How to Keep Up in the Dojo as You Get Older

Following Weight Shifting and Footwork, this second installment continues to explore the source of HINO Akira-shihan’s remarkable ability to move beyond the limits of age and physical condition.

How does HINO Akira-shihan keep up with younger practitioners in his seventies?
With a background in gymnastics and selection into Japan’s Olympic development program, HINO Akira-shihan has spent decades investigating what allows movement to remain functional over time.
In this work, we focus on the core of HINO Akira-shihan’s unique approach: the integration of the sternum and the elbows.
Rather than relying on loosely defined ideas such as “body axis” or “tanden,” these principles emerged from decades of teaching, practice, and direct experience.
English Translation by Erika Saito Hurst

Contents:
The Sternum
Sternum and Elbow Integration
Sternum Movement 1: Forward and Back
Sternum Movement 2: Up and Down
Sternum Movement 3: Twisting
Points of Contact with the Partner
Sanchin and Sternum–Elbow Integration
Sternum and the Setup

Instruction and Supervision: HINO Akira
Born in 1948. In the 1990s, Hino-shihan established the HINO Budo Institute to explore the essential principles of martial arts and training.
Since 2005, he has worked with world-renowned choreographer William Forsythe, extending his instruction to dancers. He now teaches martial arts workshops across Japan and internationally, based in France.
He also leads Meikyo-juku, a program for medical professionals. Hino-shihan has published numerous books and DVDs and appeared on various television programs.

English Translation by Erika Saito Hurst