我們的柔術體系：技法分類與訓練順序 ｜ Our Technique Categories

我們的大東流的技術體系

由於武田惣角大老師的遊歷教學模式：旅行到某個旅社，請旅社老闆宣傳或招集當地的鄉紳學習大東流，一般數周後就會結束此次講習，游移不定的旅行教學模式(現代用語workation)讓大東流的體系架構不穩定，加上武田大老師識字但不會寫字，頒發卷物都是他人代筆，技法往往只有模糊的通稱，（例如：一亇条35招，只能知道當時學了35個一亇条技術，往往連名稱都沒有），後繼者們例如幸道會(六方會也是出自幸道會)是用數字作為技法名稱，或是大東館體系以其他柔術、相撲的類似招式來命名。

其次，由於武田大老師的講習會教學，在同一地的停留時間不定，而參加者也不一定出席每次的講習會，即便教學的內容都是相同基礎結構，但變化招式不同，每個弟子看的面向都不同，因此體系更加模糊，以致於後繼的各大東流派別都是自行編篡系統，即便是佐川傳的一元直傳至十元直傳也是佐川宗範依照理解自行編算（據說一元直傳基本上是基於武田大老師的教學，其他元則陸續加入佐川宗範的理解）。

本門的大東流的體系是根據Paul Sensei過往大東流的經歷而建構，由於Paul Sensei在教學中或許會有新的體悟，因此也會也會補增技法或順序，但主軸技術是不會改變的，大致框架如下：

在入門階段（進入初傳初段之前），技術主要在脫手法（手解te hodoki）、步法（足捌ashi sabaki）、護身倒法（受身ukemi，有基礎者可快速跳過）、基礎柔術（基本技kihon waza，從一亇条至九亇条的代表技法作為整體介紹）、以及柔術應用（護身術 goshinjutsu，簡化柔術結合打擊技），其中基礎柔術作為本門體系的初步理解，會習得一亇条至九亇条的每個單招、結束單招的壓制技(kime waza)、單招失敗時轉換投技(nage waza)，以及轉換招式的連續技 (Renzoku waza，招式及招式之間的轉換)，每個單招施展時基本包括当て身(atemi、打擊切入，包括拳蹴肘膝)、崩(kuzushi，破壞重心)、作(tsukuri，執行招式)、極(kime，壓制技術)。

上述的招式習得後即可取得初傳初段，從上述內容可知這些都只是大東流柔術的摘要，初傳初段才是正式學習技術，從一亇条開始從頭學習，一亇条共有一百多個招式。下個段位中傳初段接著學二亇条，大約也是一百多個招式。依次，上傳初段，學習三亇条的技術，大約兩百多個招式。

以前述的一、二、三亇条來說，似乎類似於合氣道的一教、二教、三教 (事實上合氣道確實也是簡化大東流合氣柔術而來)，但實際上差異很大，在大東流合氣柔術中，每亇条是由一系列具有相同主軸的技術群構成，可視為每亇条個別都是技術框架，例如一亇条的技術框架是透過手肘控制肩膀，在一亇条以手肘控制肩膀做出四方投、小手返，換成二亇条的主軸技術是透過手腕控制肩膀，因此用二亇条的框架做四方投跟小手返，也就是說，一亇条小手返跟二亇条小手返是不同技術，不同技術框架的手法會不同，絕對不是「不同發動方式，用相同方式結束」。

大東流合氣柔術的一亇条到十亇条技術，可視為是知識庫，學員會先縱向學習各亇条的技術，並在複習過去技術時橫向理解不同亇条之間的關聯性，最終目的都是透過這個龐大的知識庫讓身體得以自由施展出招式，而在每亇条中都有冠名合氣的技術存在，也就是這些技術會跟習得合氣有直接關聯性，所以大東流合氣柔術中確實包括「合氣」與「柔術」兩種技術體系，但只要習得「合氣」就能運用在「柔術」中成為「合氣柔術」（甚至更進一步，佐川宗範在此之上體會出足合氣、合氣拳法、合氣二刀，可知合氣確實是單獨的技術而可疊加在其他技術上），另外，每亇条會有少數例外技術，例如：一亇条會有極少數的二亇条招式，主要用意是讓門人預告之後的技術。

順帶一提，大東流合氣柔術中，每個技術的編篡都是學習如何運用身體，基本上不會出現重複的技術，也不會出現有「前」（讓對手朝向身體前方失衡的招式）就對應有「後」（讓對手朝向身體後方失衡的招式）技術的謬誤，招式本身的設計都是有意義的。

The technical system of our Daito-ryu:

Due to the itinerant teaching style of the great teacher Takeda Sokaku: traveling to a certain inn, asking the innkeeper to promote or gather local gentry to learn Daito-ryu, and typically concluding the seminar after a few weeks, this nomadic teaching model (referred to in modern terms as a "workation") made the Daito-ryu system highly unstable. Additionally, while Takeda-sensei was literate, he could not write, relying on his disciples to record for him. Techniques often had only vague general names, such as "Ichijo" encompassing 35 techniques, many of which were unnamed. Consequently, successors like the Kodo-kai (the Rokugo-kai also originated from Kodo-kai) used numbers to name techniques, or the Daito-kan system named them after similar techniques from other jujutsu or sumo traditions.

Secondly, because Daisensei Grandmaster Takeda’s seminars involved indefinite stays in any given location and participants did not necessarily attend every session, the system became increasingly ambiguous. Even though the foundational structure of the teachings remained the same, the variations in techniques differed, and each disciple saw a different facet of the art. Consequently, subsequent major Daito-ryu factions all compiled their own systems. Even the curriculum from the "Ichi Gen" (First Principle) to the "Tenth Gen" transmission in the Sagawa-den was compiled by Sagawa Sohan based on his own understanding (it is said that the Ichi Gen transmission is fundamentally based on Grandmaster Takeda's teachings, while the subsequent Gens gradually incorporated Sagawa Sohan's own interpretations).

The system of our school of Daito-ryu is constructed based on Paul Sensei's past experiences with Daito-ryu. Since Paul Sensei may gain new insights during teaching, techniques or sequences may be supplemented or added; however, the core techniques will not change. The general framework is as follows:

In the introductory stage (before entering Shoden Shodan/Beginning Level, 1st Degree), the techniques focus primarily on Te-hodoki (hand releases), Ashi-sabaki (footwork), Ukemi (breakfalls/safe falling—those with a foundation can skip this quickly), Basic Jujutsu (Kihon Waza—a general introduction using representative techniques from the 1st to 9th Article), and Jujutsu Applications (Goshinjutsu/Self-defense—simplified Jujutsu combined with striking techniques). Among these, Basic Jujutsu serves as the preliminary understanding of our school’s system. Students will learn individual techniques from the 1st to the 9th Article (Kajo), the pinning techniques (Kime waza) to conclude individual moves, the transition to throwing techniques (Nage waza) when a move fails, and combination techniques (Renzoku waza—techniques and the transitions between them). Generally, the execution of each individual technique includes Atemi (striking to enter), Kuzushi (breaking balance), Tsukuri (setting up/executing the technique), and Kime (pinning/locking).

Upon mastering the aforementioned techniques, one can attain Shoden Shodan (Beginning Transmission, 1st Dan). As evident from the content above, this is merely a summary of Daito-ryu Jujutsu; Shoden Shodan marks the beginning of formal technical study. Students start learning from the beginning with the Ikkajo (1st Article), which consists of over one hundred techniques. In the next rank, Chuden Shodan (Middle Transmission, 1st Dan), students proceed to learn Nikajo (2nd Article), which also comprises roughly over one hundred techniques. Following this, in Joden Shodan (Upper Transmission, 1st Dan), they learn the techniques of Sankajo (3rd Article), consisting of over two hundred techniques.

Regarding the aforementioned Ikkajo, Nikajo, and Sankajo, they might seem similar to Aikido's Ikkyo, Nikyo, and Sankyo (in fact, Aikido was indeed derived by simplifying Daito-ryu Aiki Jujutsu). However, in reality, the differences are significant. In Daito-ryu Aiki Jujutsu, each "Kajo" (Article) is composed of a series of technique groups sharing the same core principle; each Kajo can be viewed as an individual technical framework. For example, the technical framework of Ikkajo is controlling the shoulder through the elbow. In Ikkajo, one performs Shiho-nage or Kote-gaeshi by controlling the shoulder via the elbow. In contrast, the core technique of Nikajo is controlling the shoulder through the wrist. Therefore, performing Shiho-nage and Kote-gaeshi using the Nikajo framework means that "Ikkajo Kote-gaeshi" and "Nikajo Kote-gaeshi" are different techniques. The methods differ because the technical frameworks differ; it is absolutely not a case of "different initiation, same conclusion."

The techniques from Ikkajo to Jukkajo (10th Article) in Daito-ryu Aiki Jujutsu can be viewed as a knowledge base. Students first learn the techniques of each Kajo vertically, and while reviewing past techniques, they gain a horizontal understanding of the connections between different Kajo. The ultimate goal is to utilize this vast knowledge base to allow the body to execute techniques freely. Furthermore, within each Kajo, there are techniques explicitly named "Aiki." This means these techniques have a direct correlation to acquiring Aiki. Therefore, Daito-ryu Aiki Jujutsu indeed includes two technical systems: "Aiki" and "Jujutsu." However, once "Aiki" is acquired, it can be applied within "Jujutsu" to become "Aiki Jujutsu" (taking this a step further, Sagawa Sohan realized Ashi-Aiki [Foot Aiki], Aiki Kenpo, and Aiki Nito [Two-sword Aiki] based on this, demonstrating that Aiki is indeed a standalone skill that can be superimposed onto other techniques). Additionally, each Kajo contains a few exceptional techniques; for instance, Ikkajo includes a very small number of Nikajo moves, primarily intended to foreshadow future techniques for the disciples.

Incidentally, in Daito-ryu Aiki Jujutsu, the compilation of every technique is a study in how to use the body. Basically, there are no duplicate techniques, nor is there the fallacy that for every "Omote" (a technique unbalancing the opponent toward their front) there must be a corresponding "Ura" (a technique unbalancing the opponent toward their rear). The design of the techniques themselves is always purposeful.