Kaze Uta Budo Kai Forum Archive

We just had an excellent gathering at Mokuren Dojo. The topics included releases, JW's tactical ideas, and Merritt Stevens' DT system. Following are my notes, in case they can help anyone...

Releases
Releases are the glue that holds aikido (and judo) together. They represent the categories that techniques fall into that allow us to rapidly sort through the solution space when confronted with a real-time problem.
Classic Kodokan theory says we say we have to get an offbalance (kuzushi) and we have to get ourselves in the right position (tsukuri) before we can do (kake) a technique . Judo theory also says that another prerequisite to judo techniques is that we get our hands on the opponent (kumi). Releases are a systematic way to teach/practice this tsukuri/kuzushi/kumi phase of preparation for a technique
The releases, in some classes across the pond are known as shichihon no kuzushi (seven offbalances). In other classes they are known as musubi renshu (connection practice). Aiki is a particular way of managing this connection between people that creates kuzushi - so you can say that it is the release that causes aiki to happen, or that the releases are characteristic of aiki.
Releases are largely about:
taisabaki - evasive footwork, getting off the line of attack or changing the line of action of the energy
pattern recognition - learning to spot what relationship you are in so you’ll know which techniques are more likely than others to occur.
tsukuri - learning to get ourselves into position for throws. Turns out, this position is the same for most aiki and many judo techniques- shikaku (dead angle) hiding close behind uke’s shoulder/hip.
kuzushi - learning to get uke offbalance. this happens at the same time as tsukuri and it happens as a result of tsukuri.
Pattern Recognition
In the releases (as we do them) you basically have two sets of two conditions and two directions (2x2x2=8 releases):
Tori can engage with uke either aigamae (regular closed stance) or gyakugamae (mirror open stance).
Tori can engage with his hands pointing/moving upward or downward
Tori can get behind uke by moving around him or by ducking under an arm and turning
We add in one more direction (inside between the arms) sometime later in the ranks, making release #9 and 10 (yonkata #1 and 2)
Releases do not have to happen in response to wrist grabs. They can be done on any reaching/grasping/thrusting attack - or they can even be done with tori initiating and/or grabbing uke.
A good drill for learning to see/feel the releases without grabbing is crossada, or flowing with knives.
Tsukuri
most aiki techniques can be done from shikaku (behind the shoulder). Most judo techniques (as we usually practice them) happen from in front between uke’s arms, but many judo techniques can be re-imagined from shikaku or from at least trying to get to shikaku.
Kuzushi
Some of our higher-ups define kuzushi as anytime uke has to take an unintended step before he can effectively aggress against you. This is a good, broad definition, but it can be hard to measure. The question comes up, “How do you know you have kuzushi or have enough kuzushi to do a technique?”
2 hints -
shikaku=kuzushi - if you can get behind uke’s shoulder and control the space/connection then by definition, uke is offbalance because he has to turn to face you to aggress against you effectively.
make uke orbit tori - is uke is moving in large arcs around tori, then 1) uke has to move farther faster than tori, 2) uke has to move in wide arcs while tori moves in short nearly-straight lines, 3) uke’s energy cannot be focussed on tori until he stops and repositions, which is kuzushi by the above definition). When uke is orbiting, tori feels like he is shooting ducks in a shooting gallery.
Re-programming releases
Most of us have a 1-2-3 recipe in our minds for each release. “1) step here, 2) turn like this, 3) step there.” sort of like dance step footprints on the ground.
We need to start re-defining each release more strategically and re-programming it more functionally - something like…
get safe (step outside offline away from uke’s free hand)
get a connection (take the slack out so you can feel the line of energy)
once you can feel uke’s structure firming up on one particular line…
release (by moving your feet) so that…
tori is in shikaku
uke is orbiting tori
JW’s Tactical Aikido
3 hints -
Judo and Aikido are the same thing
Releases are your pathways into techniques
Everything ends in ukigatame or udeosae
The main practice method is to pick a technique and practice moving from each release condition through that technique into ukigatame.
some specific examples to practice…
R1-4→gedanate
R1-4→ushiroate
R1-4→deashibarai or kosotogari
R1-4→seoinage or koshinage
R1-4→sumigaeshi
Merritt Stevens System
Merritt Stevens was a well-known Tomiki Aikido teacher in Ohio years ago. He came up with this DT system for police officers which also makes a pretty good intro to SD for aikido folk. It is minimalistic - 10 techniques vs against 2 common attacks, and it is all based on gross motor skills, so it is rapidly-learnable and highly-retainable under stress.
The 2 attacks are the 2 most common assaults on the street - swinging punch to the head and chest/shoulder push/grab
Swinging punch (right) -tenkai oshitaoshi
Swinging punch (right) -kotegaeshi
Swinging punch (right) -gyakugamae ate
Swinging punch (right) -aigamaeate
Swinging punch (right) -tenkai kotehineri
Swinging punch (right) -wakigatame
Swinging punch (left) - shomenate
Swinging punch (left) - shihonage
Swinging punch (left) - kubiguruma (or tenchinage)
Shoulder grab - kotemawashi/wakigatame/udegatame (per kodokan goshin jutsu)

Interestingly, Merritt and JW are telling us the same things -
get a small set of reliable techniques
practice getting to them from release conditions
practice them against common attacks
end them in positive control