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jodirren
27th January 2006, 01:05
I live in San Francisco and have been practicing an eclectic form of jujutsu (Zen Budokai) for approximately 5 years and am preparing for shodan. Like most forms of modern jujutsu, my style of jujutsu consists of nage which are essentially straight out of judo, with only a few exceptions. However, I would like to obtain a deeper understanding of the essence of those nage that are part of judo's Nage no Kata. I believe it would benefit my training immensely, since no martial art (in my opinion) has mastered the art of non-joint-locking throws better than judo.

Hence, I am trying to see if there is any judo school/dojo in San Francisco (or surrounding Bay Area) that emphasis kata over randori/competition. I would like to be able to perform the Nage no Kata well. Of course, I am very familiar with all the throws in the Nage no Kata, but they could all use much work (and I don't understand some of the formalities). I'm not so much interested in randori/competition (not because I don't think it wouldn't compliment my skills tremendously, but mostly because I've accepted that I'm getting too old to get slammed around and risk injury by those much younger, stronger, and more fit than I). I just want to focus on the more technical, even academic if you will, side of the throws.

Does anybody know of such a place that would be willing to let me train with them and could point me in the right direction? Again, I have 5 years of nage under my belt from my style of jujutsu, so I'm familiar with all of them and can execute them in non-kata style quite competently .... I just want to fine-tune them.

Much thanks in advance for your help.

P.S. I know that the world-renowned Fukuda Sensei offers kata clinics once a month here. This seemed like the perfect opportunity given her expertise in kata and convienient location in my city, but unfortunately, she will not be doing Nage no Kata for some time. In addition, I want to spend more time than just the few hours that are provided during the clinics. I'm trying to see if there is anything else.

MarkF
27th January 2006, 15:37
P.S. I know that the world-renowned Fukuda Sensei offers kata clinics once a month here. This seemed like the perfect opportunity given her expertise in kata and convienient location in my city, but unfortunately, she will not be doing Nage no Kata for some time. In addition, I want to spend more time than just the few hours that are provided during the clinics. I'm trying to see if there is anything else.



If you have any kind of access to Fukuda Keiko Sensei, I highly recommend her clinics, or even classes taught under her name no matter how often she teaches and no matter which kata she is doing. Contact with her direct students is also worth checking out, as well. Right now, she is still probably pushing her book on the Ju No kata and thus teaching some clinics in the kata, but learning any of the Kodokan no Kata from her is the chance of a lifetime right now, a lifetime which is quickly running out of tomorrows. She is in her nineties so I would spare no time waiting until she is teaching the kata you want to learn. To be quite frank, she IS kata in this country. You will learn how to do formal kata no matter what she teaches at her clinic which will add to what you all ready know of the waza of the Nage. The few hours will have a tremendous effect on you if your admired search for such kata is sincere, which it obviously is.

The Kodokan has changed some aspects of kata in all respects such as eliminating the need for a joseki, but otherwise the changes are minor. There are current and past books which explain the kata specifically. That is a good place to start though you do seem to know much about it.

But here is another truth about Kodokan Judo: it is built on randori training as its centerpiece. Obviously, not enough teach the kata, but someone in that area can, at the very least, teach you the randori no kata which contains the nage no kata and the katame no kata, both necessary to your success at randori. At the same time, I have the same problem and, at this time, I am spending as much time as I get learning the superior (as in high level) kata as I can. I just do not find taking hard falls fifty to one-hundred times fun nor is it free from pain now. Kano's concept comes from a classical or koryu called the Jikishin ryu (not to be confused with the Jikishin kage-ryu) which dates to the 18th century. The first headmaster of this school was probably the first to use the training in *ran" in the unarmed (and perhaps armed to some degree) part of the ryu. He also called his school Jikishin Ryu Judo, though it was more likely to have been pronounced Jiu no michi or yawara no michi, written exactly as Judo, or Jiu-do is written, in kanji.

But if it really is only the nage no kata you want to learn, and you want to learn it specifically, start a search. There are many judo dojo in the city and surrounding Bay Area, too many not to find someone who can teach the more formal nage no kata. Also, there are many books and other media you can pick up to show you. If you know the techniques offensively, then it really is only the proper application and the role of uke that you need to learn. Do not take this to mean it is easy, it will not be. I do not know your exact age, but I will accept the fact that it is becoming increasingly difficult on the body for your gendai form of jujutsu (I have noted that you describe it as aiki jujitsu which peaks my interest a bit).

Kata in the US and other countries has made great inroads of the last decade or so in the return of kata to the shiai stage. I cannot recall the last large tournament I attended which did not include kata competition so someone up there is teaching kata. I know it is further North of you, in Oregon and Washington.

Of the teachers with whom I am familar who are not retired, I cannot think of one who specifically teaches kata to the point of specializing, but most do teach the randori no kata. The inferior kata have seemingly been taught at most judo dojo if only as part of the randori no kata. Of those who hold formal gradings for shodan, knowledge of the nage no kata is paramount so I think you can find someone who has the ability. I still highly recommend exposure to Keiko Fukuda no matter the kata she is teaching, as well.


You can find teachers in the Hokka Yudanshkai by going to the USJF web site (http://www.usjf.com ), and make some phone calls. Check out the USJ web site, the USJI or the USJA. All have contact dojo in the area. Perhaps another is more familiar with teachers in the area, at least current ones. Start making phone calls, and be specific about which you want from a club, but do not leave out your own backround and the fact that there are some things about which you will not be able to avoid. Randori today is a bit of a different concept than it was so practicing the nage no kata should not be a problem at any judo dojo. Check out the results of kata competition at tournament as you can find contact that way, too.


Best of Luck to you,


Mark


PS: Anyone in the area that has more specific info. for this kata specialist-wannabe?;)

MarkF
27th January 2006, 15:50
BTW: Try Mrs. Kimura at the San Francisco Judo Institute. I would be very surprised if she were not teaching kata. Her email is sfji2005@hokkajudo.org .

Also, David Matsumoto at dm@sfsu.edu . He is an officer in the USJF and USJI, and is a member of the Hokka Yudanshakai.

I do not know those in the USJA, but as the largest judo association in the US, they must have a long list of dojo. Try the dojo locator on http://judoinfo.com . It is one of the most complete I know of, and is not listed by association, but rather by judo.

The other list is on the Gardena Judo of Southern California web site. They also have a good one. A very nice web site to visit, as well, if you like content over crass and unnecessary music and other graphics, like me.

http://www.gardenajudo.com .

I was going to post these contacts in my post above..


Sorry.



Mark

spencer burns
1st February 2006, 01:02
I asked my wife, who is a student of Fukuda Sensei, and she suggested that you look into the Palo Alto or San Jose-Buddhist club. They are fairly large and when Fukuda's school does events, they work with those clubs, not the clubs in San Francisco.

In fact the 3 clubs recently put on a New Year's Ceremony in Palo Alto and Nage no Kata was performed by a pair from either SJ or PA (I don't remember which)

Since your signature mentions Stanford Jujitsu, perhaps the Palo Alto club would be reasonable for you?

jodirren
1st February 2006, 12:27
Mark and Spencer: Thanks so much for the responses ... I will look into the places and people you mentioned. And I think I'll check out Fukuda's kata clinics as well, even if they are not Nage no Kata.