What is Yoshinkan aikido?
Aikido (the way of harmony) is first and foremost a martial art.
At its most basic level it is a system of throwing, joint-locking,
striking and pinning techniques, coupled with training in the use of
sword, staff and knife techniques.
But as a form of budo (martial ways), aikido is also a path of personal
discovery and character improvement.
Yoshinkan is a style of aikido, and was established in 1955 by Soke Gozo
Shioda, one of the most outstanding pupils of aikido’s founder, Morihei
Ueshiba.
How is it different from other aikido styles?
Yoshinkan takes a highly structured training approach based on six basic
movements, known as kihon dosa. This makes it very much easier to learn
and teach. For this reason, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police chose to train
its elite riot police squad—whose duties include protecting heads of
state and diplomatic security—in Yoshinkan aikido. Yoshinkan is known as
of one the “hard” styles of aikido.
Is Yoshinkan aikido for me?
Men and women of all ages, cultures and backgrounds practise aikido.
Done correctly and with dedication, a 50-year-old can take up and master
the art (as many have). Aikido works on the principle of overcoming your
opponent by harmonising with their force. It does not pit your physical
strength against theirs. For this reason, aikido is an ideal form of
women’s self-defence.
By using aikido, a weaker or older person can with the right technique
overcome someone bigger or stronger. Aikido techniques are perhaps more
effective against bigger people, whose momentum can be directed back on
them with more devastating effect than on a smaller person. Indeed, the
great masters of aikido themselves have tended to be small—no more than
5’4” and weighing less than 130 pounds.
Is the sparring for real?
As every technique in Yoshinkan aikido can result in severe injury to an
opponent, the uke (the person receiving a technique) must blend with the
technique being executed and “flip out” before getting injured. That
said, practitioners do not submit to a technique of their own accord.
Shite (the person applying a technique) uses their skill to unbalance
their opponent and take them to “the point of no return”, from which the
opponent has no choice but to fall.
Why does the aikido practitioner wait for an attack to come?
 There
is a good reason for this. Once an opponent has fully committed to an
attack, it is difficult for them to change direction and momentum. This
makes it easier for the aikidoka (practitioner of aikido) to counter the
attack. There are many historical accounts of samurai who walked away
from a duel after having faced each other still for hours. Why? Because
neither were able to find an opportunity to strike at each other without
exposing themselves to a counter attack. Thus, both masters, equally
matched, were able to forfeit the duel with their honour intact.
The falls look painful—will I hurt myself?
In Yoshinkan aikido, every student learns ukemi, the proper way of
“escaping” a technique. Students practise ukemi techniques continually,
even before achieving their black belt. The loud slap is merely that of
the hand as it hits the mat ahead of the rest of the body in order to
break the fall.
What can I gain from learning Yoshinkan aikido?
Aikido is a way of life. It teaches humility and discipline, promotes
health and enhances inner strength. Through repeated practice, it also
helps develop a better sense of spatial awareness and an alertness of
your immediate surroundings. Most of all, aikido teaches you how to
avoid physical confrontation by instilling in you the knowledge of
effective martial art techniques—and an appreciation of their
potentially devastating outcomes.
What are the characteristics of a good aikido practitioner?
Aikidoka must display appropriate speed and timing in executing a
technique. The ability to maintain a strong centre of gravity is
therefore crucial. Aikido practitioners must also be able to harness
their body’s “inner strength” and focus this strength at the point of
contact with their opponent. Harnessing this requires the use of “breath
power”—proper breathing techniques when executing a technique.
Where can I learn Yoshinkan aikido and who teaches it?
Yoshinkan Aikido Malaysia
(YAM), which is affiliated with the International Yoshinkan
Aikido Federation, was established in 1995 to promote the Yoshinkan
style of aikido in Malaysia and an appreciation of Japanese culture
within our community. Since then, interest in this dynamic and sophisticated
martial art has thrived; Yoshinkan Aikido Malaysia attracts members
from a wide cross-section of Malaysian society, irrespective of
age, gender or culture. Yoshinkan Aikido Malaysia’s chief instructor
is Sonny Loke Sensei, who holds a fifth-dan black belt. We have
dojos (training centres) in several locations around Kuala Lumpur
and Selangor. We look forward to training with you soon.
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