Daito-ryu aiki-jujutsu

Martial arts

• Various sports or skills, mainly of Japanese origin, that originated as forms of self-defense or attack, such as judo, karate, and kendo. [Oxford Languages]

• Martial arts are codified systems and traditions of combat practiced for a number of reasons such as self-defence; military and law enforcement applications; competition; physical, mental, and spiritual development; entertainment; and the preservation of a nation's intangible cultural heritage. The concept of martial arts was originally associated with East Asian tradition, but subsequently the term has been applied to practices that originated outside that region. [Wikipedia]
  

Daito-ryu aiki-jujutsu

Linguistic and general considerations

• Koryu

• Budo

• Jujutsu

• Its core philosophy is to manipulate the opponent's force against themself rather than confronting it with one's own force. It developed to combat the samurai of feudal Japan as a method for defeating an armed and armored opponent in which one uses no form of weapon, or only a short weapon. Because striking against an armored opponent proved ineffective, practitioners learned that the most efficient methods for neutralizing an enemy took the form of pins, joint locks, and throws. These techniques were developed around the principle of using an attacker's energy against them, rather than directly opposing it. There are many variations of the art, which leads to a diversity of approaches. Jujutsu schools (ryū) may utilize all forms of grappling techniques to some degree (e.g., throwing, takedowns, leg sweeps, trapping, pins, joint locks, holds, chokeholds, strangulation, gouging, biting, hair pulling, disengagements, and striking). In addition to jujutsu, many schools teach the use of weapons. Today, jujutsu is practiced in both traditional self-defense oriented and modern sports forms. Derived sport forms include the Olympic sport and martial art of judo, which was developed by Kanō Jigorō in the late 19th century from several traditional styles of jujutsu
  

• The term jujutsu was also sometimes used to refer to tactics for infighting used with the warrior's major weapons: katana or tachi (sword), yari (spear), naginata (glaive), jō (short staff), and bō (quarterstaff). These close combat methods were an important part of the different martial systems that were developed for use on the battlefield.

• Jujutsu first began combining early forms of sumo and various Japanese martial arts which were used on the battlefield for close combat.

• Many jujutsu forms also extensively taught parrying and counterattacking long weapons such as swords or spears via a dagger or other small weapons. In contrast to the neighbouring nations of China and Okinawa whose martial arts made greater use of striking techniques, Japanese hand-to-hand combat forms focused heavily upon throwing (including joint-locking throws), immobilizing, joint locks, choking, strangulation, and to lesser extent ground fighting.

• During the Edo period (17th c.), jujutsu continued to evolve due to the strict laws which were imposed to reduce war. Weapons and armor became unused decorative items, so hand-to-hand combat flourished as a form of self-defense and new techniques were created to adapt to the changing situation of unarmored opponents. This included the development of various striking techniques in jujutsu which expanded upon the limited striking previously found in jujutsu which targeted vital areas above the shoulders such as the eyes, throat, and back of the neck.

• Towards the 18th century the number of striking techniques was severely reduced as they were considered less effective and exert too much energy; instead striking in jujutsu primarily became used as a way to distract the opponent or to unbalance him in the lead up to a joint lock, strangle or throw.

• The term jūjutsu was not coined until the 17th century, after which time it became a blanket term for a wide variety of grappling-related disciplines and techniques. Prior to that time, these skills had names such as "short sword grappling", "grappling", "body art", "softness", "art of harmony", "catching hand", and even the "way of softness".

• Today, the systems of unarmed combat that were developed and practiced during the Muromachi period (1333–1573) are referred to collectively as Japanese old-style jujutsu (Nihon koryu jūjutsu). At this period in history, the systems practiced were not systems of unarmed combat, but rather means for an unarmed or lightly armed warrior to fight a heavily armed and armored enemy on the battlefield. In battle, it was often impossible for a samurai to use his long sword or polearm, and would, therefore, be forced to rely on his short sword, dagger, or bare hands. When fully armored, the effective use of such "minor" weapons necessitated the employment of grappling skills.

• Methods of combat included striking (kicking and punching), various takedowns, trips, throwing (body throws, shoulder and hip throws, joint-locking throws, sacrifice throws, unbalance and leg sweeping throws), restraining (pinning, strangling, grappling, wrestling, and rope tying) and weaponry. Defensive tactics included blocking, evading, off-balancing, blending and escaping.

• In later times, other ko-ryū developed into systems more familiar to the practitioners of Nihon jujutsu commonly seen today. These are correctly classified as Edo jūjutsu (founded during the Edo period): they are generally designed to deal with opponents neither wearing armor nor in a battlefield environment but instead utilize grips and holds on opponent's clothing. Most systems of Edo jujutsu include extensive use of atemi waza (vital-striking technique), which would be of little use against an armored opponent on a battlefield. They would, however, be quite valuable in confronting an enemy or opponent during peacetime dressed in normal street attire (referred to as "suhada bujutsu"). Occasionally, inconspicuous weapons such as tantō (daggers) or tessen (iron fans) were included in the curriculum of Edo jujutsu.

• Many other legitimate Nihon jujutsu Ryu exist but are not considered koryu (ancient traditions). These are called either Gendai Jujutsu or modern jujutsu. Modern jujutsu traditions were founded after or towards the end of the Tokugawa period (1868) when more than 2000 schools (ryū) of jūjutsu existed. Various supposedly traditional ryu and ryuha that are commonly thought of as koryu jujutsu are actually gendai jūjutsu. Although modern in formation, very few gendai Jujutsu systems have direct historical links to ancient traditions and are incorrectly referred to as traditional martial systems or koryu. Their curriculum reflects an obvious bias towards techniques from judo and Edo jūjutsu systems, and sometimes have little to no emphasis on standing armlocks and joint-locking throws that were common in Koryu styles. They also usually do not teach usage of traditional weapons as opposed to the Sengoku jūjutsu systems that did. The improbability of confronting an armor-clad attacker and using traditional weapons is the reason for this bias.

• Aiki

• Aiki lends its name to various Japanese martial arts, most notably Aikido, and its parent art, Daito-ryu aiki-jujutsu. These arts tend to use the principle of aiki as a core element underpinning the bulk of their techniques. Aiki is an important principle in several other arts such as kito-ryu, judo, yamabujin goshin jutsu and various forms of kenjutsu and Japanese Jujutsu. Techniques accomplished with aiki are subtle and require little mechanical force with the aiki arts generally classed as soft internal martial arts.

• Aiki is a complex concept, and three aspects have been used to describe it in relation to a martial situation:

1. Blending, not clashing
2. Leading the assailant
3. Use of internal strength – Ki energy

• The term aiki has been used since ancient times and is not unique to Daito-ryu. The ki in aiki is go no sen, meaning to respond to an attack:

"... Daito-ryu is all go no sen—you first evade your opponent's attack and then strike or control him. Likewise, Itto-ryu is primarily go no sen. You attack because an opponent attacks you. This implies not cutting your opponent. This is called katsujinken (life-giving sword). Its opposite is called setsuninken (death-dealing sword)." (Tokimune Takeda)

• Etc.
  

Daito-ryu aiki-jujutsu

• Daito-ryu aikijujutsu is a Koryu. Koryu are ancient Japanese martial arts, while Budo designates modern Japanese martial arts. Examples of budo are, aikido, judo, karate-do, kendo ... Ko-ryu means 'old school' and refer to any Japanese school of traditional arts (but not exclusively to martial arts). A more precise but seldom used term for such martial arts is, Kobudo, which means 'old martial arts'. Examples of Kobudo are kenjutsu and jujutsu.
  

• Actually, Jujutsu designates a style of grappling/close-quarter ryu/system.

• Daito-ryu aikijujutsu is a school of jujutsu, founded by Takeda Sōkaku (1859-1943)

• The creation process:
  

   jujutsu techniques $↘$
                                       $→$ Daito-ryu Aiki-jujutsu$$
various weapon arts $↗$

• $$There are 2,884 techniques in Daito-ryu. They are not learnt with the eyes, they are learnt with the body! They are for use in actual combat: each and every technique is lethal; none give the opponent any openings. Once you have captured an enemy, you must finish him off with a second or even third technique. Techniques do not exist in isolation but are followed by second and third techniques. The essence of Daito-ryu is to keep alert until you have cut the enemy's throat.

• The four major styles are:

• Daito-ryu Aikibudo (leading figure: Tokimune Takeda)
• Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu Takumakai (leading figure: Takuma Hisa)
• Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu Kodokai (leading figure: Kodo Horikawa)
• Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu Sagawa Dojo (leading figure: Yukiyoshi Sagawa)

• Traditionally, Daitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu does not have a belt system like in judo or karate. Originally, it used a menkyo (license) system, which is a traditional Japanese method of rank transmission in koryu (ancient martial arts). The main levels in the menkyo system are generally:
  

• Mokuroku (catalog of fundamental techniques)
  
• Menkyō (teaching license)
  
• Kaiden (complete mastery)
  

The Tadeka family

• Sōkichi, Sokaku's father, was apparently expert in the use of both sword and spear, and had once been a sumo wrestler.

• With the outlawing of the samurai class and the prohibition against carrying swords (Haitōrei Edict) apparentally Sokaku decided to emphasize the empty handed, jujutsu oriented, techniques of his ancestor's art. These apparently were 'oshiki-uchi', or secret teachings of the Aizu clan, up to that point. These, along with other skills he had acquired, were combined to create an art which he named first 'Daitō-ryū jūjutsu' and later 'Daitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu'.

Takeda Sōkaku (1859-1943)

• Takeda Soemon, Sokaku's grandfather, may have been his primary Daito-ryu teacher. Sokichi, Sokaku's father, also taught him some techniques. Sokaku also said that his master was Hoshina Chikanori (an Aizu chief). Throughout his life, Sokaku perfected and structured the art and taught it to some thirty thousand students. In the eyes of Sokaku, Daito-ryu was life, and life was Daito-ryu. Indeed, Daito-ryu and life are one.

• Historian S. A. Pranin holds that Japan has three martial art geniuses: Morihei Ueshiba (founder of aikido), Jigoro Kano (founder of judo), and Sokaku Takeda, 'the consummate old-style martial artist who viewed life as a battlefield where a moment of carelessness could result in death.' (1996: 10) Tadeka Sokaku was Morihei Ueshiba's teacher; Morihei Ueshiba was his most talented student.

Family crest of the Takeda clan

Aikido is Daito-ryu aiki-jujutsu [?]

• For a significant portion of his life, Morihei Ueshiba taught Daito-Ryu Aiki-Jujutsu as learned from Sokaku Takeda but referred to it using various names:

• Kobukan Budo
• Aikijutsu
• Asahi ryu
  
• Aiki-doho
• Aiki Budo
• Aioi-ryu Aiki-jutsu
• Daito Ryu Aiki Jujutsu
• Ueshiba-ryu jujutsu
• ...

• The creation process of Aikido:
  

   jujutsu techniques $↘$
                                       $→$ Daito-ryu Aiki-jujutsu $→$ Aikido
various weapon arts $↗$

Closest form of Aikido to Daito Ryu Aiki-jujustu

• Shodokan Aikido ≃ Daito-ryu aiki-jujutsu [?]
• Yoshinkan Aikido ≃ Daito-ryu aiki-jujutsu [?]
• Iwama Aikido ≃ Daito-ryu aiki-jujutsu [?]
• Kishinkai Aikido ≃ Daito-ryu aiki-jujutsu [?]
• Tenshin Aikido ≃ Daito-ryu aiki-jujutsu [?]

• Today, some martial arts enthusiasts make the claim that aikido is Daito-Ryu: 'In Daito-ryu, Ueshiba Sensei is respected as one of Sokaku Takeda's best students. And of course, the foundation of aikido is Daito-ryu. During the life of Morihei Ueshiba, aikido was different. This can be seen in the first Aikido masters, students of Ueshiba. I consider Aikido one of the Daito-ryu styles, in which Oomoto's philosophy appeared. And the real Aikido is as beautiful and effective as Daito-ryu.' (DAITO-RYU OSHIKIUCHI)
  

Personal (humorous) view

• Daito-ryu aikijujutsu is a Japanese martial system, which is little known to the general public, compared to its "legitimate but emancipated son", Aikido. Moreover, aikido is widespread worldwide, while Daito-Ryu remains more centered in Japan.

• (If Jesus had to pick a martial art to teach, he would have picked Daito-ryu aiki-jujutsu.)

Websites

• http://www.daito-ryu.org
• Etc.
  

Sources

• Oxford Languages
• Wikipedia
• Stanley Pranin
• Guillaume Erard
• www.LibertyKey.us
• DAITO-RYU OSHIKIUCHI: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzFZWZpK3yI

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