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).
