Understanding Nishio's Half-Step Can Lead The Way

Practicing Japanese Martial Arts in Japan for the last two years has allowed me to learn more about Judo, Kendo, and Aikido.  Within Aikido, I was first attracted to comprehend the Aikikai style as there are today many different variations of Aikido.  The founder of Aikido, Morihei Ueshiba, had many live-in students over the years, and one was Yasuo Kobayashi Sensei, who is today an 8th dan in Aikido.  I could write several articles about Kobayashi Sensei because of my unique experiences in this dojo learning the Aikikai style, much about taiho jutsu, the jo staff (aikijo), the bokken (aikiken), and among other disciplines like Japanese calligraphy after classes on Saturdays.  During the era of Covid-19, I was not able to travel a lot east into central Tokyo, where Ichiro Shishiya Sensei was teaching; however, this would change in 2022.  So for 2021, it was a deep dive into the Aikikai approach to Aikido with Kobayashi Sensei.


(Shoji Nishio practicing Judo in...

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Turning Uke's Hand | Kote Gaeshi's Spiral Leverage

For almost a year living in Japan, I have been studying how to off-balance my training partners that I am throwing (Uke's). Off-balance or breaking a person's balance is called Kuzushi. I have been training Karate, Judo and Aikido while all this time catching some great moments in my learning curve on this topic. This has assisted in my research of evolving taiho jutsu arresting technique and specifically something of value to add to the Gunji Taiho Jutsu system.

One of the key positioning points or objectives to reach in Gunji Taiho Jutsu is the outside position (outside line). This is the point just next to your training partner or someone that you wish to bring to the ground to arrest. From the outside line, it to easy to gain the back position which is even better in terms of superior positioning to protect yourself from a bigger and stronger person. In former blogs, I have discussed the universal arm control with two hands-on holding a person's one arm. This universal arm...

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Prof. Kenji Tomiki and His Striking Approach To Kuzushi

Having recently returned from Osaka, Japan, I was able to research Prof. Kenji Tomiki's work in Judo, Aikido and the development of Competitive Aikido called often: Tomiki Aikido, Competition Aikido or Shodokan Aikido. Osaka today is home to the headquarters of the Shodokan Aikido Federation. This is the main dojo that Prof. Tomiki started before his death in 1979. Firstly, it must be pointed out that Tomiki was a unique practitioner of Budo as he was deeply knowledgeable in both Judo and Aikido. Prof Tomiki was a University teacher and Judo coach in Tokyo. Let me present his ranks in Martial Arts.


 Prof. Kenji Tomiki, 8th dan in Judo under founder Dr. Jigoro Kano and 8th dan in Aikido under founder O Sensei Morihei Ueshiba. 


In addition, while working at Waseda University,  Tomiki was able to organize Aikido as a recognized club.  He was the first person to do this in Japan by developing a competitive form of Aikido that Waseda University wanted to see to be...

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Kote Gaeshi | Structure, Balance and Usefulness

 

One of the popular techniques of Jujutsu and specifically Aikido is Kote Gaeshi. This is a wrist-turning technique that can bring an attacker to the ground or even throw him in the air. Kote Gaeshi is not a high percentage move applied in the dojo under high-level sparring. A wristlock control and throw is a small area to control, so many students when thinking of a takedown or throw control other bigger parts of the body instead of the wrist. It makes sense in a weaponless environment; however, if your training partner puts something in his hand to attack; how quickly you will find yourself rushing to control the wrist. I give you Kote Gaeshi.

This past weekend Yasuo Kobayashi, Aikido 8th dan taught three techniques from a straight punch (Tsuki). Two of the technique transitioned into Kote Gaeshi and finally two different ways to turn the attacker to his stomach and finally two types of pinning techniques. What was nice about practicing this technique was the different...

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Iaido Is A Path Towards Taking Initiative

In the last Gunji University blog, I wrote about the understanding of the zero-concept relating to Judo grip fighting and also the Japanese Martial Arts ideas of when to attack: Go No Sen (After the attack); Sen No Sen (Attack the attack); and Sen Sen No Sen (Taking initiative).  Having lived in Tokyo for more than 9 months I am only starting to understand Budo.  This study for me has always been picked up and down to know more about Bushido culture while training in Martial Art all these years; however, today I see many issues relating to Bushido origins and its historical context during Japan's modernization Meiji period.  I have concerns with people today throwing words like Budo and Bushido around in the United States when they have such a focus on Sport and Mixed Martial Arts culture.  As I study, I am only beginning to understand Budo here in Japan, and in a positive way I have been enjoying training in Judo, Karatedo, Aikido and now Jodo...

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One Hour of The Right Intention

In the Gunji University student curriculums and in the system of Gunji Taiho Jutsu (GTJ) arresting arts, there are techniques that are applied during the PCS 2 stage of apprehension that are modified from classic Aikido throwing techniques.  A few I can think of off the top of my head are what we call in GTJ "The Bull Position."  This type of technique is essentially an Aikido Irimi Nage technique (or Entering Throw) that has been put through a wrestling filter, combatives filter, and Thai boxing filter to make it work against full 100% resistance. 

Irimi Nage example:

 

 

GTJ Bull Position Throw example:

 
A second classical Aikido technique that has been modified for GJT is the Kaiten Nage throw (Wheel Throw.) In GJT we use a "Modified Bull Position" that has been through the front headlock filter of wrestling and submission fighting filter.

Aikido's Classic Kaiten Nage example:
  

GTJ Modified Bull Position Throw To Pin example:

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The Bruce Bookman Sensei Seminar

If you are into the Gunji University curriculums so far as a student or as an instructor in the ICT program, you will start to see that for Gunji Taiho Jutsu I am a major fan of the getting to the outside line, outside position and/or even the back position while standing up.  This is, of course, gaining the outside line while also using the Gunji Taiho Jutsu PCS 1, PCS 2 and PCS 3 strategical structures/framework.  If you have not gotten to the Gunji Taiho Jutsu PSCing strategies, they are coming during your 12-week curriculum.  

At any rate, this weekend I put the white belt back on and attended a progressive Aikido seminar with the famous Bruce Bookman Sensei.  Bruce has a dynamic background in Martial Arts.  This weekend marks his 50th year in Aikido, so this was a special weekend.  Sensei Bookman is a 6th-degree black belt in Aikido.  In addition, he has extensive cross-training in boxing, tae kwon do, judo, iaido, and is a black belt...

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