Training With Akagi Shunsuke Of Tandendo

Author: Bret Gordon

After speaking online for several years, last week I finally had the opportunity to meet and train with Akagi Shunsuke of Tandendo. Back in February of 2023, we did a virtual interview together where we briefly discussed our respective training methods and body mechanics used in our expression of aiki. 

Of course, a lot has changed in my personal level of refinement since this interview (and I assume the same for Akagi sensei), so I was definitely looking forward to meeting in person and sharing the mat.  We trained for about six hours a day, and covered a lot of material. 

When two martial artists get together there is always a short period of feeling each other out, even more so with internal practitioners. The first 10 minutes with Akagi sensei were no different, and we each had an interesting time feeling each other out. Much like two karateka who take turns throwing a reverse punch at each other and blocking, we took turns trying to find the weak points in each other's structure as well as using our own internal connection to shut it down. 

For those unfamiliar with Akagi sensei, he has studied Kendo for nearly 30 years but outside of some Aikido training, has no formal training in the internal martial arts. However, through his study of physics and biomechanics, he has been able to reverse-engineer aiki and actually develop a system for teaching it called Tandendo. As the name suggests, it largely focuses on how to engage the tanden and treat it like a crankshaft to affect an opponent's stability. 

When developing aiki and integrating your body into a single, cohesive unit, mental imagery is often used to help build neural pathways. The physics-based terminology Akagi sensei uses when sharing helps to engage those pathways, and while on a physical level we were doing very similar things, the way he explained it helped make some connections I felt I was lacking in my personal practice.

After we experienced how the other performs Aiki Age, the most fundamental of all aiki exercises, we explored other drills and worked through them together. It was good to work with another practitioner with a deep understanding of internal structure, as it forced me to remove the slack from my personal practice. Working with someone that knows how to receive, process, and return force is a lot different than working with those who don't. It requires a higher level of internal connection to be successful.

​Overall, training with Akagi sensei was a great experience. In addition to working on aiki, we trained kumitachi both without protective equipment using fukuro shinai, as well as in full bogu. The differences in our respective Kenjutsu and Kendo experiences were apparent in each situation. On the second night, Akagi sensei stayed to share with my students as well. 

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Since Akagi sensei left, I've posted several highlight clips, but I thought it only proper to offer a detailed account of our meeting. Below is a 30-minute highlight clip of our two days of training, including our many trials, failures, and successes. After all, that's shugyo, right?