Yoshinkan Aikido Senshusei Training Program

The ultimate budo bootcamp. While most bootcamps only go on for 10 weeks this is 11 months of hell in order to earn a blackbelt in Yoshinkan Aikido.

[@evol1349]

Lets not forget a blackbelt is that.a black belt..grats.you just passed highschool.Now the training begins.Good job and good luck to all in the video.Have a long and fruitfull journey.

[@sam9227]

this course is about you controlling your body not your body controlling when you stop i.e your pain . i have found that yoshinkan aikido, yet a 'hard' style, is about spirit. If your arm gets broken get up and carry on this is what this course is about.

[@theElrin]

Remember that this course was DESIGNED with the Tokyo Riot police in mind. So the "Discipline' factor was to coincide with the training already established by the police force.

[@fightjapanrc]

It is an international program so clearly people outside Asia come. I doubt the dojo is selecting against Japanese. Part of the bias is mine. I interviewed mainly foriegners. The show was about foriegners going into hardcore Budo situation.

[@drutgat2]

To add to the description, you not only earn the black belt in 11 months in the Yoshinkan Senshuei Aikido course, but you earn a teaching certificate. There is a parallel (non-senshuei) Yoshinkan Aikido course there which is shorter than the Senshuei course, and in which both Senshuei and 'ordinary' (non-Senshuei) trainees train together at various points, and you also earn a black belt in Aikido in that course, but not the teaching certificate. Robert Twigger's book, 'Angry White Pyjamas' is an absorbing account of the Yoshinkan Senshuei course.

[@santannakarate]

very good...this is Budo, Real Budo.

[@fightjapanrc]

It is the same dojo but not the same program. The senshusei program is more intense. They do it seven hours per day. The police course is not so many hours and I believe yes they need a black belt in something else to qualify. The two groups train together sometimes.

[@halcali1973]

Senshusei is a very exacting and intense 11 months, it isn't brainwashing but attempting to cram a huge amount of information into exhausted minds in a short space of time. Loved the 'motivational' speech!

[@Lemurai]

I know how bad they fell spent a year and a half at a muay thai camp way in the boondocks. Makes me feel like crying when I think back

[@BunbuDojo]

@utubesqueeze The English ones are not so interesting - there is a really big club in Nottingham which has two full time dojos and Robert Mustard visits. I imagine they promote the Japanese course.

[@AikiGamerTv]

Agree it's all about the self victory, thats the real Budo

[@lagook]

the ring is another path of self discovery shows what your are capable of under pressure people who reduce people who compete? i love competition so.... i personaly think all martial artists should compete in full contact

[@gingercore69]

I dont know if full contact... But any type of fighting competition is better than none at all...

[@MrPinoy91]

people think Aikido is easy... this is very good trainning. compared to studios I've seen in america.

[@rice6682]

2 of my friends attended senshusei course in hombu dojo, both are shihans now. One of the 1 is in his way to his go dan. The other is san dan.

[@sam9227]

oh and as another point if you want to know more i suggest this book ... Angry White Pyjamas by Robert Twigger it is an account of the life of Robert Twigger a foreigner doing the Senshusei course i found it insightful

[@fightjapanrc]

@Godsmasher22 Yeah, she is quite tough.

[@fightjapanrc]

If they are enjoying what they are doing and feel they are getting something out of it why would you bother to make these negative comments. This mythical "streetfight" scenario is truly strange since 99% of martial artist probably never use their training in the "street". Real street fightersgenerally have no martial arts training, and if they do, its normally boxing. Kyokushin would be particularly problematic because of its lack of punching head attacks or defense against a head attack.

[@asuraizen]

Each and every martial art is incomplete. If you adopt a single style, you are an incomplete fighter. If someone in aikido is more experienced than someone in jiu jitsu/karate/judo or vice versa then the more experienced one will win. Now if we compare skill of a style with both opponents at same experience level. Both opponents will score strikes where the other martial art is weak. That is what i learn't from my sensei who is primarily a karateka.

[@iBlobs23]

I wish I could go to japan for some training with the masters:(

[@fightjapanrc]

Which rite of passage or super intense experience isn't "brainwashing"? We could all use slightly cleaner brains!

[@thuglincoln7699]

How are they supposed to hold down a job, when they're in the dojo from 7 am until 5pm? Also that "uhhh, ahhh, emmm" sensei, I'd lose my shit hearing that all day every day.

[@fightjapanrc]

You can. All the senshusei work part-time jobs and make it happen.

[@fightjapanrc]

1- Do you what "rite of passage" means? 2- Do you know anything about Yoshinkan Aikido? I have my doubts on either account. BTW Marine Corp bootcamp is also a rite of passage.

[@FlamingEmberSeal]

@8stepsifu Aikido can only be practiced with a certain amount of force. After that injuries occur its is designed to break limbs. How realistic would you want it to be. All your Aikidoka would be in hospital. I see the same comments over and over again. What is your idea of a realistic attack?. Just because you dont see them throwing punches doesn't mean to say they cant defend from it.

[@fightjapanrc]

Do you know anything about the history of Moriei and Aikido? It is kind of funny you mention the word "cult". It is strangely appropriate. Rite of Passage is any life experience desinged to change you profoundly. Hard high school, bootcamp, intense survival training, and the senshusei program all qualify as "rites of passage". End of story?? I don't know.

[@Igaluit]

Original samurai training, while rigorous and difficult, did not have this boot camp atmosphere.

[@aricurry3149]

You are a samurai?

[@ryanbarclay7939]

No, this was geared towards the Tokyo Riot Police, kind of an extension of that training

[@fightjapanrc]

Senshusei mainly teach English. I know some Cuban guys who teach Spanish, work as waiters, and teach salsa. There is some demand for Spanish teachers but not all that much. You can live in Japan for about $14000 per month. It won't be pretty but it is doable. You should try to contact some Isreali senshusei they had to find work that did not involve teaching English. They no better.

[@rawmark]

If Japan would resolve their nuclear meltdown I would fly over in a heartbeat to learn Yoshinkan Aikido with my boys. However, no way I would get that close to Japan. The damage done to our Oceans will probably take hundreds of years to repair and gosh only knows what our future children will look like. With that said, I do believe Yoshinkan is the best of the best that Aikido offers for self defense.

[@thuglincoln7699]

Ok so what was your excuse before that happened, and what will the next one be?

[@MarioUcomics]

4:05 didn't know they said Osu in Aikido

[@brooklynmonk1]

@Godsmasher22 Robert, are any of the people featured in this video also featured in the book Angry White Pajamas?

[@williamsmith8790]

brooklynmonk1 one of the best martial arts travelogue’s I’ve read. The Swordmasters Apprentice is good if you liked Pajamas.

[@aricurry3149]

I doubt it. Different time lines. The venerable sensei (RIP) in the office at 4.49 may have been mentioned in Angry WP.

[@Mistabutts]

@seamic It really pissed me off too. Perhaps it is mental training haha

[@davem732006]

lol.. Some of these comments!

[@theomen49]

Out of curiosity, what about Judo?

[@drutgat2]

Great point. I found it a little strange that Robert Twigger, in his book about him taking the 11 month Yoshinkan Senshuei Aikido course, 'Angry White Pyjamas', noted that various people had dismissed judo. I may be biased because I do judo, but even a black belt Aikido teacher (who also has a black belt in Judo) told me that Aikido is pretty useless for self-defence, because, as I had surmised, it relies on cooperation for the moves to work. I am not saying those moves cannot be adapted (that is true for any of these arts), and I am not a fan of sport judo, even though that can be used very effectively for self-defence. The one thing Aikido teaches which is invaluable is how to fall without getting hurt.

[@fightjapanrc]

Can you follow my logic or are you going to have to resort to more personal attacks? I can try to explain once again if you are still puzzled.

[@Mistabutts]

@emerin76 I trained with Kancho Hirokazu Kanazawa in Karate a few months back and he said the same thing :)

[@risingsunintl]

looks like a bunch of 'angry white pyjamas'...indeed brainwashing but good for the spirit, be strong or go home! Just take the experience for what it is and then the next step. Yoshinkan is 'old school' hardcore budo...

[@ilikezappa]

It all seems a little humourless and over- regimented. Some people are looking for that kind of environment I guess. My Aikido sensei Was in his sixties and used to start the lesson with a cup of tea and a roll up.

[@californiacombativesclub202]

ilikezappa my thoughts exactly

[@aricurry3149]

There are different flavours of aikido. (But if you enjoy looking at someone drinking tea ... each to their own.)

[@ilikezappa]

Ari Curry oh but we had to try and take the cigarette from his mouth and he would effortlessly smash our heads in.

[@aricurry3149]

@@ilikezappa How unfortunate for me that I missed out on a sensei who drinks tea, then smokes, then proceeds to smash deshi's heads in. I must have missed out big time over my 52 years in martial arts - including 19 years in aikido.

[@aricurry3149]

@@ilikezappa And 4 different flavours of aikido.

[@fightjapanrc]

I kind of doubt hardcore martial arts training is meant to be "enjoyable". I am not sure any super intense physical training of any kind, be it aikido, boxing, marathon running, or anything is supposed to be enjoyable. They are rites of passage and by their very nature are supposed to break you down.

[@M1984FA]

Yoshinkan is great for those who wished to join the armee but never did... they get to enjoy bootcamp. Other than that, I fail to see any merit in it.

[@kenepee2153]

The similarity with joining any army is that it forges people's mentality in dealing with lide while maintaining honour & integrity. Those are virtues that has been eroded in this modern world.

[@aricurry3149]

Their time training on the mat is about the same as for someone training 2-3 times per week over 6-8 years. By my calculations.

[@aricurry3149]

You can tell if someone is a graduate of the Senshusei program (which I am not) - they are really sharp, and tough as nails.

[@fightjapanrc]

Clearly no reasonable person could take offense at your comments.

[@wantonmee23]

so if i'm a shodan will i be eligible for the program?

[@aricurry3149]

Yes, But all wear white belts in Senshusei. Same for any Yoshinkai who may already have a black belt.

[@qix1t]

this isnt the same one as the tokyo riot police course is it. I thought tokyo riot police you needed to have a black belt to begin the thing?

[@aricurry3149]

I understand they need to have a BB in some MA. I also understand that if they do not achieve BB in Yoshinkan, their career as a Riot Police is over. (I stand corrected if someone knows more)

[@AdamRoss1975]

Curious why I am not seeing any Japanese participants in this program. Seems a bit weird that only non Japanese are participating.

[@aricurry3149]

There are (at least) 2 Japanese in this vid: at 1.08 and 5.47 both at LHS.

[@aricurry3149]

This vid is about international participants including Japanese.

[@aricurry3149]

A parallel stream (for want of a better description), is for the Tokyo Riot Police. As noted earlier by the presenter, the Internationals and the cops do train together - I understand there is often friendly rivalry between the 2 groups.

[@fightjapanrc]

fyi, no it is not.

[@fightjapanrc]

I am curious. How is this comment meant not to be offensive to Isrealis? Why even bother to preface it with "No offense to Isrealis"? It seems your comment would be more useful if you gave constructive suggestion on how to earn $1500 (not $1400 ) a month without teaching English.

[@trickboy1]

FYI, it's "kenshusei."

[@aricurry3149]

It is Senshusei. (Kenshusei is a different animal.)

[@fightjapanrc]

You are either a genius or a complete moron because you insults are more confusing than offensive. You seem be making some point it just completely eludes me what it could be.

[@ygius]

yeah, a bit brainwashing

[@fightjapanrc]

This is degenerating quickly!!! Are you suggesting Isreali senshusei made their income selling ecstasty? If so you are being rude. If not, then you are simply making disparaging comments about Isrealis that have no bearing on the converstation. I suggested the Mexican gentlemen contact Isreali senshusei to find a means to take the course without teaching English. Your comment are either rude or rude and irrelevant.

[@Kluncan]

Eeeerrrrmmmm... this just seems, eerrrrmmmm... too much like, errrrmmmm... a cult to me. Eeeerrrrmmmm... A little bit brain washing to be honest.