Nagasu Do

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“No matter your pretence, you are what you are, nothing more” Kenshiro Abbe.

Nagasu Do,  founded from Mick’s martial arts teachings together with his invaluable experience as the close combat instructor in the advanced training wings of 22 Special Air Service and Government.

A mixed martial art with military concepts which includes close quarter combat.

One of the core principles in Nagasu Do is the understanding of connecting observation, space and time, a crucial factor not only in Nagasu Do but any other form of combat. Observation is the key to application and speed, the space between adversaries defines the fight, control the space and you will most likely control the fight.

Understanding the core principles and foundations of Nagasu Do will take you from a simple technique into complex movement, and if understood correctly will demonstrate a great simplicity.  Click here for future courses.

 

Below is an interesting article by Henry Ellis.

 Aikido – Then and Now – 1955 – 2014

 I am often asked the question ” What is the difference between the Aikido of the 1950s and today ?”

 1950s was a time when all kyu and dan grades were respected, because everyone knew they had been honestly earned through blood sweat and tears, never given as a Christmas present.

Kenshiro Abbe Sensei taught that uke should attack on balance – today an attack is a ukemi attack with uke being overly compliant and acrobatic. If you attack on balance then the nod of the head and no touch throws would be comical, many students show as much resistance as an unattached piece of string.- It was a time when students did not grade their own teachers as so many do today.

It was also a time when there was no Aikido with ribbons, if anyone had come in the dojo with ribbons they would have been hanging by them from the roof beams. – It was a time when Aikido was a respected martial art. If Sensei thought his teaching wasn’t getting through – Sensei would `tap` the offending body part with a crack of a Shiinai – this was a very successful method of teaching as it gained immediate attention and would be a reminder and an indicator to the student what their problem was, no one ever complained – they would today, students would train hard and the techniques would be strong and effective, everyone attacks a little different therefore you cannot plan what your defense would be, the attacker makes your defense ( or not ) It was a time when if as many do today try to scientifically analyze Aikido with engineering and physics, if a student asked Kenshiro Abbe or Mutsuro Nakazono anything of a technical nature, they were told to practice with an ` empty mind ` a clear mind will adsorb the  knowledge.

 It was a time when Kenshiro Abbe sensei was the only 8th dan in the UK – now 7th and 8th dans are like post-boxes with at least one in every town.

In those early days with the encouragement of a Shinai, Aikido training was very physical, building fitness and strength, after warm up there was always a session of kicking and punching techniques, this was followed depending on grade with between 20 for beginners and two hundred for dan grades of push-ups on the back of the wrists. 

 It was also a time when all Aikido came under the respected `British Aikido Council` [BAC] overseen by Kenshiro Abbe Sensei .

In later years we would see the creation of the so-called governing body for Aikido the `British Aikido Board` [BAB] – a body that would recognize its own grandmother as a dan grade, an organisation that would later offer online dan grades for money – recognize well known fraudulent practitioners grades and publicly promote the offenders profile to its members and the public. 

Times change, people change, and Aikido will change – but sadly it is not always for the best.

Admin – Henry Ellis  britishaikido.blogspot.co.uk