198x - Renshu - Turtle - Taika Seiyu Oyata

Turtle is a fluidity exercise with major practical applications. Taika felt this was very important in training and it was a piece of what later came to be known as Spider Web taught by one of his instructors, Wakinaguri Tan Mei as well as discussed in one of the scrolls left to him by this instructor.

This version is just an introduction to the tool. The Turtle Drill should be done with both hands open, both hands closed, one open-one closed and various combinations. It is also done in various directions. Initial teachings had it just straight ahead or at a 45. Later you alternated 45's, then 4 directions, then 8, then turning 180, et cetera.

The drill should eventually be fluid with no stops or breaks, and done to a timer rather than a count.

This is being posted as there were some inquiries due to a recent post by one of Taika's practitioners showing a very fluid example and a practical application, followed by a debate as to its origin by people who were never Taika's students.