Robert Koga trained in a variety of martial arts including Aikido before developing the Koga System. This man is someone that many Aikido students probably have not heard of. As he was a trainer for the RCMP, I would hear his name when police officers would come to our practices. The primary training facility of the RCMP was in Regina, the capital of my home province. I only learned today that he died back in September 2013 at the age of 83.
I love some of the YouTube clips I've linked below. Koga was a student of Koichi Tohei, and a student of Judo and wrestling in his youth. He was one of the first Asian members of the LAPD, and he became a tactics trainer. Eventually, he opened up his own Koga Institute for law enforcement training. This man was a very proficient martial artist who was dedicated to keeping police officers effective and safe at their jobs.
Law enforcement needs an art that advocates a graded response and a sizable arsenal of nonlethal techniques. This means that techniques that are included in Aikikai for historical or spiritual reasons are not included. Postures are updated to reflect different clothing, like boots instead of bare feet. No training in techniques that don't allow for modern weaponry. As a police officer himself, Koga was able to take Aikido movements and reinterpret them to work with law enforcement modernizations, like handcuffs, Billy club and teamwork. Handgun retention and disarms that O Sensei taught, but that seemed to have disappeared from Aikido training post-war, remained prominent.
For professionals, an expected level of proficiency needs to be achievable in a set period of time. Fewer techniques to learn, each performed with a higher degree of accuracy. Less creativity, less variation, more awareness, clearer principles, clearer training methods and goals. A clear pass/fail standard for instructors and students.
Koga was born and raised in the USA - his system does not use samurai dress or Shinto ritual. Students aren't bowing or wearing dogi in these clips. While many Westerners have become highly proficient in Aikido, Koga is arguably the earliest and most successful American Aikido innovator.
It is now common for a more mainstream Aikido dojo to be disparaging of someone who is interested in dominating a fight. We can say, " Aikido is not about victory or defeat," but of course we expect the cops not to lose when we call them for help. Success matters. Training for years before we can actually respond effectively in a real situation? This is fine for recreation, but absolutely not how we want law enforcement trained. Koga's system is a very concrete interpretation of O Sensei's vision of protection for the world in it's best state. Koga Sensei wanted officers to go home at the end of the day, and he wanted police officers to be capable of protecting the public without collapsing into brutality.
I like how Koga Sensei talks about how to perceive self defense - the defense does not start with violence, but the situation is evaluated and effort is made to contain the situation from the beginning. He asks that students be more than merely reactive, but instead very actively controlling. Koga's system is about control, and for him, controlling a situation started with self control.
I just got a kick out of the clips, and how really there is very little different from our core techniques. Enjoy. It's part of the heritage of our shared Art.
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