One starts learning aikido techniques with a partner from the very beginning. This is a very good way to start because in this way human relationship becomes as important as the technique itself. Other martial arts start learning techniques disregarding the human relationship. When one only wants to practise techniques, one practises by oneself or with material. There was a great champion of Judo before the Second World War in Japan who practised Judo techniques against a tree. Many Chinese Kunfu masters practised their techniques against wooden doll or board. Another way of technical practise without human relationship is to practise a technique with a partner who does not react at all. This way one’s partner is acting like a material. In sports one often practises techniques against a partner who resists but then again there is almost no human relationship when one’s partner tries to resist all the time.

 

Practising techniques without human relationship might make oneself to behave like a weapon or a robot. Unconsciously one considers that one should use a technique to fight just like a man who uses a gun to fight or a government who uses the army or secret service to win a war. If one applies a material weapon on human life, this material weapon determines the destiny of human beings. This will lead to the destruction of humanity and human lives. The way of aikido practise maintains the humanity as basis of the world.

Kumiwaza, Tsuzukiwaza and Hitoriwaza

Kumiwaza

Most martial arts or sport starts by practise of techniques by oneself. If it is difficult to practise alone, one uses one’s partner like a doll. They sometimes uses a material like a punch ball or a dummy as their partner. So they treat their partner like a material and there is no human relationship between them. However, it is impossible to practise aikido techniques against any materials as a partner. Aikido starts from the beginning with a practise of a couple and so one faces the difficulty of human relationship immediately and learns how to deal with it. Aikido techniques are not made to apply against materials but are a part of human relationships in real life. This is called Kumiwaza. Kumi in Japanese means a couple and waza means techniques. So aikido training starts with Kumiwaza. It means a practise of two human beings with human relationships.

Hitoriwaza

In order to learn precise movements, it is convenient to practise the movements by oneself. This is called Hitoriwaza. Hitori means alone. Hitoriwaza can be used as a help to Kumiwaza. You can practise Hitoriwaza with a partner if your partner helps you. Practise of Hitoriwaza with a partner without human relationship is not Kumiwaza. Just like family life, there are many changes in human relationships and one must continue to live each situation. Kumiwaza is a practise of techniques in different situations of human relationship of a couple. When there is no real relationship, a technique becomes Hitoriwaza. It is like sitting alone time to time is helpful to your family life. There are aikido exercises and health exercises as predetermined sets of Hitoriwazas.

Tsuzukiwaza

After one has learned many Kumiwaza, one should learn how to perform different techniques one after another. This way of practise makes one understand the relationship and meaning of techniques. It is possible to create groups of techniques in order to practise this way. This is called Tsuzukiwaza. Tsuzuki means continuity and Waza means techniques. Techniques in one group should create a harmonious continuity. Some of them became a part of aikido practise since 1975  and now it is time to update them. First the name is updated to Tsuzukiwaza. They should be harmonious and easy to remember. I have already made 33 harmonious Tsuzukiwazas but it is always possible to develop more Tsuzukiwazas. It is also possible to modify each Tsuzukiwaza in order to make it more harmonious or easier to perform.

 After practise of Kumiwaza and Tsuzukiwaza with the help of Hitoriwaza, one can achieve a high technical standard of aikido. This is the standard of 3rd dan. Then all techniques become just one movement and one understands that all movements are connected with the whole universe. One can unify Kumiwaza and Tsuzukiwaza with one’s life. Then one can perform all movements alone in relationship with the universe. This again becomes Hitoriwaza. That is why there is Hitoriwaza in 4th dan examination.

 The order of performing Tsuzukiwaza can change as long as it is harmonious. It is same with aikido examination. There are several techniques that an examinee should perform continuously so it is like one Tsuzukiwaza. In that case the examiner can create a harmonious order so that the examinee can perform the techniques better. The order in the examination criteria is just one example. Each examiner is free to create an order that is harmonious and helpful for the examinee.

Tsuzukiwaza: Overview

1.	Katatedori Tenkan	11.	Katatedori and Katatekosadori	21.	Tantodori 1
2.	Katatedori Ryotemochi	12.	Katatedori Ryotemochi	22.	Tantodori 2
3.	Yokomenuchi	13.	Yokomenuchi	23.	Bokkendori
4.	Ryokatadori	14.	Ryokatadori	24.	Jodori
5.	Suwariwaza	15.	Zagi Handachi	25.	Jo 1
6.	Ushirodori	16.	Ushirodori	26.	Jo 2
7.	Tsuki and Keri	17.	Tsuki	27.	Jo and Bokken 1
8.	Ryotedori	18.	Ushiro Ryokatadori	28.	Jo and Bokken 2
9.	Shomenuchi	19.	Katadori Menuchi	29.	Bokken 1
10.	Taninzugake	20.	Jonage	30.	Bokken 2
				31.	Bokken Kumiwaza 1
				32.	Bokken Kumiwaza 2
				33.	Shinken

 

Tsuzukiwaza: A help to memorize

 

No. 1 means one hand attack, which is Katatedori.

No. 2 means two hands attack, which is Katatedori Ryotemochi.

No. 3 is a triangle, which is formed by the Yokomenuchi attack.

No. 4 makes a square, which is formed by Ryokatadori. In Ryokatadori Uke's two arms always go to Nage's two shoulders and so they always create a square.

No. 5 is a square plus one. The square is formed by the Seiza position by the two knees and two feet. Then one's head is up there. In Seiza one initially does not have the intention of doing something with the hands. If one wants to work, one stands up. When one sits down, one intends to use one’s head for eating, thinking, reading, writing, etc. That is why the Seiza position is a square plus one's head, which makes five.

No. 6 means two hands attack to two hands and legs. So Ushirodori. In Ushirodori Uke can attack Nage's neck, elbows, wrists, upper body, etc. with Uke's two arms. So Uke uses two arms and Nage uses two arms and two legs to perform techniques. Uke's attacking two hands and Nage's two hands and legs makes total six hands and legs.

No. 8 means two squares formed by four arms. So Ryotedori.

No. 3, 7 and 9 are uneven numbers. No. 5 is one unity and dedicated to the sitting position. So No. 3, 7 and 9 are hitting attacks. Shomenuchi is a more complicated attack than Munetsuki. So Munetsuki is No. 7 and Shomenuchi is No. 9.

No. 10 is the end of a set and so becomes the Many-men-attack.

No 11 to No 20 becomes the second set. The ways to attack run parallel to the attacks of No. 1 to No. 10. No. 20 Jonage is similar to No. 10 but one uses Jo instead of arms.

No 21 to No 33 are weapon techniques.

Tsuzukiwaza 1 - 33 Details

1. Katatedori Tenkan                                   (LLLRRRLRLRLR) 1. Kokyunage 2. Kirikaeshi 3. Zemponage 4. Kaitennage 5. Shihonage 6. Ikkyo 1.	11. Katatedori and Katatekosadori        (LLLRRRRRRLLL) 1. Katatedori Irimi 2. Katatedori Kokyunage 3. Katatedori Uchiwanage 4. Katate Kosadori Kokyunage 5. Katate Kosadori Makikaeshi 6. Katate Kosadori Kirikaeshi
2. Katatedori Ryotemochi    (LLLRRRLRLRLR) 1. Kokyunage 2. Kokyunage 3. Kokyunage 4. Zemponage 5. Nikyo 6. Koteoroshi 1	12. Katatedori Ryotemochi       (LLLRRRLRLRLR) 1. Irimi 2. Tenkan 3. Ikkyo 4. Nikyo 5. Zemponage 6. Zemponage
3. Yokomenuchi     (RRRLLLRLRLRL) 1. Sudori 2. Sudori 3. Kokyunage Irimi 4. Shihonage 5. Zemponage 6. Kokyunage 1	13. Yokomenuchi (RRRLLLRLRLRL) 1. Irimi 2. Jujinage 3. Atemi 4. Shihonage 5. Koteoroshi 6. Zemponage
4. Ryokatadori (LLLRRRLRLRLR) 1. Zemponage 2. Kirikaeshi 3. Sudori 4. Kokyunage 5. Nikyo 6. Zemponage 1	14. Ryokatadori (LLLRRRLRLRLR) 1. Ikkyo Irimi 2. Sankyo Tenkan 3. Kokyunage 4. Kokyunage 5. Kirikaeshi 6. Yonkyo Tenkan
5. Suwariwaza 1. Shomenuchi Ikkyo Irimi 2. Shomenuchi Ikkyo Tenkan 3. Katadori Menuchi Kokyunage 4. Shomenuchi Kokyunage 5. Tsuki Koteoroshi 6. Yokomenuchi Zemponage	15. Zagi Handachi 1. Katatedori Zemponage 2. Katatedori Kaitennage 3. Shomenuchi Kokyunage 4. Ushirodori Zemponage 5. Tsuki Koteoroshi 6. Yokomenuchi Zemponage
6. Ushirodori 1. Ushirotori Zemponage 2. Ushirotekubitori Kubishime Uragaeshi 3. Ushirotekubitori Kubishime Zemponage 4. Ushirotekubitori Koteoroshi Irimi 5. Ushirotekubitori Koteoroshi Tenkan 6. Ushirotekubitori Sankyonage 7. Ushirotekubitori Ikkyo	16. Ushirodori 1. Ushirotori Koteoroshi 2. Ushirotori Sankyo 3. Hagaijime Kokyunage 4. Ushirotekubitori Uragaeshi 5. Ushirotekubitori Zemponage 6. Ushirotekubitori Shihonage Irimi 7. Ushirotekubitori Shihonage Tenkan
7. Tsuki and Keri 1. Tsuki Kokyunage 2. Tsuki Ikkyo 3. Tsuki Zemponage 4. Keri Irimi 5. Mawashigeri 6. Tsuki Koteoroshi	17. Tsuki 1. Irimi 2. Yokomenuchi 3. Uchiwanage 4. Sudori 5. Shomenuchi 6. Koteoroshi Hantai Tenkan
8. Ryotedori (LLLRRRLRLRLR) 1. Tenchinage Irimi 2. Tenchinage Tenkan 3. Kokyunage 4. Kokyunage 5. Zemponage 6. Kirikaeshi	18. Ushiro Ryokatadori 1. Kokyunage 2. Kokyunage 3. Zemponage 4. Ikkyo 5. Koteoroshi 6. Sankyo
9. Shomenuchi (RRRLLLRLRLRL) 1. Ikkyo Irimi 2. Ikkyo Tenkan 3. Kokyunage 4. Shihonage 5. Zemponage 6. Kirikaeshi 7. Sankyo	19. Katadori Menuchi 1. Irimi 2. Tenkan 3. Kokyunage 4. Nikyo 5. Sankyonage 6. Zemponage
10. Taninzugake 1. Niningake Zemponage(once) 2. Niningake Kokyunage (once) 3. Niningake Seiretsu 4. Niningake Shihonage 5. Sanningake Kokyunage 6. Yoningake free	20. Jonage 1. Kokyunage 2. Zemponage 3. Zemponage 4. Shihonage 5. Nikyo 6. Koteoroshi 7. Kirikaeshi 8. 3 men attack
21. Tantodori 1 1. Ushiro Tsuki Koteoroshi 2. Ushiro Tsuki Ikkyo 3. Shomenuchi Koteoroshi 4. Shomenuchi Kokyunage 5. Tsuki Zemponage 6. Yokomenuchi Irimi 7. Yokomenuchi Gokyo	22. Tantodori 2 1. Ushiro Kubishime Sankyo 2. Yokomenuchi Shihonage 3. Tsuki Menuchi 4. Tsuki Menuchi 5. Tsuki Koteoroshi 6. Tsuki Ikkyo 7. Tsuki Kaitennage
23. Bokkendori 1. Shomenuchi Sudori and Kokyunage 2. Shomenuchi Koteoroshi and Irimidori 3. Yokomenuchi Irimi 4. Yokomenuchi Shihonage 5. Tsuki Koteoroshi 6. Tsuki Zemponage 7. Tsuki Nikyo	24. Jodori 1. Yokomenuchi Zemponage 2. Yokomenuchi Shihonage 3. Tsuki Kaeshi 4. Tsuki Zemponage 5. Tsuki Kirikaeshi 6. Douchi Kokyunage 7. Yokobarai Kokyunage
25. Jo 1 1. Tsuki 2. Tsuki 3. Yokomenuchi 4. Gyaku Yokomenuchi 5. Ushiro Kaho Tsuki 6. Tzuki 7. Yokomenuchi 8. Gyaku Yokomenuchi 9. Ushiro Kaho Uchi 10. Gyaku Tsuki 11. Gyaku Yokomenuchi 12. Tsuki 13. Shomenuchi - UshiroTsuki 14. Joho Uchi 15. Sakate Tsuki 16. Tsuki 17. Kaho Shomenuchi - Ushiro Tsuki and left knee down 18. Ashibarai 19. Kaho Sakate Tsuki 20. Tsuki and step back 21. Joho Uchi 22. Gyaku Tsuki	26. Jo 2 1. Tsuki 2. Tsuki 3. Yokomenuchi and step back 4. Uchi Oroshi 5. Gyaku Yokomenuchi 6. Tsuki and step back 7. Koho Yokomenuchi and step back 8. Uchi Oroshi 9. Gyaku Yokomenuchi 10. Tsuki and step back 11. Koho Yokomenuchi 12. Left Koho Tsuki 13. Right Koho Tsuki 14. Turn and Tsuki 15. Koho Yokomenuchi 16. Yokobarai in a circle 17. Joho Uchi 18. Gyaku Tsuki 19. Gyaku Yokomenuchi 20. Tsuki and step back 21. Joho Uchi 22. Gyaku Tsuki
27. Jo and Bokken 1 In relation to Jo n.1, Uke moves with Bokken as follows: 1. Uke steps back and then Shomenuchi keeping right hanmi 2. idem 3. Uke steps back into right hanmi 4. Uke steps back into left hanmi 5. Uke puts Bokken down 6. Uke does nothing 7. idem 8. Uke puts Bokken behind Nage’s back 9. Nage hits down Uke’s Bokken 10. Uke steps back into right hanmi 11. Uke steps back into right hanmi 12. Uke steps back into left hanmi 13. Uke Yokomenuchi 14. Uke Shomenuchi and steps back into right hanmi 15. Uke steps back into right hanmi 16. Uke steps back into left hanmi 17. Uke Yokomenuchi 18. Uke Shomenuchi and steps back into right hanmi 19. Uke steps back into right hanmi 20. Uke steps back into left hanmi 21. Uke Shomenuchi and steps back into right hanmi 22. Uke steps back into right hanmi	28. Jo and Bokken 2 In relation to Jo n.2, Uke move with Bokken as follows: 1. Uke steps back keeping right hanmi 2. idem 3. Uke steps back into left hanmi 4. Uke Shomenuchi and Nage hits down Uke’s Bokken 5. Uke steps back into left hanmi 6. Uke steps back into left hanmi 7. Uke puts Bokken down 8. Uke does nothing 9. idem 10. idem 11. Uke steps back into right hanmi 12. Uke does nothing 13. idem 14. idem 15. Uke steps back into right hanmi 16. Uke keeps distance 17. Uke Shomenuchi and steps back into right hanmi 18. Uke steps back into right hanmi 19. Uke steps back into left hanmi 20. Uke steps back into left hanmi 21. Uke Shomenuchi and steps back into right hanmi 22. Uke steps back into right hanmi
29. Bokken 1 1. Shomenuchi 2. Tzuki 3. Ushiro Shomenuchi 4. Tzuki 5. Hidari Shomenuchi 6. Tzuki 7. Ushiro Shomenuchi 8. Tzuki 9. Hidari Shomenuchi 10. Ushiro Shomenuchi 11. Hidari Shomenuchi 12. Ushiro Shomenuchi 13. Yokobarai with a complete circle	30. Bokken 2 1. Cut up 2. Gyaku Yokomenuchi 3. Yokomenuchi 4. Gyaku Yokomenuchi 5. Ushiro Shomenuchi 6. Tsuki 7. Ushiro Shomenuchi 8. Tsuki 9. Yokomenuchi Tobi Komi 10. Gyaku Yokomenuchi Tobi Komi 11. Gyaku Tsuki 12. Yokomenuchi 13. Yokobarai forward and step back
31. Bokken Kumiwaza 1 In relation of Bokken N. 2 Uke moves as follows: 1. Shomenuchi 2. Right step back 3. Left step back 4. Right step back 5. Uke puts down Bokken 6. Uke does nothing 7. Uke puts Bokken against Nage’s Bokken 8. Left step forward 9. Turn facing Nage 10. Right step forward and turn facing Nage 11. Right step back 12. Left step back and Jodan	32. Bokken Kumiwaza 2 1. Kote Uchi 2. Do Uchi 3. Gyaku Do Uchi 4. Tsuki 5. Shomenuchi 6. Yokomenuchi – Gyaku Yokomenuchi
33. Shinken 1. Shomenuchi from Chudan 2. Shomenuchi from Gedan- Ushiro Shomenuchi 3. Kesagake – Yokobarai 4. Gyaku Kesagake – Yokobarai 5. Kesagake – Yokobarai on knee 6. Gyaku Kesagake – Yokobarai on knee 7. Yokomenuchi – Gyaku Yokomenuchi