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Weapons
Aikido is primarily practiced as an empty-handed art (tai-jutsu, meaning “body arts”). However, as a student progresses, he/she studies the principles of Aikido through the use of the bokken (wooden sword), jo (wooden staff), and tanto (wooden knife). Weapons work reveals the importance of proper distance, timing, and precision of body movement. It also develops a student’s breathing and concentration. Techniques for responding to multiple assailants are also studied.
What distinguishes Aikido from Jiu-Jitsu and other arts is its integration of body arts (unarmed) and weapons techniques. Posture, movement, and awareness for both attacker and defender are virtually identical whether or not an actual weapon is present. For those who wish to deepen their study, training is also offered in Iaido / Iai Battoh-Ho (the art of traditional Japanese sword).
Weapons Curriculum
Grading for weapons study is independent of grades given for body arts, and does not follow the more modern kyu-dan system:
Shoden: Initial transmission
- jo:
- 36 Basics and variations
Sansho #1 - ken:
- 8-count suburi, tachi waza & suwari waza
One-hand suburi exercises-variations
4 kirigaeshi exercises with partner: (nagashi uchi, suriotoshi, uchiotoshi, and suriage against shomen) and variations;
Chuden: Mid-level transmission
- jo:
- Sansho #2
- ken:
- Kiriotoshi: jo, chu, gedan
Kumidachi #1 through #5 and Ki Musubi No Tachi and variations
4 Kirigaeshi applications
Okuden: Supreme transmission
- jo:
- Sansho #3
- ken:
- Tanto, Wakizashi, Daito variations
- body:
- Tachidori, Jodori