[Ian C Kuzushi]

Since coming to Japan 5 months ago, I have been kept quite busy, first with a language intensive program, and currently with my course work at Sophia University. In addition, for the first several months I seemed to be constantly fighting off various colds, flu, and other ailments (二日酔い？). That, coupled with my ongoing recovery from a bone graft stemming from a shiai injury left me hesitant to jump into a full time training regiment. Sure, I have been keeping up on my taijiquan in addtion to running and doing some basic auxiliary training, and also make it down to Izu twice a month to do jujutsu and judo, but really have not been at the level I am used to and crave.

So, it was with great pleasure that I finally made it out to one of my top priorety destinations here in Japan; The Aunkai of Sensei Akuzawa. I had been in touch online with one of his top guys, Rob John, and was happy to finally meet him as well. I signed up using the online form a couple nights prior to my intended visit, and was presently surprised a few minutes later by a phone call from Akuzawa himself. I asked if I could come and join their Sat class, to which he graciously invited me. We talked very briefly about what would be going on, my training history, and logistics. I lost what he was saying at the very end and asked him to repeat himself, and all of a sudden, he replied; "See you Saturday." --In perfect English!!! I found that to be quite funny for some reason.

Anyway, Rob had told me to just show up for the 7pm class since it was my first time, but Akuzawa Sensei had told me I could show up whenever I wanted but that I might as well just come at 6 for the "warm up." Well, I tried to get there around 6-6:30, but the transfers took way longer that I expected and so I got there just before 7pm. This was at their most common work out area from what I gathered. A nice quiet neighborhood North of Nakano on the Ikebukuro Seibu line. Small place, very easy to find.

When I got there, the class was still doing the warm up class which seemed to consist of focus mitt drills done either moving forward or backward in a low, stable stance, or else in Ma Bu. Everyone was working hard, breathing hard, and sweating profusely. I like it already!

When the warm up was done (actually I thought that was just another class but when I asked if I should warm up, I was informed that I had missed the warm up) I was invited to join. A big guy (and I mean big!) with a British sounding accent (I feel terrible, but I learned so many names that night, I fear I have forgotten most of them) was assigned to help me out and guide me along with the exercises.

We did the tanren stuff that can be seen online, which was quite demanding, and which, I am only slightly embarrassed to say, I could not do very well at all! Especially difficult was trying to keep my back straight and vertical while in a super low shoulder width mabu. But, I did my best, while watching Sensei move around the room and correct peoples' posture as one of his seniors guided the class through the exercises.

After doing these for a while, we then moved on to moving solo drills. Some were quite novel and I found myself holding up the line a bit trying to do the movements correctly (not an easy task on its own) while also trying to invision the upper body structure they had told me to concentrate on. After that we moved to some interesting two person, medium resistance structure training.

Then is was onto pad work. Basically practicing front, side, and spinning roundhouse kicks into a pad held by another student. I got to hold the pads for the big guy (I am 200lbs and this guy is way bigger than me!) and got sent scooting across the room every time he kicked me! Pretty fun. Basically, here I was told to stay low, think of my own structure, and think more of movement rather than doing "sport style" kicking. Then it was onto some leg kicks. At this point Akuzawa had made his way over to me and talked to me a bit about what I should be thinking about while doing the exercise.

We spent the last portion of the class doing tuishou in a manner that seemed quite similar (as far as rules but perhaps not in terms of goals) to the way I was taught in Taijiquan. We switched off and I got to go with about six or so people. I think they were very nice to me and perhaps were just checking me out. Some people were more frisky than others, and it was a blast.

Akuzawa came over and talked to me many times throughout the class. He also invited me to grab him and show him some of my stuff a couple times. I found him to be really open, very nice (not in a fake way at all), and welcoming. Also, as far as feeling him: awesome. Very different from what I have felt before. He is very flexible and can be fluid, but does not seem to have the sung qualities I have grown accustom to. More like iron. Watching him move is a great treat, and feeling him is even better! He let me push on him and swing him around by the arms a bit, and even invited me to fajin him! I think he was game for whatever. I didn't try any thing too frisky, but I didn't need to, as I was quite convinced already.

The body method of the Aunkai is very different from anything I have encountered. Certainly different from my lineage of Taijiquan. Also, I would say, very subtle. I did a drill with Rob John and I was very impressed.

Needless to say, I joined and payed my first months tuition. I felt very welcomed by everyone, and only regret that I will only be here for 7 more months. I hope, with dedicated practice, that I can scratch the surface of what they have there. Especially what Akuzawa has. Very impressive.

A special thanks to all those at the Aunkai

-Ian C

[Interloper]

Thanks for that review. You must have had a blast! I'm hoping to get to one of his US seminars myself, one of these days.
Even though you'll only get 8 months of regular class training, the solo stuff you'll learn in that amount of time (and the corrections you'll receive) should be enough to keep you busy long after you've left Japan. And since Akuzawa does seminars in the US and UK (and Rob John gets around too), you might be able to catch a couple of them a year and I bet he'll give you more corrections and things to work on.

[Aksijaha]

Sounds like some good times Ian.. MUSHA SHUGYO!!!!

[RickMatz]

がんばって！

[wolfram]

Very cool that you've got the chance to train with Akuzawa on a regular basis. He's a swell guy, very cool, and his material is pretty boss. His students are cool as well.

[Ian C Kuzushi]

Very sad to say this, but I have not been back. I am having some heart problems that are not yet resolved. I am greatly looking forward to returning though...