Aunkai Honbu Tokyo
Yearly activity blog master category
From 19th–27th October 2019, Akuzawa sensei taught seminars in Lyons, France, first an exclusive black-belt seminar, followed by an intensive seminar for repeat attendees, and finally an open seminar for general attendance.
A very big congratulations to Julien Vicke and Mathieu Chauvel for passing their black belt grading to become new renshi.
Report of the Aunkai Open Seminar, given by Minoru Akuzawa sensei, successfully held on 2019-09-23 in the gymnasium of Musashino Primary School. The venue was vastly improved by the addition of air-conditioning, which was really appreciated as the typhoon brought high temperatures and humidity to Tokyo. So just like last year’s seminar, in other words!
Sensei concentrated on teaching the essentials of “center line” (in Japanese, “Sei-chū-sen”) and “center of gravity” (“Jū-shin”), and how the former leads to use of the latter. In particular, these principles are in contrast to the use of “body axis” (“Tai-jiku”) which relies on grounded base, and “body weight” (“Tai-jū”) which involves leaning or kicking off the ground.
The training consisted of standing posture and walking exercises, with more experienced students giving advice and sensei moving from one person to another to let them feel his posture and movement for reference, and to give corrections.
Unbalancing partner training followed, and finally some free practice with a 6-foot staff (rokushakubō).
All in all, great learning experience for all!
On 17th July 2019, Akuzawa sensei gave an invitational seminar at the old Kyoto Butokuden, for Leo Tamaki and Kishinkai Aikido as well as participants from other arts.
Aunkai International is proud to announce our annual retreat in Chichibu, Japan. This time, it will be open to anyone who has participated in an Aunkai seminar.
Come join us and experience training with people from all over the world, surrounded by the dense nature of Chichibu!
Contact us at the email address provided on the flyer, or via the contact information on our website, and let us know which dates you can attend.
More information will be made available in due course here on our website.
Since space is limited, we urge people to secure their spots early.
Akuzawa sensei looks forward to seeing everyone of you.
One-day Aunkai Open Seminar in Tokyo given by Akuzawa sensei.
Theme: Learning to use centerline (seichūsen) and center of gravity (Jūshin)
For some, centerline might refer to the anatomical centerline found in many textbooks.
The Aunkai works with a different kind of centerline — one that only reveals its merits in a martial context once the practitioner can feel it. This centerline is the basis for the Aunkai many unique and effective movements.
In this seminar, we will walk you through the process of posture and movements needed to “feel” this centerline.
This centerline is a very concrete proprioceptive feeling that was developed from the usage of bladed weapons.
Understanding this organization of the body can lend itself to producing devastating strikes, incredibly effective throws with little effort, all of which can be used in a variety of martial disciplines.
From 11th–23rd April 2019, Akuzawa sensei taught seminars in France, first an intensive seminar aimed at black-belts and repeat attendees in Lyons, followed by an open seminar for general attendance in Paris.
One-day Aunkai Open Seminar in Tokyo given by Akuzawa sensei.
Theme: Training striking techniques for competition.
The focus on this seminar is the application of internal body usage to striking techniques useful for competition.
Owing to space considerations, participation is restricted to 15 persons. Note that a minimum of one year of experience in martial arts training and competition is required.
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.
