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The issue I take with toshu randori is that the grip restrictions disconnect aikido from the way people fight in the practical world. When people are grappling in a fight they tend to grab body locks and other similar forms of clinches, I can’t take credit for this idea, a YouTube named tengu pointed it out in this podcast

What I would like to contribute to this discussion is that all grip restrictions will be legalized, however scoring techniques will be limited. The way we define a scoring technique is either:

• A throw which was produced from hand contact exclusively (ex; shomen ate, even if you pick someone’s leg up would be a legal scoring technique)

• A throw or joint lock which manipulates the opponent between the shoulder and wrist level

• A leg may be used to assist a technique in a non sweeping manner (similar to Greco Roman wrestling) such as blocking behind the knee using your knee and leveraging the person to the ground with kote gaeshi

The logic in the rules is as follows:

1. Atemi techniques need some way of scoring even if they don’t attack the shoulder

2. The techniques we most associate with aikido are shoulder, wrist, or elbow locks/throws. Limiting scoring to these criteria preserves the identity of aikido

3. Allowing close contact grappling will inevitably result in extremely stable positioning. Allowing knee bumps and the like can help produce practical Kuzushi from these positions but the driving force of the takedowns are still going to be one shoulder, elbow, wrist, or a sumo style strike.

4. Allowing body locks and the like encourages us to answer questions which other martial arts ask. These positions are very powerful and will encourage a sportive pursuit to learning how to counter the positions in as many ways as possible, and use the position to set up techniques in as many ways as possible.

In any version of the system where number 4 occurs I believe you’ll see people respecting the style more, as well as you’ll see people venturing into other combat sports and representing aikido because they’ll be more prepared for the attacks which those styles are likely to use

Such as bjj or judo competitions, but to a lesser extent mma

I understand that tomiki aikido has the right to exist as its own sport, but as a style which in my opinion was developed as an accessory to judo, it does little to ensure it compliments the other grappling arts in a practical sense, albeit being much more ground breaking in its approach than other aikido styles

I love the theory behind tomiki aikido i might add, i just think the grip restrictions lead to a style more disconnected from real grappling than other styles

I understand tradition is a big part of aikido, even tomiki, so I’d even be comfortable with this being an accessory ruleset practiced in the dojo or what have you. But I’d especially like to see it get adopted at a point where people try to develop entries for wristlocks off of underhooks and whatever, but this might be optimistic

I am curious what the major Americian Tomiki associated organization are today.

I recall there having been a Unites States Tomiki Aikido Association in the 1990s but it no longer seems to exist. Did it merge with another group?

We just reach top 100 in the Wrestling & Combat Sports sub resddits!!!

New "Randori method" is to be established about "technique" thrown away as dangerous. It goes without saying that it is important to study the former. But the latter should also be studied. Dangerous "techniques" such as atemi techniques or bonelocks (including wrist techniques) are removed from the present "Randori method", but it is the duty of Kodokan Judo to make this a method and to keep alive the technical excellence in gymnastic way. Atemi techniques or bonelocks require a separate "Randori method" from the process of technical development, the character and effectiveness. I intend to mention this in another article.

Full Essay

To the best of my knowledge, Tomiki Aikido was brought over to the US several times; by Jack Mumpower, Karl Guise, Yoji Kondo, Nobuyoshi Higashi, Katsuo Watanabe and Robert Dziubla to name those I'm aware of. In the UK you have Senta Yamada. For practitioners outside of Japan, how did Shodokan or Tomiki Aikido make it to your country?

From the TAA…

Sekio Endo, vice-chairman of the Shodokan Aikido Federation, will be leading a seminar at Tulane University, January 31-February 2, 2025. We are aware this is short notice, but if you can participate, we encourage you to do so. You will not regret it.

The cost is $100 for the weekend or $60 for one day. You can register for the event here

If you have questions about the event, contact Ted Wyshel at the Tulane Aikido/Judo Club.

DM for direct contact info if needed

• Web: https://shodokancambridge.com/university/
• Univertity Students Union Page: https://www.cambridgesu.co.uk/organisation/cambridgeaikido/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cambridgeaikido
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cambridgeaikido
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@cambridgeaikido

Dear TAA Community,

With deep sadness, I wish to inform you of the death of Yoshiomi Inoue Sensei who passed away over the weekend after a long battle with cancer. For those of you who were at the 2019 World Aikido Championship at Mesa College, you will recall that he taught one of the seminars. I have known Inoue Sensei for almost 50 years, as he was one of Shishida Sensei's high school students and started studying aikido in the mid-1970s while I was there. Inoue Sensei was also one of my students at the Shinjuku Sports Aikido Club in the 1980s.

He will be deeply missed.

In sadness,

Bob Dziubla Shihan

For those following this sub, Yoshiomi Inoue Sensei is the head instructor at Daiku Shin in Spain who began uploading classes to YouTube for free since the pandemic.

December 1 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

This competition is restricted to only BAA clubs from the Northern and Ireland regions only.

Entry Fee:

• Seniors (over 18s): £20.00 per person
• Juniors: £10.00 per person

All entrants must hold current BAA membership and bring proof, with their Record Book, on the day.

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