12th Annual Homeless Meal Service Fundraising Seminar
In
thirteen years, Nippon Kan has served over 32,000 meals at the Denver Rescue Mission.
This achievement has been recognized by the Denver City Council and the Mayors Office
on three occasions. The funds needed to support this program are raised partly through
fundraising seminars and partly through private donations. On May 18th, Nippon Kan students
gathered to support this important community project and to spend a day practicing with
Homma Kancho and special guest instructors. Homma Kancho focused his teaching for the seminar on two levels. First he discussed and demonstrated kihonwaza (basic techniques) as outlined in current Aikikai issue instruction manuals. On a more advanced level Homma Kancho demonstrated the concept of kuzushi or the breaking of a partner’s balance, in relation to oyowaza (advanced techniques). To demonstrate correct foot movement, Homma Kancho removed his hakama for afternoon practice.
The afternoon classes took on an interesting note as Homma Sensei spoke about the history of the use of kicks in the traditional roots of Aikido practice. He broached the subject of “Why there are no kicks used in Aikido, and rarely defense against kicks practiced”.
This is a subject that is often brought up about Aikido practice, especially from those who practice other arts. Homma Sensei took an historical approach.
“One reason that kicks are not practiced in Aikido can be found by looking at the history and sociology of Japanese Society during the times of the Samurai. Very simply, one needs only to look at the clothing that was worn by the Samurai classes in Japan during the Edo period. Samurai and other high ranking officials of the time were known to wear full length kimono, with at least three layers of under-kimono underneath. On top of this kimono a skirt-like hakama was worn that did not have separate legs, unless the hakama was used for horse riding or other physical or sporting activities. The hakama with two legs are similar to the ones worn for Aikido practice today. You can imagine that with all of this clothing, it would be difficult to use kicking movements effectively. Even with a two legged hakama, layers of kimono tucked underneath would not afford comfortable movement.
If
a Samurai dressed in traditional gear were to try to do a high kick he would probably end up looking
like a turkey with his feathers fanned out in a defense posture! Also all of the layers of clothing could
be easily grabbed and twisted if one were to try to kick an opponent. It was probably not common to ask
an opponent to wait until you had removed your kimono before resuming a fight.During times of war in the Edo period, the armor worn by the Samurai was extremely heavy and cumbersome, making a high kick an impossibility. If a Samurai dressed in full armor were to fall down, there was a distinct possibility that he would not be able to get up again without assistance! So, for the sword carrying society of the Samurai classes, kicking was not an issue, or probability. Small sweeping movements might have been used, or tripping to get an opponent to the ground, but not a high kick.
Kicking as a technique used in Japanese martial arts became more prevalent at the beginning of the Meiji period when the swords of the Samurai were outlawed. This ban called haitorei in Japanese “leveled the playing field” between the Samurai ruling class and the commoners. While the commoners had always relied mostly on their hands and feet for protection, the Samurai classes used the arts of Jujitsu for hand to hand fighting, which became one of the roots of our present day Aikido movement.
Some boast that Aikidoists can defend against any other martial art form, but the reality is, historically in the development of the arts that make up the roots of Aikido, there was no defense against kicks, because they were never used.
For
the true study of martial arts, it is important to respect the skill and technique of other martial art
forms. To this end, Homma Kancho arranged to have Michael Ninomiya, son of Enshin Karate Founder Joko
Ninomiya Shihan and 2003 Sabaki Challenge Middleweight Champion to teach us a little about kicking in
style! Ninomiya Shihan is famous for his ability to break three baseball bats with a strike with his
shinbone; a combination of technique and concentration highly worthy of respect. For the afternoon classes, Michael Nimomiya, his brothers Koichi and Jota, and assistants, trained Nippon Kan members in punching, kicking and the defense against such attacks.
This seminar, including personal donations raised over $6,000.00 which will go a long way to provide meals to the homeless for the coming year.
After the seminar, all participating students retired to the garden for a barbeque and refreshments. Homma Kancho manned the grill, as everyone chowed down after a good day of practice.
