Aikido Journal

Joined: 22 Jun 2007 Posts: 11

I've been told that the basic strikes and grabs in Aikido come from battle the sword and defense of it. Can anybody confirm or deny this (with sources please)?

For example, that when we do tsuki, we usually start from palm up and strike palm down because when you want to pierce a samurai's armor with a sword you need to strike with the blade horizontal. Or that yokomen is done as such because it takes advantage of a weak point in your opponents armor between the head and body armor.

Likewise, when we grab our opponents wrist, a move that wouldn't make much sense in a street fighting situation, it is done with the intent of suppressing their attack with a sword.

Any words of wisdom?

Thanks,

Aaron

Joined: 22 Nov 2005 Posts: 49

This is true--most of Aikido techniques and practices stem from subduing an opponent that is armed with a sword. However, when you take away the sword, the movements become a graceful and flowery flow that is very artistic in nature. In my opinion, with Aikido, your creating art and bettering yourself by doing so--same as anyone who paints or writes a book.

Joined: 02 Jul 2007 Posts: 10 Location: Dale City, VA

You're correct. I was listening to an interview on the internet last week by a Japanese person who is high up in Tomiki Aikido. I don't remember his name or where the site was, but, he stated that in the old days there was no punching and kicking in Japan for people wore armor. You would just be hurting your hand or leg. So everything was weapons based. Much later on, Karate was introduced from Okinawa. I've always been told by my instructors that everything we do is based on weapons and they then go on to demonstrate the point.

Joined: 19 Nov 2007 Posts: 35 Location: NZ

It is my understanding also that the 'formalised' attacks used in Aikido indeed come from those used in sword schools.

Joined: 06 Apr 2000 Posts: 219 Location: PDX, USA

odudog wrote:

You're correct. I was listening to an interview on the internet last week by a Japanese person who is high up in Tomiki Aikido. I don't remember his name or where the site was...

Perhaps the "Way of Harmony" aikido podcast with Seiji Tanaka of JAA: http://usaikido.com/?p=15

I like to think of aikido as jujutsu powered by a sword engine. Unfortunately that means little unless you know something about the sword, but I find that often times in aikido a more sword like movement is favored over a more specifically efficient alternative in various techniques especially at beginner levels.