Likes Likes:  0
Results 1 to 11 of 11

Thread: Tetsutaka Sugawara videos

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Posts
    107
    Likes (received)
    20

    Default Tetsutaka Sugawara videos

    Hello,
    I was looking at a couple videos by Tetsutaka Sugawara Sensei.
    I really don't have a good specific question and am not computer savvy enough to post the links from youtube but one is Kaeshi waza. Looks a lot like good Tai Chi push hands with a little Aikido thrown in.
    Sugawa Sensei's invention or do other Aikido organizations use it?
    One is a long jo kata. I know Sugawara Sensei also studied Koryu. Is this Aikido based, Koryu or a mix?
    Lastly the Aikido Tai Chi Kata - a little shorter than Yang Long Form and techniques definitely Aikido.
    What do you see in it, is a long solo form a plus to Aikido or not?
    Is it useful to develop IP or are repeating less techniques like silk reeling more useful?
    Any other comments even if they don't answer the above are helpful.
    By the way I have no intention of trying to copy any of the solo work- beyond the obvious question about how would I know I am doing it right I also have a lot of solo kata from current and prior teachers.
    Thanks for any input,
    Len McCoy

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2000
    Location
    Massachusetts
    Posts
    3,714
    Likes (received)
    153

    Default

    Mr. Sugawara trains in Katori Shinto Ryu, but I believe he left the mainline years ago with a basic-level teaching license and has been running his own line and school ever since. He does train in taiji chuan and is a 7th dan in aikido, I think in Aikikai. (FOLLOW UP: I checked and yes, Aikikai. His 7th dan rank was awarded to him by Kisshomaru Ueshiba, according to online sources.)

    Truthfully, I don't see any indications of internal structure, nor any real connection or power generation in his taiji forms or weapons kata, although in the case of the latter, it is typical for weapons practitioners to demonstrate omote versions that emphasize just the external, basic movements. However, this would not be likely in the case of the former, as when truly internal taiji is demonstrated, the practitioner cannot help but express his internal structure and connectivity. The videos I watched showed perhaps some simple "rooting," but nothing sophisticated. As for the "aikido-taiji" kata... I will reserve comment!

    If you are very interested in pursuing internal body method, IMO it's best to find an art and teacher that have the skills, teach the skills openly as a major part of the curriculum, and can show you the nuances of how this body method works in the context of martial application.

    The truly internal arts have these principles and concepts embedded in them and require a deep study of the full art -- not a superficial extraction of the internal skills from the art. Just cherry-picking particular internal training bits and pieces will not give you the full picture or a cohesive way of fully incorporating internal method into martial practice. You end up with a handful of discrete parlor tricks and not much actual skill or understanding of how they work under duress.
    Last edited by Cady Goldfield; 30th March 2018 at 21:00.
    Cady Goldfield

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Aug 2000
    Location
    Massachusetts
    Posts
    3,714
    Likes (received)
    153

    Default

    Here's the kaeshi waza video you mentioned, Len. Looks like standard aikido movement to me.

    Cady Goldfield

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Apr 2001
    Location
    Hiroshima, Japan.
    Posts
    2,550
    Likes (received)
    151

    Default

    Hello,

    I agree with Cady. I do not see any evidence of internal training and you can do the slow kasha waza exercise in any case. Doing such an exercise reveals no evidence of internal training and I do not usually teach kaeshi waza like that. I have same dan rank as Sugawara (though mine was given by the present Doshu), but I do not claim any expertise in internal skills. However, one of my Dutch students is an enthusiastic member of the Aunkai and came to my recent seminar singing the praises of a recent workshop with Dan Harden. Such training also shows in his aikido waza.

    Best wishes,
    Peter Goldsbury,
    Forum Administrator,
    Hiroshima, Japan

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Location
    Seattle, Washington, USA
    Posts
    6,227
    Likes (received)
    118

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by len mccoy View Post
    One is a long jo kata. I know Sugawara Sensei also studied Koryu. Is this Aikido based, Koryu or a mix?
    Without seeing the kata in question I couldn't say, but there are jo kata within Aikido, perhaps the most well-known being 'sanjuichi-no-jo' (AKA 31 jo kata). While some Aikido dojo may not practice it much, others do. In fact, the "style" that I was part of -- Aikido Seikikai -- had a separate branch, called Seiki Ryu, devoted to the preservation and dissemination of the Jo and Ken forms. (Aikido Seikikai was established by Kurita Minoru, the last uchideshi of Aikido founder Ueshiba Morihei, and Kurita Sensei was also the co-founder of the Ki Society with Koichi Tohei after O-sensei's death.)
    Yours in Budo,
    ---Brian---

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Aug 2000
    Location
    Massachusetts
    Posts
    3,714
    Likes (received)
    153

    Default

    Here is a video of Mr. Sugawara doing a kata with yonshakubo. The movements seem more in keeping with an aikido-jo approach.

    Cady Goldfield

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jun 2000
    Location
    Pacific Northwest
    Posts
    685
    Likes (received)
    111

    Default

    Actually, that very much looks like he's derived a lot from Chinese jian (sword). There are a lot of elements you'd never see in a Japanese centered art, that are really mainstream Chinese. FWIW

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Location
    Seattle, Washington, USA
    Posts
    6,227
    Likes (received)
    118

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Cady Goldfield View Post
    The movements seem more in keeping with an aikido-jo approach.
    Quote Originally Posted by Ellis Amdur View Post
    Actually, that very much looks like he's derived a lot from Chinese jian (sword).
    I agree, and in fact Sugawara Sensei co-authored with Lujian Xing a book wherein they compared Aikido and Chinese martial arts, and he also published a book on "T'ai Chi Swordplay." It wouldn't surprise me to see a lot of "melting pot" influence as a result.
    Yours in Budo,
    ---Brian---

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Aug 2000
    Location
    Massachusetts
    Posts
    3,714
    Likes (received)
    153

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Brian Owens View Post
    I agree, and in fact Sugawara Sensei co-authored with Lujian Xing a book wherein they compared Aikido and Chinese martial arts, and he also published a book on "T'ai Chi Swordplay." It wouldn't surprise me to see a lot of "melting pot" influence as a result.
    Yes, good point. The circular movements do look more in keeping with Chinese weapons work. The one certainty is that it does not bear any resemblance to TSKSR.
    Cady Goldfield

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Aug 2000
    Location
    Massachusetts
    Posts
    3,714
    Likes (received)
    153

    Default

    Len,
    I came across this short video showing Mr. Sugawara doing some of the TSKSR kata. There are snippets of staff work in there, enough that you can compare the movements to those of the one you saw earlier.

    Cady Goldfield

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Dec 2018
    Location
    wisco
    Posts
    3
    Likes (received)
    0

    Default

    hello everyone id like to humbly reply as the one the sensei's im under received his 6th degree dan under sugawara who is a 7th degree and sensei sugawara studied and got every degree from the founder and his son directly he also spent much time in china learning many forms or martial arts he also was a judo specialist and does karate he is based in japan but also comes here to the usa do seminars and visit some the schools he helped get started as for hos forms and techniqes they are all of his own he is does many forms of tai ji and kung fu leaning from him of one his students i feel is like learning a huge spectrum of arts i did alot arts as a kid and young adult and took long break well the dojo i attend now really sparked all my interest in budo over all

Similar Threads

  1. With Respect . . . Sugawara news?
    By hancock horse in forum News from Japan
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 16th February 2006, 13:49
  2. Do you look at old videos?
    By Tripitaka of AA in forum Shorinji Kempo
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 3rd February 2004, 10:06
  3. Sugawara Martial Arts Institute
    By Bud_Wiser in forum Aikido
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 26th September 2002, 21:25
  4. Got videos?
    By jbjujitsu in forum Research Methods
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 15th August 2001, 20:26
  5. Got videos?
    By jbjujitsu in forum Ryukyuan Unarmed Martial Arts
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 15th August 2001, 20:24

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •