This video was taken from a seminar I did in Torino, Italy, in October, 2008. It is from a class on “Bokken Jiyu waza” (free techniques of sword) and includes exercises on “form transcendence”, body/ ken integration, applied techniques and applied principles.This aspect of weapons work comes at the end of the weapons system we practice and is based on the foundation of the complete aiki-ken system. Bokken Jiyu waza should be considered the fruit of the practice as it is the peak of “applications” training and is “beyond form”. For a reference of our more form based practices check out these videos from an earlier post.
Watching the two videos in comparison should show the different expressions of the practices while at the same time recognizing the thread of unity that runs through both. It is all the same aikido.
“A wise man will understand the need to use a boat to cross the river. Only a fool will continue to carry the boat with him once the river has been crossed.“
~ Wan Shu~
So, here’s the Aikido Bokken Jiyu Waza.
