Yoshokai

Aikido Yoshokai Association of North America - AYANA (合氣道耀尚會) was founded in 1991 by Takashi Kushida, long-time student of Gozo Shioda, founder of Yoshinkan aikido. when Shoida dismissed Yoshinkai from Yoshinkai Aikido. [1] Takashi Kushida, when still with the Yoshinkan, arrived in the US 1973.

Yoshokai aikido is based at the Genyokan dojo in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Yoshokai aikido is a "hard" style of aikido by common parlance, very similar still to Yoshinkan. Those interested in seeing examples of Yoshokai aikido can probably look up the more common Yoshinkan videos on the web, and get a good sense of what it looks like. Full irimi or tenkan movements are present, but partial pivots and more conservative blending motions are perhaps more usual. Atemi is common. Yoshokai ukemi is also distinct (similar to Yoshinkan ukemi), with more slapping of the spare hand/foot, and a more forward-feeling 'high fall' (called 'jumping breakfall' or 'hiyaku ukemi') than the usual sideways motion employed in aikido. A special emphasis is placed on aikido as a form of conflict resolution and a cooperative study of making harmony between two people. Like Yoshinkan aikido, Daito-ryu aiki-jujutsu names for basic techniques are retained, e.g. "ikkajo" compared to the Aikikai nomenclature "ikkyo."

Yoshokai aikido is organized in a rather centralized fashion relative to other styles, with technique lists and explanations distributed annually. This goes hand in hand with its emphasis on meticulous attention to detail.

Yoshokai aikido closely links techniques, basic movements, and weapons techniques. Weapons techniques (buki-waza) are prominent in the curriculum, mostly with bokken, jo, and tanto.

Controversy

Some people familiar with Aikido Yoshokai maintain that it is not a "real" martial art. Aikido Yoshokai is not necessarily intended to be useful for self defense, whereas martial arts are intended to be useful for that purpose.

The Aikido Yoshokai web site states that "The techniques and movements of Aikido may seem like fighting, but they are actually TWO PEOPLE WORKING TOGETHER to create one technique. One person, Shite, who looks like the winner, studies balance and focus. The other person, Uke, studies off-balance and helps Shite study his best form." (emphasis added) [2]

Contrast to "normal" Aikido, which is a martial art in which practitioners master skills so that they may receive an attack and harmlessly redirect it.

For example, in an Aikido Yoshokai class, if a defender attempts a throw, the attacker is instructed to jump to assist the throw. This is not useful most real world self defense situations, where attackers are unlikely to be familiar with the requirements of Aikido Yoshokai, nor would they necessarily willingly voluntarily to assist their opponent.

External links

• The official Yoshokai aikido web site.