Iwama Style is the style of aikido that was taught at Iwama dojo (in Iwama) by the founder of aikido, Morihei Ueshiba, and especially the lineage passed on through Morihiro Saito, a close disciple who was given responsibility over Iwama dojo by Ueshiba.[1]
It is also known by many names. These include Iwama-Ryu (岩間流 where ryū is the Japanese term for a style or school), Iwama Style, and Iwama Sutairu Aikido (岩間スタイル合気道 where "style" was transliterated into Japanese from English). It is often called Takemusu after an advanced aikido concept that was taught at Iwama. It is sometimes called Traditional, Dentō (伝統, lit. traditional), or founder's aikido, which emphasises its claim to exceptional authenticity. It is also called Saito style, in reference to its principle disseminator.
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Iwama style aikido organisations can be found both within and outside of the biggest aikido organisation Aikikai (Yasuo Kobayashi, for example, is an Aikikai shihan).
The main non-Aikikai branch is Iwama Shin-Shin Aiki Shuren-kai, headed by Morihiro Saito's son Hitohiro Saito. It continues to issue Iwama Ryu grading certificates.
Most of Saito's longest students have remained affiliated with Aikikai. Some such groups in Europe belong to the Takemusu Aikido Kyokai umbrella organisation.[2] (Kyokai simply means organisation.) It is led by Saito's two most senior students, who are Paolo Corallini[3] shihan and Ulf Evenås shihan. Both were appointed as official representatives and graded to 7th dan by Saito in 2001, and their ranks have also been subsequently ratified by the Aikikai. Takemusu aikido generally conforms to the Aikikai syllabus but also has further addition requirements (such as demonstration of greater weapons proficiency at gradings). In the US, The Takemusu Aikido Association is an Aikikai organization that practices Iwama-style Aikido.
Some years ago, the distribution of Iwama Style dojo was more abundant in some countries, such as the Scandinavian countries. The existence of this organisation was reflected in the organisation of aikido in some countries, such as Sweden, where there were three committees for the different types of aikido within the Budo Federation - Iwama Ryu, ki-aikido, and Aikikai. Despite this, Iwama Ryu was never officially declared an organisation independent of the Aikikai, and it can be regarded as a rather informal network held together by the fact that Saito sensei gave out his own dan ranks - Iwama Ryu ranks - as well as dan ranks from the Aikikai Hombu. Specific weapons ranks and weapon transmission scrolls were also given within the Iwama Ryu.
The highest Iwama Ryu ranks ever awarded are 7th dan given to Paolo Corallini and Ulf Evenås; they both also held title of shihan in this style, with the right to give Iwama Ryu dan ranks. Top instructors ranked 6th dan include Tony Sargeant, Daniel Toutain, David Alexander, and Wolfgang Baumgartner. In 1990 Saito Morihiro Sensei, on a seminar in Turin (Italy) publicly declared that Paolo Corallini Shihan would be the sole person authorized to conduct Iwama Ryu exams (directly or by delegation) in substitution of him, by saying that while he was not in Europe, he would be substituted only by Paolo Corallini in grading Iwama Ryu. Later on other senior instructors have been delegated by Saito Sensei and Paolo Corallini Shihan to conduct dan exams in their countries.
Iwama style includes the combined study (riai) of traditional Japanese weapons (bukiwaza), specifically Aiki-jō (staff) and Aiki-ken (sword), and of empty-handed aikido (taijutsu). Iwama practitioners often claim that their aikido is closest to that of the founder, as preserved by Morihiro Saito. Among non-Iwama practitioners, a common opinion is that Iwama style mainly is Morihei Ueshiba's aikido of the 1940s and 1950s not taking into consideration his later years; this viewpoint is considered to be too simplistic by Iwama-style practitioners.
Whether taught at an Aikikai or Iwama Shin-Shin Aiki Shuren-kai school, Iwama style Aikido tends to be more codified, like Yoseikan Aikido, Yoshinkan Aikido and Shodokan Aikido. Weapons training, including kata, is stressed. Techniques are generally practiced first from a static grab and footwork is often broken up into numbered steps. In addition weapons work involves many repetitions of suburi and paired practice is practiced with a pause between each movement until students are relatively advanced.
A great deal of emphasis is placed on a stable hanmi or stance in Iwama style aikido. To this end uke will often test nage's stance by pushing against nage in a number of directions during a pin or during a pause in static practice of a technique. Also, footwork is usually practiced at the start of every class and exercises pairing footwork with weapons is common (e.g. happo-giri or otherwise practicing maintaining balance while swinging a weapon)
While most Aikido practitioners stress a vertical posture, Iwama stylists practice with the hip tucked to allow the back leg's power to be better exerted (see the Yoshinkan's kamae). Though the back should be kept straight and the center of mass kept between the legs, this creates an impression of leaning forward. The neck is ideally also kept relatively straight. Also, while a number of Aikido styles practice with the hips square the front, Iwama stylists sometimes rotate the hips inward when sinking lower into their stance, especially when using a sword. In jo work, the posture of hito-emi, or standing with a dramatically minimized profile facing the opponent, is stressed.
Iwama style Aikido has a large number of diverse kokyu nage that give it a large technical repertoire compared to most styles of Aikido. There is also a strong emphasis on the use of atemi during techniques.
Many techniques, especially techniques that begin from shomen-uchi, start with nage initiating a strike to uke in the most basic form of the technique. This is in common with Yoshinkan and Michio Hikitsuchi's basic practice, but opposite of how most other styles of Aikido teach the techniques. Once this variation is mastered, students may also practice with uke striking, though it is emphasized that tori is initiating the encounter.
In ukemi Iwama practitioners will usually attempt to parry the atemi being thrown by nage, which may or may not be encouraged in other styles of Aikido.
The sword forms of Iwama style are generally recognized as being descended from Kashima Shinto-ryu sword techniques. In particular the first two kumitachi are nearly identical to forms from Kashima Shinto-ryu.
Suwari-waza (seated techniques) in Iwama-style is always started completely in seiza. This is in contrast to most other styles where the practitioners often start already on their toes (kiza).
Ara-waza, literally coarse techniques, are occasionally practiced by Iwama style Aikido practitioners. These techniques are intended to explicitly show the more vicious applications hidden in Aikido technique and include simple kicks targeting the knees and entangling or twisting joints during throws with the intent to break them. Some henka-waza (modified basic techniques) in Iwama style Aikido also include entangling joints, locking large joints, strikes to vital points, and occasionally chokes using the arm or the partner's dogi. As Aikido practitioners are usually not skilled in choking techniques these are never performed fully for safety reasons.
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