Koyo's Book

Discussion in 'Aikido' started by aikiwolfie, Aug 18, 2009.

  1. koyo

    koyo Passed away, but always remembered. RIP.

    OK moi aka dad

    HORROR STORY

    I dislike fights "I have had" posts. Simply because I dislike real fighting of any kind and the tendancy to romanticise the encounters. However to give an insight ,if that is possible, into "the fighting mind" something I have been "accused" of because of my stand that the arts MUST be effective. I shall recount one.

    Two children ran into my office and asked that I go to the Arches, a piece of spare ground opposite Torr street in Possilpark Glasgow. I ran over and to my horror saw the dead body of a young girl who,I later found out had overdosed on drugs.

    BUT what I also saw was an image that shall stay with me for the rest of my llife.
    Two junkies were searching her body for drugs exposing her underwear (and worse) in the process.

    I roared at them to stop and the taller one swore at me and spat at me.

    I felt the shock pass through my arm right into the ground before I realised that I had hit him. He collapsed to his knees and I turned on the second. he thew his hands up and tried to speak just as I hit him hard and low. I was sickened and completely without thohght or fear,even anger. just deathly cold.

    I turned on the first one again who had stumbbled to his feet although his legs were gone and he looked utterly confused but still snarling at me. I chose my target this time and hit him as hard as I possibly could. To hell with the fact that he could offer no defence at all. He went down out cold.

    I stood there wanting to cry like a baby. This was a different world from "beating up and being beaten up" by friends in the dojo. And this was a different me. God knows what I would have been capable of if the "fight" had continued however God knows what would have happened to me if I had not been capable of finishing it quickly.

    Afterwards I tried to approximate the same intensity in the dojo during VERY rigorous training with a few friends. It was just not possible even though some heavy thumps were handded out.

    Experiences such as these have of course coloured my opinion of what constitutes a martial art. My thought that fights should be avoided if at all possible is unshakeable BUT I feel students place themselves in real danger when training in art and "supposing" it shall be effective in a real confrontation.

    My reason for this post (which I would NOT includein any book) is to advise through eperience.
    If you are not a confident effective fighter..Ichi Gan first the eyes become alert and aware. No Soku second the body..get it OUT of there.

    If you MUST fight..then Surprise aggression and sustain until you find the instant to GET OUT.
     
    Last edited: Aug 25, 2009
  2. KOKORO KAI

    KOKORO KAI Valued Member

    Koyo I have just read out the above story to my dad and he said he recalls it although not totally, you either mentioned it to him privately or in the dojo.He said to me in his opinion it was "fair" he said you would understand.:cool:
     
  3. koyo

    koyo Passed away, but always remembered. RIP.

    Tommo was one of the friends who shared the wild practices afterwards.

    He WILL remember them.
     
  4. KOKORO KAI

    KOKORO KAI Valued Member

    I remember one rigorous training night. We started with 1000 suburi then suwari waza techniques for about 1 hour changing partners after approx 10 minutes each time,straight into Irimi Nage technique from shomen uchi,then yokomen uchi shiho nage I was also uke to Sensei Coyle and nearing the end I began to falter my legs were turning to jelly, I felt I was going to faint then nikkyo as I began to get up .......bang Irimi Nage.Sensei called the pratice to an end.he was finishing off with some words but I could hear nothing I was so numb. It is hard to put into words some of the practises we had and the intensity of them but, not once did we stray from the basic principles.The above information given by Bill is excellent it is the experience of someone with over 45yrs martial arts who trained with as I put it the "Greats".Saito, Chiba ,Sekiya Shihans to mention 3.Grab it and digest. I for one learned a great deal from Bill I was uke to him for a very long time and have never regreted one day of training.....well maybe, but that is another story:evil:

    Tommo
     
  5. koyo

    koyo Passed away, but always remembered. RIP.

    KUDEN

    Even if the technique is unsophisticated it is the warrior's unshakable mind that shall achieve victory.

    HISTORY

    Kamiizumi Nobutsuma achieved fame at the seige of Minowa castle.Although faced by insurmountable adds and doomed to inevitable defeat at the hands of the Takeda samurai of Takeda Shingen he drove the Takeda back time and time again at the head of his spearmen.

    Known as The Sixteen Spears of Nagano he and his warriors fought so valiantly that when the castle fell to the Takeda , Shingen spared their lives and took them into the sevice of the Takeda.

    Rather than choose to remain Nobutsuns requested to be allowed to enter Musha Shugyo
    (austere training) so that he could further develop his sword art Kage Ryu he added his battlefield experince to create the Shi (new) Kage Ryu.

    This was the art he was to introduce to the Yagyu clan which lead to the creation of the Yagyu Shinkage Ryu one of the most prestigious sword schools in Japan and teachers to the Tokugawa shoguns.

    His kuden clearly speaks that the mastery of the martial arts lies in the courage ,spirit and attitude of the exponane rather than any extravagant postures or involved tactics.

    He also understood clearly that to know one art was to know none and emphasises training in other disciplines. (early cross training or dare I say it MMA) to gain at least a working knowledge of them. Machida anyone?

    The respect that Nobutsuna showed to other warriors such as the Takeda,Yagyu and the spearmen of the Hozoin e of the Hosoin temple raises another KUDEN

    To truly respect your chosen art you must gain respect from ,and have respect ,for all others who train sincerely.
     

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    Last edited: Aug 25, 2009
  6. Spinmaster

    Spinmaster Valued Member

    Thanks for that story, koyo. It really shows how undesirable real fights are, void of any "glory".
    Train to be able to fight if you have to, learn to avoid fights if you can, and if you must fight... WIN. I think it was Moi who posted recently in another thread "losing is not an option."
     
  7. komuso

    komuso Valued Member

    You have a daughter Koyo,

    Just like me.

    You are right about the lack of glory, but, well, what was option b? There are some things in this life that simply cannot be withstood irrespective. It is a measure of who you are that you quite clearly stopped when you did. There are an awful lot of people who would not have.... You were just being dad.

    paul
     
  8. koyo

    koyo Passed away, but always remembered. RIP.

    OLD SCHOOL

    For those who imagine that there are no strikes in aikido,and there are too many "aikido" books which make this "statement",

    And for Tommo who remembers the ara waza keiko.(severe/rigorous training)

    Below a ridge hand strike to the neck and a choku tsuke to the ribs. And the contact was not all that "light" at all.
     

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  9. Moi

    Moi Warriors live forever x

    Shouldn't quote me in this thread. This is koyo. I spent the majority of my life being the other guy in half the story's posted on martial art forums. Although we fought on opposite sides koyo is one of life's unsung heroes that tried to clean up the mess left by people like me. We've both real life experience but from very different directions, better to follow koyo's advice, mine would get you locked up.
     
  10. Spinmaster

    Spinmaster Valued Member

    Moi, I was quoting your advice in agreement of koyo's statements... :D
     
  11. koyo

    koyo Passed away, but always remembered. RIP.

    After that fight in the arches a few "Bag guys" I knew went in a couple of nights later with baseball bats and "cleaned it up a bit."

    The two main "baddies" had actually approached me to teach them aikido to "calm them down" so they could go out just one night without getting into a fight.

    Both trained with me on a daily basis for about three months and we became friends.

    Lost contact with them when I was moved to the Gorbals.
     
  12. Moi

    Moi Warriors live forever x

    I know. I'm in a weird mood, It's been a tough week and it's only Tuesday. Me and koyo share many ideas only his are white and mine are black.
    Guess I'm feeling sorry for myself.

    edit: I think it was koyo's story, it's as if I've been judged by proxy when you hear what normal people think of certain lifestyles
     
    Last edited: Aug 26, 2009
  13. koyo

    koyo Passed away, but always remembered. RIP.

    Good principle to live with..RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW..DON'T LOOK BACK..DON'T LOOK FORWARD..Simply do your best right here right now.
     
  14. koyo

    koyo Passed away, but always remembered. RIP.

    OLD SCHOOL

    When I began aikido training late fifties it was most difficult to throw a single opponent mainly because we had all come from Judo and would not give up our balance easily.

    Quite recetly I saw a demonstration by an "aikido" instructor where he sat on a chair and received simultaneous "attacks " from FOUR "swordsmen".Such a display of utter nonsense marketed as aikido reminded me of the KUDEN.

    Flowing techniques must not be attempted until 3rd dan level.(Saito shihan)

    Aikido must be performed from a kamae "that leaves no openings". The sankaku ho triangular kamae offers the smallest target area to the opponent and the kokoro kamae (mental attitude) of attack at all times means that the aikidoka is looking for all and any openings on the opponent's approach.

    The principle of "washing over" or "striking directly through" are basic to aikido and yet are slowly being replaced by Ura turning aside after akkowing the opponent to attack.
    Those who use ura a lot in their training become "hesitators" ignoring or ignorant of the numerous openings a spirited martial artist shall see instantly in a potential attacker.

    The intiative must be seized and maintained.

    KUDEN

    Assert control dominate the fighting spirit of the attacker with a stronger more decisive spirit of your own.

    To develop this you must train in SOLID omote (in front) techniques.

    The most obvious of these being irrimi nage.

    below an attack to the head ribs and kuzushi striking through the opponent.

    I rather liked the explanation for this technique."It must be applied instantly ,powerfully with a feeling like your hair is on fire!!"
     

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    Last edited: Aug 27, 2009
  15. koyo

    koyo Passed away, but always remembered. RIP.

    CATCHING A PUNCH

    KUDEN

    Never attempt to throw or pin someone who has not been unbalanced properly.
    Never TOUCH/GRASP someone without instantly unbalancing them.

    CATCHING A PUNCH IS IMPOSSIBLE. IT IS RARELY GOOD TO MAKE ASSUMPTIONS. but HERE IS ONE..ASSUME THE OPPONENT IS DANGEROUS AND "HAS MORE THAN ONE HAND".There is ALWAYS a secondary attack even if you somehow managed to trap the arm.

    Simultaneously get off line and attack the opponent to stun/unbalance and THEN apply a technique.

    below a few versions of the instant of musubi, (contact) ALL begin with a strike to unbalance.

    Photo 1 becomes kesse gatame (standing strangle)
    photo 2 Right uppercut inside his guard lock on right arm
    photo 3 throw or pin on the defending arm
     

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    Last edited: Aug 28, 2009
  16. koyo

    koyo Passed away, but always remembered. RIP.

    FIGHTING MIND

    The instant you "touch the sword"..sense danger, you "fill yourself with the intent to cut down the opponent". This and NOTHING more.

    When we come under threat the mind may become vulnerable to what in Budo are called "sicknesses". Fear,confusion,hesitation..even anger or carelessness.

    The term "fill yourself" rather than fill the mind. Advises that you should have only one "thought" and that is ATTACK. There is no pre-conceived strategy or technique, the belief being that the attack and action are instantaneous .Both the fighting spirit and the body must be "relaxed but allert."

    Basic principles of moving off line and inside the line of attack should be trained time and again until they become as instinctive as possible.

    KUDEN
    Attack at all times leaving no openings in timing or distancing that the opponent may use.Destroy his will to continue.

    This is the mindset of self defence there is ONLY an exlosive attack with no thought of defence or danger simply an application of fundamntal principles as swiftly and powerfully as possible.

    This is most difficult to apply in a "competative" manner as no competition is to be allowed to the opponent. If two experienced martial artists should "compete" in such a manner BOTH are most likely to be injured.The outcome of a real confrontation is decided in the first few moments.

    The "techniques are too deadly for competative arts".

    I have no time at all for such remarks, too often they are spoken by those who have NEVER competed or trained against resisting opponents.

    I would encourage everyone to crosstrain in a competative art simply for the experience and to gain the respect for that art which I assure you will follow.

    Nor do I believe that one trained "only" in a competative environment shall retain the "competative mind" I believe that they shall instictively let go of all and any inhibitions when under a real threat.

    Attack at all times is approached using the principle of ENTEN JIZAI which means attack and defence are one. This shall be discussed later.See photos which show the enten jizai principle of the body alignment which evades the attack at the same instant carry an attack to the opponent. The sword/spear principle and empty hand principle is identical.


    koyo

    I thank all who have encouraged me to continue this thread and would ask that any questions regarding what I have written or suggetions of what should be written be posted here.

    again my thanks .
     

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    Last edited: Aug 30, 2009
  17. embra

    embra Valued Member

    A few points/questions/comments before I become too busy with the many stoopid things that have to be dealt with next week (and forever after that.)

    It may all be a pile of bosh, but here goes anyway FWIW.

    1 JAPANESE TERMINOLOGY.
    1.1 As is pretty much all the time with koyo's posts, all the terminolgy is explained in expressive English, and then referrred to in context. Without explicit usage of Japanese language (and a lot of it), I think it is difficult to grasp the full meaning of Aikido.
    1.2 For example in the KUDEN for simulateous defence and attack, you could use this to make an example of Yin and Yang in harmony, but expressed in Western language and not an esoteric mystical literal translation ( as seems to often be the case with Aikido terminology.) Personally, I dont think you can avoid/deny concepts like 'ki', 'yin and yang' etc, but it boils down to the presentation as well as the translation, to make such concepts meaningfull in contemporary English language. FWIW, my interpretation of ki is 'spirited and focussed intent', but you could equally use 'decisive spirit', 'attack without fear or hesitation' - and probably quite a few others. I understand/believe that going from 0 to 100% attack is an expression of what is intended when discussing 'ki' in training.
    1.3 I can suggest adding something like a glossary/summary table/appendix as well of Japanese Terminology, for the browsing reader, as well as the deeper in-context descriptions for the cover-2-cover reader.

    In my mind, the motivated Aikodoka should aspire to understanding Aikido as much as posible in Japanese terminology, to gain as full a meaning and understanding as possible.

    2. KUDEN.
    2.1 I like this as a way of presenting the principles of Aikido. Each Kuden's context is well presented in text and photographs. The Kuden are isolated from each other, which allows the reader to soak in the meaning individually, without considering too much other KUDEN/Principles i.e. the reader's mind does not become cluttered.
    2.2 I can suggest either a chapter "Aikido Priciples" with an intro (like which was in one of the early posts in this thread) presenting the KUDEN oral tradition, followed by sub chapters per Principle/KUDEN; OR a chapter per Principle/KUDEN.
    2.3 Is KUDEN an oral tradition back to origins in koryo arts e.g. Kashima Shinto Ryu/Katori Shinto Ryu? Did this ultimately manifest itself in the training culture of Samurai?

    Basically what I am getting at is some more consideration for the structure of the material as well as the essential content.

    3. AIKIKEN AND AIKIJO
    Given the importance placed on these aspects of Aikido by koyo (and the instruction from Saito Shihan), some significant coverage could be made here e.g. Ken-suburi, Jo-suburi, Kumi-tachis, relationship to TaiJitsu etc - in a similar simple summary format to the KUDEN ? - though check with regard to Saito Shihan's vols1-6 - which I think are still the only detailed reference point in print - maybe Peter Brady as well.
     
    Last edited: Aug 30, 2009
  18. embra

    embra Valued Member

    4. EARLY DAYS OF AIKIDO IN THE UK

    In many of your posts koyo, you talk of words to the effect of 'Let the art change you , not you change the art'. What I want to get to here is the experience of discovering this, with yourself as the example, as I see a few parallels and potential pitfalls for MAs of almost any art. The individual is not important, but the experience is significant to express.

    As allready discussed, the early days of UK Aikido were uncertain, somewhat alien and haphazard. After about 8 years or so, a much more intense and demanding Aikido experience was experienced by koyo and those brave enough to follow Chiba Shihan's example and instruction.

    So a question or 2: When you were training a) with Abbe, Noro, Nakaono, Tamura Shihans, Ken Williams (who I think eventually left Aikikai to start up the Ki Society?) , Haydn Foster and others; and with Chiba Shihan; how many hours did you put in a) in terms of your own classes (from the early Ren Bu Kan ???spelling??? debt collectors to present), weekend seminars, summer/easter schools etc. Also the complications and costs of travel and acomadation etc.

    I imagine that prior to Chiba Shihan, you trained a lot with spirit (but perhaps somewhat misguided in perception?), and then were forced to confront your
    understanding and apparrent limitations. In doing so, you were mandated to absorb Aikido much more deeply i.e. the art changed you, not you changing the art through your initial interpretations (which must have been inevitable, given the lack of examples to work from in the pre Chiba Shihan days) - which ties in an aspect of the social/cultural context of the place and epoch.

    Why is this relevant today and to MAs of any Art? In my time with Aikido I kind of did ok with Principles as instruction, examples and general culture was at a reasonably mature level, but I used to struggle somewhat with the mechanics of the many tori techniques and variations. As a consequence I used to attend as many classes and seminars as my meagre funds would allow, often travelling longer that the practise took itself (sometimes hitch-hiking, sleeping on floors etc), but in general I did my best and kind of did ok, trying to 'experience' as much as possible.

    I was sometimes a tad envious of Aikidoka who could train more, went on uchideshi programs etc. However on the 2 occassions that I encoutered Aikido where you could practise every day, I was not overly impressed with the experience on offer - purely from a personal perception - nothing more - no 'political' persuasion or otherwise influenced me. Does a lot of exposure in time and overall attendance offer advancement/deepening? Well maybe, but I can easily see in myself fools's gold, and I suspect its there in others, some who have been in MA training for many years. Overtraining may make one somewhat over-confident, you can suffer from injuries and many other problems/manifestations. So how should one use the time available to train in Aikido/MA today, given the limitations and complexity of contemporary UK/Western society - its not only us - Japan now suffers from many problems like working very long hours, unemployment etc, making if difficult for the motivated Aikidoka to train there with the intenisty and depth that Chiba Shihan did with Ueshiba, and koyo dod with Chiba Shihan.

    Nowadays I train in other arts, but return to Aikido (on a tourist visa), because it represents a conceptual framework of what a MA is (to me at least), and I examine it in some detail in terms of fundamentals, and I do the same with other arts (TaiChiChuan and FMA.) Now, I always ask a lot more questions
    of my instructors, and pretty much anticipate re-learning all over again i.e. the current session is nothing more than a prelude for the next session where you start again from zero.

    From what I have picked up of koyo's early days UK Aikido experiences, a great deal of emotional and physical investment via egotistical manifestation (which I believe is very easy to fall prey to - 'I know how to do this, but not this part' etc) had to be overcome in the face of Chiba Shihan's re-instruction.

    Using the intensity, uncertaintities and difficulties of these early experiences, to show how letting 'the art change you, not you changing the art' - by getting to the heart of its matter and discarding egotistical concerns/fears etc; I believe to be a worthy chapter or 2 in this material.
     
    Last edited: Aug 30, 2009
  19. koyo

    koyo Passed away, but always remembered. RIP.

    CLARIFICATION

    KUDEN
    Kuden are not written down, they are oral instruction given WHEN THE STUDENT IS READY to progress. In fact they are given "like a slap in the face"

    Their "meaning" is ment to be grasped intuitively .The student would be approaching this understanding at the moment the kuden is given.

    Example. I have heard many times the instruction "At this point cut like a sword." This instruction is of no value whatsoever to one who has not trained in swordsmanship.
    We need only look at the countless "swordsmen" on youtube who have not mastered even the most basic principles to see this.

    Kuden are "challenges" to the student that he must investigate and "find for himself."

    Enten Jizai is but one. However the student himself must realise the concept and apply it in training. Not depending on the sensei who is an example NOT a teacher.

    It is far better to CAUSE someone to think than it is to TELL him what to think.
     
    Last edited: Aug 30, 2009
  20. embra

    embra Valued Member

    KUDEN.

    I may well have experienced a few of these, but they were never explained to me in this way. This is what makes them of value here. They are laid out here, kind of like a series of 'slaps in the face.' Reading them takes me some time, even though the words are not many, not unlike learning on the mat progresively as one reaches the point of progression.

    Its this quality which is usefull to bring out in the book, each chapter like a session on the tatami i.e. a lot of depth and clarity, not just flowery words.
     
    Last edited: Aug 30, 2009

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