Methodology

 Seeing that we are about to leave town to conduct another tuite seminar (teaching our 6 Principles of Tuite), I decided to see what has been recently promoted among similarly provided seminars over the past few months (if not years). I usually do so just to prepare myself for the most commonly asked (types of) questions and comments that we are likely to receive (in comparison/regards to those alternate methods).

 Aside from the commonly (and mistakenly) made correlation to “Kyusho”, the only other methodology currently being offered is the manner being promoted by the DKS/ Ryukyu Kenpo school(s).

IMO, what they are presenting is their own version of “ToriTe”, and not Oyata's Tuite. They (regularly) imply that it is derived from Oyata's methodology (via GD), but it is implemented very differently. This is evidenced through their (subsequent) instructional seminars, and the publicly provided information in regards to that implementation.

 I am curious to see if anyone is "still" using the (incorrect) "anomaly" excuse for when their technique's fail (that's always good for a laugh). 

 Understanding Oyata's method of application for his form of Tuite, requires more than attendance at a weekend/day/”?”-hour seminar. Unfortunately, the seminar that we will be teaching at this weekend, is itself limited in the time being allowed for us to teach.

 Our own (minimum) allotted time is (usually) 4 hours (for instruction of the 6 Principles of Tuite). This allows us to teach/explain each of those 6 (basic) Principles fully, and can provide sufficient time for the students to apply those principles in the application of individual techniques (and the allows the time necessary to provide individual instruction/correction of the principles within those applications). Each of the 6 Principles contain elements that can facilitate a techniques application (when done correctly) or can/will prevent it's occurrence when done incorrectly.

 What is commonly being taught (by others) are seemingly vague suggestions, that don't provide students with solid “Right/Wrong” guidelines to refer to while practicing a techniques application (or providing guidelines in how they should correct their application of them). The 6 Basic Tuite Principles were designed to provide those guidelines for students to refer to while learning/refining their own application of an instructed technique.

 Oyata emphasized that Tuite (techniques) are not dependent upon the size or strength of (either) the student (tori) nor their opponent (uke). Many of the commonly taught methods emphasize the use of speed for (their) techniques to even work. Oyata's (Tuite) techniques had no such “requirement”. ALL of Oyata's Tuite techniques can be performed slowly (and be easily controlled) when done correctly. Though speed would be a consideration if/when using those techniques in an actual defensive situation, it is far from necessary in a training (I.E. learning) situation (and could be considered detrimental in many cases).

 I am regularly confronted with (supposed) students from the years following Oyata's initial arrival (mid-late “70's”/early 80's”, and yes, I was there as well). Their arguments against this (slow-speed) manner of practice is based upon (their own) misunderstanding of Oyata's instructional methods. Oyata (at seminars) would commonly demonstrate a technique (doing so commonly at ½ to ¾ speed), and he would then have everyone (attempt to) reproduce what he had just demonstrated. He would also state that students should practice slowly, until they understood what was involved with making the technique work (correctly). "That" portion of his instruction was (usually) disregarded by those attendee's.

 Because most would fail at their own implementation of the technique (when doing so slowly), they would be inclined to speed up their attempts (to achieve some sort of result). That increase of speed would additionally include a (generous) use of muscular strength (if not physical weight) as well. The vast majority of Oyata's form of Tuite techniques can be performed (incredibly) sloppily, and still achieve a “reaction” (by the uke). That reaction is rarely the optimal/preferred reaction, but any reaction is often sufficient (I.E. “good-enough”) for those who don't really understand what “optimal” amounts to.

 Oyata's methodology was so (radically) different from what most of these early (often Yudansha) attendee's were accustom to, that their (own) “corrections” (although wrong) were accepted as being a correct application of the instructed techniques (at least by them). At those “seminars”, Oyata would rarely (if ever) “correct” those attendee's (as they were content with their accomplishments, and Oyata just presumed that they would continue their study with him, and they could/would be corrected later,...little did he realize, LOL).

 The 6 Principles of Tuite, are a modest portion of the (numerous) principles and application guidelines that Oyata had provided to us over the past 30+ years. We've taken a (directly) relevant portion of those guidelines, and are demonstrating their use/application in a defined portion of Oyata's Life Protection methodology (“Tuite Jutsu”). There are additional principles that are utilized as well, but for introductory purposes, these 6 Principles will provide (more than enough) direct application use, to keep the average student in research/practice/application for some time.