Shodokan Aikido

infobox martial art group
nationality = Modern Japanese martial art

logocaption = The Shodokan Aikido symbol.
name = Shodokan Aikido
(昭道館合気道 "Shōdōkan Aikidō")
aka = Tomiki Aikido
dates = 1967–present
style = Grappling
area = Osaka, Japan
founder = Kenji Tomiki
founder_dates = 1900–1979
head = Tetsuro Nariyama
arts_taught = Aikido
ancestor_arts =
descendant_arts =
ancestor_groups = Aikikai Foundation • Kodokan Judo
descendant_groups = None identified
notable_pract =
website = www.aikido-kyokai.com

Nihongo|Shodokan Aikido|昭道館合気道|Shōdōkan Aikidō is the style of aikido founded by Kenji Tomiki （富木 謙治 "Tomiki Kenji", 1900–1979). It is sometimes referred to as Sport Aikido because it is the only style of aikido to hold regular competitions, and also referred to as Tomiki Aikido, after its founder. It places more emphasis on free-form "randori" sparring than most other styles of aikido. The training method requires a balance between "randori" and the more stylized "kata" training along with a well developed set of training drills both specific for "randori" and for general aikido development. The participation in actual "shiai" (competitive "randori") very much depends on the club with greater emphasis being found in the university clubs.

In 1967 Kenji Tomiki built a Shodokan hombu dojo in Osaka, Japan, to teach, train and promote his style. Shodokan Aikido is organised as the Japan Aikido Association "(JAA)" with Tetsuro Nariyama as the chief instructor.

Past Directors of Shodokan Aikido

*First Director Kenji Tomiki (till 1979)
*Second Director Hideo Ohba (1979-1986)

Shihan

Within the JAA there are two Shihan: Tetsuro Nariyama and Fumiaki Shishida. Nariyama is the technical director of the JAA and chief instructor of the Shodokan hombu dojo in Osaka, Japan. Shishida is Professor of Intellectual History of the Japanese Martial Arts at Waseda University in Tokyo. [http://www.waseda.jp/intl-ac/bulletin/c04-09.html]

Together, they wrote a key monograph, in Japanese, entitled "Aikido Coursebook" (ISBN 4-469-16288-4), which describes the history of and many technical details about the style of aikido propounded by Tomiki. This book, first published in 1985, was subsequently translated into English by Shodokan Publishing USA under the title, "Aikido: Tradition and the Competitive Edge" (ISBN 978-0964708327).

Kata

There are a number of defined kata within the Shodokan system. Some of the more important ones are listed below.

Junanahon

This is the basic kata for Shodokan Aikido and is practiced both as kihon and tanto forms. This set of 17 techniques, and their variations, are legal within randori.

Koryu Goshin no Kata

Translates into "old stream self defense kata" and includes many techniques that harken back to the pre-war aikido - to a time when the art was still taught as Daito-ryu aiki-jujutsu. This set of 50 techniques is sometimes referred to as the Koryu dai san and includes weapons as well as empty hands techniques.

Nage no kata omote and ura

A set of throwing techniques: 7 direct and 7 more circular and fluid. This sequence is actually the first part of Koryu dai yon which includes eleven more techniques.

Goshin Ho

A set of 50 self defence techniques that are part of the curriculum for yondan and up.

Competition

Competitions take the form of "tanto" or "toshu" randori, and also enbu in which pairs (tori and uke) are judged on their kata. Toshu randori is barehanded, and both aikidoka are expected to perform techniques on one another and attempt to resist and counter each other's techniques. The appearance of this form is heavily influenced by judo randori with a few changes designed to enhance the use of aikido technique (for example, one is not allowed to grasp the opponent's keikogi).

In tanto randori, there is a designated attacker ("tanto") and a designated defender ("toshu"). The attacker attempts to stab the defender with a training knife (usually rubber or stuffed) while the defender attempts, with any of seventeen basic aikido techniques, to throw or perform joint-locks on the attacker. Tanto is expected to resist or counter with the first five techniques. In competition, the roles switch, with competitors having the same amount of time with and without the knife. In both these forms of randori, the traditional separation between the performer of technique (tori) and the receiver of technique (uke) no longer exists as either of the participants may throw their opponent.

coring

Credits

* Tanto tsukiari - 1 point - Awarded for a successful tanto strike. For the strike to count, the tanto must land on the upper half of the torso. The arm must be extended, and the attacker must be moving forward, finished with good balance. Glancing hits do not count. Obviously, this does not apply to toshu randori.
* Yuko - 1 point - Awarded for a balance break, or for making your opponent retreat out of the designated area.
* Wasa-ari - 2 points - Awarded for a full throw or lock, but losing good posture and balance.
* Ippon - 4 points - Awarded for a full throw or lock, keeping good posture and balance.

Penalties

* Shido - 1/2 point - Awarded to the opponent when a competitor commits minor violation. Shido are only counted in pairs.
** Dogi-mochi shido - Grabbing hold of the gi.
** Taisabaki shido - Failure to dodge properly, e.g. by swatting the knife away instead of moving out of its path.
** Tanto shido - Failure to mind the knife: tanto may receive a tanto shido if he or she drops or loses control of the knife; toshu may receive a tanto shido if he or she allows the tanto to be pressed against their body for three seconds.
* Chui - 1 point - Awarded to the opponent when a competitor commits a major violation. In American tournaments, 2 chui end the match.

External links

Japan

* [http://www.aikido-kyokai.com Japan Aikido Association (JAA) Homepage]
* [http://homepage2.nifty.com/shodokan/en/index.html Shodokan hombu dojo]

International

* [http://www.shodokanaikido.co.uk/ British Shodokan Aikido]
* [http://www.shodokan.ch/ Swiss Shodokan Aikido Association]
* [http://www.tomiki.org/ Japan Aikido Association USA]
* [http://www.shodokanaikido.es/ Spanish Shodokan Aikido]

Videos

*YouTube|id=HbIyAF48zFM|title=Tetsuro Nariyama with Sakai as uke
*YouTube|id=c1QAv0FIQyE&N|title=Tetsuro Nariyama with Sato as uke
*YouTube|id=C1T3ZG_JqqY|title=Competition clip - Shomen-ate
*YouTube|id=RvfyvQIJiGo|title=Competition clip - Gyakugamae-ate