Re: Aikido Transmission and Class Size
 

Actually, Chuck, you are one of my models for how I am trying to break down what I teach. The classes I have done with you are some of the most clearly laid out classes I have ever been to. And I have always walked away with some new understanding in my body, not just in my head.

Since you have actually gone the distance and established your own organization, I'd be interested in hearing how you set things up so that the skills you have get transmitted to the folks down the line and not just to your personal students training with you every day...

Re: Aikido Transmission and Class Size
 

This is a problem that I have understood for many years in budokai and with teachers I have been around and have observed closely. Jiyushinkai is now twenty-two years old, and in the past ten years or so I have noticed that in our affiliated dojo across the country juniors are learning certain things quicker and better than before. Many of the seniors with thirty to forty years of budo training (or a couple of folks, much more) have discussed this a lot. We think we have some understanding of what's necessary to pass on whatever can be passed on without constant close contact with senior teachers. I have patterned my teaching methods very closely on my experiences/observations in early life with classical music, ballroom, and ballet training. Combined with thorough kihon (principles), proper practice methodology, accute monitoring skills of our own practice, open and even critique (with compassion and care) and then (absolutely necessary) continual checking and auditing our practice for good uke tori relationship combined with true competitive randori (not sport... not tournament, not "combative" etc.) as our true feedback loop we all seem to be learning and growing together with the system being one of the most powerful teaching tools.

Within our system we are fortunate that all of our members are able to get hands on close connection with senior teachers at least two or three times a year without it costing a fortune. It is my goal (and I think all of our seniors' share this) to leave as many students as possible with better skills than ours. Not only better performance skills but having the skills necessary to not only become their own teacher but an instructor and teacher of others.

That is our intent... to talk about this in depth so that it's usable would take several books, or even better, hands on good times in the dojo for as long as we can...

Sorry for the length, but it was a good question, and is important. Whether our method would work for anyone else is another question.

Best regards,

Re: Aikido Transmission and Class Size
 

Clark sensei,

Wow, 22 years. I still remember filling out the paper when I first joined (somewhere around 1990). I think the history of the Jiyushinkai would make a great book. :)

Back to topic, I think that at least one area of your training methodology would work very well in other places -- the "competitive randori". I have yet to find it anywhere else, but it's such a great tool.

Mark

Re: Aikido Transmission and Class Size
 

You're preaching to the choir, Mark, and, I'm still working on the book. I'm picky. Actually I'm just getting ready now to redo all of the photos for the book and then it'll come together like a jigsaw puzzle. It's finished in my head and most of the text is done. Of course, I'll make it known when it's available. Of course copies will be available for all Jiyushinkai members... and I wouldn't mind selling a few others. ;-))

Re: Aikido Transmission and Class Size
 

I'd like to second that motion. You two excellent and well-spoken teachers (George and Chuck) are exactly of the caliber that should be writing. It's not as hard to publish as it once was, but you've still got to have something to say, and both of you clearly do. We'd like to hear it. Onegai shimasu.

Re: Aikido Transmission and Class Size
 

Count me as being in the line to buy one of those "history of the Jiyushinkai" books.

Re: Aikido Transmission and Class Size
 

We're on the same island there, the best aikido I think I've ever seen was Mifune Kyuzo. But much like the word aikido (or aikibudo) what I mean when I say, "judo" isn't necessarily what most people think of as judo these days. In overly simplified terms, judo and aikido (for us) is more about maai than anything else. If we're jacket to jacket -> it looks like judo, if we're at arms length -> it looks more like aikido. While the specific points of contact may differ, the total effect on uke should be similar whether one is doing osoto gari or tenchinage, uchi mata or ikkyo. In this way uke also learns what it feels like to really be thrown, and that level of control becomes expected whether or not you're grabbing at the shoulder or the wrist.

Hope that doesn't feel like thread drift, just trying to flush out our methodology a bit more.

Re: Aikido Transmission and Class Size
 

Chris,

Yes, any difference other than lineage, etc. is distance. Much of my judo lineage comes down from Mifune Sensei, Kotani Sensei, and Osawa Sensei primarily. My goal was tadashi judo but got side tracked at one point by kyogi judo. I saw the light. :)

Whatever we do and however we train, it must end in our personal authority that originates from our own discovery and responsibility.

Needless to say, that responsibility is to always be flexible and willing to kill yesterday's practice to attain today's practice.

I'll be in your neck of the woods soon. Next month I'll be teaching at Phil Relnick's Shintokan in Woodinville the weekend of the 17th. And then I'm moving up there in a few months. My son just bought a house about 15 minutes north of that dojo. We will be building our own dojo on his property at soon as possible. You're welcome to visit anytime.

Best regards.

Re: Aikido Transmission and Class Size
 

Quote:
Chuck Clark wrote: " I have the responsibility to lead, teach, and provide the transmission process that I recieved to the best of my ability. If I do this properly, juniors then continue to provide very high quality problems for me to solve so that my own training continues to grow and learning never stops."

Wow. That quote goes into my training journal and I hope I can live up to it in some small way. The small amount of teaching I have been doing in the last few years has opened my eyes more than I imagined. How I love people with new/different perspectives, as they constantly challenge me to see things in a new light. Chuck you beautifully verbalize what it means to learn from everyone. Thanks.

I'll second that. As a post or a book I would really love to hear how you (Chuck and George) teach, how you transmit, and how you communicate. While specific skills are interesting I am finding myself more and more interested in the skill of sharing. This is seldom easy as sharing is generally a two way street and requires as much input as output. I recoginze I have a long way to go here and any assistance is greatly appreciate. Please keep us informed of any public material you have available.

Take care,

Mark J.