Aikido/Judo Kuzushi/Chaining Techniques

[marvin8]

Brent Zurbriggen, Gary Berliner and Nick Lowry, students of Karl Geis, cover some of the concepts of Karl Geis Ryu, in their videos.

A few concepts, that can be adapted to striking, include:

1. Chaining low risk, easy to transition techniques based on the reactions of the opponent, not waiting for the perfect throw or technique. In the chaining, you weave back and forth, using low risk moves to set up bigger ones, if necessary. This way you are constantly hitting opponent’s off balance.
2. Hands as sensors (hiding intentions), rather than using power or brute force.
3. Smaller movements using positioning and timing, rather than power.
4. Off balancing tactics include, stepping off line, resistance/release at point of contact, get opponent to transfer weight on certain foot, etc.
5. Timing opponent’s weight shifts.
6. Evade, attach, follow, lead

Karl Geis lists as primary influences, his Japanese aikido, judo, and jodo instructors; Kenji Tomiki, Tsunako Miyake, Yoshimi Osawidinga, Sumiyuki Kotani, Toshiro Daigo, Kazuo Kudo, and Tatsukuma Ushijim.

Geis sensei refined the katas to include circular movements and additional variations, and added a set of randori chain techniques to teach transitions and spontaneous reaction. The hallmarks are continual evasion, throwing exclusively by body motion, and avoiding arbitrary (planned, not responsive) movements. In 1996, Geis sensei renamed his system to "Karl Geis Ryu" and began referring to his style as "Kihara"

Real Aikido that works
Aikido must work in real self-defense situations and survive testing. Our Aikido is based on physical principles of movement, posture, timing, instability and off-balance. Mind and Body and Spirit are an inseparable continuum; training one conditions the others.

Automatic response: Self defense has to be automatic. Building a subconscious response system requires internally consistent movements. In other words, you must always react the same way regardless of the stimulus. This means always reacting with Aikido - evade, attach, follow, lead. It means you can't afford to think before acting. Thinking is slow and unreliable; the brain is best used to coach, observe and strategize. Mind and body must be trained to allow the physics of Aikido to occur naturally, unimpeded.

Nothing works: We assume failure. Every technique has counterparts that appear when the former fails, so the attacker has a devil's choice between two catastrophic failures. Also, "nothing" works -- using no power yields the greatest results, and keeps you safest. Defend against a technique by accomodating its power, but move to dissipate its effect.

Resistance is futile: Aikido techniques work better if the attacker resists, since they use the attacker's own strength. If a technique is overcome, it wasn't the right one at that moment of reality, and you proceed to the next alternative. You can't always overpower, but you can underpower. If YOU resist, you have given an opening to your opponent.

Transcend victory and defeat: The ego is afraid and greedy. Its two demons are Fear of losing (or dying) and Desire to defeat your opponent or do a particular technique. The only survivable path is to detach from self. Focus on principles, on feeling, on coordinating -- never on the outcome. Practice remaining calm under stress to immunize yourself against adrenaline (fight or flight). Remember to never add strength of your own choosing; a throw is an extreme off-balance of uke's choice.

Understand Yin and Yang: There are techniques, and there is technique. Without the latter, the former are in vain. Employ the pairs of opposites: rise/fall (KITO), tension/compression, hineri/gaeshi, left/right, irimi/tenkan, following/leading, empty/full, ebb/flow, hard/soft (GOJU). Capture the rhythm of the attack with your eyes, before the attack begins. Accomodate and control their rhythm and your own in conjunction. Go with the flow, and direct the flow. There are no rules.

Spontaneous technique: Aikido is self-regulating. To get the best natural off-balance, float your feet rather than planning steps. Match movement, don't accelerate, never choose. If you can't predict your technique, neither can your opponent. There are infinite ways to be attacked, so you cannot formulate individual answers. As in mathematics, a small number of consistent principles can apply to an infinite range of situations.

Attack the attack: This is Ai-uchi -- disrupting the attack by invading, pressuring, pre-empting the initiative. Defense does not always mean waiting to be attacked. Give them problems to deal with, make them forget their intent, put them on the defensive. Attack the eyes to control the center and take the advantage. You will either create an opening, or end it quickly.

Fast is slow; slow is fast: Moving fast requires preparation; quick motion is relaxed, adaptive and immediate. Real power is slow and inexorable like water. Fast commits to arbitrary action; slow attaches and matches, slowing down the attacker. Deal with the center, using gravity as the great equalizer. Speed IS strength; Slowness is softness; we have only one set of muscles that creates either strength or speed depending on if there is resistance. Also, practice slowly for correctness and safety. Like a musician, start by drilling scales and build quickness as the body becomes trained.

Attention: This is zanshin, constant vigilance. Achieve mutual victory by preempting the attack with awareness and calm, fearless attitude. Don't let yourself be taken advantage of, even when it masquerades as friendly horseplay. This is why it is said that budo starts and ends with REI: respect.

Published on Jul 4, 2014:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVNQ3OiXSeE

Published on Aug 23, 2014:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMX8-funYfE

Uploaded on Oct 25, 2009
lessons in Kuzushi (balance breaking):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWfUVampA54

Published on Apr 8, 2014

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9MTeDKLET0