Looking at past notes helps us remember where we have been. In this case the notes contains descriptions of the aikido drills I learned from Tristan Sutrisno, back in 1980 and then modifications he had made subsequently to the drill for his students around 1990. Of course since that time there have been several later modifications made by me, each to promote better student learning. The techniques are not completely Aikido in nature, but a blend of Aiki and karate. Entering and controlling the attack is the most important skill for the student.
The older version of the youth drills, which began at green belt and continued through black belt preparation.
Black Belt Classes
10/19,26/2002
Aging in one’s art is a reality. As my adult group are in
our late 40’s through 60’s addressing our maturing needs to maintain quality
training, but at the same time not destroy ourselves at the same time, is a
logical goal.
Our arts offer a somewhat wider range than ‘pure’
Isshinryu, but one thing which is weathering quite well is our Isshinryu. Most specifically continuing to concentrate
on Mr. Lewis’ variation on the lower body chart, Isshinryu kicking continues to
become more valuable, directed to lower body targets.
But what I’ve been concentrating on have been the basic
Aikido training from Tris Sutrisno which we incorporate into our Brown Belt
studies.
Our research makes us believe these Aikido practices
originally arose out of Tanto (knife) self defense. As good aikido does, the
attacker removes themselves out of a desire to get away from the pain (real or
perceived) from the technique execution.
These variations are rather high tech, incorporating very
rapid takedowns (which for the aging of us, become problematic, when we on
longer choose to readily drop to our knees during the control/lockdown phase of
the techniques. Great aikido execution,
good techniques especially for the younger MA.
My inclusion of these Aikido techniques fits several
directions in by brown belt program.
First in that I don’t formally get into application of
Isshinryu kata until after black belt. The aikido program allows my student to
develop ‘basic’ manipulation skills.
Second, these skills teach very exacting body shifting,
which adds another layer into a student’s movement abilities.
Third, each technique is a great skill in their own
right. The student learning to enter an
attack and flow through the attacker, with the minimal amount of force creates
greater awareness of technique possibilities. This makes it easier to
understand some of the later lessons from Isshirnyu application study.
But now I’m re-working them to keep them relevant for our
group, and our capabilities.
The funny thing is, the more I do this, the greater the
relevance to my Isshinryu I find.
The major change I’ve worked with was the manner in which
the original techniques were ridden down into the ground, and have learned to
map them to our Isshinryu kata.
That last statement is one important lesson. When I’ve
been shown something it seems to lock into my brain, and takes great effort
(often decades) to break out that other things are present.
Following are the original Aikido techniques and the
‘modifications’
All of the Uke (attackers) are stepping in with the right
hand and throwing a right punch (1).
Aikido 1 –
original
Pivot 90 degrees to the left (on both feet) allowing the
punch to slide past you. Your right hand flows on top of their arm/wrist.
Take your left hand and reach up underneath the attackers
wrist.
Using both hands, circle your arms up (clockwise) and
roll the attacker over your body to end up in a bent wrist lock (Aikido’s
NiKyu).
Right front kick their face (or safer their abdomen).
Pivot 90 degrees to the left (on the ball of the left
foot) and throw a right front kick past their leg, and snap it back (behind
their lead leg) to drop to the floor on your right knee. This cuts their leg
out and they go down on their back.
Holding their elbow on the floor, crank their wrist
clockwise till they give up.
Aikido 1 – new
modification
Pivot 90 degrees to the left (on both feet) allowing the
punch to slide past you. Your right hand flows on top of their arm/wrist.
Take your left hand and reach up underneath the attackers
wrist.
Using both hands, circle your arms up (clockwise) and
roll the attacker over your body to end up in a bent wrist lock (Aikido’s
NiKyu).
Option 1, holding their bent wrist with both hands, press
their straight arm right into their shoulder (socket). This will immobilize
them and lock their face down into the floor.
Option 2, holding their bent wrist with both hands, step
in with your left foot (towards their shoulder) and throw a left low block
(forearm press) behind their elbow, immobilizing them among other options.
This modification has the advantage that you control them
without the higher technology of the kick and drop lock.
The manner in which the arm is cleared across your body,
speaks for a knife being in the hand. There are alternative versions which can
enter NiKyu but don’t use the kicking takedown, either.
Aikido 1 maps to SunUuSu Kata. It also uses the double ball of the foot
shifting as found in Annaku Kata.
Aikido 2 –
Original
Left foot forward (outside the striking arm) stepping
right alongside the opponents lead foot.
As this happens the right open inside block is executed
(left hand in chamber).
The right foot slides up alongside the left, as you
rotate 90 degrees to the right, your right hand slides down their arm and
grasps their wrist, as your left vertical knife hand is pressed against the
back of their arm/shoulder, at the crease.
Your right hand pulls them very slightly forward.
Throw a left front kick past their lead leg, and then use
the snap back to quickly shift their leg back, and drop to your left knee, with
an arm bar (pressing into the ground) takedown.
Essentially they punch and you put their face on the
ground.
[Note: this was originally done as a spiral down into the
armbar on the floor, but Sutrisno Sensei changed it for a faster takedown.
This
technique can be paralled with SunNuSu kata.
Aikido 2 –
Modified Version
Left foot forward (outside the striking arm) stepping
right alongside the opponents lead foot.
As this happens the right open inside block is executed
(left hand in chamber).
Here the top of the left hand touches the back of the
wrist of the parrying arm. This promotes greater stability, and quicker
response time for both techniques.
The right foot slides up alongside the left, as you
rotate 90 degrees to the right, your right hand slides down their arm and
grasps their wrist, as your left vertical knife hand is pressed against the
back of their arm/shoulder, at the crease.
Your right hand pulls them very slightly forward.
Throw a left front kick past their lead leg, and then use
the snap back to quickly shift their leg back, and drop to your left knee, with
an arm bar (pressing into the ground) takedown.
Essentially they punch and you put their face on the
ground.
This new modification is using the augmented punch
concept from Seiunchin.
Aikido 3 –
Original Version
1. Left foot
forward (outside the striking arm) stepping right alongside the opponents lead
foot.
As this
happens the right open inside block is executed (left hand in chamber).
Pivoting on the ball of the left foot
The right open hand slides down to the wrist, grabs and
pulls slightly forward.
The left hand cups behind (underneath) the opponent’s
elbow)
As you turn 180 clockwise, you want the front hand to
press down as the right hand presses up.
Theoretically a projection, but if done incorrectly ,
slams the opponents face towards the ground, locking them up.
Sensei Sutrisno was able to catch a punching/striking
hand and project that person with this technique. His application of pain moved
the body into the throw before the pain actualized.
Aikido 3 –
Modified Version
Left foot forward (outside the striking arm) stepping
right alongside the opponents lead foot.
As this happens
the right open inside block is executed (left hand in chamber).
The right hand rotates clockwise, as you press the
opponents arm down and circle it down and up (clockwise) to catch their
punching hand wrist in your left hand.
You then take your right open back hand and slap into the
side of their neck, as their arm is pulled forward. This causes their head to
shy away.
You hook your right open hand behind their neck and press
forward on the other side of their neck.
As your right arm touches their neck and pulls their head
back to your waist, your left hand rotates out and away (clockwise).
This creates a spiral effect sitting your opponent
directly in front of your feet.
The obvious follow-up technique is a descending strike.
This modification came from Sutrisno Sensei himself. His students were not being correct with the
original (the attacker was punching upwards to make it easier to control and
throw your opponent. So he modified it to something more workable.
This
technique maps to the first stepping movement on the 2nd row of
Seisan. The technique in step 4, can be used as a
knock-out technique, too. (Inspired by Sherman Harrill’s teaching).
Aikido 4 –
Original Technique
Left foot forward (outside the striking arm) stepping
right alongside the opponents lead foot.
As this happens the right open inside block is executed
(left hand in chamber).
While facing 12 o’clock, turn the right hand over
(counter-clockwise) and press the attackers arm down and back (moving in a
clockwise circle). Their arm momentum cannot stop this.
When their arm has rotated about 180 degrees, you shift
hands, your left open hand coming up underneath their rising right arm.
Once the left palm takes control, rotate 180 degrees
clock-ward on the balls of your feet, as
you project your left hand in a half circle over your head for a projection
takedown.
It is the shoulder rotation which is the projecting
mechanism.
This is a great projection, but very high tech. If you
don’t possess perfect timing you will instead drive the attacker down on an off
plane.
Aikido 4 –
Modified Technique
Left foot forward (outside the striking arm) stepping
right alongside the opponents lead foot.
As this happens the right open inside block is executed
(left hand in chamber).
While facing 12 o’clock, turn the right hand over
(counter-clockwise) and press the attackers arm down and back (moving in a
clockwise circle). Their arm momentum cannot stop this.
When their arm has rotated about 180 degrees, you shift
hands, your left open hand coming up underneath their rising right arm.
Once you’ve grasped their wrist, slide your right hand
back over the opponents triceps insertion.
Pull both hands back and down. This will drive the
opponents face down.
This ending now parallels Chinto kata, using a wrist lock
and an armbar together.
Aikido 5 –
Original Technique
Left foot forward (interior line of defense), raising
both straight arms up (from the right).
The left arm rests across the opponents biceps, the right
harm across their neck.
Step around their lead leg with your right leg.
Rotate 180 degrees to the left, dropping down on your
right knee.
The faster they strike, the faster they’re looking at the
stars. This is a variation of Aikido’s Heaven and Earth throw. It is also paralleled with technique from
SunNuSu kata.
I didn’t modify this technique, except in theory. The movement itself is perfection. But
instead of the takedown, by changing the angle of the strike to the neck, this
can obviously be a knock out, too.
Aikido 6 –
Original Technique
Left foot forward with a left inner parry.
Your right hand comes up underneath their arm, and grabs
their wrist from underneath.
Your right foot steps behind your left, moving their body
180 degrees, as your right hand pulls up and over.
When you’ve rotated and are ready to step forward (away
from them from behind), drop your elbow (to stop their counter rotation out of
this).
This can be a lock, a projection, or other nasty things.
This movement comes from Aiki Jutsuo’s Shi Ho Nage (4 direction throw).
Aikido 6 – Modified
Technique
Left foot forward and from the outside, use a left inner
parry (across their forearm) moving them inward.
Lay your right on top of your left forearm (directly from
Chinto’s X’ block).
Having deflected the strike, separate your hands,
The left hand pulling back to grab their wrist
The right arm bending, and the right elbow sliding up
The elbow raises the attacking arm, as the right hand
continues to grab their wrist.
Your right foot steps behind your left, moving their body
180 degrees, as your right hand pulls up and over.
When you’ve rotated and are ready to step forward (away
from them from behind), drop your elbow (to stop their counter rotation out of
this).
This can be a lock, a projection, or other nasty things.
This movement comes from Aiki Jutsuo’s Shi Ho Nage (4 direction throw).
This modification is a better answer (I had worked up
several others, previously) for the thrusting attack. It is deflecting it from
outside, and then using the separation to move them into the fall or the breakdown.
This kata parallels movement from Chinto’s double
x-blocks.
Aikido 7 –
Original Technique
Left foot forward, with left inner parry (outside of
attackers arm) and simultaneous right inner parry (inside of attackers arm).
The right arm slices into the biceps insertion
(immediately in a quick 1(l) 2®
combination above the elbow). This can be done open hand, or closed fist (using
the knuckle of the little finger for the strike).
Pull the left hand up and out, as your right hand slides
free, and then presses up behind the elbow.
At this point their elbow is pointing straight up into
the air. This is a very painful side lock which can injure the opponent.
Simply walk forward holding their arm up in the air.
Again, a prefect move doesn’t need correction. What I did
do was experiment with the initial right strike. Shown the open hand, I
discovered how a closed fist little knuckle strike will actually open up the
arm even quicker. A strange striking surface IMO.
Again a Chinto Kata parallel.
Aikido 8 –
Original Technique.
Left foot forward (outside the striking arm) stepping
right alongside the opponents lead foot.
As this happens the right open inside block is executed
(left hand in chamber).
The right foot slides up alongside the left, as you rotate
90 degrees to the right, your right hand slides down their arm and grasps their
wrist, as your left vertical knife hand is pressed against the back of their
arm/shoulder, at the crease.
Your right hand pulls them very slightly forward.
Grab their shoulder with your left hand
Simultaneously
Jerk their right shoulder back
Sweep your left foot in behind their lead leg
This is a very complex and subtle movement. I suspect Its
somewhat related to some of the older judo kata with armor grappling
techniques.
Aikido 8 –
Modified Technique.
Left foot forward (outside the striking arm) stepping
right alongside the opponents lead foot.
As this happens the right open inside block is executed
(left hand in chamber).
The right foot slides up alongside the left, as you
rotate 90 degrees to the right, your right hand slides down their arm and
grasps their wrist, as your left vertical knife hand is pressed against the
back of their arm/shoulder, at the crease.
Your right hand pulls them very slightly forward.
Your left foot steps forward and behind the attacker.
Both hands grab their shoulders.
Once your right leg steps across, Press both hands
slightly forward
Immediately snap them back and down, to drop the
opponent.
A most dangerous version to practice, uses the head in a
snap back/whiplash motion. This is too dangerous to practice, but it will
certainly set the attacker down.
These techniques only represent the beginning of Aikido
practice we incorporate, much of which parallels our kata technique too.
Some of these original techniques (notably No’s 3, 4 and
8) are exceptionally difficult to learn to do correctly. If one does get them
there’s a really advanced level of body movement gained. But they (especially
in our modified form) form the basis for our grappling skills development.
Even more important, we also work on countering these
techniques being done to us, too.
Footnotes:
The use of the stepping punch is a standard beginners
training device, to first build up the technique. As the individual advances,
exploration of other strikes (such as the reverse punch) are explored. Where on the surface this type of punch seems
very unreaslistic, in reality it is a training tool. Replacing that punching
hand with a grabbing hand, as a precedessor to a strike, works just as fine.
But when our studies led us to realize the original
attacks were likely tanto (Japanese knife) thrusts (which is backed up with
very similar empty hand knife defense in Nakasone’s ‘Encyclopedia of Karate’
from the late 1930’s)
Eventually different angles, and speeds are employed to
parallel realism to some extent.
Standard of
Practice:
While
these techniques can be practiced individually, the advanced format requires
you to be in the center of 8 attackers. They attack one after another, and each
technique ends in a projection or pinning technique. Then pick up the speed of
each attack.. You’re working on coming off the floor as quickly as possible,
rising into the attack and finishing it.
The uke
line up pattern is something like this. (x marking the defenders spot)
7 1 4
5 x 6
3 2 8
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