Aibukido Curriculum
July 18, 2002



Aibukido training passes through four kinds of practice, each building on the ones before it:

  1. Fundamentals (Waza)
  2. Combinations (Suburi)
  3. One Person Forms (Kata)
  4. Two Person Forms (Kumi)

The ordering of this material is important. Students are required to have a progressively greater degree of control as they advance through these practice levels. Note that person to person exchanges are introduced last. This is for the safety of the students involved.

Total 58 techniques.

Notes on the use of language:

Aibukido is an interpretation of martial arts techniques that originated in Japan. It is largely embedded in a western culture, however and is not intended to be an accurate representation of traditional Japanese arts. As such, English terms are used in the descriptions below and should be used in presenting the material to students. Corresponding Japanese terms (where known) are included as an aid to instructors who have learned many of the techniques in Aikido or other training situations.

Fundamentals (Waza)

The fundamental elements of aibukido consists of stances (kamae), strikes (shomen, etc.), thrusts (tsuki), sweeps (gaeshi), and blocks. Each of these is taught using the bokken and jo simulateously, focusing on their similarities and differences. The strengths and weaknesses of each weapons can be compared in this manner.

This the table of all fundamental elements (22):

grip introduced weapons
the bokken V-grip novice bokken
the jo hammer grip novice jo
the jo blocking grip novice jo
stances
front middle (chudan) novice bokken / jo
front low (gedan) novice bokken / jo
rear middle (waki) novice bokken
rear low (waki) novice bokken
overhead (jodan) novice bokken / jo
baseball (hasso) warrior bokken / jo
ground novice jo
strikes
raising the weapon novice bokken / jo
stopping the cut novice bokken / jo
top of the head (shomenuchi) novice bokken / jo
side of the head (yokomenuchi) novice bokken / jo
waist (do) warrior bokken / jo
knee (sunate) warrior bokken / jo
pivot strike (no. 9, 21 ct kata) warrior jo
upper cuts samurai bokken
wheel cuts (do) samurai bokken / jo
thrusts
thrust to mid-section novice bokken / jo
thrust to head warrior bokken / jo
thrust to rear warrior bokken / jo
thrust to knee warrior jo
sweeps
sweep to knee novice jo
blocks
high block novice bokken / jo
middle block novice bokken / jo
low block warrior bokken / jo


Combinations (Suburi)

The fundamentals can be combined in any number of ways using transitional moves. Some of these combinations are selected to emphasize how to move from one position to another. These combinations draw on the traditional suburi forms and introduce new ones.

This is the table of combinations (20):

bokken introduced
stationary strike to head (1) novice
stepping striking to head (2) novice
strike to head from gedan (3) novice
strike right, strike left (4) novice
strike, high block, strike (5) warrior
strike,thrust, block (6) warrior
thrust, mid block (NEA 8) warrior
sunate strike, low block warrior
jodan, hasso, gedan, strike (mirror) samurai
do strike, mid block samurai
jo
ground, thrust novice
ground, mid block novice
thrust, mid block novice
thrust, high block novice
chudan, jodan, strike to head warrior
chudan, gedan, strike to head warrior
chudan, hasso, strike to side head warrior
chudan, hasso, sunate warrior
chudan, gedan, sweep warrior
pivot strike, thrust warrior



Solo Forms (Kata)

Performing multiple combination forms in a sequence are called solo forms. These are traditionally called kata. Solo forms are introduced at the warrior level of aibukido training.

Three bokken forms and three jo forms are included in the curriculum (6):

Bokken Solo Forms

First Bokken Solo Form (happo giri) warrior

The first bokken form is a combination of shomenuchi cuts and mid level thrusts in each of the eight horizontal directions. [Wheel cut is not included.]

Second Bokken Solo Form warrior

TBD. Emphasizes basic transition moves.

Third Bokken Solo Form samurai

TBD. Emphasizes advanced transition moves.

Jo Solo Forms

First Jo Solo Form warrior

A simplified happo giri using shomenuchi strikes for first four moves, then thrusts for final four.

Second Jo Solo Form warrior

TBD. Emphasizes basic jo transition moves.

Third Jo Solo Form (21 count kata) samurai

The traditional 21 count kata. Emphasizes advanced transitional moves.


Paired Forms (Kumi)

Paired forms combine offensive moves with defensive moves between two partners. These forms are introduced at the samurai level of training due to the need for control and safety. This is the first time that two students are allowed to come within range of each other with weapons. As such, close supervision is needed

The following paired forms are defined (10):

Bokken Paired Forms samurai

Five forms, TBD.

Jo Paired Forms samurai

Five forms, TBD.


Curriculum Notes

  1. There is quite a bit of material here. Is it too much for a child to learn? On the other hand, it needs to span an age range of five years. Children who practice this regularly (once a week) should be able to learn most or all of this.

  2. Review all materail for simplcity and safety.