TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 3 THE ORIGINS OF NIHON TAI JITSU 4

JIGORO KANO, FROM TRADITIONAL JUJUTSU TO MODERN JUDO 5

MORIHEI UESHIBA, FROM DAITO RYU AIKIJUJUTSU TO AIKIDO 7

MINORU MOCHIZUKI AND THE CREATION OF YOSEIKAN AIKIDO 9

DOSHIN SO AND THE BIRTH OF SHORINJI KEMPO 13

JIM ALCHEIK AND THE BEGINNINGS OF TAI JITSU 14

ROLAND HERNAEZ AND NIHON TAI JITSU 15

DOJO ORGANISATION AND ETIQUETTE 17 THE DOJO 18

KEIKOGI 19

BOWING 20

TORI AND UKE 22

ON TEACHING 23

FUNDAMENTALS 24 BASIC PRINCIPLES 25

UKEMI 30

TE HODOKI 32

TAI SABAKI 34

ATEMI 39

BASIC TECHNIQUES 42 ATEMI WAZA 44

KANSETSU WAZA 53

NAGE WAZA 61

KATA 69 FIRST KATA 71

SECOND KATA 73

THIRD KATA 75

KIHON KATA 78

NIHON TAI JITSU NO KATA SHODAN 87

APPENDIX 90 ABOUT THE AUTHOR 91

! 2

DOJO ORGAN-ISATION AND

ETIQUETTE

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DOJO ORGANISATION AND ETIQUETTE

CHAPTER 2

In this Chapter…

The Dojo

Keikogi

Bowing

Tori and Uke

On teaching

道

場

THE DOJO

Do (道) means “the way” and Jo (場) means “the place”, making the dojo a place where one practices the way. If it is commonly used in Western countries to refer to a training place specific to martial arts, its original meaning is wider as it can also refer to a Buddhist meditation place. Originally, dojos were adjunct to temples.

A dojo is not to be considered as a simple gym. It is a place where the “Do” is studied, hence the student goes there to improve his physical and spiritual skills. A number of rules have to be respected in the dojo:

• Be on time for training. When late, ask your instructor for permission to join the group • Remove all jewels/watches during training • Maintain a proper hygiene and make sure your nails are well cut • Wear a clean and ironed keikogi • Always wear zoris when walking outside of the tatami • Bow when you enter and exit the dojo • Bow when you enter and exit the mats • Bow to your partners before and after every exercise • Avoid noisy conversations and laughs • Refrain from correcting others if not directed by the instructor

The dojo has to be considered as a special place. By bowing when you enter, you do not only bow to a room, but to a tradition, to all the people who trained there before you and you thank the place for what it will bring you. Traditionally, the dojo follows a specific design that all students need to understand.

In the front (Shomen) is a picture of the founder of the school: Jigoro Kano for Judo, Morihei Ueshiba for Aikido, Gichin Funakoshi for Shotokan Karate. Nowadays, few schools have their own training place and it is not rare to have one picture only on the wall. Quite often it will be Jigoro Kano, who can be considered as the father of modern Budo. Sometimes it is replaced by a symbol of the tradition, most often a calligraphy or a katana.

On the right is the Joseki, where the assistants and highest ranked students will be. On the left is the Shimoseki. The students face the Shomen, on the Shimoza. They face their instructor who is turning his back to the Shomen and to the picture of the founder. Students are positioned by rank: the beginners at the left and the most advanced students at the right.

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TAI SABAKI

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Nihon Tai Jitsu puts a strong focus on tai sabaki (体捌き, body movement) as a way to go off the line of attack. By going out of the line, Tori prepares his defence by taking Uke’s balance.

Four different tai sabaki can be executed, inside (uchi) or outside (soto). During the tai sabaki, Tori should keep his body structure at all times, which means he should remain balanced and keep his back straight.

There are no hard blocks in Nihon Tai Jitsu. The muscular part of the forearm is used to parry. Hands are open for a better distribution of the muscle.

Irimi (⼊入り⾝身, entering)

Application on Mune Dori

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BASIC TECH-NIQUES

! 42

BASIC TECHNIQUES

CHAPTER 4

In this Chapter…

Etiquette

The eight attacks

Atemi Waza

Kansetsu Waza

Nage Waza

基本技

Etiquette When bowing, Tori should have the Joseki on his left (side of his heart). However, if Tori and Uke keep these positions, Tori will turn his back to the Joseki on the 7th attack, Gyakute Dori, which is not acceptable. For this reason, and only for the basic techniques, Tori will be on the left side of the Joseki and Uke on the right side. For the same reason, after every technique, when taking back his position, Tori should never turn his back to the Joseki.

After bowing, Tori remains in Yoi, while Uke takes hidari kamae. Uke grabs Tori’s wrist and positions himself in Yoi, facing Tori. The basic techniques are always presented on the right side (Uke grabbing with his right arm in priority).

The eight attacks The attacks are the same for all three series, except the number 5 & 6 that change for the nage waza series.

1. Jyunte Dori 2. Dosokute Dori 3. Ryote Ippo Dori 4. Ryote Dori 5. Jodan Jyunte Dori (Jodan Ryote Dori in nage waza) 6. Jodan Dosokute Dori (Jodan Ryote Ippo Dori in nage waza) 7. Gyakute Dori 8. Ushiro Ryote Dori

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To facilitate the study of Nihon Tai Jitsu, Roland Hernaez put in place three series of basic techniques (atemi waza, kansetsu waza, nage waza) on eight wrist grabs.

These techniques are to be practiced the same way in every dojo to ensure the basics remain the same.

ATEMI WAZA

1. Jyunte Dori - Empi

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HIRAKI TAI SABAKI AND ATEMI TO THE FACE

EXTEND UKE’S ARM AND ENTER FOR EMPI

GO UNDER UKE’S ARM AND EMPI TO THE RIBS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Xavier Duval started Nihon Tai Jitsu in France in 1998 with Thierry Durand (6th Dan, Seibukan Academy/FMNITAI) and Max Lormeteau (9th Dan, Seibukan Academy/FMNITAI). He trained with many masters from Nihon Tai Jitsu as long as other martial arts (Hapkido, Kali, Aikido, Aunkai, etc.) and had the opportunity to travel to many countries to practice, including Japan and South Korea.

After arriving in Hong Kong in 2008, Xavier officially started teaching Nihon Tai Jitsu there in 2012. He also gives regular seminars internationally.

Ranks & certifications- Official representative of the FMNITAI in China- 4th Dan Nihon Tai Jitsu - Seibukan Academy, Kyoto / FMNITAI- 4th Dan Nihon Ju Jutsu - FMNITAI- 1st Dan Hapkido/Hankido – International HKD Federation (IHF), Seoul

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© Xavier Duval, 2015All rights reserved