"Aikido: Mansfield Senior High graduate a hit in Japan"

Posted 2009-10-20 14:41:33 by Jun Akiyama
News URL: http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/...ORTS/910200333

Here's an article entitled "Aikido: Mansfield Senior High graduate a hit in Japan" which highlights Josh Ramsey, a Tomiki aikido practitioner, who "became the highest placing American in tanto randori aikido in more than 30 years, finishing in the top four" in the recent Eighth International Sport Aikido Tournament last month.

From the article: "He picked up fans along the way as the non-Japanese in the crowd found a rooting interest to follow as 'The Football Player,' as he was dubbed in Kyoto, wound up in the semifinals. Because of his size compared to most of the competition and his dominating success, he was also dubbed 'Joshzilla.'"

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so wierd to read/think about aikido in 'competition'...hmmm

does anybody do tomiki? how is competition done?

Kudos to Josh, well done.

Dave Lewin wrote: so wierd to read/think about aikido in 'competition'...hmmm does anybody do tomiki? how is competition done?

I could explain it, but video may be easier.

The following are 2 clips from Josh's 4th round match I think:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOppnWTzdoc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtgNM6AuZ2s

Regards

LC

Congratulations to Josh for his accomplishments, as well as Bob King Sensei for his great instruction and guidance.

does anybody do tomiki?

It is properly named Shodokan, as Tomiki Shihan wished it to be.

Train well,

Mickey

Nope, it needs more explanation yet. Does the attacker with the tanto score points? It seemed like there were lots of deadly blows struck by the armed individual, but the spectators got really excited when one person threw the other, regardless. I don't know what I was watching. You got some 'splainin' to do, Larry.

Michael Hackett wrote: Nope, it needs more explanation yet. Does the attacker with the tanto score points? It seemed like there were lots of deadly blows struck by the armed individual, but the spectators got really excited when one person threw the other, regardless. I don't know what I was watching. You got some 'splainin' to do, Larry.

The guy with Tanto (called "Tanto") gets one point each time he achieves a stab that lands while his posture is uncompromised. I believe this point is really awarded against Toshu (the unarmed person) for failing to effectively use Tai Sabaki to avoid the thrust. The Tanto thrust is the only attack used by the person with the "knife" no slashes are involved. Tanto can also apply certain techniques while being gripped by Toshu. The techniques allowed in this case come from applications of those found here (Atemi Waza) - http://homepage2.nifty.com/shodokan/en/kyogi10a.html.

Toshu, the person without the knife can score points by executing waza in a manner that is scored similarly in Judo shiai - ippon or a clean technique = 4 points, Waza ari (literally - there is technique or a "not so clean technique") = 2 points and Yuko (good balance break almost leading to successful technique) = 1 point. These rules apply to the counters applied by Tanto when being gripped as well. The first person to achieve 8 points wins.

For more information on the rules of shiai please see here - http://tomiki.org/rules.html.

The allowed techniques can be found here - http://homepage2.nifty.com/shodokan/en/kyogi10.html

Best regards

LC

Thanks, Larry. I appreciate the link as well.