What is Aiki Jutsu?
In traditional Japanese society,
the samurai - the warrior class - needed unarmed combat
skills for occasions when they were available to use
a weapon. This could range from a battlefield situation
where a sword was broken to a heated argument where
deadly force would be inappropriate.
- Ai - harmonious
- Ki - spirit
- Jutsu - techniques
Commonly, unarmed Japanese combat
techniques were referred to as Ju Jutsu - 'ju' meaning
flexible or pliable. In this case, 'flexible' refers
to the mental approach rather than the physical. Modern
Judo is directly descended from jujitsu, while Aikido
is descended from Aiki Jutsu. Dentokan Aiki Jutsu
is derived from Daito Ryu Aiki Jutsu, which was the
style taught to the Japanese Imperial family in medieval
Japan.
The modern art of Aikido was
also developed from Daito Ryu Aiki Jutsu in the 1930s
and is now practised worldwide.
In the UK, Aiki Jutsu is affiliated
to the British Aikido Board (the national Governing
Body for all Aikido styles) via the Aikido Research
Federation. All our instructors hold BAB Coach qualifications.
Techniques
- Escapes
- Locking & twisting
joints
- Throws & projections
- Strikes
-
Constrictions
Some of the above techniques
are potentially dangerous. Accordingly, Dentokan Aiki
Jutsu is a non-competitive art, where control and
consideration for your partner are the forfeit of
our practice.
Principles
- Posture
- Distance
- Timing
- Movement
- Weight
Strength and muscular take second
place in aiki jutsu. Avoiding and/or absorbing your
opponent's energy is the aim, moving in harmony with
the amount of force he or she is using. While strikes
(punches and kicks) may be used, these are intended
as distractions to confuse your opponent, aiding the
use of a throw, lock or simply 'getting out of the
way'.
Dento-Shoshiu-Ryu Iai-Jutsu
Iai Jutsu is the art of 'drawing
the sword' smoothly and quickly, in response to an
attack. Practice is done through kata (and imaginary
opponents) using blunt-edged swords - iaito. The techniques
of Dento Shoshin Ryu are derived from Toyama Ryu -
developed in the 1880s from classical schools of Iaijutsu,
to create a very practical style that could be taught
to the newly formed Western-style Japanese army. Live
blade practise does not take place in our classes.
|
