I hear that this style of Aikido includes randori and resisting competitions. Does anyone know anything about the style?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTt8YwPaPCY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mGjDjsCWGY

This is the style of Aikido I practiced.

It was found by Prof Kenji Tomiki, a senior student of Morihei Usehiba (founder of Aikido) and Jirgo Kano (founder of Judo). I believe he was awarded the rank of 4th Dan in Judo and 8th Dan in Aikido.

Kenji Tomiki's study of Judo influenced his study of Aikido. While working at Waseda University in Japan, he tried to set up an Aikido club in the University. As the university only granted access to the gymnasium facilities to competitive sports, the university would not allow Tomiki to setup an Aikido club as it was not a sport. To get round this, Kenji Tomiki came up with a set of rules to govern a newly created of Aikido Randori. As such, the University allowed him to set up his club as his Aikido now had a competitive aspect to it.

Usehiba Sensei and the Honbu weren't too happy about this though. So Kenji Tomiki continued to refine his Aikido as he saw fit, developing the use of Aikido using randori.

So that is the basic history as I know it!!

In terms of the actual randori and competitions, there are two areas:

Tanto Randori (Uke has a Tanto, Tori is empty handed)
Toshu Randori (Both Uke and Tori are empty handed).

Uke is the "attacker", Tori is the "defender". Those are terms used in the English Language, though I am led to believe they don't properly define the Japanese words of Uke and Tori.

In Tanto Randori, Uke is essentially trying to stab Tori with a wooden/rubber tanto. Tori must stop Uke using "free" variations of Tomiki Kata. By "free" I mean that you can interrpt that kata in any which way you can imagine!

In Toshu Randori, both Uke and Tori try to put techniques (such as a wrist lock) on their opponent while their opponent resists and tries to counter the technique with a movement of their own (such as a throw). The best description I have heard for Toshu randori is "Japanese fencing without the sword".

Here's a decent example of Toshu Randori:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRlKQpn1RXc

Here is some Tanto Randori, though the people here seem to be going at a pretty casual pace:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-0bjAFgIZ8

In conclusion, I would recommend checking it out, it is an awesome system of Aikido!

Sorry for the long post! Anything that is not clear please feel free to ask!

The explanation was quite clear, thank you. I find this a fascinating martial art and I hope to encounter it in person some day (preferably not on the receiving end ).

Related threads -

http://www.fightingarts.com/ubbthreads/s...ue#Post15867326

http://www.fightingarts.com/ubbthreads/s...page=0&vc=1

Thanks for the info , I did a search before I posted the thread but it didn't turn up anything.

This is a style I've always been interested in. Too bad I can't find any dojos around me (or Canada for that matter). If anyone knows of one in the Toronto area, let me know.

--Chris

Sorry lads you seems to be a Shodokan black holes!!!

Only place I know in Scotland is in Edinburgh University. That said Leo, if you ever venture south of the "border" you will find Shodokan/Tomiki Aikido aplenty! Leeds/Wakefield area and London are particualrly good places to train.

Meantime it may be worth contacting the Edinburgh club to see if they know of anyone else training in Scotland: http://zephyr1.brinkster.net/aikido/frame.asp?page=members.html

Chris the guy to speak to about Shodokan in Canada is Peter Heshe. He has trained for many years in Honbu in Japan. I think he is based in Japan still, but he use to have a Shodokan club in Qubec. He is on E-budo forums. I can PM his handle if you want. His e-mail address is Himeji.Shodokan.Aikido@gmail.com...

I know that is not a lot of use to either of you, but if I find anything else then I will let you know!

Thanks.

Chris

http://groups.sa.utoronto.ca/rcg/detail.lasso?orgreference=3544

Uni of Toronto run a Tomiki Aikido club it seems. The terms Shodokan and Tomiki are interchangeable i.e. Shodokan Aikido = Tomiki Aikido. There are a few minor minor differences but they teach Kenji Tomiki's Aikido

Prizewriter: You're google-fu is strong!

I even searched U of T myself, but came up with nothing. I'm going back to school U of T in the fall--so this is pretty exciting. Thanks a lot.

--Chris