Yoseikan Aikido

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Major styles of Aikido
Aikikai
Yoshinkan
Yoseikan Aikido
Shodokan Aikido
Ki Society
Iwama

Yoseikan Aikido: the aikido taught at the Yoseikan Dojo in Shizuoka, Japan, under the direction of Minoru Mochizuki.

Mochizuki was a direct student of Aikido's founder, Morihei Ueshiba. He was an uchi deshi (live in student) from around November 1930, to around August 1931. Mochizuki maintained contact with Ueshiba until the laters death in 1969.

In the 1970’s Yoseikan Aikido was formally organised into Yoseikan Budo along with the other arts Mochizuki had studied and mastered, including judo, karate, Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto-ryu, jujutsu, kobudo, iaido, kendo, jojutsu, and kempo. Although pockets still exist throughout the world that maintain their art as aikido, and as such, refer to it as Yoseikan Aikido.

1 Summary
2 History
3 Techniques
4 See also
5 References

[edit] Summary

Traditionally Yoseikan Aikido contains all the aspects present in other aikido schools, for example ai (harmony), ki (energy), kokyu (breath), seika-no-itten (one point), irimi (entering), and tenkan (turning). Other important aspects from judo are also included, including kuzushi (unbalancing), tsukuri (positioning), jita kyoei (mutual welfare and prosperity), sei ryoku zen yo (maximum efficiency).

Due to Mochizuki’s experiences in France in the 1950’s^[1] he felt that aikido needed a stronger technical basis to ‘meet all challengers.’ In essence all judo techniques can be thought of as Yoseikan Aikido techniques. In reality, this only adds several core judo techniques, such as hip throws, shoulder throws (which exist is other aikido schools), sacrifice throws, and foot sweeps. Some in the aikido community see the ideas of foot sweeps and sacrifice throw as contrary to the core principles of aikido, where balance and being centred are paramount. These techniques however, do not result in a loss of centre or balance. Fundamentally, the foot sweeping techniques in Yoseikan Aikido are identical to otoshi waza (dropping techniques) in other aikido schools. The use of the foot ensure the technique is effective, even when the opponent is resisting, so less emphasis is placed on timing, and an over committed attack is not required. As for sacrifice throws, a fundamental principle used in Yoseikan Aikido is gyokushin, or the spirit of a ball. Even when a ball rolls it maintains its centre, and that is true of the Yoseikan Aikidoka when performing sacrifice throws. You need not be on your feet to move spherically, which is a key to the application of aikido techniques.

Sincerity is another aspect which greatly influences Yoseikan Aikido. It is for this reason that Yoseikan Aikido includes basics and fundamental kata from karate. This makes sure that uke (the attacker) in Yoseikan is as effective and sincere in attack, as nage (the thrower) will become in defence. It is important to note that prior to World War II, aikido students were required to have previously study martial arts, and have a letter of reference from their instructor. This meant that all pre-war students already possessed basic skills of uke (the attacker), including falling and striking. Now, aikido is taken as a first art, hence no such prior experience exists. Therefore, in Yoseikan students are taught how to attack.

Put simply, the main difference between Yoseikan, and other schools is the way Mochizuki sensei structured his teachings, and hence the art of aikido that was taught at the Yoseikan. Yoseikan has a very logical structure, which can be seen as a fundamental influence of Jigoro Kano, who stressed the science of judo. More emphasis is placed on fundamentals, such as escaping from a grab. These techniques are typically mentioned in other aikido schools, and are the first part of a locking or throwing technique. However, in Yoseikan Aikido they are drilled and examined as basics. It is important to note that after its construction in 1931, Morihei Ueshiba visited, supervised, and taught at the Yoseikan, and Mochizuki was awarded his 8th Dan in the 1950’s (10th Dan awarded later by the IMAF with the approval of Kisshomaru Ueshiba), as well as obtaining scrolls in Aikijujutsu from Ueshiba in the 1930s,^[2] hence, his method was approved.

[edit] History

[edit] Japan

In October of 1930 after witnessing a demonstration of Morihei Ueshiba, Jigoro Kano organise (in a formal letter to Ueshiba) for two students to study under him. These two men were, Jiro Takeda and Minoru Mochizuki.^[3] With his previous knowledge in judo, jujutsu, kendo and kenjutsu, Mochizuki rapidly progressed under Ueshiba. He was appointed supervisor of the uchi deshi, and also served as a teaching assistant, it was even suggested that he marry Ueshibas daughter and hence become his successor. Mochizuki was an uchi deshi under Ueshiba for several months. In mid to late 1931, Mochizuki fell ill with pleurisy and pulmonary tuberculosis. During his 3 month hospital stay the Yoseikan dojo was constructed for Mochizuki. Ueshiba, who was at the official opening of the Yoseikan in November 1931, regularly taught seminars at the dojo.^[4]

In June of 1932, Ueshiba awarded Mochizuki with two Daito Ryu scrolls. The first (in Daito Ryu order) was the Hiden Ogi no Koto and the second was the Goshinyo no Te. In Daito Ryu, one learns the hiden mokuroku, then the aiki no jutsu, then the hiden ogi, and the goshinyo no te. This then qualifies them to teach the art. After this comes kaishaku soden and then finally menkyo kaiden. In Daito Ryu terms, Mochizuki was qualified to teach all that he had learnt at a high level. It is also worth noting that this is the technical level Ueshiba had achieved in Daito Ryu, although he held the official title Kyoju Dairi in Daito Ryu enabling him to give instruction and travel to teach as a representative of the headmaster, Sokaku Takeda.^[5]

Aikido at the Yoseikan continued to develop until 1972, when after returning from France, Mochizuki had decided to change the name to Yoseikan Budo. This also resulted in technical restructuring and the amalgamation of the once separate arts Mochizuki taught under a single term. The characteristics of Mochizuki's Yoseikan Budo was still in essence Aikido, with the addition of more Judo techniques, specifically ground work, the development of more sacrifice throws, and the inclusion of all of Katori Shinto Ryu in higher grades.

Today the Yoseikan in Japan is home to the Seifukai, an organisation headed by Mochizuki's son Tetsuma. They maintain a strong affinity to the primarily Aikido based Budo of Minoru Mochizuki.

[edit] France

In 1951, Mochizuki travelled to France mainly to teach judo, but he also found time to give instruction in aikido and is therefore credited with being the first to disseminate Aikido abroad. Europe's introduction to aikido and its association with judo came about directly due to the early activities of Mochizuki. He was to set a pattern that would be repeated in most European countries where aikido would cast its roots within the existing judo community. A large number of early European practitioners were judoka who were past their competitive years and found the graceful techniques of aikido to be a perfect alternative allowing them to continue active martial arts practice. Mochizuki spent a total of two-and-one-half years in France and his efforts sowed the seeds for the development of the world's largest aikido population outside Japan. It is said that today there are more than fifty thousand active practitioners in France!^[6]

[edit] America

The legitimate start of Yoseikan Aikido in the US was through Capt. Sadayuki Demizu of the Japanese Air Self Defense Force. As Liaison Officer for Japanese students at the missile school at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama, Demizu was a 4th dan in Yoseikan Aikido, mostly trained by Kyoichi Murai, but a direct student and son-in-law of Minoru Mochizuki. When Huntsville officers learned that Demizu was an aikido man, they asked him to begin teaching and he agreed. Among the first students was Thomas E. Bearden (then Captain, US Army--later retired as Lt.Col.). Glenn Pack, now the technical director of the United States Yoseikan Budo Association (USYBA) started training around this time. In February 1974, Pack began teaching Yoseikan Aikido at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. Pack continued teaching at the University of Alabama until 1975, when he went to graduate work in Arkansas, leaving the Tuscaloosa class in the hands of Rick Moncrief.

In 1975 Bearden sent a letter to Mochizuki asking for a teacher to be sent to the US. In early 1976, Mochizuki sent Patrick Auge. Auge had lived in Japan for several years, with four years as an uchi deshi at the Yoseikan, and was at the time a 4th dan. Auge settled in Ottawa, Ontario in Canada. He oversaw the already established Yoseikan in the US and began teaching in Canada, with two clubs in Ottawa. Currently there are 8 schools listed under the International Yoseikan Budo Federation (IYBF) in Canada, all have the world Aikido in their title. The IYBF hombu is in Torrance California under the direction of Patrick Auge, with two other dojos in the US.^[7]

The USYBA, while currently affiliated with the Yoseikan World Federation under Hiroo Mochizuki, still maintains its Yoseikan Aikido like syllabus. The USYBA list seven clubs on there website through the US, some include the term Aikido in their title.^[8] Another organisation in Canada is call the Canadian Association of Aikido Mochizuki. Although the term Yoseikan Aikido is not used, the origins of their Aikido are with Mochizuki from the Yoseikan.

[edit] Australia

Yoseikan Aikido was the second school of Aikido in Australia, and the first in the state of Western Australia. In 1968 a gentleman by the name of Phillipe Boiron began teaching Yoseikan Aikido for Jan de Jong in Perth, Western Australia. This lead Jan de Jong to travel to Japan in 1969 to train directly under Minoru Mochizuki. In 1974, on an official request from Jan de Jong, Mochizuki dispatched Yoshiaki Unno to Perth to teach Yoseikan Aikido. Unno also taught Iaido, Kobudo and Karate.

Almost half of the Aikido schools in Perth had some relationship to this early introduction of Yoseikan Aikido in Perth. The Jan de Jong Martial Arts School continues to teach Aikido. Hans de Jong, son of the late Jan de Jong and student of Unno, teaches Yoseikan Aikido and is a Shodan. The Aikido branch of the UWA Martial Arts Club started under Unno then continued by his student Brett Nener, 4th Dan in Yoseikan Aikido, is now affiliated with Butoku Ryu Aikijujutsu. Unno's last senior student Darin Hyde, 4th dan in Yoseikan Aikido, teaches Aikido at the Mushin Shindo Aikido school. Another of Unno's students, Ross Taylor, 4th Dan, heads the West Coast Aikido Academy, and is now affiliated with the Seifukai. John Langley, principle of the Institute of Aikido Australia, was also a student of Unno's.

[edit] Vietnam

In 1960, Kazuo Ishikawa and Harie Watanabe went to Saigon, Vietnam to teach Aikido at the invitation of the Cercle Sportif Saigonnaise. Nguyen Dang Duc was one of the early students at the Yoseikan Akido Dojo in Vietnam. Nguyen was subsequently awarded a 5th dan and named the head of the Yoseikan Aikido - Vietnam, by both Ishikawa and Watanabe. Nguyen traveled to the United States in 1986, and died in 1987. The current state of the Yoseikan Aikido in Vietnam is not known. Yoseikan Aikido from Vietnam also spread to the United States. The first person Vinn Le Vann, is believed to have been the first teacher of Yoseikan in the US. Another, Phan Huynh Tam, was a student of Nguyen's in Vietnam, now teaches Yoseikan Aikibudo in Ontario, Canada.^[9]

[edit] Techniques

Technically Yoseikan Aikido is very similar to other aikido styles. The fundamental technique (Ikkyo) is referred to as Robuse, or arm rowing, the majority of other aikido techniques are included in Yoseikan Aikido, although some may have different names. The fundamental attack, however, is not shomen uchi, it is an opposite posture single hand grab. Below is a list of common attacks used in Yoseikan, excluding strikes and kicks which encompass all of the basics from karate. An equivalent Aikikai attack is give in parentheses after the translation. This is followed by a list of Locks and then throws, again with Aikikai, Yoshinkan, and Shodokan equivalents in parentheses (Note: these techniques are used as equivalents to Yoseikan techniques for the benefit of those who study a different school of aikido, and are not meant to equate the techniques of other schools).

[edit] Attacks

Japanese: English (Aikikai equivalent^[10]):

Jun katate dori: Normal single hand grip (gyaku hanmi katate dori)
Dosoku katate dori: Same side single hand grip (ai hanmi katate dori or kosa dori)
Gyaku katate dori: Reverse single hand grip (none)
Ushiro kubi shime katate dori: rear neck strangle and wrist grab (same)
Ushiro watte kumi tsuki: Rear over arm bear hug (none)
Ushiro shitate kumi tsuki: Rear under arm bear hug (none)
Mae ryote ippon dori: Front two hand on one grasp (morote dori)
Mae ryote dori: Front two hand grasp (ryote dori)
Ushiro ryote dori: Rear two hand grasp (same)
Sode dori: Sleeve grasp (same)
Eri dori: Lapel grasp (mune dori)
Kata dori: Shoulder grasp (same)
Ushiro hiji dori: Rear two on two sleeve grasp (ushiro ryo sode dori)
Ushiro kata dori: Rear two on two shoulder (ushiro ryo kata dori)
Ushiro eri dori: Rear collar grasp (same)
Hadaka jime: Naked strangle (ushiro kubi shime)
Mae kumi tsuki: Tackle (none)
Eri dori yokomen uchi: Lapel hold side strike
Eri dori sukiage: lapel hold upper cut
Mae kubi tsukami shime: front neck strangle (none)
Mae eri shimeage: Front both hand lapel grab (mune dori)
Mae kami dori: Front hair grab (none)
Tsukami kakari: attempted strangle (none)

[edit] Locks

Yoseikan (Aikikai, Yoshinkan,^[11] Shodokan)

Robuse (Ikkyo, Ikkajo, Oshi Taoshi)
Hiji Kudaki (Rokkyo, Hiji Shime, Waki Gatame)
Kote Kudaki (Nikyo, Nikajo, Kote Mawashi)
Yuki Chigai (Sankyo, Sankajo, Kote Hineri)
Shita Ude Garami (Kata Gatame, - , ude hineri)
Kata Ha Gaeshi (as above)
Waki Gatame Hiki Tate ( - , Sankajo Rengyo Ho, - )
Kannuki Hiki Tate ( - , Hiki Kime, - )

[edit] Throws

Yoseikan (Aikikai, Yoshinkan, Shodokan)

Kote Gaeshi (same)
Tembin Nage ( - , Hiji Ate Kokyu Nage, Mae Otoshi)
Shiho Nage (same)
Ue Ude Garami ( -, Ude Garami, Ude Gaeshi)
Gyaku Kote Gaeshi (same)
Mukae Daoshi (Irimi Nage, Shomen Irimi Nage, - )
Do Gaeshi (Sayu Nage, Sokumen Irimi Nage, Gyaku Gamae Ate and Gedan Ate)
Ushiro kata otoshi (Ushiro Udoroshi, - , Ushiro Ate)
Ushiro Sumi Otoshi (Sumi Otoshi, - , Sumi Otoshi)
Kata Garuma (Maki Otoshi, - , - )

More techniques exist; the ones listed here have known equivalent techniques in other schools. The Aikikai and Yoshinkan refer to a lot of techniques as Kokyu Nage, a term which is not used in Yoseikan, all techniques have separate names. At higher levels the term Aiki Nage is use to describe throws utilising perfect timing, as Kokyu Nage implies, and it is also the term used in Morihei Ueshiba’s Budo Renshu.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

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Category: Aikido