| Subject: Prompt of the Visit to Shihan Annesi's Dojo from Geo |
Author:
Corey Minatani
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Date Posted: 00:15:23 05/25/04 Tue
Yes,
Just got back from a week-long training session with Shihan Tony Annesi. The week was filled with lots of training which included Takeshin Aiki-ju-jutsu and Karate, and one day working lines from Takeshin Seiken Budo (Combined fist Martial Way, or bluntly, bringing together Aiki and Karate and throwing other arts into the mix). We talked a lot about the ideals of the conference, future online classes with RJKD and Aiki, talked about illegal video tape copying, and plagerism.
In the aiki classes we focused a lot on various escapes from holds where the student has to end up in a certain position or lock. At first glance, this is real easy, but upon trying it, really difficult until you get the hang of it. Point being, trying to force your way out only makes it worse. By applying various principles laid out by Shihan Annesi, can one escape fairly effortlessly. Even though I'm a strong stick player, I'm always classified as the aiki-guy, before that, the TKD guy. Labels are always misleading it seems, and lead to oversimplification and underestimation of me by others. Being a smaller person, it does me good to understand these things in detail so that I can cross reference them with areas of grappling with sticks and knives.
One of the most facinating things I've observed is that when we do our drills with sticks and knives, the position that we have our weapons ready is somewhat naieve. For example, an open or closed chamber is nice, but how did I get there? Do I just walk the street with weapons in hand? Here, aiki resolves these issues in weapon deployment. I cannot readily envision a gangbanger or two stepping up on someone who looks deadly. That being the case, people will get surprised. Meaning, someone will grab you so that you cannot deploy the clipit, bowie, or tactical batons resting in their sheath. That means, you need to figure out some way to get out and safely deploy your weapons. Think on this.
Karate, normally seen as an antiquated artform, with the right viewpoint, can be a dangerous and applicable tool in one's arsenal. Besides the massive drilling and yelling, there lies a art hidden in the open, to those who can get past their assumptions, and do a little research. Locks, blocks, strikes, and throws can all be accomplished vis-a-vis karate applications known as bunkai and oyo. Stripping throws and locks from traditional kata to transform into elements of sombo, jujutsu, and aiki-ju-jutsu can be a fantastic discovery. While most may scoff at the idea of karate concepts being useful, it would be good to remember that GM Presas (6th Dan Karate) and GM Worden (Shotokan and Isshinryu) have backgrounds in karate.
Shihan Annesi's Seiken Budo class worked in lines of decadena with a drill very similar to Harry Kneedler's "infinite Hand Drill." Harry's drill incorporated much of the material of Datu Worden's Kuntao tape such as returning hands, green bamboo, and wing chun striking and trapping. Annesi's version included Takeshin aiki blocks and dissolvements, which I might ask him to convey at the conference.
I was also given a copy of "Comparative Aiki in Action" book as well as a copy of "Sudden Attack Defense: One Step Sparring for the real World." I think I'm the only one with a copy since he hasen't release them for publication yet. The Comparative Aiki in Action is 239 pages alone!
One of Sensei Annesi's students, Debra, a Tai Chi instructor as well as a Brown Belt in Takeshin Karate took me to Ashland Resevior to work on some Tai Chi and talk about sparring conceptual problems she was having. I told her a number of good methods of approaching these problems and I had a good time working some Tai Chi lines.
On Friday, I was treated to the Best Dam* BBQ that side of the mississippi. One of Sensei Annesi's other brown belts, Allison, invited us over for a get together over there. Sam Adams beer, shrimp, and steak...It doesn't get any better than this (copyright, Miller High Life).
Shihan also gave me the tour and instruction on video sales, advertising, and just about how things work staying above water making $$ in the martial arts. Bushido-kai is a small, but very efficient company. While preparing orders (two from WA state), there was a call from a very honorable man. Wally Jay (10th Dan Jujutsu/6th Dan Judo) called Shihan Annesi to wish him happy 40th year in martial arts! Fantastic!! I called my wife to let her know the goings on while Shihan Annesi and Wally talked old times! Although I've talked to Wally Jay before and attended seminars, he's never stopped to amaze me. I remember one of the Big 3 seminars (where GM Presas had the honor of Datu Worden as Uke) where Wally Jay was just working out with people attending on stuff GM Remy Presas was instructing. Even the master was training like a student....
Other than that, I stopped in Boston to one establishment, the "Silky Way," I know, sounds like a brothel but it was a martial art book store and equipment store. Honest! Anyway, I picked up one book, a hakama, and three Chinese hats for the kids. Back in Framingham (where Shihan Annesi's dojo is located, I picked up some slinky outfits for my wife at this Indian (dot not feather) clothing shop.
At night, I got to raid Shihan's vast library of videos on everything from Aikido, Systema, Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu, and old samurai flicks. He also has a massive collection of books, which many are out of print. In addition, being a philosophy major, I got immersed into his philosophical texts by Ayn Rand on Objectivism. I didn't figure out exactly what objectivism was, maybe next trip...
Thanks Geo for the prompt, sorry to others if this was boring, blame Tito Geo!!
Respectfully,
Corey Minatani
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