Dr. John Usher & Pat Parker, Sensei
Richard Minnis, Glenn Brook, & Melissa Brook, Sempai

Aikido is a responsive martial art in which the practitioner, called an Aikidoka, uses off-balances and an attacker’s own strength and momentum to gain control instead of attempting specific techniques to prevail. An advantage of this tactic over martial arts which emphasize ways to directly injure an attacker is that Aikido can be performed by people of almost any age or size, often despite physical limitation, and still be effective against even the largest and strongest of individuals.

Because of the risk of physical harm inherent in the practice of any martial art, Aikido practice is co-operative in nature. We do not train with "opponents, "but with "partners." When we practice a technique, our partner's job is to set up a situation in which that particular technique will work properly. The partner, or uke, does this by attacking and reacting in a specific way which safely simulates a real attack. Uke does not resist or try to convolute the technique. At advanced stages of practice the partner may begin trying to counter the techniques if given the opportunity; this type of practice leads to free form practice, called randori.

The founder of Aikido was a devotee of a modern Japanese religion called Omotokyo. Omotokyo is part neo-shintoism, and part socio-political idealism. Because of the radical beliefs of the founder, some people are concerned that Aikido may be a type of cult or religion.

Regardless of the founder's beliefs, and despite what some people think or claim, Aikido has no unified religious aspect. Instead, there is a philosophy which is more or less shared by most Aikidoka. The core of this philosophy includes two fundamental threads: a commitment to peaceful, creative resolution of conflict whenever possible and a commitment to general self-improvement.

So in short - no, Aikido is not a religion. Aikido training does not involve religious aspects and it does not interfere with or compromise the religious beliefs of the Aikidoka.

Aikido was invented in Japan during the early 20th century by a man named Morehei Ueshiba. Ueshiba had previously studied various forms of armed and unarmed fighting such as jujitsu, stick-fighting, and spear-fighting. All of these previous studies blended with Ueshiba's own ideas into what became known as Aikido.

Morehei Ueshiba taught for many years in various parts of Japan. During this time he taught the men who were to spread Aikido throughout the world. Founders of their own schools of aikido are Gozo Shioda and Kenji Tomiki, who were among Ueshiba’s first students. Many of Ueshiba’s other prominent students studied with him after World War II and continue with Hombu style aikido, namely Saito, Chiba, Saotome, and Tohei. Kenji Tomiki was a high ranking Judoka when he began studying under Ueshiba. While the different students each picked up on different aspects of Ueshiba's teachings, Tomiki believed the literally thousands of techniques were essentially variations on some recurring, central techniques that could be taught easier and more in-depth. This led to a parting of ways with Ueshiba.

When Tomiki began teaching Aikido classes at Waseda University and at the Kodokan, he interpreted and conveyed the aspects of Aikido in terms of his Judo training, namely: a strong emphasis on off-balance and ways to proliferate and popularize Aikido in modern society. He also included some elementary principles essential to proper execution of techniques.

Tomiki trained many notable individuals during his lifetime, including Hideo Ohba, Takeshi Inoue, Tsunako Miyake, Riki Kogure, and Karl Geis. Late in his life, Tomiki mandated that Geis spread his teachings in America, with the help of Kogure. Geis formed the Fugakukai International Aikido Association with the goals of teaching Aikido in a way that would appeal to Americans both old and young, small and large. With Kogure's help and Miyake's support, Geis and his students intensely studied Aikido with an eye for utility and practicality over aesthetics, thereby furthering the development of Aikido into the viable self-defense we study today. This search for knowledge continues.

Our Aikido club is sanctioned by the Fugakukai International Aikido Association. Each member must join Fugakukai upon attaining yellow belt level. Members of Fugakukai receive international recognition of their rank. Other benefits of membership include the opportunity to attend Fugakukai clinics and purchase training films.

When you join the Budo Club, you will also be given a general guide for conduct in all our martial art classes. Please read this document carefully and follow all rules and regulations.

Our number one concern in the dojo is safety. Our number two focus is respect and courtesy. Our classes cannot operate without any of these and these two concerns are intertwined.

When you are demonstrating your techniques for a test you are performing a kata. This requires that you perform a series of procedures in an exact manner. Your instructor will provide you with specific details on demonstrating your techniques, but there are some common rules that must be followed at all times. These are:

1. When you enter the mat, your opponent becomes your enemy. When demonstrating your kata, never take your eyes off your opponent.
2. Maintain good stances throughout your demonstration. Always be aware of the distance between you and your opponent.
3. If you forget the kata or perform improper technique, don’t just stop in frustration, continue with another appropriate technique and then complete the kata.

The following table lists the core requirements from white belt through third-level brown belt in Fugakukai Tomikiryu Aikido. In addition to this core, there are several miscellaneous requirements, such as proficiency in grappling, randori, and teaching.

Following the table is a brief description of the techniques required up through brown belt. When you attain the rank of brown belt you will receive a handbook which details the remainder of the rank requirements.

At our club we also teach Shindo-Muso-ryu Jodo as an adjunct to Aikido. Many people find that practicing jodo improves their Aikido skills because jodo emphasizes the same principles as Aikido. Upon attaining yellow belt in Aikido, the Aikidoka is encouraged to begin attending jodo classes. Jodo students will receive a jodo syllabus which details the additional techniques and requirements.

Ukemi is the part of Aikido that is involved in being a partner to some other person who is practicing a technique. As you advance you will discover that ukemi involves many diverse skills, but the first aspect of it is learning how to fall down without being injured. This is obviously a very important skill and must be practiced often.

1. triangular collapsed forward rolling breakfall
2. inline collapsed forward rolling breakfall
3. forward rolling breakfall
4. backward breakfall
5. side breakfall
6. forward breakfall
7. side breakfall and roll
8. backward breakfall and roll
9. airfall

Tegatana no Kata (The Form of Hand-Blades) is an exercise which is composed of basic movements found throughout Aikido. It teaches proper posture and balance and emphasizes essential principles which will be necessary in later practice. This is the foundation for the rest of aikido training; without it, one cannot become an effective aikidoka. The student should imagine an attacker in this kata against whom you evade or perform off-balances.

1. diagonal step
2. side step
3. turning diagonal step
4. step forward and push
5. over the shoulder push
6. step forward and circle your hand (palm up)
7. reaching around in front and pushing up to the side (palm out)
8. forward pivot and push up
9. "helicopter" pivot and lift
10. hip switch
11. backward pivot and push up
12. side circle

Hanasu no Kata (The Form of Releases) is an exercise which is performed with a partner. Taking the fundamental principles from Tegatana No Kata, this kata teaches the student how to maintain balance, diffuse an attack, and break a partner’s balance. As in Tegatana no Kata, the movements and principles learned in this exercise are found throughout later techniques.

Hand positions are given beside the number (palm (D)own or palm (U)p).

1.D cross-hand outside release
2.U cross-hand push release (purse-snatching)
3.U same-hand outside release
4.D same-hand push release (purse-snatching)
5.D cross-hand, normal-pull pit
6.U cross-hand, cross-pull pit
7.U same-hand, normal-pull pit
8.D same-hand, cross-pull pit

Junana Hon Kata (Seventeen Basic Techniques) is the primary training exercise in Aikido. It contains the seventeen basic techniques which make up the core of Aikido practice. This is only the first ten of seventeen.

1. shomen ate inside face push
2. aigamae ate outside face push
3. gyakugamae ate outside forehead push
4. gedan ate lower body push
5. ushiro ate pull-down backwards
6. oshi taoshi elbow push over
7. ude gaeshi (ude garami) entangling the arm
8. hiki taoshi elbow pull-down
9. ude hineri bar hammer-lock
10. waki gatame side armlock

Pronunciation:

• A = mAmA
• I = pIzza
• U = blUe
• E = somewhere between Echo and tAble
• O = bOne
• R = somewhere between piLL, aDD

Counting to 10 in Japanese:

Ichi, Ni, San, Shi, Go, Roku, Shichi, Hachi, Ku, Ju

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