Seminar Instruction

 I recently decided to see what has been being promoted among similarly provided seminars in regards to “Tuite” (and/or similar methods) 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 “Tori Te”, 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.

  Many of those other methods can/will work (to varying degrees), but they are different from how and what Oyata taught (for his method of application).

  Understanding Oyata's form of Tuite, requires more than attendance at a weekend/day/”?”-hour seminar. Unfortunately, many of the seminars that we have been teaching recently have had been limited in the time being allowed for us to teach those methods.  

 Our (minimum) allotted time is (usually) 4 hours (for instruction of the 6 Basic Principles of Tuite). This time it will be 2 hours (though provided at multiple times). This will still allow us to teach/explain each of those 6 (basic) Principles more fully, and will provide sufficient time for the students to apply those principles in the application of individual techniques (and will allow 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. This time period also allows for attendees/students to ask any individual questions.

  What is commonly being taught (by others) are vague suggestions, that don't provide students with solid “Right/Wrong” guidelines to refer to while practicing a techniques application. The 6 Basic Tuite Principles were designed to provide those guidelines for students to refer to while learning/refining their 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.

  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 at ½ to ¾ speed), and 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) dismissed by those attendee's during their practice (supposedly in the attempt to appear competent in the techniques use).

  Because most would fail at their own implementation of the technique (when doing so slowly), they would be inclined to speed up that attempt (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 (“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 themselves). At “seminars”, Oyata would rarely (if ever) “correct” those attendee's, as they were often content with their own results, and they were not (really) “his” students. 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 in the use of his methodology. 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/instructor in research/practice application for some time.

  Though our upcoming seminar (July 2016, Kansas City Missouri) will include instruction in numerous Okinawan and Oyata taught/related subjects, my own emphasis and instruction will be with The 6 Principles of Tuite and the instruction of/for the Introduction to Brush Calligraphy (Chinese/Japanese) classes. There will be a number of Association instructors present to convey instruction in/for the numerous included subjects as well (it's not a “singular” subject seminar). This seminar will be “open” to anyone who wishes to attend. There are a couple of “Association” (member) only classes, but there will be (up to three 3) classes available (and being taught) at most any time throughout the 3 day event (a limited number of subject classes will be provided multiple times due to requested interest levels).