| Shodokan Aikido is the style of aikido founded by Professor Kenji Tomiki （富木 謙治 Tomiki Kenji, 1900–1979). It is sometimes referred to as Sport Aikido due to the fact that it is the only style of aikido to hold regular competitions, and also referred to as Tomiki Aikido, after its founder. It places more emphasis on free-form randori sparring than most other styles of aikido.
The training method requires a balance between randori and the more stylized kata training along with a well developed set of training drills both specific for randori and for general aikido development. The participation in actual shiai (competitive randori) very much depends on the club with greater emphasis being found in the university clubs.
In 1967 Kenji Tomiki built a Shodokan Hombu Dojo in Osaka, Japan, to teach, train and promote his style. Shodokan Aikido is organised as the Japan Aikido Association (JAA) with Tetsuro Nariyama as the chief instructor.
Past Directors of Shodokan Aikido:
- First Director Kenji Tomiki (till
1979)
- Second Director Hideo Ohba (1979-1986)
Kata: There are a number of defined kata within the Shodokan system. Some of the more important ones are listed below.
The Junanahon: This is the basic kata for Shodokan Aikido and is practiced both as kihon and tanto forms. All of the techniques in this kata, and their variations, are legal within randori.
The Koryu Goshin no Kata: Translates into old stream self defense kata and includes many techniques that harken back to the pre-war aikido - to a time when the art was still taught as Daito-ryu aiki-jujutsu. This set of 50 techniques is sometimes referred to as the Koryu dai san and includes weapons as well as empty hands techniques.
Nage no kata omote and ura: A set of throwing techniques: 7 direct and 7 more ciruclar and fluid. These are actually the first part of Koryu dai yon with 11 further techniques added on.
Goshin Ho: A set of 50 self defence techniques that are part of the curriculum for yondan and up.
Competition: Competitions take the form of tanto or toshu randori, and also enbu in which pairs (tori and uke) are judged on their kata. Toshu randori is barehanded, and both aikidoka are expected to perform techniques on one another and attempt to resist and counter each other's techniques. The appearance of this form is heavily influenced by judo randori with a few changes designed to enhance the use of aikido technique (for example, one is not allowed to grasp the opponent's keikogi).
In tanto randori, there is a designated attacker (tanto) and a designated defender (toshu). The attacker attempts to stab the defender with a training knife (usually rubber or stuffed) while the defender attempts, with any of seventeen basic aikido techniques, to throw or perform joint-locks on the attacker. Tanto is expected to resist or counter with the first five techniques. In competition, the roles switch, with competitors having the same amount of time with and without the knife. In both these forms of randori, the traditional separation between the performer of technique (tori) and the receiver of technique (uke) no longer exists as either of the participants may throw their opponent.
Credits:
- Tanto tsukiari - 1 point - Awarded for
a successful tanto strike. For the
strike to count, the tanto must land on
the lower half of the torso. The arm
must be extended, and the attacker must
be moving forward, finished with good
balance. Glancing hits do not count.
Obviously, this does not apply to toshu
randori.
- Yuko - 1 point - Awarded for a balance
break, or for making your opponent
retreat out of the designated area.
- Wasa-ari - 2 points - Awarded for a
full throw or lock, but losing good
posture and balance.
- Ippon - 4 points - Awarded for a full
throw or lock, keeping good posture and
balance.
Penalties:
- Shido - 1/2 point - Awarded to the
opponent when a competitor commits minor
violation. Shido are only counted in
pairs.
- Dogi-mochi shido - Grabbing hold
of the gi.
- Taisabaki shido - Failure to dodge
properly, e.g. by swatting the knife
away instead of moving out of its
path.
- Tanto shido - Failure to mind the
knife: tanto may receive a tanto
shido if he or she drops or loses
control of the knife; toshu may
receive a tanto shido if he or she
allows the tanto to be pressed
against their body for three
seconds.
- Chui - 1 point - Awarded to the
opponent when a competitor commits a
major violation. In American
tournaments, 2 chui end the match.
|
