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Fujita Shihan in the All Japan Aikikai Embukai

As recognised high-ranking hombu shihan of the Aikikai Hombu dojo, Fujita Shihan is invited each year to participate in the All Japan Aikikai Embukai.

Here is a nice video of Fujita Shihan demonstrating in the 45th All Japan Aikikai Embukai (May 2007).

Technical Information

This month, we give a technical description of how Fujita Shihan moves with:

Tachi Waza Gyaku Hanmi Kokkyu Ho Yosei Ho

This technique is often performed wrong by the beginner because he/she tries too hard to lift the hand with their shoulders instead of thinking about the position of their body in relation to their hand and in relation to Uke's position. Fujita Shihan shows mastery in this technique by sweeping the centre and making a circle form with the arms whilst lifting the hands. When the hands are high, the aspect of the body is changed to intersect Tori's centre with Uke's centre. Finally to execute the kokkyu-ho stretch, Fujita Shihan steps in line of his centre with his hand on Uke's neck or face. Most people end up reaching out too far with their hands away from Uke's head. This effect causes Tori to require more strength from the shoulders and consequential loosing of Tori's balance in order to finish the technique.

When the hand comes only to the face/neck (depending on whether the hand goes in front or behind the head), and when the centres of Uke and Tori intersect, it is then possible to extend the breath and cut down with respect to the centre line of one's body, as one would with the cutting of the Katana.

Fujita Shihan spends a lot of time in classes with this technique because it is essential for the understanding of the movement of Aikido.