Cleaning up

  When we are provided the opportunity, my associate and I spend a great deal of time correcting the application of Tuite being performed by students of RyuTe (both our own, and that of others).

   

  As I've stated previously, the (old) prior method of tuite instruction could often prove to be hazardous (to the uke) as well as only offering a limited amount of practice (time) before the participants were too sore to continue.

   

  Because of these flawed methodology's, what was commonly concluded to be correct (as to proper tuite performance), was more often than not (if not “simply”) muscling the technique.

    

  The prevailing concept of tuite application for the past 25 years, has been “if it don't work, then do it harder, and faster (so that it will)”. It is this manor of nonsensical reasoning, that has created the disparity of skilled individual's in the performance of Taika's form of tuite.

    

  Over the years, the influx of student's whom (supposedly) were of yudansha ranking and who subsequently began teaching RyuTe, has brought to light the fact that the majority of them have not received proper instruction in the performance of Tuite.

    

  Tuite, (like kyusho) is not the only aspect of RyuTe. But, it is something which RyuTe is (especially) known for. Though not (necessarily) through any fault of their own, numerous students (of varying ranks and time in the association) have become complacent in their knowledge and their ability to perform tuite.

   

  The majority that I've spoken and worked with, are basing their knowledge on (similar) techniques that they learned in prior systems. Many are unaware that though looking similar, Taika's techniques are performed differently.

     

  I've worked with numerous Yudansha that were unable to perform what our student's would consider basic Tuite applications (at least, without muscling/overpowering the uke). This isn't to say those individual's were (totally) unskilled, only that they weren't performing Taika's form of tuite.

    

  As I've written before, “I” believe much of this disparity to be the result of prior teaching methodology's. Like so many instructor's today, Taika taught as he was taught (as an Okinawan, to an Okinawan). Taika's instruction was often times...awkward (for us as American students, and as speakers of English). What had worked for Taika (as a student in Okinawa), did not always work for his student's here in America.

    

  (Way) Back, in the late 70's, early 80's, Taika would commonly demonstrate a technique, to teach it to you (and usually do so upon you, LOL). Though providing a clear understanding of how a technique should feel (if/when being done upon you), it provided very little as far as how that technique should (properly) be applied. It was with that understanding, that we assembled a program for the instruction of Tuite.

   

  Taika believed (and stated so,...often) that it was better that you should learn how to perform a technique, for yourself. Doing so, would lessen the chance of your forgetting it. Though being a true statement, the majority of people (at least those with real lives, LOL) don't have the time available for their own hours of research to figure these things out (at least to the level where they could instruct others in the performance of those techniques).

      

  Part of what we discovered, was that people were (mistakenly) believing that the uke's reaction was being caused by pain. Until that misconception is recognized, a student's progress in the application of tuite will be limited, at best.

     

  Second, that the application of tuite is not dependent upon strength. The physical size/strength of either the tori or the uke is completely irrelevant. We commonly use the smallest female present, to apply a technique upon the largest male present, to verify a techniques value and applicability.

    

  Physical size and/or stature should make no difference when utilizing tuite (properly). There's been numerous (often ridicules) examples put forth here (in comments from readers) that would attempt to dispute that statement. I defy anyone to put forth the individual that will not succumb to a properly applied tuite technique. For those that wish to argue the Drug Influenced (examples),... we've already been down that road, and yes it still works.

    

  What we have discovered (even within the RyuTe association), is that there are some individual's (who have been shown improper technique application and are basing their opinions upon that instruction) that will argue that certain techniques cannot/will not work upon them. I have encountered several of these individual's (my associate has as well).

   

  What should have taken place, was a concerted effort to discover why the technique(s) weren't working. When presented as being an investigation (in stead of a challenge), there is less ego-bruising and a better understanding of the technique is had by all.

    

  Another of the great ego-deflator's is to have one of the speed-king braggart's perform the techniques slowly. Granted, the techniques are not (usually) designed to be applied in that manner, but it does make for a more productive practice session (and usually a lot less painful, LOL). All (but possibly a couple) can be applied slowly, and will still produce the desired/expected results.

    

  Slow practice will also expose the tori to possible counter's (to the given technique) that might be attempted by an uke. As a rule, counter's are not possible with Taika's techniques (unless, the technique is being improperly applied).

    

  When Taika first began teaching his form of tuite, He taught it as a one-way methodology, when he completed the technique, the uke was (physically) incapable of (any form of) retaliation. Once coming to the United States, and encountering our Civil litigation laws, those methods had to be expanded.

     

  Taika's original instruction of his form of tuite only included disabling applications being used upon the uke/aggressor. He only taught a limited number of restraint (types of) techniques. When he discovered that my original instructor was a police officer, he began teaching numerous (additional) techniques (specifically for L.E. Personnel) to him (which we in turn learned, and began teaching to our L.E. students).

    

  The majority of these were modified tuite techniques (specifically for handgun retention, and prisoner compliance/restraint and escort). Though originally intended for L.E., they work equally well for litigation concerned (civilian) students.

    

  We believe (and the feedback we've received, tends to confirm) that the tuite program we've developed can be used by any RyuTe instructor to aid them in the instruction of their student's (at least as far as tuite is concerned, LOL).