Goshu-Ryu SunCoast

Many people may have noticed the change in the dojo name recently and I’d like to announce the exciting news about Mori Sensei’s change and explain the decades of Sensei’s work that have led to this moment. Firstly, all affiliated Queensland dojos under the tutelage and guidance of Michiharu Mori Shihan (8^th Dan) have recently changed their name from Yoshinkan Aikido Dojos to Goshu-Ryu Aiki Jujutsu Dojos. Rest assured, the change is in name only and reflects the training that we already do every day. So, there is no change to the curriculum because the name change simply validates what we already do. To understand this point, let me explain about the name further.

The name ‘Goshu-Ryu’ simply means ‘Australian-Style’ or ‘School of the Australian Style’. This reflects Sensei’s work over more than three decades while teaching in Australia. Upon arriving in Australia after a decade of training and teaching the Riot Police at the Tokyo headquarters, Mori Sensei says that he embarked on a journey to explore how the Yoshinkan system could be applied in contemporary settings as one of the most effective forms of self-defence against people much bigger. Over his many years training in Australia with what he calls, ‘big Aussies’, Sensei built upon his prior training as an uchideshi (live in disciple) at the Yoshinkan Headquarters in Tokyo under the founder Gozo Shioda Kancho and his senior uchideshis, such as Takeno Sensei and Chida Sensei, to develop the system we now train in today: Goshu-Ryu Aiki Jujutsu.

Goshu-Ryu Aiki Jujutsu contains all the curriculum and wisdom of the Yoshinkan system. However, it also includes much more. You may not realise that much of the curriculum that we practice in our Queensland dojos is an extension from the Yoshinkan System; it is the result of the decades of Mori Sensei’s work in developing the curriculum in accordance with his vision. Sensei has developed the very contemporary Shite Waza techniques, such as defences against kicks and combination punches, amongst others, and has more than doubled the techniques practiced formerly solely under the Yoshinkan system. However, he has maintained the integrity of the Yoshinkan concepts and principles inherited from Daito Ryu Aiki Jujutsu that have been part of our training for over 900 years. Additionally, Sensei has added to and developed further the weapon curriculum, even including things such as the Tanjo Jutsu curriculum, amongst others. You may have just thought that all of that which we practice is part of the original Yoshinkan system, but, in truth, Mori Sensei has developed and added over two-thirds more into the original Yoshinkan curriculum. What’s more, Sensei has not just further developed the techniques themselves, but also the way in which the techniques are practiced.

For those that have known Mori Sensei for many years, you may have noticed in the evolution of his martial art over this time a ‘tightening’ or ‘contraction’ of the circular motions that are quintessentially associated with aikido. Despite many aikido practitioners around the world criticising his style as ‘too aggressive’ and ‘not circular enough’, Mori Sensei believes they don’t understand how he generates the circles in a contracted manner to economically control uke in a much more economical and devastating way. In essence, he has cut out any unnecessary or grandiose movements to make his technique more practical as a martial art. I believe, conceptually speaking, Mori Sensei’s style and technique is rooted more profoundly in the 900-year-old art of Daito Ryu Aiki Jujutsu than any of the modern forms of Aikido one might find globally. What’s more, it seems to me Mori Sensei’s technique authentically reflects much of the early form of Aiki Budo/Aiki Jutsu (as it was called) taught to Gozo Shioda by Ueshiba Morihei ‘O’Sensei’ between the world wars (before it became known as ‘Aikido’).

What’s more, the certification of our training will be duel in nature. Mori Sensei’s Goshu-Ryu certification will encompass the Yoshinkan certification, however, the ability to additionally apply for specific certification from the Honbu (headquarters) will remain for those that desire it. Therefore, you will receive upon successful completion of your gradings the Shodan, Nidan, Sandan etc. certificates in Goshu-Ryu Aiki Jujutsu, which will beauthenticated by the very authoritative and globally renowned 8^th Dan Michiharu Mori Shihan (The founder of Goshu-Ryu, Master Gozo Shioda’s last Uchideshi, and the world’s youngest ever to be awarded the Yoshinkan Aikido 5^th Dan rank back in 1993). Additionally, you have the option to receive the same certificates in Yoshinkan Aikido (authenticated by the administration of the Honbu).

So it seems that the ‘old’ is really the ‘new’ and the ‘new’ is really just the ‘old’, and we are so privileged to be part of Michiharu Mori Shihan’s establishment of Goshu-Ryu Aiki Jujutsu here in Australia, and who knows? If the sold-out seminars in Japan this November are anything to go on, maybe even other dojos around the world will see the value in what Mori Sensei does and look to affiliate over time. II hope I have adequately explained this change in sufficient detail, but if you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to ask.

Osu!

Ryan Slavin