Empty Hand Combat
The empty hand combat classes comprise the majority of
classes at Aiki Jujutsu at Purdue since most students
find them to be immediately practical. The empty hand
curriculum consists of two arts, taught simultaneously:
Aiki Jujutsu (grappling) and Atemi Jutsu (striking).
Aiki Jujutsu teaches the use of throws, joint
locks, chokes and controls and sweeps. The techniques are
applied with circular and fluid motions by blending, aiki,
with the attackers; or by forcing the opponents’ motions
to yield to one’s own motion, ju. Atemi Jutsu is the
art of striking vulnerable points of an opponent’s
anatomy with fists, hands, kicks, elbows and knees. Aiki
Jujutsu and Atemi Jutsu are taught together as they complement
each other but can also be studied individually as they
are full arts in their own right.
Ukemi, or falling techniques, are taught alongside
the throws and sweeps and allow a student to control his
or her falls and take the leastpossible damage. These, sometimes
spectacular looking, techniques are picked up quickly and
allow a practitioner to walk away from situations which
otherwise might have been disastrous.
Taisabaki is the Japanese term for body movement
and is the foundation for all the techniques and principles
studied in aiki jujutsu. Through training a student will
learn how to move and find positions which allow effective
attacks and counter-attacks against one or multiple opponents.
Weapons take-aways are also studied against knives, sticks
and staffs and bladed weapons to provide a comprehensive
approach to self-defense.
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Weapons
Aiki Jujutsu teaches the whole tradition of koryu bujutsu, including
the weapons arts practiced by the samurai and militant monks of
feudal Japan. The warriors of old Japan needed to have an understanding
of a variety of weapons for use on the battlefield. The weapons
are studied in the arts of kenjutsu (sword-fighting) and jojutsu
(stick-fighting).
Kenjutsu
Kenjutsu teaches the use of bladed weapons.
The long-sword or katana is the focal weapon during the kenjutsu
class. In addition to the katana, students also learn to use
the short-sword or wakizashi. Tanto, Japanese knives, are
taught singly or in pairs. Students learn to wield the sword
against other weapons and how to judge distances to make a
solid defense and deliver meaningful attacks. As a part of
kenjutsu, students will also study iai-jutsu, the art of swiftly
drawing the sword. A samurai would need practice to quickly
draw the sword which was normally held by his side in its
scabbard if danger suddenly threatened. While the focus is
on the katana, many lengths of bladed weapons are studied
to give a practitioner the ability to adapt to use any blade
and the distances at which it is useful. Two other weapons
which are taught within kenjutsu are the naginata, a halberd,
and the tessen, an expandable steel war fan. |
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Jo Jutsu
Jo Jutsu is the art of using various lengths
of sticks or a staff. In addition to striking with the sticks,
the student also learns to throw, drop, choke, and tie up
the arms of an opponent. The long staff, or daijo, is between
five and seven feet long. The mid-length staff, chujo, is
approximately four feet long. The short staff, or shojo,
is roughly two or three feet long and can be used singly
or in pairs.
Beginners
Beginners are welcome to come to any class and observe or
participate. Loose workout clothing or a martial arts uniform
should be worn to take part in a class. Weapons will be
provided to students during the weapons class. A student
can bring his or her own weapons as well, but the Sensei
and/or lead instructor should be consulted prior to
bringing any training materials
to class.
Students are welcome to take part in one class
for free and may then be given the opportunity to join Aiki
Jujutsu at Purdue.
Private lessons with the lead instructor can be arranged. Contact
Chris Deckard for more information.
Aiki Jujutsu at Purdue also offers seminars.
If you would like someone to conduct a seminar for your school
or group, please [contact
Chris directly].
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