Valencia (Xàtiva) Tomiki Aikido - Winter Course 2017 with Adrian Tyndale 6th Dan

STUDY GROUP TOMIKI AIKIDO – Friday 27th January, 2017 - 19.00pm to 21.00pm

Valencia (Xàtiva) Tomiki Aikido Winter Seminar 2017

The objective of the seminar this weekend is to study concepts of distance using Aikido/Judo principles. To gain a better understanding of how the shoulder-line and spine-line can be implemented to improve the efficiency of our techniques and apply this to some self-defence applications taken from Aikido Goshin Ho and Judo Goshin Jutsu.

Scapula or shoulder blade
These are two wide flat bones that provide attachment for 3 different muscle groups. In martial arts there are a wide variety of ways in which we can use the upper back to assist performance. The seminar this weekend shed some light on how these benefits can be achieved.

Spine Wave
The spine wave is created by the action of the Lumbar Spine, the thoracic spine and associated tissues working sequentially but in harmony with one another. This bowing and un-bowing of the spine is one very powerful way in which the body can utilize the spine to create force or power.

Harmony of the Joints
There is a method for identifying the relationship and the role of our major body joints known as the '3 external harmonies' or sometime the '6 harmonies' depending upon the tradition. These are the Wrists to the Ankles, The Knees to the Elbows and the Shoulders to the Hips. There are several idea's linked to this association. But two of the major ones explain how the joints align with each other and then their related role within the body.

Winding
Winding can be described as a means to wrap the fascia, muscles and relevant tissues into tight spirals around the bones and body structures in order to control the bone movement.

Proprioception or Position Sense
The five senses: vision (sight), audition (sound), olfaction (smell), taction (touch), and gustation (taste). These senses are responsible for our interaction with the external world. Additionally, we have several senses that are responsible for our internal functioning. One of the most important internal senses is called proprioception, or position sense. Proprioception allows humans to control their limbs without directly looking at them. Human beings do not have a single organ for proprioception. Instead, the sense is processed by the entire nervous system as a whole. Inside every muscle and joint lie tiny meters called muscle spindles and Golgi tendons that constantly measure the amount of tension and degree of contraction. This information travels up a discreet highway in the spinal cord called the spinocerebellar tract, and makes its way to the cerebellum. The cerebellum accepts information from every muscle and joint in the body, and calculates where the limbs must be in space.

Ankle
We have an extremely refined balance and proprioception systems keeping us upright. Most of the correction and balance maintenance systems work without conscious thought, they simply activate as and when they are required. The ankle and associated tissues are central to this system. Tightness in the ankle is one of the most significant factors inhibiting the ability to root or feel the ground connection.

Our functional warming up relates to the above -

 Ankles, hips, shoulders (Whole body)

 Foot movements (without moving body)

 Foot movements (Ayumi Ashi training) First slowly "Penguin" or "Mud-Walking". Then Tsugi Ashi training, left, right, forwards and backwards.

 Reciprocating torsional stretching and rising

 Elbows together, Elbows out (movement from the upper spine - sternum [breast-bone]

 Rotating arms forwards

 Rotating arms backwards

(In both cases sternum rises and retracts as the body lets go)

 Spinal wave

(Arms out, retract the sternum region. Retract Lumber region.

Curl spine forwards and down - arms down palms facing rearwards. Rise up from the sternum, the arms naturally moving up [shoulders back] then arms forwards [shoulders neutral]

 Reciprocating alternate arm forward exercise

(Here the objective is to bring the elbow as far as possible across the front of the chest whilst stretching the arm, palm up. The whole body is rhythmically rising and letting go whilst performing the exercise)

 Lastly, opposing arm rotations.

(This whole-body exercise in the beginning stimulates the "left" brain to memorise the sequence with the ultimate aim to perform the movement without thinking; "right" brain. In its way this exercise mimics the process used when learning a new Aikido technique.)

 Foot movements

(Perform first without moving the body, then in the conventional way with body movement.)

 Hand movements

(Modern system but including inside and outside sweep turn)

 Hand movements (Tsugi Ashi training)

 Shomen Ate

 Inside Sweep

 Outside Sweep

 Combined Inside Turn, Outside Turn

(All left, right, forwards, backwards. Always in each case stretching the arm then moving the feet)

 Tegatana Awase.

(Touch hand heel to hand heel at approximately a 45° angle. Maintain this contact throughout. To start the pressure will be higher than needed and it will be tiring. With practice the pressure will reduce. The movement starts with the arm and the upper body; this accommodates the difference in distance. No leaning, no buckling the arm or disconnecting at the hand blade. The correct Aikido distance is always maintained.)

 Tegatana Awase – into gripping the wrist.

(Grip from the inside or the outside and by using either hand.)

When comfortable with this select a technique from the Basic 17 Atemi Waza section. (Shomen Ate is a difficult choice!)

These all demonstrate techniques from an Aikido distance. From a self-defence point-of-view the attacker will try to close down the distance

TEGATANA (Aikido distance)

AIKIDO GOSHIN HO (A self-defence system, closer than Tegatana)

Five Aigamae grips and five Gyakugamae grips are used to illustrate this. Implementation of the functional exercises must be seen within these applications. e.g. Elbows leading wrists etc.

JUDO GOSHIN JUTSU (A self-defence system closer than Go Shin Ho)

We moved on to the distance of Judo, which is where Tori may well end up when attacked in a self-defence scenario.

JUDO GOSHIN JUTSU NO KATA (Formas de Autodefensa - Cinco Secciones - 21 técnicas)

Section 4 - Armed Attacks – Stick

 16 Furiage - Upswing Against A Stick
At attacker brings the stick up to strike, defender steps in, blocking the attacking arm, delivering a palm strike to the chin and throwing attacker backward.

 17 Furioroshi - Downswing Against A Stick
Attacker attempts to strike left side of defender's head. Stick is avoided by a turning action. Defender immediately steps in with a back fist strike to the bridge of the nose. He then controls the stick, and strikes again below the nose with the edges of his hand forcing the attacker down.

 18 Morote Zuke - Two Hand Thrust
Attacker thrusts stick to abdomen. Defender turns and parries. He then grabs the stick and pulls attacker forward and steps in to grab stick with both hands. Attacker not wanting to let go of the stick, pulls back and defender steps forward throwing attacker with his own stick.

Warming Down

 Stretching

STUDY GROUP TOMIKI AIKIDO – Saturday 28th January, 2017 - 10.00am to 14.00pm

Functional warming up -

 Ankles, hips, shoulders (whole body)
 Reciprocating torsional stretching and rising
 Elbows together, Elbows out
 Rotating arms forwards
 Rotating arms backwards
 Spinal wave
 Reciprocating alternate arm forward exercise
 Lastly, opposing arm rotations

Foot movements
Hand movements (modern system but including inside and outside sweep turn)

Stability Training (Slow "Penguin" walking)

Tsugi Ashi Training (Feet only, then with arms)

Tegatana Awase

(Moving then Grip and then a technique from Basic 17)

(Try the same with the six grips from Shichi No Hon no Kuzushi.)

(In a fluid way study the action and reaction which occurs in this scenario.)

The introduction of five additional techniques:

 11 Waki Gatame (Uchi-inside)

 13 Kote Hineri (Aigamae Gyakutedori) - Kote Mawashi

 14 Kote Hineri (Gyakugamae Gyakutedori)

 15 Kote Gaeshi (Aigamae Gyakutedori)

 19 Tenkai Kote Gaeshi (Ura-backwards)

Utilising the Spine

In Paris last weekend we attended a workshop with Sensei Akira Hino. His ideas oriented on the flexibility of the spine. Kyokotsu (Thoracic – upper spine) and Koshi (Lumbar – lower spine) play an important role. When the spine is used in the proper way, more power can be generated.

We started with Hand to Hand exercise from Hino Sensei - (Aikido distance)

We then move onto a Chest to Chest exercise - (Judo distance)

(Emphasis on top spine curl with Koshi not moving back)

We used this study to look at how this might be used to improve the execution of Shomen Ate.

Warming Down

 Stretching (In a seated position, one leg outstretched, the knee of the other leg bent and crossed over the outstretched leg.)

Gradually lean forward from the hips, breathing in through the nose out through the mouth. Do this in stages, whereby each new forward position becomes the starting point.

In the evening, drinks and dinner in Xativa at the restaurant "Atzucac"

STUDY GROUP TOMIKI AIKIDO – Sunday 29th January, 2017 - 10.00am to 14.00pm

Functional warming up -

 Ankles, hips, shoulders (whole body)

 Reciprocating torsional stretching and rising.

 Elbows together, Elbows out.

 Rotating arms forwards.

 Rotating arms backwards.

 Spinal wave.

 Reciprocating alternate arm forward exercise.

 Lastly, opposing arm rotations.

Foot movements

Hand movements (modern system but including inside and outside sweep turn)

Tsugi Ashi Training (Feet only, then with arms)

Tegatana Awase

More Judo Goshin Jutsu

Section 2 - Unarmed Attacks At A Distance

 8 Naname Uchi - Slanting Strike

Attacker attempts to strike the left side of head. Strike is parried and countered with an uppercut and throat grab, forcing a take down or throw to the attacker's rear.

 9 Ago Tsuki - Uppercut

Attacker attempts an uppercut that is parried by defender. Attacker's arm motion is redirected against his elbow and turned into a throw by this action.

 10 Gammen-Tsuki - Thrust Punch or Jab

Attack is again parried and a counter attack is made by a punch to attacker's floating ribs. Defender then applies a rear choke forcing submission or unconsciousness.

 11 Mae Geri - Front Kick

Defender parries kick by turning body and hooking leg with arm. He then grabs the foot of attacker's raised leg with both hands, twisting the ankle, "breaking it", and then forcing attacker backward and down.

 12 Yoko Geri - Side Kick

Attacker attempts a side kick as he passes defender, who parries the kick turns and pulls attacker down onto his back. While this technique in the kata looks harmless enough, in actuality, the defender would leave his knee in place so that defender falls onto him with his lower back on the knee, which would no doubt break the attacker's back.

Warming Down

 Stretching

After the seminar ended a light lunch and a time to enjoy the Spanish sun and relax. 

And last a "Thank You" to Michael and Audrey for their hospitality and continued support in this eleventh year of these seminars in Spain.

STUDY GROUP TOMIKI AIKIDO SESSIONS FOR 2017 . . .

18-19Feb2017 Antwerp, BELGIUM and Paris, FRANCE with Eddy Wolput

18-19Mar2017 Antwerp, BELGIUM with Eddy Wolput, JAA Grading

29-30Apr2017 Antwerp and Turnhout, BELGIUM

A joint seminar of Aikikai and Tomiki Aikido with Eddy Wolput

13-14May2017 Sofia, BULGARIA with Eddy Wolput

17-18Jun2017 Antwerp, BELGIUM with Eddy Wolput

19Jun2017-29Aug2017 SUMMER BREAK

30Aug2017-03Sep2017 International Tomiki Aikido Festival in Akita

07-Oct2017 Antwerp, BELGIUM with Eddy Wolput

11-12Nov2017 Almussafes, SPAIN with Eddy Wolput

09-10Dec2017 Antwerp, BELGIUM with Eddy Wolput

STUDY GROUP TOMIKI AIKIDO

- Tradition and Knowledge

Chief Instructors/Examiners Study Group Tomiki Aikido

Eddy Wolput 7th Dan (JAA) - JAA-Shihan

Frits van Gulick 7th Dan (JAA) - JAA-Shihan

Yoshiomi Inoue 7th Dan (JAA) - JAA Senior Instructor

Instructors/Examiners Study Group Tomiki Aikido

Adrian Tyndale 6th Dan (JAA/BAA) - JAA-Shihan Dai - International Silver Medallist

Gina De Weerdt 5th Dan (JAA) - JAA-Shihan Dai - former European Kata Champion

Koos de Graaff 5th Dan (JAA)

Mike Thraves 5th Dan (JAA) - JAA-Shihan Dai

Pierre Alain Zeiter 4th Dan (JAA) - JAA-Shihan Dai

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