Weird, I'd posted a while back on another thread.
"If you want to find effective Aikido, train Judo for five years then drill Nage No Kata for your Ikkyu and Shodan promotions."
Or something to that effect.
In the process of clearing up old stories told to me by my coaches at comps and seminars I stumbled on this interview of Tomiki Sensei who developed the Goshin Jujitsu program for the Kodokan.
Tomiki Sensei-
"Classical
jujutsu, you see, included movements to deal with the situations before the outbreak of grappling. The person who was most knowledgeable regarding these pre-grappling movements and responses was Ueshiba Sensei."
Ever since reading this it's been nagging me in Randori. Most of the time we ignore this distance. I think to myself "what if the other guy had more speed and momentum because I didn't let him get in range to grip?" But isn't that what so called "self defense" is all about? Controlling the distance before an assailant is close enough to harm you? Not like in a ring, to close, but half a block away? How is this person(s) acting, moving, staring, at me? That's what it seems like Tomiki Sensei is talking about.
I think the biggest point for TMA vs sport he points out is about controlling the environment before the grappling range.
For Traditional JJJ if the guy grabs you not in the way and position you want him to, you've already lost the advantage.
Tomiki Sense-
"What I’m trying to say is this. In the old days, each master (person) would decide on his own, “I’m good at throwing,” or “My kicking is outstanding,” or “I have a great short sword technique.” Then based on this subjective judgement he would set up his own style in a formalized tradition (
ryuha). In the case of the “modernization” that took place, the sword was taken out of
jujutsu, and likewise, swordwork excluded
jujutsu. The arts were divided into specific fields based on the type of technique. An old time practitioner of
Ninjutsu, the Art of Stealth, thought only of the real life application. He would do anything he had to do in order to win. This was, of course, because they used technique for the purpose of war, and from that point of view you had to be able to cope with a long engagement distance or a short one, you could jump, do anything necessary."
So of course you guys laugh at Ninjutsu. It's the equivalent of modern day SOF or Delta. Any ten of you Purple Belt BJJ guys could choke out a Navy Seal strictly on the mat. But give him your address and a month to stalk you and he'd smoke you at 400 yards almost any old time he chose. That's what Tomiki Sensei is saying Ninjustu was.
The main point of the history is the transition from stone cold killers of war to highly competitive sport.
Kano Sensei was visionary in his genius of adapting Budo to the modern world.
Tomiki Sensei-
"Let me start with my conclusion first. In Japan our
budo of the past was something extremely bloody, vicious, and completely without bounds as to what methods or tricks one could resort to. Therefore, in viewing our present peaceful society and looking forward to a peaceful future, I think that “sportification” (
kyogika), the conversion to competitive sport, is the best way to spread the outstanding points and the benefits of
budo to the world."
So no mater how much we tell ourselves, what we train in the modern day holds no candle to the violent origins of our arts. We train the purposefully pacified versions of tactics and techniques to fit our modern world and that's a good thing.
Read the full interview here it's fascinating for anyone who's interested in the real Japanese Martial Arts history. While Brazilians were running around in the jungle with sticks and stones, fighting off the Euro Colonialists, Jujutsu was at it's turning point from warfare to it's present form. Tomiki Sensei is one of the Kodokan's most experienced educators.
http://aikidojournal.com/2011/09/02...ihXw7fP4IJ935MtQ9iVkAIZa3pavW3h46oMyNIMR_p-ik
