The Learning Process

The first level of learning achieved is called the “shoden” or basic level. The student begins to develop mastery of the basic techniques, katas and wazas within the system. This is the time to learn how to move, how to maintain balance, how to use your hands and proper footwork. The training involves learning the basics through repetition. There is little experimentation during this period as the student is building the foundation for his knowledge of the system. All students perform the basics in the same way and the student develops confidence, respect, endurance and courage.

The second level of teaching is called “chuden” or middle teachings. The techniques and principles are not harder or more complicated. These teachings are a continuation of the skills and knowledge for the kinds of attacks not taught in the initial skills level. Shoden emphasis concentrates on kihon (static attacks and grabs) skills while the chuden emphasis is on tactics and versatility. In this second stage, once techniques are part of the muscle memory the student is free to start applying the fundamentals in a more imaginative way. It takes about three years to develop good muscle memory when a student trains 3 times a week, five years for a student who trains less. As the student matures, he or she begins to develop his/her own individuality and the way katas and wazas are performed. He begins to question, discover, and develop a deeper understanding of the techniques and their applications.

As a student trains his knowledge grows and he is able to achieve a higher level of understanding. A student learns how to properly employ techniques at the shoden level. At first, techniques are applied by using kihon waza. The student deliberately allows the attacker to grab their hand, wrist, arm, shoulder, or neck. Some resistance training may be included. As the student progresses, he learns to employ the same techniques by not allowing themselves to be grabbed (sakashi waza). This is the chuden level (more advanced level) of aiki-budo. No advanced TenShin student should allow himself to be grabbed unless he or she is setting up the attacker for a technique.

The third stage in ancient times was the “okuden” that consisted of the secret teachings taught only to a few students. There are no secret teachings in TenShin Aiki-budo. The student reaches the okuden level when he or she is able to understand and internalize the concepts and principals of the martial art. At some point in your training it will become intuitive. The okuden skills for our school are advanced understanding of the aiki principals developed through years of training..

“To me, the extraordinary aspect of martial arts lies in its simplicity. The easy way is also the right way, and martial arts is nothing at all special; the closer to the true way of martial arts, the less wastage of expression there is.” ― Bruce Lee