Aunkai Honbu Tokyo
2018 events
The article is about the collaboration seminar given together with MMA legend and coach Nakai sensei.
The article is an introduction of Akuzawa sensei for the readership.
French instructor Kias was kind enough to allow us to put up the following photos taken during the seminar.
Merci beaucoup😊
Participants came from as far away as Nagano. And despite being autumn, the day was hot as summer, resulting in frequent water breaks.
Sensei concentrated on teaching the essentials of “relaxing” (in Japanese, “Chikara wo nuku”).
While some strength is needed, essentially, when changing posture and form, the parts used vary. As a teaching tool, one method of learning this with the elbow was introduced.
In this drill, the elbow is lifted while the partner is hanging vertically at the end of the wrist. The way of using the whole body from the feet and hips across the back and shoulders to lift the elbow is then the same as that use to strike with the fist, as sensei then demonstrated against pads—with the perceived weight the penetrative power of the strike a great surprise to the recipient!
One interpretation of “relaxing” in this particular case is to not use strength to interfere with the operation of the intended parts. However, just relaxing loosely is also useless; the correct posture to facilitate relaxation is necessary.
The next step was accepting and returning a pushing force against the hips from the front, and later from the side, but accepting and then returning to the original position by the release of the tension built up by accepting.
This was a great drill to learn the natural position, and accepting movement, required for the hips to work efficiently.
Building on the previous drills, sensei then had us go through a drill where the partner would push on the hands semi-freely, and the practitioner would try to accept and return the force without putting strength into the elbows.
The seminar provided a good change to touch people outside of the Aunkai training group.
Each partner’s individuality in performing drills was a chance to re-calibrate one’s own understanding of one’s body, and different errors came to light for correct.
It was brought home once more how despite the overt power evident in sensei’s movements, the core of the power comes from a detailed understanding and use of posture.
After the seminar a gathering for dinner was held close by, a happy conclusion to the hard work.
We are very grateful to all the participants, and to sensei for his valuable teaching.
Teachers:
Format:
First half (2 hours): Nakai sensei
Second half (2 hours): Akuzawa sensei
The seminar is of a general nature, anyone interested is welcome to participate, experience not required.
Please apply using the email address listed below.
Date: August 19th, 2018 (Sunday)
Time: 13:00-17:00
Participation fee: 5000 JPY (Paraestra members 3000 JPY)
Venue: Paraestra Tokyo
Address: Caesar Ekoda B1-101, 1-61-3 Toyotama-Kita, Nerima-ku, Tokyo
Closest Station:
(1) Subway Toei Ōedo Line Shin-Ekoda station, A2 exit(1 minute walk)
(2) Seibu Ikebukuro Line Ekoda stations, West exit (6 minute walk)
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Aunkai has a strong focus on training in posture and use of center of gravity, to become stable in a manner transcending age.
What does it mean to talk about body usage that transcends age?
Why is it that this cannot be achieved without relaxation?
What is internal usage in comparison to external usage?
What kind of tanren is it that develops deep understanding of posture?
In this seminar, regardless of level, participants will experience the progression of training from contact, through unbalancing, to striking and free practice in a fun manner conducive to learning.
Further Information
The seminar at the Shinjuku Cosmic Sports Center (seminar details) passed all too quickly, with the participants, some from overseas, gathering a lot of information about posture and its applicability to transmitting the weight naturally, used in exercises for connecting with the partner, and making space inside the body for movement. Akuzawa Sensei’s topic for this seminar was how to train the body to overcome the limitations of age.
The initial part of the seminar involved stretching, especially the inner hip joint, inwards and outwards, on the ground, and then using the spine and hips to crawl forwards on the belly, followed by similarly on one’s back. This type of movement training is intended to help form a connected relaxed body without relaying on the upper body and shoulders to initiate movement.
Thereafter, a very difficult and important partner exercise commenced, where one person stood heels and back flat against the wall, and the partner pushed in turn against the upper chest, middle chest, or abdomen with one hand. The objective was to stand straight against the wall, and practice using the slight tilting and straightening of the back and corresponding sinking of the body in the inner hip joint to absorb and return the push and thereby initiate forward movement. The creation of “space” between joints allows the internal realignment and dispersion of external force, and requires relaxation and self-awareness of one’s body structure and the ability to manipulate it sensitively.
Next, the same type of connection was practiced without a wall as support. The person being pushed would absorb the push through the aforementioned straightening and sinking relaignment, and then let the hips glide forwards to one side of the pushing partner, legs following appropriately, sinking towards the ground, taking the partner with them if done smoothly. This “catching” of the push and subsequent ease of movement together with the connected partner, forms an important cornerstone of skill in unbalancing.
Having an entire seminar available to concentrate on a few critical aspects of training was a valuable experience for newcomers and regular members alike, and everyone felt grateful for the opportunity to learn from sensei and to explore this body movement with partners and integrate it further into their own practice.
Many thanks to all who attended.
Seminar Contents
The theme of the seminar revolves around how to break out of the standard model of body usage, transform it and thus become free from the limitations imposed by age.
The way to achieve this in Aunkai is to diligently train in specific methods based on body principles and thereby to foster a new realization and mentality. This seminar will teach the practice of these specific methods.
Sports martial artists looking for ways to improve their skills, martial arts enthusiasts interested in deepening their knowledge of the body, and anyone interested in Bujutsu from beginner level is welcome, and should equally find the content of value and interest.
Application should be made via the online form above.
Further Information