In 1981, three top students of Tomiki Kenji formed a new Aikido organization. Miyake Tsunako is the senior living student of Tomiki sensei, and is our sponsor and technical advisor. Karl Geis is the first foreigner to achieve 6 dan in Aikido, and is president of the Fugakukai International Aikido Association. Inoue Takeshi was principle uke for Tomiki during development of the Koryu no kata. The Fugakukai was founded to preserve and develop the self-defense aspects of Tomiki sensei's Aikido.
Today the Fugakukai includes dojos all over the United States. Karl Geis sensei has developed a unique style of Aikido that creates deep understanding and sound fundamentals. The Fugakukai method of training is founded on Tomiki sensei's "alphabet" consisting of transitional releases (vowels) and finishing techniques (consonants). With this, Tomiki sensei found he could duplicate all the "10,000" techniques of Ueshiba sensei's Aikido. The Fugakukai uses formal katas to train fundamentals and techniques, and non-competitive randori to train responses, experiment and test the system. The Kihara method teaches transitions and spontaneous technique by using body motion exclusively and avoiding arbitrary (not responsive) movements.
Aikido must work in real self-defense situations and survive testing. Fugakukai Aikido is based on physical principles of movement, posture, timing, instability and off-balance. Mind and Body are an inseparable continuum; training one conditions the other.
Automatic response: Self defense has to be automatic. Building a subconscious response system requires internally consistent movements. In other words, you must always react the same way regardless of the stimulus. This means always reacting with Aikido - evade, attach, follow, lead. It means you can't afford to think before acting. Thinking is slow and unreliable; the brain is best used to coach, observe and strategize. Mind and body must be trained to allow the physics of Aikido to occur naturally, unimpeded.
Nothing works: We assume failure. Every technique has an counterpart that appears when the former fails, so the attacker has a devil's choice between two catastrophic failures. Also, "nothing" works -- using no power yields the greatest results, and keeps you safest. Defend against a technique by accomodating its power, but move to dissipate its effect.
Resistance is futile: Aikido techniques work better if the attacker resists, since they use the attacker's own strength. If a technique is overcome, it wasn't the right one at that moment of reality, and you proceed to the next alternative. You can't always overpower, but you can underpower.
Transcend victory and defeat: The ego is afraid and greedy. Its two demons are Fear of losing (or dying) and Desire to defeat your opponent or do a particular technique. The only survivable path is to detach from self. Focus on principles, on feeling, on coordinating -- never on the outcome. Practice remaining calm under stress to immunize yourself against adrenaline (fight or flight).
Spontaneous technique: Aikido is self-regulating. To get the best natural off-balance, float your feet rather than planning steps. Match movement, don't accelerate, never choose. If you can't predict your technique, neither can your opponent. There are infinite ways to be attacked, so you cannot formulate individual answers. As in mathematics, a small number of consistent principles can apply to an infinite range of situations.
Attack the attack: This is Ai-uchi -- disrupting the attack by invading, pressuring, pre-empting the initiative. Defense does not always mean waiting to be attacked. Give them problems to deal with, make them forget their intent, put them on the defensive. Attack the eyes to control the center and take the advantage. You will either create an opening, or end it quickly.
Fast is slow; slow is fast: Moving fast requires preparation; quick motion is relaxed, adaptive and immediate. Real power is slow and inexorable like water. Fast commits to arbitrary action; slow attaches and matches, slowing down the attacker. Deal with the center, using gravity as the great equalizer. Also, practice slowly for correctness and safety. Like a musician, start by drilling scales and build quickness as the body becomes trained.
Attention: This is zanshin, constant vigilance. Don't let yourself be taken advantage of, even when it masquerades as friendly horseplay. Achieve mutual victory by preempting the attack with awareness and calm, fearless attitude.
Karl Geis shihan (on Google video, several clips)
David Witt sensei (on Google video, Big Ten)
Jon Nguyen sensei (on Google video, 10 min throwing)
On Jujutsu and its Modernization by Tomiki Kenji
Competitive Aikido by Tomiki Kenji
Interview with Tomiki Kenji by Aiki News
The Origin of the Fugakukai by Karl Geis
Why Purity In the Martial Arts? by Karl Geis
Interview with Karl Geis by David Russell
Letter to AikiWeb, Apr 2001 by Karl Geis
A Common Sense Look At Aikido by Kuroiwa Yoshio
Ritualized Combat essay by Darren Laur