About TAKESHIN AIKI-JU-JUTSU
(Bamboo Spirit Harmonious Energy Pliant Art)
An art of escapes, takedowns, holddowns, throws and locks, Takeshin aiki-ju-jutsu also applies kick defenses and strikes not normally taught in more widely seen aiki-arts.
Takeshin Aiki is intended to provide an art of fluidity and ease of execution without sacrificing self-defense applicability.
Instruction begins with simple wrist releases and foot movements that hold subtleties often lost upon the casual observer. In essence these basic movements are the key building blocks for more advanced techniques.
The stages of learning from white belt hachikyu (8th grade) to green belt yonkyu (fourth grade) pass from releases to simple takedowns against wrist grips to takedowns against strikes, to basic throws, then lifting throws and finally "flying" throws. At brown belt sankyu (3rd grade), the student applies his/her previously learned techniques against a myriad of attacks in both standing and kneeling mode. At this level kicks and kick defenses are introduced as well as free defense or randori. Additional escapes to seizures, additional kicks and kick defense are learned at the nikyu (2nd grade) and ikkyu (first grade) levels and the whole kyu process is reviewed at shodan (first degree black belt.)
The black belt levels introduce systematic variations and more difficult randori as well as defenses to multiple assailants and weapon defense.
Takeshin aiki is very challenging but amazingly interesting to learn. The student is constantly challenged to minimize his/her strength and maximize his/her relaxation.





