| These
highly traditional Japanese martial arts are
taught under the authority of Master Alain
Floquet, 8th dan Kyoshi in Aikibudo, and 7th
dan in Kobudo from the Katori Shinto Ryu
school.
Aikibudo and Kobudo (weapons techniques)
are the two facets of the same art. Although
these two disciplines can be learned
separately, it is their common study that
multiplies the practitioner's
potentialities. They are highly
complementary, and the links between the
hand movements and those of the sword are
numerous. Aikibudo relates to body position,
precision, and rigour, while Kobudo relates
more to alertness of body and mind,
rapidity, flexibility, and sureness of
judgment. Both lay stress on concentration,
absence of fear, determination, perfect
attitude, and respect of others.
In feudal Japan, many lords were
experienced in the handling of weapons
(sword, etc.), but the ruling class (clan
leaders called daimyo or great lords) had to
possess sophisticated secret techniques in
order to face any unexpected attack. Some
clans devised defence methods allowing them
to overcome armed and unarmed attacks. The
Aizu clan carried the development of such
techniques, that were jealously kept secret,
to a great extent. However, Japan had
greatly evolved by the end of the 19th
century, and the days of samurai at arms
were over. The Aizu clan, personified by
lord Saigo Tanomo (Hoshiwa), decided to
authorize the teaching of its techniques to
certain outsiders.
The man in charge of this teaching, O
Sensei Takeda Sokaku, settled his school in
Hokkaido (island north of Japan) and named
it Daito Ryu Aikijujutsu. He had among his
students the initiator of the fantastic
development of aiki movements throughout the
world: O Sensei Ueshiba Morihei. Having
become a Daito Ryu teacher himself, Master
Ueshiba had many students, including Master
Mochizuki Minoru who introduced Aikijujutsu
Ueshiba Ryu (then called Aikido-Jujutsu of
Yoseikan - the name of his dojo) in France
in 1951. The first non Japanese he trained
in Aikido-Jujutsu over a long period of time
in his dojo at Shizuoka, was a young
Frenchman: Master Jim Alcheik. Pertaining to
the history of Aikibudo, he also trained one
of Master Jim Alcheik's students, who had
also been the student and assistant of
Master Hiro Mochizuki: Master Alain Floquet.
Meanwhile, Master Ueshiba had developed
and deeply modified the art he was teaching
before World War II. This transformation led
to the creation of Aikido toward 1948. In
1982, Master Floquet, who was still teaching
under the heading Aikido-Jujutsu of
Yoseikan, adopted the name Aikibudo with
Master Mochizuki’s consent. Moreover, he
took up with the mother school and the heir
(or soke) of Daito Ryu, Takeda Tokimune, and
integrated this original form of Aikijujutsu
into his teaching along with Katori Shinto
Ryu.
In Master Floquet’s mind and practice,
these three entities (the fondamental
techniques of Aikibudo, the art of Daito Ryu
, and the art of Katori Shinto Ryu) are one
and the same, and form the basis of the art
of Aikibudo.
Aikibudo is a martial art characterized
by the lack of indulgence and brutality. The
term "bu" does not mean war, as it
is often heard, but rather refers to the
force that allows peace.
The term kobudo means "ancient
martial arts". The weapons used and the
techniques taught are those of a very old
and respected school in Japan: Tenshin
Shoden Katori Shinto Ryu. This school is
under the authority of the soke (heir)
Yasusada Shuri no Suke, and of three masters
(shihan): Otake Risuke, Sugino Yoshio, and
Mochizuki Minoru. We study traditional
Katori under the supervision of Master
Sugino Yoshio, and a form of Iaijutsu
created by Master Mochizuki Minoru. Master
Alain Floquet, 6th dan, is their
representative.
This school teaches the techniques of the
Japanese sword (kenjutsu and iaijutsu),
staff (bojutsu), spear (naginatajutsu and
yarijutsu), as well as other weapons. It
lays stress on alertness of body and mind,
rapidity, flexibility, and sureness of
judgment. The teaching takes the form of a
series of kata (set of codified movements)
between the teacher and the student. The
teacher always carries a wooden sword
(bokken or bokuto), while the student learns
to use all the weapons of the school. |
