Category: Aikijudo-Jitsu Training
Training in the Old Ways
Tomodachi,
I have stayed away from developing relationships with entrepreneurial sensei who have commercialized, diluted, and to an extent corrupted the old and traditional martial art systems. The topics of philosophy, theology, strategy, poetry, and art no longer seem to be taught in any of the ryu I have visited. Fighting and physical force seem to be the only options on the self-defense menu. They merely seem to focus on the physical aspects of the martial arts, competitions, and mixing components of martial arts for more progressive forms of competition.
Aside from Aikijudo-Jitsu, there are but a few exceptions I know of: Morihei Ueshiba's Aikido, and those remaining Aikido dojos with a strong and direct connection to the Hombu dojo in Japan, and some Judo dojos that are staying true to Jigoro Kano's system.
I believe there are still sensei today that are legitimate Shodan practicing within other systems—Shodan of old—dedicated to maintaining the old ways with virtue and integrity. I suspect they are like finding the proverbial needle in a haystack. This is very saddening to me because many of the old masters are either now existing in their next life, or they are close to it. We are but a generation away from being disconnected permanently from our heritage, culture, and cherished traditions.
I'm sure you have heard many fables and stories of how it was in the old days, but I would like to give you an insight into how it really once was. I think it might help provide a different perspective for you; and possibly hope of finding what you are looking for.
Let's go back about 500 years. Put me in a dojo in a small town, at about the age of 40. I am the sensei. The dojo was constructed with money donated by the parents of my students, or perhaps an endowment. My students provide for all of my needs in exchange for training. And then one day you show up, about 12 years old, and ask for training. If I accept you as a student, you will spend the next 20 or 25 years training at my side every day.
You will spend several months working on a single
technique. You will perform chores to learn patience, humility, and to
build up your strength. 
You will spend hours upon hours in study of
philosophy, theology, poetry, art, general studies, and strategy. Eventually you will assist me in teaching the younger students. Once you
reach age 35, and if I feel you are the right man, I will call you out among
all other students.
I will be dressed to the 9's in my ceremonial kimono and hakama. We will square off on the mats, bow, and say "onagaishimasu." I will then present you with a very thick bound book, or series of scrolls. It is time for you to go, and I have given you a copy of the dojo's complete training materials. You are ready to go and start your own (franchised) dojo with instructions issued, and promises made to keep the traditions and training methods the same as you were taught. This is what it means to be Shodan.
It is not the end of your training by any means. It is merely the beginning, as it was for me back in 1989.
I was fortunate to live the modern-day equivalent of the story
above. I have stated in the past that I felt like I lived the Karate Kid scenario, but that is only partially accurate. In truth my dojo was situated atop a hill covered with 3' of prairie grass; not a building in a small Japanese village. I can still remember standing on top of the hill waiting for Manuel, close to dusk, with a nice breeze blowing through both my hair, and the tall prairie grass. That is a memory that I will always cherish. I remember wishing to stay in that moment for the rest of my life.
My sensei was a true master who trained in, and stayed true to the old ways. I reflect quite often on how very fortunate I
was to have been invited by Manuel to train. At the end of my
last day with him, before I shipped out to Navy boot
camp, Manuel came bounding out of his basement with his arms full. He
carried several books on philosophy and martial arts and put them in my
car. He gave me a hug, smiled, and I asked him, "How can I repay you
for all you have done?" He smiled very big and said, "you don't owe me anything; just pass
along what I have taught you in the same way." He winked at me, and
then he left. This was in July of 1982.
I did not realize it at the time, but that was the moment he retired. He passed the torch to me. Aikijudo-Jitsu Ryu is my tribute to Manuel, and it is my promise to him to be true to, and to keep the old ways alive.
Onegaishimasu!
Troy M. Wussow
Aikijudo-Jitsu™
April 9, 2010
Some Differences Between Self-Defense and the Fighting Arts
Hello Tomodachi,
My first question to you is simple: What do you want out of the martial arts?
To me there is a very clear dividing line between what I will call (a) self-defense, and (b) the fighting arts. Self-defense is much more difficult to train for than the fighting arts, and I'll explain what I mean. A student of self-defense (that has a good teacher) has a very focused goal in front of them.
At some point in
our future, one day and moment in time we may refer to as the "event", we may be
faced with an aggressor we call Uke. We don't know what day, what
time, or even what Uke will look like or how they will behave. 
This lack
of knowledge is truly what sets us apart from those who train for the fighting
arts.
This "event" is what we focus on when we train. Uke may know one of a dozen martial arts styles, or boxing, or wrestling, or even street fighting. They may or may not have a weapon. They may or may not be mentally ill: sociopathic, psychotic or schizophrenic. As students of self-defense we train constantly, nearly a lifetime to prepare for this event.
We study a variety of martial arts styles in addition to traditional fighting methods such as boxing and wrestling, anatomy & physiology, weaponry, an abundance of strategies such as Intondudo-Jutsu (the art of deception), and the mental disciplines of philosophy, psychology, sociology, and theology. These areas of study are all required if we are to adequately prepare for and efficiently defend against an unknown aggressor.
The
individuals who train in the
fighting arts quite often know who their opponent will be. I believe
the
word "opponent" is very important here because in the ring, I think
it would be difficult to differentiate between who is Nage, and who is
Uke. Furthermore the ideas of winning for a student of self-defense
are much different: virtue, love, happiness, peace and self-preservation that drive
Nage's goals are different than the fighter. The fighter is out to
win the respect of his/her peers, a trophy or belt, a grand title granting them temporary success over their peers, a financial purse, adoration of the fans, etc. Perhaps the terms Nage and Uke only apply to self-defense
training.
Students of the fighting arts
often find themselves training alone in a mental sense. Students of self-defense come
together as brothers and sisters, selflessly helping each other to prepare for that
"event." 
A fighter's peers are often their opponents, and the
competition makes it difficult for them to bond in the same way students of
self-defense do. Students of self-defense are focused on defending
against Uke, not each other.
Students of the fighting arts have the opportunity to watch and study the opponent's bouts, training films, etc. in order to determine their styles, strategies, strengths, and weaknesses on a near-singluar level; a case-to-case basis. The egos of a fighter also seem to develop in a very different way.
Students of self-defense don't usually
have the same ego as a fighter because they are not performing. There are winners and losers; there mey be a perceived loss of a trophy, social status, or financial purse. A
self-defense practitioner does not consider themself a winner or a loser; the steaks may be much higher. They may lose their life, become crippled, or have to
endure the pain and suffering or death of a friend or loved one at Uke's hands.
There is also the threat of serious judicial punishment, and possibly a prison sentence if a self-defense practitioner is trained incorrectly and uses too much, or inappropriate force in their defense.
Fighters have the opportunity to claim "matte" and give up and walk away if they feel their life is in danger. Students of self-defense do not have that luxury when they are face-to-face with Uke. Matches also have rules and referee's to help ensure that the rules are followed. Uke follows no rules, no boundaries, and there is very rarely a cop around when you need one. Nage is left to face Uke on their own.
So, that being said, and if you agree, what is it that you want? Do you want to learn self-defense, or do you want to learn the fighting arts? I believe it would be extremely difficult to attempt both. Fighters rarely do well when they come up against a psychoticly violent Uke: they are not properly prepared. Challenge a fighter to win their bout with nothing but love, and then you will understand.
Onegaishimasu!
Troy Wussow
Aikijudo-Jitsu™
April 8, 2010
Welcome to the Aikijudo-Jitsu™ Blog
Hello! Welcome to the Aikijudo-Jitsu BLOG.
I invite you to read through the posts, and hope that you will receive some benefit from these words. I hope to be joined by my peers in passing along the wisdom inherited from those before us, onto the next generations of individuals of like mind. If successful, it is my sincere hope that this BLOG will become a free repository of wisdom for all to share.
If you feel the desire to reply to a post, please do so after careful and thoughtful reflection. As with any philisophical discussion, we must always be mindful and respectful of other's thoughts, ideas, and opinions. Our realities are each unique and subjective, and therefore we must be patient and respectfull of each other if we are to grow as individuals.
Onegaishimasu,
Troy M. Wussow
Aikijudo-Jitsu™ Ryu
April 1, 2010