Ueshiba Morihei developed Aikido based on the techniques of Daito-Ryu Aiki-Jujutsu. Aikido has become widespread and has diversified greatly. There are Aikidoka who therefore want to "go back to the roots" studying Daito-Ryu. The example of Chūjō Sensei, who is a Zen master in a temple of the Rinzai sect in Higashimatsushima and also teaches Daito-Ryu, shows the essential elements of this Ryu.
Garyuzen Dōjō
The dojo was visited by a team from the local television station Miyagi TV. The young reporter Ohba wants to try out how Daito-Ryu works.
Explanations:
"It's like holding the steering wheel of a car. Turn the steering wheel slowly."
"Like giving your friend pudding. Hold the pudding in front of his nose."
"Refine the inner core (自分の中心), not the technical skills (技)."
無我の境地 muga no kyōchi - selflessness
無意識 muishiki - unconsciousness
自然体 shizentai - natural posture/movement
Zazen in motion
From Chūjō Sensei's website:
Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu is a martial art (武術) that does not require physical strength or muscle power and aims to achieve maximum effect with minimal body movements. It is used for self-defense (護身) using natural and effortless body movements and "soft aiki techniques".
It was a self-defense technique that was only passed on to high-ranking samurai of the Aizu clan. Until the Meiji period, it was a martial art that was not open to the public. It was made known to the general public by Mr. Sokaku Takeda (born in Aizu). Mr. Chūjō learned this martial art 15 years ago and became a dojo leader.
「斬らない斬られない。」
I don't cut, I don't get cut.
「殴らない殴られない。」
I don't hit, I don't get hit.
「蹴らない蹴られない。」
I don't kick, I don't get kicked.
Sensei Horikawa Yukimichi, a senior student of Sensei Takeda Sokaku, describes martial arts this way. Unlike competitive sports, the goal is not to defeat the opponent, but to improve one's spirituality (自己の精神性). This is the ideal, peaceful philosophy of martial arts. As someone who specializes in teaching zazen, I have found that the freedom in this martial art is very close to the state of enlightenment in Zen. The techniques of Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu can be described as "zazen in motion" (動く坐禅).
The appeal of this martial art is that anyone can learn it, regardless of age and gender. Our current students range from kindergarten children to senior students. Although I am middle-aged, physically inflexible and weak, I was able to learn it without much difficulty. It is one of the few martial arts that can be practiced for a lifetime.
This martial art is an energy-saving martial art that aims for maximum effect with minimal body movement and can therefore be learned by anyone. Physical strength is not important and there is no need to exert yourself at all. Weight training and running are of course also unnecessary. When practicing in our dojo, you will realize that the secret of martial arts lies in the relaxed movements of everyday life. If you continue to practice, you will become more and more fascinated by this martial art.
Aiki and Aikido
During an exchange training with Aikidoka from Saitama, Chūjō Sensei explains how Tenchinage is performed in Daito-Ryu.
The Three Levels of Daito Ryu
Shoden, Chuden and Okuden.
(Adapted from an article by aikijoseph)
A three-level training level is common in many authentic Japanese arts. In Shodo (Japanese calligraphy), for example, practitioners begin by practicing brush writing at the Kaisho level. Writing at this level is characterized by strong, clear and precise strokes. They then move on to Gyosho, where brushwork becomes more fluid as practitioners begin to understand how the characters in Japanese writing work and fit together. Finally, after many years of practice, master-level calligraphers reach the Sousho level, where their life energy flows into their work.
Traditionally, Daito-Ryu progresses through three levels. The first is Shoden, where practitioners learn jujutsu. This includes powerful lock throws, ground work, and strikes (known as atemi) not unlike those of other schools of Japanese jujutsu.
After a training period of up to ten years, practitioners reach Chuden and are introduced to Aiki jujutsu. At this level, jujutsu techniques are performed using Aiki, rather than normal muscle power. The techniques become smaller and can therefore be performed in confined spaces. Aiki jujutsu techniques block or throw the opponent by briefly attacking their joints with Aiki. Aiki is a profound concept that has no translation. It includes elements of breathing, timing, reflexes, psychology, and body movement.
Eventually, highly advanced practitioners can reach the Okuden level. They learn the techniques known as Aiki no Jutsu. The internal practices learned at the Chuden level are so internalized that the practitioner barely moves externally. Internally, however, he uses intention, breathing, and connection to organize himself to handle the incoming force and generate unified, condensed energy. The opponent is off balance at the moment of contact, blocked, thrown, or even pinned, cramped, or squeezed, often before he even realizes what has happened.
At the Aiki no Jutsu level, the sharp Aiki techniques used to attack joints at the Chuden level flow throughout the opponent's entire body. The sensitive opponent attacks, but suddenly feels as if an enormous force appears somewhere inside him, which sometimes feels like a great weight, sometimes like a gust of wind, and sometimes like an explosion taking place deep inside his body. When a beginner is exposed to an Aiki no Jutsu technique, he often falls or loses his strength without understanding what has happened to him.
Daito Ryu was developed specifically for the Aizu samurai clan in northern Japan. For high-ranking members of the Aizu, it was the self-defense art for formal situations in closed spaces. These situations require minimal movement and a calm, composed mind, even breathing, and a highly developed and pronounced control of one's own body and mind.
Double short stick
Controlling the attacker with Aiki.
The teacher's movements are very calm and clear. He controls even with little or even no direct physical contact.
Comment
Obviously, there are many aspects of Aikido that already existed in Daito-Ryu Aikijujutsu and are still practiced today in this branch presented here. While the Ki that Nakamura and Tohei taught was initially intended to strengthen the individual practitioner, the Aiki of Daito-Ryu refers immediately to the interaction between attacker and defender.
As aikijoseph writes, Aiki requires a connection between Uke and Nage, the opponent must want to establish a connection with Nage. "The opponent must be sensitive." If, for example, an attacker is under the influence of drugs or mentally disturbed, this type of defense will not necessarily work.
Another aspect is the way an attacker is treated. He is "blocked, thrown or even immobilized, cramped or squeezed, often before he even notices what has happened." In Aikido, this is not something that is welcomed, already for aesthetic reasons and for harmony.
It is interesting to note that Chūjō Sensei says that the freedom you feel when performing the techniques is very close to the state of enlightenment in Zen. This experience is more difficult to achieve in Aikido, as the techniques involve much more movement.
From my own experience, I can say that the movements in Aikido may seem long-winded and complicated at times. However, if you constantly practice the small, effective movements shown above and if Uke is treated in this dominant way, you will also want to perform larger movements, even if they are less direct and effective.