Thread: Tanaka Bansen
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Old 01-30-2007, 08:42 PM   #6
Ellis Amdur
 
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Location: Seattle
Join Date: May 2003
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Re: Tanaka Bansen

I trained in one of his classes, bearing a letter of introduction from my teacher in Tokyo. He was very grumpy about "Tokyo Aikido," sayign that "we do things differently here," and it took repeated polite requests to be allowed to take his class. His technique was all angles, with no curves. For example, on yokomenuchi, he stepped straight into the arch of the "cut," jamming the uke's arm behind his (my) shoulder. I don't recall anything remarkable - if magic is what you are looking for - but he was staunch and strong. And grouchy.

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