Frecvently Asked
Question on Takeda Ryu Sobudo 01
What kind of martial art is TAKEDA RYU ?
- TAKEDA RYU is no martial art, but the name
of an old school descending from the noble military clan of Takeda, with
origins in the early Minamoto dinasty. In Takeda Ryu, the samurai warriors
were trained in many warrior (military, martial ) arts (from here the name
of SoBudo meaning "integral martial arts") :
Aikijutsu - Jujutsu -
JuKenpo - techniques
without weapons, Iaido and Kenjutsu
- sword techniques, Jo and Shugi jutsu - staff techniques , Ba Jutsu - military
horse riding, Shuriken Jutsu - blade throwing,
Bujutsu Ido - medical
techniques,
Bujutsu heiho - military strategies and tactics, Shinobi jutsu - infiltrations
and spying techniques..
02
Is there any difference between "AIKIDO"
and "AIKIJUTSU"?
-
AI = harmony, Fusion, Love
-
KI = inner energy
-
DO = way - in a spiritual sense
-
JUTSU = technique, ability - a
more technical and practical way
- AIKI was a very specific concept of the
Takeda family, related to harmony and inner energy manipulation, concept
used to developed and handed down only inside the Takeda family. This
AIKI means more then the clasical non resistence principle JU - found in
the most Jujutsu schools of the Japan's history, special with a very
specific system of developing the inner energy - KI, in a direct
relationship with the breath - Kokyu. The modern "martial" arts which
were developed in the post warrior history of Japan just used the "DO"
in order to emphasize the spiuritual and ethical side of this warrior
legacy, and the decline of the continous search for eficiency of the
technique on the battlefield. The warriro techniques were seen in this
new peacefull time as a violent and useless barbarian techniques of the
ancient samurais. Now, in the new peace era, the descndence of the old
samurai families continued to practice martial arts, but emphasizing on
etiquete, on the moral and ritual aspects, on mental developement in a
close relation with simplified and more symbolic martial tehniques, far
from the old true techniques from the bloody battlefields.This is the
common evoloution of most martial arts in Japan society. Same happened
to Aiki schools: meanwhile the Takeda Ryu conserved the martial side and
the true military aspects of the art, modern systems derived from this,
and AIKIDO is the most known of them. The founder of AIKIDO, O Sensei
Ueshiba, was a Mankyokaiden in Daito Ryu, a system derived from the
Takeda Family, based just on empty hands techniques. O Sensei Ueshiba
was asked to continue the Daito Ryu legacy, but instead he coose to
follow his onw vision of a pure Aiki system, based on harmony, love and
blending with the opponent.He started to teach openly this new vision of
his, breaking the secret of the Daito family, and teaching direct the
advanced Ki techniques of the school without any solid basics. He didn't
declar the system as a martial art but va new educational method like
Jigoro Kano didn in almost the same period transforming the military
jujutsu in a very didactic system called Judo. It is like moving your 5
years old child, directly to a University hopening that he will become
more smarter...But he need basics in order to understant the higher
teaching from the university...O Sensei was very effective when he
practiced Aikijutsu Daito Ryu and many of the modern Aikidoka doesn't
remember the period of Jigoku Dojo (Hell Dojo), with blood and broken
arms and noses...They just remember and try to imitate the last images
of O Sensei where everything was just pure Ki, forged in many decades
of study and practice...Your kid at University will be able to copy the
complicated formulas, but not able to understand them...maybe he will
use lots of colours so he will do a form of art but he will never
efective at a test....Same goes with a lot of modern "martial" arts /
which were never tested in real life and death battlefields...
03
Any technical
diferences between "AIKIDO" and "AIKIJUTSU" ?
The
fundamental difference relies in attitude, not necessary in technique:
- Aikijutsu is a military system, tested
in life and death battles, where any mistake can be deadly, a system
improved over more then 40 generations. The techniques were meant to
fully take control over the opponent, no matter of his attack, no matter
that he was also a samurai - profesional warrior. The goal of all
Aikijutsu techniques was to neutralize the opponet attack, not
necessary to repsonse with a certain technique. Sponatneity and quick
answer was required, also little amplitude was developen in time. The
enemy must be controlled in any phase of his movement or attack.
Aikido's throwing techniques were developed by o Sensei Ueshiba with a
precise reasion: not to harm the opponent with a traditional aikijutsu
restraint and painfull techinque. Like somebody used to say, Aikijutsu
is a military discipline which became now, accidentaly also a very
effective self defense system.
- Aikido is a recent modern discipline,
derived from Aikijutsu but not meant to be a martial art ! O Sensei
adapted the very effective aikijutsu techiques to a japanese society in
a transition to a long peace period, a modern period with a radical
changings even in military aspects (fire weapons, etc). Ther model
created by professor Jigoro Kano - founder of Judo, was adopted also by
O Sensei Ueshiba. Hwe succeed in openning an ancient school to a modern
society teaching only the most simple techniques leabing outside the
most dangerous (and effective ones), replaceing them sometimes with
generous and maybe spectacular, impressive throws... Aikido is now a
beautifull philosophy realted to harmony, world and life which
accidentaly became a self defense system fos some people - if this
effectiveness is the purpose. We shoudl not forget that the
effectiveness of both Ueshiba and Kano came not from the modern system
but from their original systems : Aikijutsu and Jujutsu. After gaining
effectiveness, they could relax more and search for the true art of Ki
and true harmony.
04
Why Takeda Ryu Nakamura Ha
and
Takeda Ryu Maroto Ha ?
- First we should define the "HA" concept
meaning a derivation from a main school, a manner to teach and hand down the
same concepts, which can be specific to each master teacher - Shihan. Even
if the basics of the school are the same, and everybody is practising them
the same way, the advanced forms, applications are not fixed, they can
embrace each persoanlity of the practitioners. Here is the richness of a
traditional school.The Takeda Ryu School headed by Soke Ichio Oba remains
without inheritor because Soke Oba didn'y appoint anybody to continue that
tradition. At that time, Sensei Nakamura, at that time Chuden Kyohan,
decided to take charge of the school and to continue to teach the school,
even if he was not the most advanced student of the school. So he became the
first Soke (Ichi gen) of the new manner of teaching the school called now
Takeda Ryu Nakamura Ha. later, with the help of the most advanced student of
Soke Ichioo Oba, Sofue Sensei, Soke Nakamura was recognised as the 43-rd succesor
of the Takeda Ryu SoBudo main line. For the sake of a more intense public
exposure, Soke Nakamura replaced takeda ERyu Aikijutsu with the more popular
Takeda Ryu Aikido introducing also forms of contests in all schools
disciplines, mandatory for yudansha tests.
-
Roland J. Maroteaux,
was back in the 70's the first european Shihan of a
traditional jujutsu school (Hakko Ryu - derived also from Takeda
traditions). He went back to Japan looking for a more traditional system as
close as possible from an Aiki original source considered disapeared by the
most practitioners. So he discivers takeda Ryu and Soke Nakamura, folowing a
book from am library. He follows Nakamura Sensei in training for more then
10 years with no rank and in 1990 he is certified as Joden Shihan Takeda Ryu (6 Dan
Aikijutsu, 5 Dan Iaido, 5 Dan Jodo). So he bacame the first
outsider of the school and he is allowed to teach the school, in his own
manner Maroto Ha - outside borders of Japan. Starting with 1998-99, Soke Nakamura
grants the right of unique representative of Takeda Ryu in
Europe to a 3rd dan Judo Imaf - Kobilza, with no rank in Takeda Ryu. The
Kobilza is sueing Sensei Maroteaux for illegal use of the Takeda Ryu Logo in
Europe. Contactated by Sensei Maroteaux, Soke
Nakamura offers evasive explanations. Because Sensei
Maroteaux also was against the high prices politics of Soke Nakamura, and
specialy because he asked some discounts for East Europeans countries, Mr,
kobilza speculated this information and made to Soke Nakamura an offer of
mantaining high prices in exchange of his nominations as Chief Instructor
for Europe. He even send many letters and faxes to all Takeda Ryu Dojo
leaders (including me) promising favours too all who will quit the "fake"
Sensei Maroteaux and join his new organisation. So mr Kobilza gets a quick
jump from 3 Dan Judo IMAF, to Okuden Shihan, 7 Dan Aikijutsu Takeda Ryu, etc ...Sensei Maroteaux
chose to quit Takeda Ryu nakamrua Ha and burns in public his official
apointement from Soke Nakamura as leader of European Sobukai Takeda Ryu.
Then he is practical forced to continue his own way of teaching the same
school under the name of Takeda Ryu Maroto Ha. he is teaching the same
suystem as the japanese one, but without the competitons large popularized
in Japan. he just kept the Batto Shiai of Iaido - more a system of training
instead of a competition, unique to Takeda Ryu Iaido school. In 2005 Sensei
Maroteaux and kost of his seniors instructors joins as general members in
the prestigious Japanese Martial Arts Society Dai Nippon Butokukai -
International Division, under Hanshi Hamada. This is the oldest and the most
elitist japanese martial arts society (not federation) promoting traditional
martial arts and true warriors virtues - Butoku. In 2006 , Hanshi Hamada is
testing Sensei Maroteaux and some of his most senior instructors from Takeda
Ryu Maroto Ha. They all passed the test and now their ranks are
internationally certified from DNBK as belonging to an authentic japanese
tradition. We can conclude saying that a small private school like Takeda
Ryu became famous all over the world thanks to decades of efforts of Sensei
Maroteaux and also became official certified also in Japan as Maroto Ha
TakedaRyu under the Dai Nippon Butokukai
-
For those who have doubts about the 2 branches
of the school please contact both of them and join them for training, then
please just make your self the difference
05
Can
I study any disicpline of Takeda Ryu (Iaido, Aikijutsu, Jukenpo, Shugi Jutsu, etc ) ?
- Yes and No ! The main
disciplines of the school were in the past Iaido and
Aikijutsu. Now they are the same , just the order is changed
due to our modern priorities of empty hand combat. Also
Iaido has a reamarcable application because of many of its
benefits : attention to fine details, sharpening of combat
spirit, the ability of focus and inner attention.So the
Takeda Ryu study can start with one of this 2 main
disciplines or even with both of them. The other are just
auxiliary disciplines, which are developed on the same basic
forms and principles of the school. We can consider Ju Kenpo
just the first stept from the practice which will lead to
Aiki, movements are not so continous, rather broken and
using physical force. Here strikes (Atemi) are used to have
the opponent unbalanced (Kuzushi).
Jujutsu is a more advanced step, an intermediary one on the way to true Aiki.
The staff was never a weapon of a samurai, it was just used
if a spear gets broken in a battle, so techniques of Jo and Shugi jutsu (shart
stick) appeared and have been developed in Takeda samurai's
clan. Kenjutsu is using the blade in a already started
fight, after drawing the sword. So a good Iai will make the
Kenjutsu useless. Shuriken Jutsu is a aditional practice of
Iaido in Takeda Ryu and has very few techniques combined
with iaido techniques.
06
Is Takeda Ryu good for street fighting ?-
Again Yes and No in the same time ! - everything
is up to you ! If you don't know how to drive a plane that does not mean
that the plane is bad or broken. Here is a motto from old western movies :
"Guns doesn't kill, people do kill". Techniques (waza) without a person to
apply them, to put them into work, have no meaning and no value. because
they have been perfected for about 43 generations, on the battlefields, on
life and death situations, facing also other samurais (profesional military)
, it is very claer that the techniques should be very effective. It is up to
us, to understand them correctly and to apply them in their original
strategy, not necessary just to copy the appearance. We must not mix a
sportive kind of effectiveness (K1 or MMA for example) with a real street
fight encounter where we have indeed no rules, no judge, no time limit, no
forbidden arreas and of course, sometime, more enemies attacking a single
person. Takeda Ryu is a ancient school emphasising the ideea of being
prepared for any kind of attack and to control it, anytime, in a spontaneus,
instinctive manner. techniques are just a way for US to become effective,
they do not have any hidden efectiveness inside.
07
How are ranks granted in Takeda Ryu
Aikijutsu ?
- Modern
system of ranks with Kyu / Dan exists in Takeda Ryu martial arts besides
the traditional Menkyo system of certifications. There are 8 Kyu leves
and then the Dan levels for Yudanhs (blackbelts). A corrcet, hard
working student, with a regular training at his dojo, can advance to San
kyu (3rd Kyu) in about 18 months - then he will continue to refine his
basic techniques (Kihon) and also will learn some Aiki combinations (Renzoku
Waza) . So after some 6 months more he can arrive to 1 st Kyu where he
has to study very good all the basics again for more 12- 18 months
before the Blackbelt test. So a minimal time of 3-4 years can be enough
for a regular training student to get his 1-st level of Black belt. And
this is not the finish ! Shodan - Blackbelt means that the serious
journey just begins. A Shodan si just a good student with good
background. His personal work and study just starts.Many persons cannot
understand this quality based system of progression in traditional
japanese martial arts and they quit sometime just around blacbelt level,
looking for easy and different things. Time is esential in order that
the body will incorporate the movements and the feelings specific to a
certain Ryu. Also very important are regular training, finding and
following an own rhytm, calm and patience in practice.
08
I already teach martial arts and I would like to open a Takeda Ryu section in my
organisation. How is that possible ?
- In order to teach the
Takeda Ryu techniques and is necesary for you to learn very good
not only the techniques of the school but also the the spirit of
the techniques. If you are already a Yudansha (black beld level)
of your style of martial arts, we offer the opportunity to train
with us for at least one year before testing for 1 kyu or even
Shodan if you have good knowledge of basics. Experience in other
disciplines are as better as they are closed to a traditional
system (jujutsu,
kenjutsu, eventual karate sau aikido). For training you can contact our Chief
Instructor, Sensei Laiber or any other Takeda Ryu dojo from
Europe, Canada, Asia, etc. Also you are welcome to attend ourt
seminars and also you can even organize such events in your
area. As for training tools we recommand our
technical DVD's as a support for
your training even if we we don't sugest training only with by
video.
09
I would like to start Aikijutsu
training, but I am kind of afraid, specialy of this throwing techniques
- The fear is very normal and logical
for beginners. But don't worry, stduying a martial arts is a long,
stept by stpt process, and nobody is thrown to swimm in the deepest
water from the first time. The learning process is even
personalized, if you have luck to have a good teacher in your dojo,
to your own body and personality.One of the first stuided techniques
in Aikijutsu is exactly Ukemi - meaning " art of receiving" from a
punch or strike to a hard contact with the ground. Ukemi usually
relates to various techniques of falling and rolling when thrown to
the ground, but the main ideea is to to receive this impact in a non
destructive manner, in order to continue the fight. By rolling, the
impact force is distributed on a much large arrea of the body
resulting a less damage. The training must start relaxed and
gradualy, so the body must feel confortably with all this new
feelings and even shocks sometimes (for beginner). In time, this
falls will become natural like driving a car maybe. After some
experience you can drive while chatting with other friends inside,
or eating, etc ...The result is protection the own body and more
self confidence, a relaxed body and mind prepaired for anything.
- Also, too much throwing techniques
are not specific to a true Aikijutsu because the opponent, if
skilled (a rival samurai warrior) can use very easy a falling
techniqe and to start again the battle. Learning Ukemi techniques
will be in the same time with learning Aikijutsu Nage Waza (throwing
techniques) This indeed
spectacular throwing techniques were made popular by O Sensei Ueshiba in his new art - Aikido by simplifying the painfull
Aikijutsu techniques and offering a chance to escape to opponent.
10
This Aikijutsu is indeed so painfull as it seems ? Is this dangerous ?
- YES - they are indeed very painfull !
- BUT, is a very special kind of pain,
in a "constructive" manner, even if this is hard to beleive.This
soft and vulnarable arreas of joints started to be used in Aikijutsu
because in the old times they were not protected by the samurai
armours (Yoroi) Also muscles made no diffrence in this arreas. It is
also very interesting that in the most joints arreas there are a lot
of sensitive spots and cavities (Kyusho) accupuncture vital points
and by attacking them properly you can disrupt the energy inside
this meridians - with long term effects on the opponents body.
-
Anyway the ideea is not to harm, but to
control (Osae). Also it is very interesting that all aikijutsu
techniques can be applied in a very gentle and subtle manner, so the
enemy will have practical no ideea or feeling that is really
attacked or controlled unless the technique is in its decisive
phase. Then the pain can be overwhelming and can result in a sudden
loss of conscience. But there is needed a lot of patience, it is a
step by step process which takes time in order to strengten the
joints in an elastic way, gaining the feeling of relax joints,
descovering the KI feelings and controling them using movements and
breathing (Kokyu). This will lead to an increased level of accepting
the pain and of using this KI (own and others). It is a both sides
training method: to receive a gradual pain and to apply bthis "pain"
in outside, to others. Accepting the pain has deep meanings at all
level of practice and study : - physical - more flexible and
powerfull joints, increased ability to inflict and receive pain, -
energetic level : accupuncture meridians are cleaned and "trained"
to use more energy very useful in any action , not necesary in
martial arts, - spiritual side : the ego is considerably reduced.
Try to help the "pain receiving training" with a more consciuous
breathing forms (Kokyu) spontaneous. You will be maybe amazed to see
that the pain seems more acceptable. From here the training just
begins...
11
Why should I choose Takeda Ryu instead
of other martial arts ?
- Obviously we are not talking about
the superiority of a martial art related to another one, because
there are no better martial arts then others. We are talking about
old warrior schools (Koryu Bugei) carried on for many hundreds of
years, of already proven efficiency. So the time test is maybe the
most tough one and Takeda Ryu with its 44 generations has sure
passed this test since long time ago.What can be really important
here is a certain way of compatibility between the perosnality of
the practitioner and the strategies proposed by the chosen school.
Also it will be important a certain degree of compatibility with the
instructors from the Dojo where you decide to join in. So , maybe a
good ideea will be to ask permission to watch first at some of the
training sessions to get a basic ideea, to have some talk with the
instructor or even with the students already training there. At
Raiden Dojo Bucuresti and also Yamabushi Dojo Pitesti we offer a
free training session in order for you to get the feeling of our
martial arts training
- Back to
the main question again, we can get to another important aspect of
the martial arts practice - motivation. It is very important why do
you want to train in martial arts because, according to the answer
at this question, you will find that some of this martial styles
suits you better than other ones. A interest to a quick term self
defense may lead to maybe more "combative" forms like full contact,
muay thai, etc...A more philosophical search oriented to a much
wider approach can lead to other forms of martial arts like "inner"
styles (Taiji, Bagua, etc) and later, a patient practitioner will
discover that pall traditional systems of martial arts have an
internal side, related of inner energy, breathing and even
meditations leeading to deep calm state of mind. This is the way of
defeating an opponent which has all the physical advantages.
Sensei Maroteaux (
Minamoto no Maroto) stated very subtle that "martial arts can
be studied by anybody, but traditional martial arts can be
studied only by smart persons" Why ? Because thare is a minim IQ
level needed to have the intuition of all the good balanced
philosphy behind some moves and striking techniques. Maybe it is not
useless to mention that in Japan, traditional martial arts are
considered as a true national treasure and a limited number of
martial arts master are also considered as "living treasure of
Japan" - a very rare title granted by the Royal Court only to a few
masters of authetic japanese traditions (music, martial artss,
pottery, poetry, carving, etc ) Some years ago all - they were
around 23 !
- More spefici now , Takeda Ryu offers
a very wide and complete arrea of techniques of many martial arts,
adapted to all aspects of a real life combat situation. (So Budo
means Integral Budo) Most important all this martial arts of the
Takeda family have the same basic principles (Kihon) which gave the
unity in diversity :
- empty hand fighting is covered by
exposive fighting arts like
Ju Kenpo, also the gentle Jujutsu to
the most subtle form, specific of the school - Aikijutsu - based
exclusive onj harmony of the movements, using the enemy's force and
energy against him, advanced forms of fighting against many
opponents and many more
- also we have a lot of weapon martial
arts like swordmanship ( iaijutsu, kenjutsu),
staff ( Jo, Shugi jutsu) and even short
blades throwing (shuriken
jutsu), forms of empt hands defense against weapons attacks. (muto
dori )
- also the Takeda Ryu school includes
special techniques of developing and amplifying the inner KI energy
and healing aspects - Bujutsu Ido
12
Where can I study TAKEDA RYU So
Budo ?
- The romanian cities where we have
authorized Takeda Ryu dojos are here.
Dhere we have a seminars list open
to beginners and advanced students, depending of the specific
seminar topic.
- For other
countries dojo's please check our
international links.
- Also
we will be happy to help you developing a Takeda Ryu Dojo in your
arrea according to your previous experience in martial arts. For
more details please contact us.
We are not interested in many dojos but in a quality practice of
this traditional japanese martial arts.
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