Aikido
“Aikido is a modern martial art that specializes in the subtle use of force. Primarily an empty-hand martial art, it is extremely subtle, and is renowned for a historical emphasis on moral and spiritual issues in addition to its utility as a system of self-defense.” — Ellis Amdur
Students of aikido learn
to neutralize attacks by throwing or pinning an opponent, most often by means of
locking one or more of the opponent’s joints. Because the opponent is
controlled through a mechanical linkage, rather than by application of pain,
aikido is a matter of skill and not brute force. The objective of the art is to
gain absolute control of an attacker, both physically and spiritually, allowing
the possibility an opponent can be deterred or restrained with minimal harm. The
art provides a wide range of responses to aggression, and is especially
appropriate for study by women, law enforcement officers, and those who enjoy
the challenge of sophisticated technique.
• A Short History of
Aikido
Although
aikido is a relatively new budo, dating to the early 20th century, it
is derived from a much older martial tradition. Aikijujutsu
was created in the 12th century as a secret art of the Minamoto clan
and was a closely guarded secret over the course of the samurai era. Training in
aikijujutsu was first opened to the general public by Takeda Sokaku in the early
1900’s, at which time the art became known as Daito-ryu.
The founder of aikido,
Ueshiba Morihei, was one of Takeda’s most gifted students. Ueshiba Sensei was
born in 1883 and throughout his youth devoted himself to arduous training in
jujutsu, as well as in the use of the sword, staff, and spear. Following his
introduction to Takeda in 1915, Ueshiba trained diligently in Daito-ryu,
eventually earning a transmission scroll and teaching certification.
Despite becoming quite
accomplished in Daito-ryu, Ueshiba Sensei grew increasingly troubled by the
notion of using martial arts to win at all costs. Believing that victory at the
expense of another person is not true victory, Ueshiba Sensei’s personal
practice evolved to explore the concept that true martial skill is found not in
the ability to defeat others, but rather in the search to defeat discord within
oneself.
Following a spiritual
revelation he experienced in the spring of 1925, answering his question of how
to reconcile martial practice with a larger framework of morality and community,
Ueshiba Sensei began to refine his aikido. Working initially from a body of
techniques virtually identical to the repertoire he amassed in Daito-ryu,
Ueshiba sensei pared, honed, and adapted, eventually formalizing an art suitable
for the world at large.
• How We Train
Itten Dojo offers a
unique, concise, and practical approach to aikido training, combining tradition
and innovation. Classes are small, providing substantial personal attention from
instructors and the opportunity for training to be tailored to the needs of the
particular group of students attending a practice.
There are five, major
components to our aikido:
Kihon
— Fundamentals are the foundation and building blocks of training. Our kihon
include the Taikyoku kuzushi (five bodywork “themes” defining and
developing specific vectors of movement), ukemi (receiving techniques by
means of body structure and/or active counters), and physical conditioning
(strengthening exercises designed to insure the ability to train intensely).
Honden Waza
— The “mainline transmission” of our style, fifteen techniques drawn from
traditional aikido (ikkyo, nikyo, sankyo, yonkyo, gokyo, iriminage, shihonage,
kokyunage, kaitennage, koshinage, kotegaeshi, irimi-otoshi, sumi-otoshi,
aiki-otoshi, and tenchinage). Motion in traditional aikido techniques is
primarily circular, emphasizing flowing flexibility while maintaining stable
posture and balance. While beginning levels of practice are cooperative, more
advanced levels feature increasing resistance, sustained “attacks,” and/or
active counters by the practice partner.
Newaza
— Traditional aikido specializes in standing, “arm’s-length grappling.”
With the exception of pins applied from a kneeling position, most styles of
aikido do not include any form of ground fighting in their repertoire. We
believe that practical self-defense skills demand inclusion of techniques for
working within close-contact range (as in the case of a standing clinch) or on
the ground if one is taken down and must regain one's feet. Rather than groundwork grafted onto
aikido, our newaza curriculum embodies the identical fundamentals and
applications, in a horizontal paradigm.
Atemi
— Different styles of aikido vary widely in their opinions of the place of atemi
(striking). In our opinion, every aikido technique contains multiple
opportunities for atemi, and the effectiveness of techniques — especially in
the context of self-defense — is considerably enhanced by the
active application of strikes. Consequently, we teach a range of punching,
striking, and kicking techniques.
Aikibuki
— In aikido, weapons training serves primarily to inform and polish unarmed
technique. We utilize bokken (wooden swords), jo (four-foot,
wooden staffs) and tanto (wooden knives) in our training, practicing both
offensive and defensive skills in a variety of contexts.
Overall, our practice of
aikido is physically challenging, intellectually fascinating, and immensely
enjoyable.
• Lineage
The
Itten Dojo aikikai is fortunate to train under the technical guidance of Mr.
Ellis Amdur, who visits the dojo regularly to conduct weekend seminars. Mr.
Amdur is a crisis intervention specialist based in Seattle, and began his
martial arts training in 1968. He spent 13 years in Japan, and currently holds
instructor’s licenses in the Araki-ryu Torite Kogusoku and the Toda-ha Buko-ryu
naginatajutsu, teaching both these martial traditions in Seattle. Mr. Amdur
extensively cross-trained in judo, hsing i, Ch’en family t’ai chi ch’uan
and muay thai. He began aikido training in 1973 with Terry Dobson in New York
City, and continued his training in Japan with a number of instructors, most
notably Kuwamori Yasunori and Kuroiwa Yoshio (Dobson, Kuwamori, and Kuroiwa were
all direct students of Ueshiba Sensei). Mr. Amdur is the founder of Edgework, a
company offering training and consultation to law enforcement and social service
personnel for the de-escalation and management of the behavior of emotionally
disturbed individuals. Additional information on Mr. Amdur can be found at Koryu.com
or on his personal website, www.edgework.info.
Amdur Sensei (left) with dojocho Bob Wolfe
Itten Dojo aikido practices
are held Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m., and Saturday mornings from
10:00 to 11:30 a.m. In addition, there is an “aikido core skills”
practice Wednesdays from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. Prospective
students of aikido must be at least 12 years of age. Required training equipment
is limited to a proper uniform.