Shodokan Aikido Federation). This effectively was an official split of the Shodokan Aikido world into two. The JAA now refer to Shodokan Aikido as "Tomiki Aikido". However, because Tomiki Shihan emphatically was against the use of his name being attached to his system of practice, the JAA also commonly refers to the system as "The Aikido of Kenji Tomiki Sensei".[citation needed]
Kata
[edit]Shodokan defines several kata. Some of the more important kata are listed below.
Junanahon
[edit]Randori no kata is the basic kata set for Shodokan Aikido. Junanahon consists of 17 basic techniques, which, with their variations, are legal within Shodokan randori. They are broken down into four different categories: Atemi, Hiji, Tekubi and Uki.[10] Kenji Tomiki thought for many years about the construction of the 17 techniques as he omitted techniques from the old styles that he deemed too complex or too dangerous for competition.[12]
Atemi Waza
[edit]The Atemi Waza is a set of five techniques that are classified as striking techniques.
- Shomen Ate: Strike from the Front
- Aigamae Ate: Strike from Same Posture
- Gyakugamae Ate: Strike from Reverse Posture
- Gedan Ate: Strike from Low Level
- Ushiro Ate: Strike from Behind
Hiji Waza
[edit]The Hiji Waza is a set of five techniques that are classified as elbow techniques.
- Oshi Taoshi: Pushing Topple
- Ude Gaeshi: Arm Reversal
- Hiki Taoshi: Pulling Topple
- Ude Hineri: Arm Twist
- Waki Gatame: Fixing the Side
Tekubi Waza
[edit]The Tekubi Waza is a set of four techniques that are classified as wrist techniques.
- Kote Hineri: Wrist Twist
- Kote Gaeshi: Wrist Reversal
- Tenkai Kote Hineri: Rotating Wrist Twist
- Tenkai Kote Gaeshi: Rotating Wrist Reversal
Uki Waza
[edit]The Uki Waza is a set of three techniques that are classified as floating techniques.
- Mae Otoshi: Front Drop
- Sumi Otoshi: Corner Drop
- Hiki Otoshi: Pulling Drop
Koryu Goshin no Kata
[edit]Old stream self defense kata, includes many techniques that harken back to pre-war aikido (when the art was still taught as Daito-ryu aiki-jujutsu). This set of 50 techniques is sometimes referred to as the Koryu dai san and includes weapons as well as empty-hand techniques. Suwari Waza: 4 techniques Hanza Handachi: 4 techniques Tachi Waza: 8 techniques Tanto dori: 8 techniques Tachi dori: 5 techniques Yari dori: 5 techniques Yari wo kumitsukareta: 8 techniques Kumi Tachi: 8 techniques
Nage no kata
[edit]A set of 14 throwing techniques: 7 direct (omote) and 7 more circular and fluid (ura). This sequence is actually the first part of Koryu dai yon which includes 11 more techniques.
Goshin Ho
[edit]Self-defense techniques several of which are part of the curriculum for yondan and up.
Competition
[edit]
Competitions take the form of tanto randori or toshu randori, and also embu (演武) in which pairs (tori and uke) are judged on their kata. Toshu randori (徒手乱取) is barehanded, and both practitioners are expected to perform techniques on one another and attempt to resist and counter each other's techniques. The appearance of this form is heavily influenced by judo randori with a few changes designed to enhance the use of aikido technique (for example, one is not allowed to grasp the opponent's keikogi).
In tanto randori (短刀乱取), there is a designated attacker (tantō) and a designated empty-handed defender (toshu). The attacker attempts to stab the defender with a training knife (usually rubber or stuffed) while the defender attempts, with any of seventeen basic aikido techniques, to throw or perform joint-locks on the attacker. Tantō is expected to resist or counter with the first five techniques. In competition, the roles switch, with competitors having the same amount of time with and without the knife. In both these forms of randori, the traditional separation between the performer of technique (tori) and the receiver of technique (uke) no longer exists, as either participant may throw the opponent.
Scoring
[edit]Credits
[edit]- Tanto tsukiari (短刀突きあり) - 1 point - Awarded for a successful tantō strike. For the strike to count, the tantō must land on the upper half of the torso. The arm must be extended, the strike should be perpendicular to the attacker's body, and the attacker must be moving forward, finished with good balance. Glancing hits do not count. Obviously, this does not apply to toshu randori.
- Yuko (有効) - 1 point - Awarded for a balance break, or for making your opponent retreat out of the designated area.
- Waza-ari (技あり) - 2 points - Awarded for a full throw or lock, but losing good posture and balance.
- Ippon (一本) - 4 points - Awarded for a full throw or lock, keeping good posture and balance.
Penalties
[edit]- Shido - 1/2 point - Awarded to the opponent when a competitor commits minor violation. Shido are only counted in pairs. Examples of shido are:
- Dogi-mochi shido - Grabbing hold of the gi.
- Taisabaki shido - Failure to dodge properly, e.g. by swatting the knife away instead of moving out of its path or receiving a glancing blow.
- Tanto shido - Failure to mind the knife: tanto may receive a tanto shido if he or she drops or loses control of the knife; toshu may receive a tanto shido if he or she allows the tanto to be pressed against their body for three seconds.
- Chui - 1 point - Awarded to the opponent when a competitor commits a major violation. In American tournaments, 2 chui end the match.
World Championships
[edit]The Aikido World Championships are held every two years, rotating between Japan and a foreign location.[citation needed]
International Instruction
[edit]Instructors from Shodokan Hombu regularly teach internationally. Currently the main traveling instructors are Tetsuro Nariyama (9th Dan), Ryuichi Omori (7th Dan), Sekio Endo (7th Dan) and Shinnosuke Sakai (7th Dan).[citation needed]
Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Bagot, Brian N.; McGlone, Paul (1992). Aikido: Traditional Art & Modern Sport. Crowood. p. 193. ISBN 9781852237158.
TOMIKI AIKIDO This style was founded by Professor Kenji Tomiki in 1958 at Waseda University.
- ^ a b c Shishida, Fumiaki; Nariyama, Tetsuro (March 1, 2002). Aikido: Tradition and the Competitive Edge. Shodokan Pub. p. 34-35. ISBN 978-0964708327.
- ^ Tomiki, Kenji (1991). 武道論 (Budō-ron) [Budo Theory] (in Japanese). University of Michigan: Taishukan Publishing. p. 284-285. ISBN 4469262153.
- ^ a b Jones, David (November 24, 2015). Martial Arts Training in Japan: A Guide for Westerners. Tuttle Publishing. p. 67-68. ISBN 9781462918287.
- ^ a b Habersetzer, Gabrielle; Habersetzer, Roland (2004) [2000]. Encyclopédie technique, historique, biographique et culturelle des arts martiaux de l'Extrême-Orient [Technical, historical, biographical and cultural encyclopedia of the martial arts of the Far East] (in French). Amphora. p. 746. ISBN 9782851806604.
(In French); Tomiki-ryu Aikido: (Jap.) BUDO. Aussi Tomiki- Aikido ou Aikido-Kyogi: synthèse d'Aikido* et de Judo* créée par Tomiki Kenji* et enseignée à partir de 1960. Il s'agit d'une méthode dans laquelle il présente un style d'Aikido très orienté vers la défense (avec, notamment, une nouvelle méthode de Randori*) et basé sur les principes scientifiques et éducatifs du Judo. Elle est large- ment représentée hors du Japon par ses élèves. Tomiki participa également en 1956 à l'élaboration du Goshinjutsu-no-kata* du Kodokan*.
(In English) Tomiki-ryu Aikido: (Jap.) BUDO. Also Tomiki- Aikido or Aikido-Kyogi: synthesis of Aikido* and Judo* created by Tomiki Kenji* and taught from 1960. It is a method in which he presents a style of Aikido very oriented towards defense (with, in particular, a new method of Randori*) and based on the scientific and educational principles of Judo. It is widely represented outside Japan by his students. Tomiki also participated in 1956 in the development of the Goshinjutsu-no-kata* of the Kodokan*. - ^ a b Allen Guttmann; Lee Austin Thompson (2001). Japanese Sports: A History. University of Hawaii Press. p. 149-150. ISBN 9780824824648.
There are schools of aikido, however, that embrace the model of modern sports. After World War II, Tomiki Kenji, although he still considered himself a loyal disciple of Ueshiba, developed a competitive form of aikido. This occurred after he became a professor at Waseda University and sought to establish an aikido club for his students. He met initially with opposition on the grounds that aikido had not been modernized as a sport in the manner of jūdō and kendo. As a condition for permission to establish the club, the university insisted that Tomiki develop aikido as a sport. Responding to this demand, Tomiki set out to systematize aikido. He applied Kanō Jigoro's educational and ecumenical perspectives and modeled the techniques of aikido on those that had proven successful in the case of jūdō. In 1965, he publicized a competitive form of aikido that allowed sharp blows and pressure to joints. Since aikido had previously been practiced mainly through kata, the form developed by Tomiki was not widely accepted by other branches of the art. Tomiki's response to criticism was to establish the Japan Aikido Association (Nihon Aikido Kyōkai) to propagate competitive aikido. In the original form of competition that he developed, both contestants were barehanded, but the matches tended to resemble jūdō. In 1966, in order to underline the uniqueness of aikido, one of the contestants was given a rubber dagger. Formal competitions with the rubber dagger began in 1967. The annual All-Japan Student Aikido Tournament was begun in 1970 and the semi-annual National Adult Aikido Tournament in 1977.
- ^ Bryne, Brian (January 1, 1990). "Aikido Tournament Held in Japan". Black Belt Magazine. Active Interest Media, Inc. Retrieved November 11, 2024.
OSAKA, JAPAN - Aikido stylists from more than 16 countries came here recently for the first Tomiki Shotokan Aikido Tournament and Seminar. The tournament marked the tenth anniversary of the death of Kenji Tomiki, one of the first students of aikido founder Morihei Uyeshiba[sic] and the innovator of "sport" aikido. Tomiki aikido is a more linear form of the art which has roots in jujitsu and kendo, and focuses on joint locks, submission holds, and throws. The style allows for competition with a reduced risk of injury. The event featured the traditional randori competition, in which a knife-wielding assailant tries to score by stabbing the defender, who earns points by executing clean aikido techniques to defuse the attack.
- ^ "Shishida at Waseda".
- ^ Aikido Kyougi. ISBN 4-469-16288-4.
- ^ a b Aikido: Tradition and the Competitive Edge. ISBN 978-0964708327.
- ^ Aikido Randori, amazon.com
- ^ "Competition". Shodokan Aikido UK. Archived from the original on 2013-01-04. Retrieved 2015-04-09.