The Senshusei Course is an intensive and grueling 11-month, full time aikido training course conducted annually at Yoshinkan Honbu dojo or headquarters, in Tokyo. The senshusei course was publicizied through the Robert Twigger book Angry White Pyjamas.

Content

Course participants, regardless of their rank or ability, begin studying with the basic movements and are taught the syllabus of Yoshinkan Aikido's basic techniques. Instruction is in Japanese and English, and given by teachers from the Honbu dojo. The Senshusei Course takes participants through all the basics of Yoshinkan aikido on to jiyūwaza or freestyle, self-defense and instructional methods. Course graduates typically earn their shodan, or black belt, before course completion, if they have not already achieved the rank.

History

This course was originally created to train some of the Tokyo riot police during a period of civil unrest in the early 1960's. A number of Tokyo Metropolitan Police still undertake this course every year, but it has been made available to non-police candidates since 1991 with the founding of the International Yoshinkai Aikido Federation. In helping to set up the Senshusei Course, the IYAF desired to offer authentic training in Japan to the international community. The men and women taking the course these days are still largely from outside Japan. The modern curriculum is designed to produce consistent, effective aikido and instill a strong spirit in its graduates. Participants enjoy an experience similar to that of traditional uchi-deshi. The course has evolved from its original intent as an instructor's course to its current emphasis more on learning, training and developing spirit.

Many of graduates of the program have gone on to teach and open Yoshinkan dojo in countries that include: Australia, Canada, Israel, Germany, Portugal, the UK, and the United States.

External links

• International Senshusei Course
• International Yoshinkai Aikido Federation