Aiki-ken

is the name given specifically to the set of sword techniques, practiced according to the principles of aikido, taught first by Morihei Ueshiba (aikido's founder), then further developed by Morihiro Saito, one of Ueshiba's most prominent students.

Development of aiki-ken

Much of the aiki-ken syllabus was developed by Morihei Ueshiba (植芝盛平 Ueshiba Morihei, 1883–1969) at his dojo in Iwama, Japan, at the same time he developed aikido's staff training (called aiki-jō). It is well documented that Ueshiba studied several different styles of kenjutsu (Japanese swordsmanship), but the aiki-ken techniques are predominantly based upon the teachings of the Kashima Shintō-ryu.

Most of the practice of aiki-ken was ultimately systematized not by Ueshiba, but by Morihiro Saito (斉藤守弘 Saitō Morihiro, 1928–2002), one of Ueshiba's most dedicated students and the person who took over the Iwama dojo after Ueshiba died. Hence the unofficial term "Iwama style" to refer to Saito's style of aikido, incorporating a significant amount of weapons training. In order to preserve the art and to teach an increasing number of students, Saito gathered the teachings of Ueshiba and presented the world with "aiki-ken". The first aiki-ken techniques were published in "Traditional Aikido", Vol I and II by Morihiro Saito, 1973. Before his death, Saito and his son Hitohiro Saito (斎藤仁浩 Saitō Hitohiro, born 1957) revived and refined this art.

Note that the practice of aiki-ken is not pervasive. Some schools of aikido incorporate weapons training that is unrelated to aiki-ken, and others forego weapons training entirely.

Aiki-ken Practice

Much of aiki-ken bears little similarity to other modern sword arts. Rather than learning to "fight" with swords, the primary purpose of aiki-ken is to magnify errors in one's aikido technique, and to give the student an opportunity to apply the principles of aikido in different situations. Aiki-ken is practiced using bokken (a wooden katana) and has a wide variety of techniques. Saito codified two sets of techniques, the first being seven suburi (solo cutting exercises), and the second being five partnered forms. Some dojo also practice jiyu-waza armed with bokken (freestyle technique, without a predetermined form of attack and response).

Suburi

, a word that translates literally to something like "elementary swinging", is used to refer to the basic solo movements of aiki-ken, developed by Saito as a distillation of the partnered practice.

There are seven aiki-ken suburi, and are very simply named as follows:

Uchi-no: A simple downward vertical cut.
Ni-no: Step back into jōdan-no-kamae, then a downward vertical cut.
San-no: Step back into waki-gamae, then a downward vertical cut.
Yon-no: Step forward with a downward vertical cut; repeat.
Go-no: Step forward while guarding, then a 70 degree downward cut; repeat.
Roku-no: Step forward with a downward vertical cut, then shuffle forward and thrust.
Shichi-no: Step forward while guarding, then a 70 degree downward cut, then step forward and thrust.

Kumitachi

The partnered forms practice of aiki-ken is called , meaning the crossing/meeting of swords. There are five kumitachi in Saito's aiki-ken curriculum. The kumitachi teach students how to alternately control the center line and move off it to avoid attacks and how to blend with an opponent's attacks, among other skills.

Ichi-no-tachi (一の太刀): first of sword
Ni-no-tachi (二の太刀): second of sword
San-no-tachi (三の太刀): third of sword
Yon-no-tachi (四の太刀): fourth of sword
Go-no-tachi (五の太刀): fifth of sword
Kimusubi-no-tachi (気結びの太刀): blending one's energy with partner of sword

Improvisational variations on the kumitachi (called henka), which generally cause the kumitachi form to end early with one person taking advantage of an opening to strike or throw the other, are also taught.