TSUZUKIWAZA

 

Introduction

One starts learning aikido techniques with a partner from the very beginning. This is a very good way to start because in this way human relationship becomes as important as the technique itself. Other martial arts start learning techniques disregarding the human relationship. When one only  wants to practise techniques, one practises by oneself or with material. There was a great champion of Judo before the Second World War in Japan who practised Judo techniques against a tree. Many Chinese Kunfu masters practised their techniques against wooden doll or board. Another way of technical practise without human relationship is to practise a technique with a partner who does not react at all. This way one’s partner is acting like a material. In sports one often practises techniques against a partner who resists but then again there is almost no human relationship when one’s partner tries to resist all the time.  

Practising techniques without human relationship might make oneself to behave like a weapon or a robot. Unconsciously one considers that one should use a technique to fight just like a man who uses a gun to fight or a government who uses the army or secret service to win a war. If one applies a material weapon on human life, this material weapon determines the destiny of human beings. This will lead to the destruction of humanity and human lives. The way of aikido practise maintains the humanity as basis of the world.

Kumiwaza, Tsuzukiwaza e Hitoriwaza

Kumiwaza

Most martial arts or sport starts by practise of techniques by oneself. If it is difficult to practise alone, one uses one’s partner like a doll. They sometimes uses a material like a punch ball or a dummy as their partner. So they treat their partner like a material and there is no human relationship between them. However, it is impossible to practise aikido techniques against any materials as a partner. Aikido starts from the beginning with a practise of a couple and so one faces the difficulty of human relationship immediately and learns how to deal with it. Aikido techniques are not made to apply against materials but are a part of human relationships in real life. This is called Kumiwaza. Kumi in Japanese means a couple and waza means techniques. So aikido training starts with Kumiwaza. It means a practise of two human beings with human relationships.

Hitoriwaza

In order to learn precise movements, it is convenient to practise the movements by oneself. This is called Hitoriwaza. Hitori means alone. Hitoriwaza can be used as a help to Kumiwaza. You can practise Hitoriwaza with a partner if your partner helps you. Practise of Hitoriwaza with a partner without human relationship is not Kumiwaza. Just like family life, there are many changes in human relationships and one must continue to live each situation. Kumiwaza is a practise of techniques in different situations of human relationship of a couple. When there is no real relationship, a technique becomes Hitoriwaza. It is like sitting alone time to time is helpful to your family life. There are aikido exercises and health exercises as predetermined sets of Hitoriwazas.

Tsuzukiwaza

After one has learned many Kumiwaza, one should learn how to perform different techniques one after another. This way of practise makes one understand the relationship and meaning of techniques. It is possible to create groups of techniques in order to practise this way. This is called Tsuzukiwaza. Tsuzuki means continuity and Waza means techniques. Techniques in one group should create a harmonious continuity. Some of them became a part of aikido practise since 1975  and now it is time to update them. First the name is updated to Tsuzukiwaza. They should be harmonious and easy to remember. I have already made 33 harmonious Tsuzukiwazas but it is always possible to develop more Tsuzukiwazas. It is also possible to modify each Tsuzukiwaza in order to make it more harmonious or easier to perform.

After practise of Kumiwaza and Tsuzukiwaza with the help of Hitoriwaza, one can achieve a high technical standard of aikido. This is the standard of 3rd dan. Then all techniques become just one movement and one understands that all movements are connected with the whole universe. One can unify Kumiwaza and Tsuzukiwaza with one’s life. Then one can perform all movements alone in relationship with the universe. This again becomes Hitoriwaza. That is why there is Hitoriwaza in 4th dan examination.

The order of performing Tsuzukiwaza can change as long as it is harmonious. It is same with aikido examination. There are several techniques that an examinee should perform continuously so it is like one Tsuzukiwaza. In that case the examiner can create a harmonious order so that the examinee can perform the techniques better. The order in the examination criteria is just one example. Each examiner is free to create an order that is harmonious and helpful for the examinee.

 

Tsuzukiwaza: Overvew

1.

Katatedori Tenkan

18.

Ushiro Ryokatadori

2.

Katatedori Ryotemochi

19.

Katadori Menuchi

3.

Yokomenuchi

20.

Jonage

4.

Ryokatadori

21.

 Tantodori 1

5.

Suwariwaza

22.

 Tantodori 2

6.

Ushirodori

23

 Bokkendori

7.

Tsuki and Keri

24

 Jodori

8.

Ryotedori

25

 Jo 1

9.

Shomenuchi

26

 Jo 2

10

Taninzugake

27

 Jo and Bokken 1

11

 Katatedori and Katatekosadori

28 

Jo and Bokken 2 

12.

Katatedori Ryotemochi

29 

Bokken 1

13.

Yokomenuchi

30 

Bokken 2

14.

Ryokatadori

31

 Bokken Kumiwaza 1

15.

Zagi Handachi

32

 Bokken Kumiwaza 2

16.

Ushirodori

33

 Shinken

17.

Tsuki

Tsuzukiwaza: A help to memorize

Tsuzukiwaza from 1 to 10

No. 1 means one hand attack, which is Katatedori.

No. 2 means two hands attack, which is Katatedori Ryotemochi.

No. 3 is a triangle, which is formed by the Yokomenuchi attack.

No. 4 makes a square, which is formed by Ryokatadori. In Ryokatadori Uke's two arms always go to Nage's two shoulders and so they always create a square.

No. 5 is a square plus one. The square is formed by the Seiza position by the two knees and two feet. Then one's head is up there. In Seiza one initially does not have the intention of doing something with the hands. If one wants to work, one stands up. When one sits down, one intends to use one’s head for eating, thinking, reading, writing, etc. That is why the Seiza position is a square plus one's head, which makes five.

No. 6 means two hands attack to two hands and legs. So Ushirodori. In Ushirodori Uke can attack Nage's neck, elbows, wrists, upper body, etc. with Uke's two arms. So Uke uses two arms and Nage uses two arms and two legs to perform techniques. Uke's attacking two hands and Nage's two hands and legs makes total six hands and legs.

No. 8 means two squares formed by four arms. So Ryotedori.

No. 3, 7 and 9 are uneven numbers. No. 5 is one unity and dedicated to the sitting position. So No. 3, 7 and 9 are hitting attacks. Shomenuchi is a more complicated attack than Munetsuki. So Munetsuki is No. 7 and Shomenuchi is No. 9.

No. 10 is the end of a set and so becomes the Many-men-attack.

Tsuzukiwaza 11 to 20

No 11 to No 20 becomes the second set. The ways to attack run parallel to the attacks of No. 1 to No. 10. No. 20 Jonage is similar to No. 10 but one uses Jo instead of arms.

Tsuzukiwaza 21 to 33

No 21 to No 33 are weapon techniques.


Tsuzukiwaza 1 - 33: Details

1.

Katatedori Tenkan (LLLRRRLRLRLR)

 6.

Ushirodori

 

1.    Kokyunage

2.    Kirikaeshi

3.    Zemponage

4.    Kaitennage

5.    Shihonage

6.    Ikkyo

 

1.    Ushirotori Zemponage

2.    Ushirotekubitori Kubishime Uragaeshi

3.    Ushirotekubitori  Kubishime Zemponage

4.    Ushirotekubitori Koteoroshi Irimi

5.    Ushirotekubitori Koteoroshi Tenkan

6.    Ushirotekubitori Sankyonage

7.    Ushirotekubitori Ikyo

 

 

 

 

2.

Katatedori Ryotemochi (LLLRRRLRLRLR)

7.

Tsuki and Keri

 

1.    Kokyunage Tobikomi

2.    Kokyunage Udemawashi

3.    Kokyunage Hachinoji

4.    Kokyunage Zemponage

5.    Nikyo

6.    Koteoroshi

 

1.    Tsuki Kokyunage

2.    Tsuki Ikkyo

3.    Tsuki Zemponage

4.    Keri Irimi

5.    Mawashigeri

6.    Tsuki Koteoroshi

 

 

 

 

3.

Yokomenuchi (RRRLLLRLRLRL)

8.

Ryotedori (LLLRRRLRLRLR)

 

1.    Sudori

2.    Sudori

3.    Kokyunage Irimi

4.    Shihonage

5.    Zemponage

6.    Kokyunage

 

1.    Tenchinage Irimi

2.    Tenchinage Tenkan

3.    Kokyunage

4.    Kokyunage

5.    Zemponage

6.    Kirikaeshi

 

 

 

 

4.

Ryokatadori (LLLRRRLRLRLR)

9.

Shomenuchi (RRRLLLRLRLRL)

 

1.    Zemponage

2.    Kirikaeshi

3.    Sudori

4.    Kokyunage

5.    Nikyo

6.    Zemponage

 

1.    Ikkyo Irimi

2.    Ikkyo Tenkan

3.    Kokyunage

4.    Koteoroshi

5.    Zemponage

6.    Kirikaeshi

 

 

 

 

5.

Suwariwaza

10.

Taninzugake

 

1.    Shomenuchi Ikkyo Irimi

2.    Shomenuchi Ikkyo Tenkan

3.    Katadori Menuchi Kokyunage

4.    Shomenuchi Kokyunage

5.    Tsuki Koteoroshi

6.    Yokomenuchi Zemponage

 

Niningake Zemponage(once)

Niningake  Kokyunage (once)

Niningake Seiretsu

Niningake Shihonage

Sanningake Kokyunage

Yoningake free

       

 

11.

Katatedori and Katatekosadori (LLLRRRRRRLLL)

16.

Ushirodori

 

1.    Katatedori Irimi

2.    Katatedori Kokyunage

3.    Katatedori Uchiwanage

4.    Katate Kosadori Kokyunage

5.    Katate Kosadori Makikaeshi

6.    Katate Kosadori Kirikaeshi

 

Ushirotori Koteoroshi

Ushirotori Sankyo

Hagaijime Kokyunage

Ushirotekubitori Uragaeshi

Ushirotekubitori Zemponage

Ushirotekubitori Shihonage Irimi

Ushirotekubitori Shihonage Tenkan

 

 

 

 

12.

Katatedori Ryotemochi (LLLRRRLRLRLR)

17.

Tsuki

 

1.    Irimi

2.    Tenkan

3.    Ikkyo

4.    Nikyo

5.    Zemponage

6.    Zemponage

 

Irimi

Yokomenuchi

Uchiwanage

Sudori

Shomenuchi

Koteoroshi Hantai Tenkan

 

 

 

 

13.

Yokomenuchi (RRRLLLRLRLRL)

18.

Ushiro Ryokatadori

 

1.    Irimi

1.       Jujinage

2.       Atemi

3.       Shihonage

4.       Koteoroshi

5.       Zemponage

 

1.    Kokyunage

2.    Kokyunage

3.    Zemponage

4.    Ikkyo

5.    Koteoroshi

6.    Sankyo

 

 

 

 

14.

Ryokatadori (LLLRRRLRLRLR)

19.

Katadori Menuchi

 

1.       Ikkyo Irimi

2.       Sankyo Tenkan

3.       Kokyunage

4.       Kokyunage

5.       Kirikaeshi

6.       Yonkyo tenkan

 

1.    Irimi

2.    Tenkan

3.    Kokyunage

4.    Nikyo

5.    Sankyonage

6.    Zemponage

 

 

 

 

15.

Zagi Handachi

20.

Jonage

 

1.       Katatedori Zemponage

2.       Katatedori Kaitennage

3.       Shomenuchi Kokyunage

4.       Ushirodori Zemponage

5.       Tsuki Koteoroshi

6.       Yokomenuchi Zemponage

 

1.    Kokyunage

2.    Zemponage

3.    Zemponage

4.    Shihonage

5.    Nikyo

6.    Koteoroshi

7.    Kirikaeshi

8.    3 men attack

 

 

 

 

 

21.

Tantodori 1

23.

Bokkendori

 

1.    Ushiro Tsuki Koteoroshi

2.    Ushiro Tsuki Ikkyo

3.    Shomenuchi Koteoroshi

4.    Shomenuchi Kokyunage

5.    Tsuki Zemponage

6.    Yokomenuchi Irimi

7.    Yokomenuchi Gokyo

 

1.    Shomenuchi Sudori and Kokyunage

2.    Shomenuchi Koteoroshi and Irimidori

3.    Yokomenuchi Irimi

4.    Yokomenuchi Shihonage

5.    Tsuki Koteoroshi

6.    Tsuki Zemponage

7.    Tsuki Nikyo

 

 

 

 

22.

Tantodori 2

24.

Jodori

 

1.    Ushiro Kubishime Sankyo

2.    Yokomenuchi Shihonage

3.    Tsuki Menuchi

4.    Tsuki Menuchi

5.    Tsuki Koteoroshi

6.    Tsuki Ikkyo

7.    Tsuki Kaitennage

 

1.    Yokomenuchi Zemponage

2.    Yokomenuchi Shihnage

3.    Tsuki Kaeshi

4.    Tsuki Zemponage

5.    Tsuki Kirikaeshi

6.    Douchi Kokyunage

7.    Yokobarai Kokyunage

 

 

 

 

25.

Jo 1

26.

Jo 2

 

  1. Tsuki
  2. Tsuki 
  3. Yokomenuchi
  4. Gyaku Yokomenuchi
  5. Ushiro Kaho Tsuki
  6. Tzuki
  7. Yokomenuchi
  8. Gyaku Yokomenuchi
  9. Ushiro Kaho Uchi
  10. Gyaku Tsuki
  11. Gyaku Yokomenuchi
  12. Tsuki
  13. Shomenuchi - UshiroTsuki
  14. Joho Uchi
  15. Sakate Tsuki
  16. Tsuki
  17. Kaho Shomenuchi - Ushiro Tsuki  and  left knee down
  18. Ashibarai
  19. Kaho Sakate Tsuki
  20. Tuki and step back
  21. Joho Uchi
  22. Gyaku Tsuki

 

  1. Tsuki 
  2. Tsuki 
  3. Yokomenuchi and step back
  4. Uchi Oroshi
  5. Gyaku Yokomenuchi
  6. Tsuki  and step back
  7. Koho Yokomenuchi and step back
  8. Uchi Oroshi
  9. Gyaku Yokomenuchi
  10. Tsuki and step back
  11. Koho Yokomenuchi
  12. Left Koho Tsuki
  13. Right Koho Tsuki
  14. Turn and Tsuki 
  15. Koho Yokomenuchi
  16. Yokobarai in a circle
  17. Joho Uchi
  18. Gyaku Tsuki
  19. Gyaku Yokomenuchi
  20. Tsuki and step back
  21. Joho Uchi
  22. Gyaku Tsuki

27.

Jo and Bokken 1

28.

Jo and Bokken 2

 

In relation to Jo n.1, Uke moves with Bokken as follows:

  1. Uke steps back and then Shomenuchi keeping right hanmi
  2. idem
  3.  Uke steps back into right hanmi
  4. Uke steps back into left hanmi
  5. Uke puts Bokken down
  6. Uke does nothing
  7. idem
  8. Uke puts Bokken behind Nage’s back
  9. Nage hits down Uke’s Bokken
  10. Uke steps back into right hanmi
  11. Uke steps back into right hanmi
  12. Uke steps back into left hanmi
  13. Uke Yokomenuchi
  14. Uke Shomenuchi and steps back into right hanmi
  15. Uke steps back into right hanmi
  16. Uke steps back into left hanmi
  17. Uke Yokomenuchi
  18. Uke Shomenuchi and steps back into right hanmi
  19. Uke steps back into right hanmi
  20. Uke steps back into left hanmi
  21. Uke Shomenuchi and steps back into right hanmi
  22. Uke steps back into right hanmi

 

In relation to Jo n.2, Uke move with Bokken as follows:

  1. Uke steps back keeping right hanmi
  2. idem
  3. Uke steps back into left hanmi
  4. Uke Shomenuchi and Nage hits down Uke’s Bokken
  5. Uke steps back into left hanmi
  6. Uke steps back into left hanmi
  7. Uke puts Bokken down
  8. Uke does nothing
  9. idem
  10. idem
  11. Uke steps back into right hanmi
  12. Uke does nothing
  13. idem
  14. idem
  15. Uke steps back into right hanmi
  16. Uke keeps distance
  17. Uke Shomenuchi and steps back into right hanmi
  18. Uke steps back into right hanmi
  19. Uke steps back into left hanmi
  20. Uke steps back into left hanmi
  21. Uke Shomenuchi and steps back into right hanmi
  22. Uke steps back into right hanmi

 

 

 

 

29.

Bokken 1

30.

Bokken 2

 

  1. Shomenuchi
  2. Tzuki
  3. Ushiro Shomenuchi
  4. Tzuki
  5. Hidari Shomenuchi
  6. Tzuki
  7. Ushiro Shomenuchi
  8. Tzuki
  9. Hidari Shomenuchi
  10. Ushiro Shomenuchi
  11. Hidari Shomenuchi
  12. Ushiro Shomenuchi
  13. Yokobarai with a complete circle

 

  1. Cut up
  2. Gyaku Yokomenuchi
  3. Yokomenuchi
  4. Gyaku Yokomenuchi
  5. Ushiro Shomenuchi
  6. Tsuki
  7. Ushiro Shomenuchi
  8. Tsuki
  9. Yokomenuchi Tobi Komi
  10. Gyaku Yokomenuchi Tobi Komi
  11. Gyaku Tsuki
  12. Yokomenuchi
  13. Yokobarai forward and step back

 

 

 

 

31.

Bokken Kumiwaza 1

32.

Bokken Kumiwaza 2

 

In relation of Bokken N. 2 Uke moves as follows:(Twice, changing Nage and Uke)

  1. Shomenuchi
  2. Right step back
  3. Left step back
  4. Right step back
  5. Uke puts down Bokken
  6. Uke does nothing
  7. Uke puts Bokken against Nage’s Bokken
  8. Left step forward
  9. Turn facing Nage
  10. Right step forward and turn facing Nage
  11. Right step back
  12. Left step back and Jodan

 

  1. Kote Uchi
  2. Dō Uchi
  3. Gyaku Dō Uchi
  4. Tsuki
  5. Shōmenuchi
  6. Yokomenuchi – Gyaku Yokomenuchi

 

 

 

 

33.

Shinken

 

 

 

  1. Shomenuchi from Chudan
  2. Shomenuchi from Gedan- Ushiro Shomenuchi
  3. Kesagake – Yokobarai
  4. Gyaku Kesagake – Yokobarai
  5. Kesagake – Yokobarai on knee
  6. Gyaku Kesagake – Yokobarai on knee
  7. Yokomenuchi – Gyaku Yokomenuchi

 

 

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