Technical aspects
The domain of Aizu (会津藩, Aizuhan) was one of the medium-sized fiefdoms in the Edo period. During the Meiji Restoration, it sided with the Shogun and was defeated in the Boshin War (1868–1869). Aizu-Wakamatsu Castle (会津若松城) was subsequently destroyed in 1874 and reconstructed in concrete as a museum in 1965. Following the dissolution of all fiefdoms in 1876, Aizuhan became part of the new Fukushima Prefecture.
Aizuhan was the home of the Takeda-ryū Aikijūjutsu.
After Takeda Tokimune (1916–1993), the successor of Takeda Sokaku, Daitōryū Aikijūjutsu split into various lines. These included Takumakai (group of 2023) and Daitōryū (group of 2024). Kondō Sensei (*1945) of the Daitōryū initially began with Aikido and later became a direct student and successor of Takeda Tokimune.
The video shows some characteristic excerpts from the demonstrations at the Nihon Kōbudō Enbukai.
Obviously, great importance is placed on tying up the bad guys properly. In some Aikido styles, some of the locking techniques demonstrated here, such as jūji garami, have survived to this day.
Before Takeda Sokaku, Aikijūjutsu techniques were taught only to a few samurai and servants at the court of Aizu. They were, in fact, primarily used for self-defense at court. Therefore, many techniques are performed while sitting (suwariwaza). To maintain their effectiveness, they were kept secret within this small circle of the family and were not allowed to be passed on to other people.
The video shows an excerpt from the 1980 television series "Shōgun," which originally consisted of 10 episodes of 60 minutes each. The English navigator (Anjin-san), who had since been knighted as a samurai, brings his birthday greetings to Lady Ochiba, wife of Lord Ishido Kazunari (in the story representing Tokugawa Ieyasu), at Osaka Castle.
In such a courtly atmosphere, the Aikijūjutsu techniques were intended to neutralize any troublemakers or evildoers.
Master Nocquet reported that Ueshiba Morihei was allowed a maximum of 5 minutes of instruction per day by Takeda Sokaku. The rest of the time, he had to work for his master. Takeda Sokaku taught only individuals and recorded everything in writing. These records have largely been conserved. Each technique cost money; Takeda Sokaku had to make a living, as the full provision of samurai support by their lords had been abolished during the Meiji Restoration. This led to later friction with Ueshiba Morihei, who, as a franchisee, taught his students in groups, thus earning less money and also wanting to pay less.
Master Kondō reports that Takeda Sokaku taught each technique only once and did not explain it. This was his business principle. The students had to learn the techniques themselves. Takeda Tokimune advised Kondō not to teach the real techniques. Otherwise a student could pick them up, leave school the next day, and then spread the "secret" techniques in the public. Another reason, he said, would be that out of every thousand students, there is only one truly capable one.
An example of the realization of techniques in Tohei Sensei's Ki Aikido: This recording probably dates from around 1980. It is subtitled "Shihan Yoshigasaki Kenjiro" (師範 吉ヶ崎健二郎).
At that time, the execution of techniques in the Taigi (precursors of today's Tsuzukiwaza) was very strictly regulated. The movements are rhythmic, powerful, and very decisive, almost somewhat schematic.
体技 第十八 後ろ技 (72 sec)
1. 呼吸投げ （羽交い締め） - Kokyūnage (hagaijime)
2. 後ろ肩取り呼吸投げ （飛行機投げ） - Ushiro katadori kokyūnage (hikōki nage)
3. 後ろ肩取り呼吸投げ （すい込み） - Ushiro katadori kokyūnage (suikomi)
4. 後ろ肩取り呼吸投げ （前方投げ） - Ushiro katadori kokyūnage (zenpōnage)
5. 後ろ片手取り首締め （裏返し） - Ushiro katatedori kubishime (uragaeshi)
6. 後ろ片手取り首締め （前方投げ） - Ushiro katatedori kubishime (zenpōnage)
Translation of Waseda University Aikido Club's Taigi list.
List of TaigiIn other words:
This list divides Shinshin Toitsu Aikido into 30 Taigi. It was apparently compiled this way to minimize technical deterioration over time. We use this list for our performances at Taigi competitions and the Waseda Festival. We also use it for our welcome demonstrations. This will help you better understand our techniques.
For each Taigi is given the number of seconds. It is said that a Taigi is ideally performed in this amount of time if you maintain a calm mind, move from One Point, maintain appropriate speed and rhythm, and perform each technique with sufficient energy. It actually seems to take about this long.
Aikido is technically based on Aikijūjutsu, which was taught by Takeda Sokaku.
Those techniques were intended for self-defense at court. Not only for the samurai, but also for women and servants. Therefore, the only reference to the samurai in Aikido is historically incorrect.
Most Aikido attacks represent possible situations at court. However, especially grip attacks (katatedori, ryotedori, katadori ...) or bare-hand strikes (shomenuchi, yokomenuchi) are uncommon in violent private disputes today. Boxing, kicking, or stabbing are more common. Alone for this reason, Aikido is not a modern form of self-defense.
The essential change that made Ueshiba Morihei to Aikijūjutsu was the purpose of the techniques. They are now exercises to learn, develop, and cultivate certain physical and mental abilities. In particular, a peaceful attitude and a peaceful approach to one's environment should be practiced.
On the subject of techniques, Yoshigasaki Sensei said:
"A technique is a fixed form in a fixed environment to achieve a fixed goal. If you want to apply a technique in the real world, you have to adjust it because the environment is changing in the real world. ... Learning techniques helps you to act better in your real life."
The last sentence shows that Aikido practice can have manifold goals and effects.
When practicing in the dojo, one should first accept that these are exercises.
The attack is precisely defined and should be executed accordingly. The subsequent technique should be meaningful, precise, and effective.
On this basis, the techniques can be practiced and mastered, perhaps with the goal of "... acting better in life."
