Our study focusses on the pattern-practice ( kata ) of Araki-ryū’s close combat catalogue ( torite and kogusoku ), with additional emphasis on practical considerations, as most of Araki-ryū’s close quarters kata apply nearly “as is” to modern-day apprehension and ambush survival situations where edged weapons are involved. How they are trained is our primary concern. Our expression of Taikyoku’s innovative model allows us to explore new and divergent practice methods of these two aspects of the traditional curriculum. Close combat is violent, and involves intense interactions of physical force and opposing will. The modern tactical training term for this is force-on-force (FoF). Practice that does not include FoF has been decried as “empty forms” and mere choreography for hundreds of years. This does not mean simply turning patterns into “freestyle fighting” however. Engagements are constrained by the tactical cons...
Araki-ryu torite kogusoku