Training

Training at Kakushi Toride is non-traditional and unique.  Rather than training through emulation of technique, our practice is focused on developing a presence that will permit takemusu aiki (spontaneously manifesting aikido) to be born of a center-to-center ki connection.  We feel that technique-based practice can create barricades to the spontaneous creation of aiki forms.

Physical Principles of the Aiki Interaction

All of our training stems from the recognition of three principles of aikido that are necessary for aikido to manifest in what we refer to as an aiki resolution, a result in which uke finds himself guided safely to the ground.  They are connection, moving off the line, and entering in.

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Initial Instruction
Phase One
Basic Stretches and Spots

Beginners are taught a kata of “stretches” and “spots” which are precise combinations of movements that replicate aiki forms without the resistance and disconnectedness that often results from immature understanding of the natures of attack and aikido, respectively.

Furthermore, viewing the components that create aiki as “stretches” and “spots” reduces the likelihood that the limbic systems of the participants will be stimulated to produce “fight, flight, or freeze” responses, which are deterrents to creating the unification that allows aiki to unfold.

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Connection Building Exercise 1 - Beginner Level

As soon as any pair of stretches and spots are learned by two partners they may advance to the first level of connection building exercises.  These exercises are designed to prepare students for random attack forms.  At the same time, students are being conditioned to flow with the intention of uke rather than to predetermine a technique which may or may not be appropriate to the actual attack.

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Phase Two

Phase Two begins with the learning of several additional stretches and spots, but it also includes a re-examination of the basic stretches and spots to see how they are representative of their respective physical contact connections.  Also examined are the likely points in each stretch where uke may, of his own volition, change the direction of his stretch.  For aikido to be effective it is important not to assume that once uke has projected his ki in a certain direction that he or she will not alter its trajectory toward nage’s center.  This phase of beginner training addresses that possibility.

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Intermediate and Advanced Levels