Yoseikan Aikido


Yoseikan Aikido is the aikido taught at the Yoseikan Dojo in Shizuoka, Japan, under the direction of Minoru Mochizuki.
Mochizuki was a direct student of aikido's founder, Morihei Ueshiba. He was an uchi deshi from around November 1930, to around August 1931. Mochizuki maintained contact with Ueshiba until the latter's death in 1969.
In the 1970s Yoseikan Aikido was formally organised into Yoseikan Budo along with the other arts Mochizuki had studied and mastered, including judo, karate, Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto-ryu, jujutsu, kobudo, iaido, kendo, jojutsu, and Mongolian kempo. However, some dojos still exist throughout the world that maintain their art as Aikido, and as such, still refer to it as Yoseikan Aikido, or Yoseikan Aikijujutsu/ Aikijutsu.

Summary

Traditionally Yoseikan Aikido contains all the aspects present in other aikido schools, for example ai, ki, kokyu, seika-no-itten, irimi, and tenkan. Other important aspects from judo are also included, including kuzushi, tsukuri, jita kyoei, sei ryoku zen yo.
Due to Mochizuki’s fighting experiences when introducing martial arts in France in the 1950s he felt that aikido needed a stronger technical basis to ‘meet all challengers.’ In essence all judo techniques can be thought of as Yoseikan Aikido techniques. In reality, this only adds several core judo techniques, such as hip throws, shoulder throws, sacrifice throws, and foot sweeps. Many in the aikido community see the ideas of foot sweeps and sacrifice throws as contrary to the core principles of aikido, where balance and being centred are paramount. These techniques, however, do not result in a loss of centre or balance. Fundamentally, the foot sweeping techniques in Yoseikan Aikido are identical to otoshi waza in other aikido schools. The use of the foot ensures the technique is effective, even when the opponent is resisting. Less emphasis is then placed on timing, and more importantly, an overcommitted attack is not required. As for sacrifice throws, a fundamental principle used in Yoseikan Aikido is gyokushin, or the spirit of a ball. Even when a ball rolls it maintains its centre, and that is true of the Yoseikan Aikidoka when performing sacrifice throws. You do not need to be on your feet to move spherically, which is important in the application of aikido techniques.
Sincerity is another aspect which greatly influences Yoseikan Aikido. It is for this reason that Yoseikan Aikido includes basics, combinations and fundamental kata from karate Do. This makes sure that uke in Yoseikan is as effective and sincere in attack, as nage will become in defence. Before World War II, aikido students were required to have previously studied martial arts, and have a letter of reference from their instructor. This meant that all pre-war students already possessed basic skills of uke, including falling and striking. Now, aikido may be taken as a first art. Therefore, in Yoseikan students are taught how to attack.
Put simply, the main difference between Yoseikan, and other schools is the way Mochizuki sensei structured his teachings, and hence the way aikido was taught at the Yoseikan. Yoseikan has a very logical structure, which can be seen as a fundamental influence of Jigoro Kano, who stressed the science of judo. More emphasis is placed on fundamentals, such as escaping from a grab. These techniques are typically mentioned in other aikido schools, and are the first part of a locking or throwing technique. However, in Yoseikan Aikido they are drilled and examined as basics. After its construction in 1931, Morihei Ueshiba visited, supervised, and taught at the Yoseikan, and Mochizuki was awarded his 8th Dan in the 1950s, as well as obtaining scrolls in Aikijujutsu from Ueshiba in the 1930s, hence, his method was approved.

History

Japan

In October 1930 after witnessing a demonstration of Morihei Ueshiba, Jigoro Kano organised for two students to study under him. These two men were, Jiro Takeda and Minoru Mochizuki. With his previous knowledge in judo, jujutsu, kendo and kenjutsu, Mochizuki rapidly progressed under Ueshiba. He was appointed supervisor of the uchi deshi, and also served as a teaching assistant, Ueshiba even suggested that Mochizuki marry his daughter and hence become his successor. Mochizuki was an uchi deshi under Ueshiba for several months. In mid to late 1931, Mochizuki fell ill with pleurisy and pulmonary tuberculosis. During his 3-month hospital stay the Yoseikan dojo was constructed for Mochizuki. Ueshiba, who was at the official opening of the Yoseikan in November 1931, regularly taught seminars at the dojo.
In June 1932, Ueshiba awarded Mochizuki with two Daito Ryu scrolls. The first was the Hiden Ogi no Koto and the second was the Goshinyo no Te. In Daito Ryu, one learns the Hiden Mokuroku, then the Aiki no Jutsu, then the Hiden Ogi, and then the Goshinyo no Te. After attaining these four levels, the person is then qualified to teach the art. After these levels comes Kaishaku Soden and then finally Menkyo Kaiden. In terms of Daito Ryu, Mochizuki was qualified to teach all that he had learnt up the Goshinyo no Te. It is also worth noting that this is the technical level Ueshiba had achieved in Daito Ryu, although he held the official title Kyoju Dairi in Daito Ryu. This enabled Ueshiba to give instruction and travel to teach as a representative of the headmaster, Sokaku Takeda.
Aikido at the Yoseikan continued to develop until 1972, when after returning from France, Mochizuki had decided to change the name to Yoseikan Budo. This also resulted in technical restructuring and the amalgamation of the once separate arts Mochizuki taught under a single term. The characteristics of Mochizuki's Yoseikan Budo was still in essence aikido, with the addition of more Judo techniques, specifically ground work, the development of more sacrifice throws, and the inclusion Katori Shinto Ryu in higher grades.
Today the Yoseikan in Japan is home to the Seifukai, an organisation headed by Mochizuki's son Tetsuma. They maintain a strong affinity to the primarily aikido based Budo of Minoru Mochizuki.

France

In 1951, Mochizuki travelled to France mainly to teach judo, but he also found time to give instruction in aikido and is therefore credited with being the first to disseminate aikido abroad. Europe's introduction to aikido and its association with judo came about directly due to the early activities of Mochizuki. He was to set a pattern that would be repeated in most European countries where aikido would cast its roots within the existing judo community. A large number of early European practitioners were judoka who were past their competitive years and found the graceful techniques of aikido to be a perfect alternative allowing them to continue active martial arts practice. Mochizuki spent a total of two-and-one-half years in France and his efforts sowed the seeds for the development of the world's largest aikido population outside Japan. It is said that today there are more than fifty thousand active practitioners in France!
Yoseikan Aikido from Yoseikan Ryu was represented by Jim Alcheik in France in the 50'. He founded the FFATKJ, with the agreement of Minoru Mochizuki, the "Fédération française d'Aikido, de Tai-jitsu et de Kendo" when he came back from Japan with Hiroo Mochizuki. Jim Alcheik called this art "aikido yoseikan" or "aikido ju-jitsu" or "Tai-jitsu". Jim Alcheik died in 1962 in a bomb attack in Algeria. French and European Tai-jitsu is considered as a "cousin discipline" of martial arts taught in Yoseikan Ryu.

United States

The legitimate start of Yoseikan Aikido in the US was through Capt. Sadayuki Demizu of the Japanese Air Self Defense Force. As Liaison Officer for Japanese students at the missile school at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama, Demizu was a 4th dan in Yoseikan Aikido, mostly trained by Kyoichi Murai, but a direct student and son-in-law of Minoru Mochizuki. When Huntsville officers learned that Demizu was an aikido man, they asked him to begin teaching and he agreed. Among the first students was Thomas E. Bearden. Glenn Pack, now the technical director of the United States Yoseikan Budo Association started training around this time. In February 1974, Pack began teaching Yoseikan Aikido at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. Pack continued teaching at the University of Alabama until 1975, when he went to graduate work in Arkansas, leaving the Tuscaloosa class in the hands of Rick Moncrief.
In 1975, Bearden sent a letter to Mochizuki asking for a teacher to be sent to the US. In early 1976, Mochizuki sent Patrick Auge. Auge had lived in Japan for several years, with four years as an uchi deshi at the Yoseikan, and was at the time a 4th dan. Auge settled in Ottawa, Ontario in Canada. He oversaw the already established Yoseikan in the US and began teaching in Canada, with two clubs in Ottawa. Currently there are 8 schools listed under the International Yoseikan Budo Federation in Canada and the US, most have the word aikido in their title. The IYBF hombu is in Torrance California under the direction of Patrick Auge, with two other dojos in the US.
The USYBA, while currently affiliated with the Yoseikan World Federation under Hiroo Mochizuki, still maintains its Yoseikan Aikido like syllabus. The USYBA list seven clubs on their website through the US, some include the term aikido in their title. Another organisation in Canada is called the Canadian Association of Aikido Mochizuki. Although the term Yoseikan Aikido is not used, the origins of their aikido are with Mochizuki from the Yoseikan.

Australia

Yoseikan Aikido was the second school of aikido in Australia, and the first in the state of Western Australia. In 1968 a gentleman by the name of Phillipe Boiron began teaching Yoseikan Aikido for Jan de Jong in Perth, Western Australia. This lead Jan de Jong to travel to Japan in 1969 to train directly under Minoru Mochizuki. In 1974, on an official request from Jan de Jong, Mochizuki dispatched Yoshiaki Unno to Perth to teach Yoseikan Aikido. Unno also taught Iaido, Kobudo and Karate.
Almost half of the aikido schools in Perth had some relationship to this early introduction of Yoseikan Aikido in Perth. The Jan de Jong Martial Arts School continues to teach aikido. Hans de Jong, son of the late Jan de Jong and student of Unno, teaches Yoseikan Aikido and is a Shodan. The aikido branch of the UWA Martial Arts Club was started by Unno's student Brett Nener, 4th Dan in Yoseikan Aikido, with Fujimori Akira Shihan of Tanaka ha Butoku Ryu Aikijujutsu as its principal. John Langley principle of the Institute of Aikido Australia, was also a student of Unno's and teaches with 2nd Dan in Yoseikan Aikido Steven Nener and Darren Edwards. Another of Unno's students, Ross Taylor Shihan, 5th Dan, heads the West Coast Aikido Martial Arts Academy in Wangara, Western Australia, and continues the teachings of Minoru Mochizuki and Unno Sensei.

Vietnam

On the 04/07/1963, at 54/14 Nguyen Binh Khiem, Saigon, Master Wanatabe Haruye opened Yoseikan Aikido classes with the master mentor Kazuo Ischikawa. One of the most outstanding disciples of these men was Mr. Nguyen Dang Duc. And he then became the first President of Aikido Yoseikan Vietnam.
After a period of time two different schools of thought came about relating to the practice and teaching style of Vietnam Aikido Yoseikan, from that the school split into two branches.
On the 08/10/1968, Master Le Van Nhi established a dojo under the name Aikibudo at the Sports Club in Saigon, 55 Red Cross, this is The department of Culture and Labor now.
In 1970, to avoid confusion with the modern Aikido of Morihei Ueshiba O-sensei, Master Nguyen Dang Duc decided to change the name Aikido Yoseikan to Aiki Jujitsu. and this name has been used until now.
After Master Nguyen Dang Duc died, Master Bui Huu Tac became president of Aiki Jujitsu Vietnam and taught several generations of students during his career.

Techniques

Technically Yoseikan Aikido is very similar to other aikido styles. The fundamental technique, Ikkyo, is referred to as Robuse, or arm rowing. The majority of other aikido techniques are included in Yoseikan Aikido, although some have different names. The fundamental attack, however, is not shomen uchi, it is an opposite posture single hand grab. Below is a list of common attacks used in Yoseikan, excluding strikes and kicks which encompass all of the basics from karate. An equivalent Aikikai attack is given in parentheses after the translation.

Attacks

Japanese: English :
The following is a list of Locks and then throws, again with Aikikai, Yoshinkan, and Shodokan equivalents in parentheses. Please note that these techniques are used as equivalents to Yoseikan techniques for the benefit of those who study a different school of aikido, and are not meant to equate the techniques of other schools.

Locks

Yoseikan: English
Yoseikan: English
More techniques exist; the ones listed here have known equivalent techniques in other schools. The Aikikai and Yoshinkan refer to a lot of techniques as Kokyu Nage, a term which is not used in Yoseikan, all techniques have separate names. At higher levels the term Aiki Nage is used to describe throws utilising perfect timing, as Kokyu Nage implies, and it is also the term used in Morihei Ueshiba’s Budo Renshu.

Structure

Below is a list of the technical elements which make up Yoseikan Aikido.
Below is a list of Yoseikan Aikido Kata, and the techniques in them.
Solo kata;
Paired kata ;