Aikido Journal

Joined: 27 Jun 2004 Posts: 38 Location: the dry continent

I bought a book a while ago by the Nidai Doshu called the Art of Aikido in which as the last techique he demonstrates a paired sword exercise looking nearly exactly the same as the 1st kumi tachi.
I posted a while ago to see if anyone could confirm the similarity, but then realised the book had hardly been out long enough for anyone to really comment, so I erased the post.
Since then I realised that in the exercise the roles seem reversed. The Nidai Doshu is in the role of "uchitachi" and his partner, Sandai Doshu (then Wakasensei) is in the role of "uketachi". In the pictures it seems that uchitachi ends up in the favoured final position, rather than the usual situation (at least in Iwama style aiki ken) where uketachi ends up in a position to tsuki (or throw etc.)
This leads me to another question. It is said that in aikido there are really no techniques, and that any form can seamlessly flow into another, even to the point where using kaeshi waza uke can become nage...and back again etc etc...
Is this same theory applied to buki waza? Can, as demonstrated in the book, the favourable position be attained by the uchitachi rather than the uketachi all the time?
It seems to make sense thinking about it in terms of taijutsu and the role reversals in kaeshi waza. The henka waza in aiki ken show how flexable the actual sword techniques are in terms of ways to finish a technique.
But still I want to ask if anyone has had direct experience in this role reversal situation in regards to aiki ken?
Any forthcoming answers appreciated.

Joined: 31 Mar 2000 Posts: 68 Location: Copenhagen, Denmark

Prophet,

I just bought the book you mentioned. It is wonderful to see that weapons are included in this book. The book has a lot of very interesting things in it. The first part in which deeper concepts are brought up and explained I find really fascinating. The part about "sen" is of special interest, in my opinion.
Regarding the weapons technique you wrote about- it resembles the 1st kumi tachi, but is not quite the same. The initial position of uke tachi (Nidai Doshu) is much like the 1st kumi tachi, but after that uke tach steps forward to control uchi tachi's (Sandai Doshu) right elbow (photo 5). This is like a henka for the !st kumi tachi. Then uketachi allows the strike to continue down, and he parries the strike, in right hanmi. This is similar to the continuation of the 1st kumi tachi. The final photo shown uketachi standing on to the side of uchi tachi in preparation to a throw, that could be kote gaeshi. This is definitely a position where uketachi has controlled uchi tachi, just as in the kumi tachi in general. The way I see it, the form shown is very recognizable, but merely using different henka in the applications. The favorable position is given to uketachi in the end. This coincides with the basic concept of uketachi (the defender) gaining the favorable position in the final encounter, as I see it.

In Aiki,

Joined: 27 Jun 2004 Posts: 38 Location: the dry continent

I think I follow what you mean Ethan, thanks for the reply. Perhaps I was confused by the similiarity between Moriteru's initial movement and the first move of uketachi in the standard ichi no tachi - or more likely I do not yet have enough experience to distinguish between waza and henka waza!
I agree the book is very interesting, lots of food for thought. Looks good too.
Cheers.