The Role of Weapons Training in Aikido

Nicholas Kraus (Vicksburg Aikikai)
nkraus1@bellsouth.net

Greetings from the Vicksburg Aikikai, one of the newest member dojos of the USAF Eastern Region and the only USAF dojo presently listed in Mississippi. Please visit our web site at www.VicksburgAikikai.org

In this article, I would like to explore the role of weapons training in Aikido. Probably all dojos include tanto dori (knife taking) at some level, so this discussion concerns training with the jo (4-ft staff) and bokken (wooden sword). Because Aikido is an art and not ritualized movement, great variability is found in philosophy, theoretical approach, and technique or style. I would like to consider two approaches, one in which focus of Aikido study is on tai jutsu or empty-handed technique, and the other in which weapons are an integral part of training. Both approaches should be considered valid, in my opinion, as discussed below. However, I offer perhaps a new reason to the Aikido community as to why weapons training is desirable and why some of us should pursue it.

Focus on Tai Jutsu

Concerning focus on tai jutsu training without significant consideration of weapons, this approach can be considered valid because the number of distinct techniques in Aikido is large, and mastery of all of them is a mountain that may be insurmountable. In addition, we have variations (henka waza), applied techniques (oyo waza), and counter techniques (kaeshi waza). It is stimulating to practice different styles, ranging from hard to soft, circular to straight, variation in capture of your partner's flow, and with and without applying various subtle sub-movements as part of the base technique. If one were to set forth on a path of mastering all Aikido tai jitsu techniques, variations, counters, and so on, that would indeed be a daunting and noble goal. All of us wish to learn new techniques and explore known techniques in a different light, and so the availability of teachers with a wide repertoire and deep understanding of tai jutsu techniques is a great benefit to us.

Another reason for not including weapons training at some Aikido dojos is its strong offensive nature, which may conflict with the instructor's philosophy or the orientation of the instructor and students. I believe we should respect that point of view.

As an ending anecdote about focusing training on tai jutsu, I'll tell a story about Seigo Yamaguchi Sensei, who has since passed away. When I studied at Hombu Dojo (1973-1980) he was the Chief Instructor. Yamaguchi Sensei would often demonstrate tai jutsu techniques by reference to movements with a sword (bokken), but we typically practiced weapons with him only during the four weekends of a yudansha (black belt holders) course that he taught once a year. During his regular classes one year, Yamaguchi Sensei was intent on ikkyo. We did shomen uchi, katate dori, yokomen uchi, ryote dori, ushiro tekubi dori, kata dori shomen uchi, whatever, and whatever else ikkyo waza every hour he taught. And he yelled at, laughed at, and scolded us. (For those who knew Yamaguchi Sensei, he was a wonderful teacher and an extraordinary stylist, so his yelling, laughing, and scolding should be understood as being good natured and helpful.) Well, I decided to get to the bottom of it, and so in each class when he came over to where I was practicing, I'd ask politely (in Japanese) "Sensei, please explain this ikkyo technique to me!" And he would explain and demonstrate and scold and laugh. (By the way, it is not the Japanese custom to ask for personal explanations, but at Hombu I found every Shihan (Master teacher) willing and delighted to answer questions and go into detail in response to a question.) After several classes, when I asked him again, he said "Hey - you have been asking me the same question in every class," to which I replied, "Yes, and every time you give a different answer." He laughed, and said ("Is that so?" - Ah sou desu ka?), and then came over and went through the technique several times with my partner and me. My questions did not, however, prevent him from having us do several thousand more ikkyo waza over the next month, it seemed, until he was satisfied. (Perhaps some time I will write about a coffee shop conversation I was fortunate to have with Yamaguchi Sensei, when he outlined the essence of his style.)

Integrated Tai Jutsu and Weapons

Some instructors believe that weapons training is an essential part of Aikido. I think there is historic basis for this point of view, as no doubt many techniques were created for the battlefield or defense of the castle where as unarmed defender might face an enemy with a weapon. Defending against a weapon means encountering someone with potential great combat superiority, and the situation brings or should bring deep reflection about life, death, and technique. This opportunity for reflection is one of the great differences between Aikido and sports. Even if both are holding a weapon, it is an advantage to know how to "take" the weapon from the opponent. To this end, during weapons training in Aikido and other weapons arts, I sometimes deviate from the practice and take my partner's weapon to point out a weakness. This can be startling to those who are depending only on their weapon to prevail.

Advocates of weapons training note the positive benefit of dealing with different distances, timing, reflexes, and perspectives on techniques, as well as new ways of practicing techniques with weapons as compared to tai jutsu. Weapons training also teaches about attacking - the offensive nature of Aikido, in which the initiative is taken to control aggressors without harming them. Paraphrasing Shoji Nishio Sensei "It (successful Aikido technique) is already decided when the opponent attacks." To do this, one must initiate at attack, or pretend to initiate an attack, or create an apparent weakness that the opponent will attack - for which we are ready to counter.

Finally, for this section, it should be mentioned that weapons defense (tachi dori - sword taking, jo dori - stick taking) could be an important part of pragmatic self-defense training for individuals in some professions, such as the police and military.

Another Reason to Consider Weapons Practice in Aikido Training

Over the years, I have practiced a number of martial arts, some involving weapons and others not. Typically, but with individual exceptions, I have found that classes in Judo, Karate, and Taekwondo tend to be populated by younger people, with relatively few older people practicing the same techniques as the younger trainees. In contrast, in Iai do (sword drawing) and Kobudo weapons schools (traditional martial arts, such as sword, jo, and bo - 6 ft stick), one can see a proportionately larger number of older practitioners, and they can perform the same techniques as younger students. In this regard, I have long thought that Okinawa Karate styles have appeal in offering a wide curriculum in weapons.

So, having entered my 60s, it occurred to me that weapons training is a way of extending the practice of Aikido or even of starting Aikido for older people and those who may not be able to take the rigors of regular tai jutsu training. Just as Aikido philosophy can be practiced mentally, that is, without physical training, Aikido principles can be practiced with weapons. To offer this opportunity, though, we in the teaching ranks need to create a rich curriculum in weapons training that accords with Aikido principles.

I believe that some of us must study the weapons techniques of O-Sensei and expand our skill in developing new techniques and means of practicing them. Weapons training has extended my Aikido career and understanding of Aikido, and I am deeply appreciative of that opportunity. To mention a personal enlightenment, a jo kata that Seichi Sugano Sensei taught me while he was visiting Hombu Dojo in the late 1970s removed borders of what I thought defined Aiki jo based on other kata and techniques that I knew. By the way, O-Sensei gave this kata to Sugano Sensei as a wedding present.

I would like to end this article with a story that ties together several considerations about weapons training and Aikido. In addition to practicing daily in the regular classes at Hombu Dojo, and for many years practicing there 7 days a week, I also took private lessons twice a week for 5 years with Seijiro Masuda Sensei. In those lessons and in serving as his assistant in giving other private lessons, he taught me many weapons techniques. You can find these techniques and others listed on the Vicksburg Aikikai web site. I am greatly indebted to Masuda Sensei and all the Hombu Dojo Shihan, including Kisshomaru Doshu, who taught both tai jutsu and weapons techniques to us.

Masuda Sensei would sometimes ask me to accompany him on demonstrations to serve as his uke. At one of these, we arrived early, as usual (the Aikido way), changed into our uniforms, then put our weapons cases down and sat waiting for the demonstration to begin. After awhile, an older gentleman dressed in formal kimono came in carrying a purple sword case. Sensei whispered to me, "Oh - that's so and so sensei. He is a famous Iai do teacher and has dedicated his life to the sword. He must also be demonstrating, so let's not do any bokken techniques out of respect for his art." I said "okay." Then, a couple of minutes later, two people in Karate uniforms arrived, and Sensei whispered again, "Oh - that's so and so sensei. He is the direct descendent of the founder of that style. We won't do any tsuki (punching) defense techniques out of respect for his art." I said, "okay." Finally, believe it or not, two people in Judo uniforms came in and, yes, Sensei whispered, "Looks like Judo will be demonstrated. They specialize in hip throws, so I won't do any." Well, our demonstration proceeded smoothly, and Sensei and I did a variety of techniques, including jo kata and jo dori, besides tai jutsu (without punches and hip throws) in the allotted time. The message one can take from this (true) story is that, indeed, Aikido is infinite. Also, Masuda Sensei clearly taught us to be respectful of and to honor colleagues in other martial arts.

Note: Traditional English transliterations of Japanese words were used in this article. The combinations "ou" and "uu" represent long vowels. So, correct pronunciations are, ouyo waza, ryoute, shoumen, tantou, and yuudansha.