Enmeikan Yoshinkan Aikido/ Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu iaiheiho

I’ve always wondered why certain individuals of atrocious character can be “popular” amongst famous teachers. Or how “thieves” who are treacherous in nature and had been lazy in their training, but yet through deceit become the head of schools can attract a following. I always wondered if those people were deaf, dumb and blind, then it dawned on me, nature’s rule never changes; like attracts like.
Hawks don’t roost with chickens.

This post is to collect my thoughts for my classes on the weekend. I will use Niten Ichi Ryu, not to offer the uninitiated lessons in the seiho, or even the initiated for that matter as if you are not my student I am not invested in your practice (just saying)
In the world of Japanese budo we have a form of practice called seiho 勢法 in Niten, kata 型 in Hozoin Ryu, kata 形 in Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu and waza 技 in Yoshinkan aikido. They are not stories or what if scenarios, they are carefully thought out and taught in a fashion to rewire the mind and nervous system to fit the riai 理合 (the logic) of that school. In other words seiho, kata and waza are vessels to hold the logic of the school. I will use 9 techniques from Niten to illustrate my point, but although I am using Niten the same principle applies to the other schools. I will add one more thing, knowing one technique from the school does not inform you about the school. The sum of all the techniques in the school create the logic of said school, one question from one technique is probably answered in another technique.
In Niten we have several sets, I will use the first three techniques from three sets to explain a concept (not teach the complete concept of said techniques). Tachi seiho 太刀勢法, kodachi seiho 小太刀勢法 and Nito seiho 二刀勢法 first technique is sassen 指先 in tachi and kodachi and chudan 中段 (円相之構) in Nito. These are exactly the same technique, even if in Nito they don’t look the same. When uchitachi 打太刀 approaches sh*tachi 仕太刀 they must be aware of the dangers of approaching someone in a single handed gedan, what is open on themselves, this will effect the timing and distance and uchitachi should encourage sh*tachi by using the correct timing, distance and cadence.
Next is hasso ハ相 (left and right) in tachi seiho, chudan 中段 in kodachi seiho and Jodan 上段 (火之構) in nito seiho, these are also exactly the same technique. Uchitachi approaches shidachi differently in these forms because the threat is different, therefore the timing, distance and cadence are slightly different to the first technique, a little closer and slightly quicker.
The third technique is uke nagashi 受流 (left and right) in tachi seiho, uke nagashi 受流 in kodachi seiho and gedan 下段 (慄然) in nito seiho, these are also the same techniques. What is different in the approach from this technique and the first technique, especially since sh*tachi is in a single handed gedan in tachi and kodachi? Uchitachi shortens the timing, in other words the attack comes quicker! It’s not the same timing or cadence as the first one so it is teaching a different lesson.
Yoshinkan aikido is the same! What makes the difference between ikkajo 一ヶ条, nikajo 二ヶ条 and sankajo 三ヶ条 to name only a few? The movement of uke 受け creates the difference. Uke moves in a fashion that logically creates ikkajo, nikajo and sankajo, sh*te 仕手 doesn’t decide to force the technique, they flow with the most logical movement that invites that particular technique and uke most definitely does not stand there like a sandbag waiting for something to happen to them. This practice of waiting is what makes the practical aspect of aikido difficult to apply. I have had the great fortune of my profession to use what I have learned numerous times and it’s the flow of movement that has been burned into the body through countless hours of practice that has allowed me to effectively use the techniques learned.
Your mind and body should learn to read the cues of distance, timing, pressure, cadence to unconsciously apply the kata, seiho, waza learned in class!

31 years of Yoshinkan aikido. For 20 of those years I averaged 20 hours a week of training. I trained under Kimeda sensei and Payet sensei. I have also trained in seminars under all the big names in Yoshinkan (Inoue sensei, Takeno sensei, Chida sensei, Ando sensei, Chino sensei, Shioda sensei (Yasuhisa), Mustard sensei and Thambu sensei) I also trained for several years under Obata sensei. This belt, although not the original black belt that Kimeda sensei gave me (I bought this one in 2002 from Tozando. They discontinued this particular belt). I have put a lot of sweat in this belt! I remember, while living in Japan, coming home from training and hanging this belt up to dry out. Many times I would wake up in the morning to find a huge puddle of sweat under where the belt was hanging!!
Many years of sweat and effort. This belt carries a lot of memories for me.

30 years ago this year I started Yoshinkan aikido.

林崎甚助源の重信 Hayashizaki Jinsuke Minamoto no Shigenobu was born on this day, January 12th, 1542 in Dewa province 出羽国 (currently Yamagata prefecture), Oushuu 奥州.
Very grateful for the gift of Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu iaiheiho 無双直伝英信流居合兵法 and all its permutations left to us today.

Happy New Year’s from Enmeikan よい大年お、円明館

Last Fridays training in the nito seiho

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Last Fridays training in the kodachi seiho

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Last Fridays training, the tachi seiho

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There are many ways in Japanese martial arts that the concept of
陰 in: shade, yin, negative, s*x organs, secret, shadow and 陽 you: sunshine, yang principle, positive, male, heaven, daytime are represented. Hyoho Niten Ichi Ryu uses the terms themselves.
In other arts I’ve heard 火 ka: fire and 水 mi: water. I’ve also heard 伊弉冉尊 Izanami no Mikoto the female deity who gave birth to Japan and the sun, moon, and storm gods and 伊弉諾尊 Izanagi no Mikoto the male deity who fathered Japan and the sun, moon, and storm gods.
While studying the densho for Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu last night I found another example of this concept. In the 立膝之部 tatehiza no bu there is a technique called 稲妻 inazuma which means lightning, flash of lightning, lightning bolt. If we break it down 稲 ina/ tou means rice plant and 妻 tsuma/ sei means wife, spouse. This is the 陰 yin.
In the 奥居合立業の部 oku iai tachi waza no bu there is a technique called 信夫 shinobu. 信 shin means faith, truth, fidelity, trust and 夫 otto/ fu means husband, man. This is the 陽 yang.
Now I have to examine the relationship between these two techniques in my practice!!

I have a new space for teaching on Fridays. Since it was my first time to teach there I decided to dress formally. I want to use this head shot for my social media interactions. Which do you prefer, colour or black and white?