The Art of Powerless Self-Defense DVD by Shosui Iwaki

No strength required!
The ultimate in protection and body mechanics, demonstrated by a 90-year-old master who has pursued the principle of “hard strength, soft weakness.”

This work showcases Shosui Iwaki (age 90), head of Taikyoku Shosui-ryu, presenting a complete system of self-defense and pain-compliance techniques that require no physical strength—methods that exist before conventional martial arts. Having pursued the concept of “hard strength, soft weakness,” the master explains techniques rooted in the natural structure of the human body: from targeting pressure points and meridians such as Neiguan and Tesanri, to attacking the nerves between bones and muscles, to his unique methods of gripping the skin.

He also incorporates martial concepts such as hidden bone methods and “kasumi,” offering practical teachings designed to instantly neutralize and unbalance an opponent—regardless of physical conditioning. This is a highly condensed presentation of effective, real-world application.

CONTENTS

● Pain Techniques – Strike before being struck

• Press wrist pressure points (Neiguan)
• Strike side-body points
• Press above the hip bone
• Kasumi / scrape the shin
• Attack Tesanri pressure point
• Control via Ximen point
• Groin attack by simply lifting the leg
• Attack between bone and muscle
• Inescapable gripping methods

● Countering & Breaking with Bone Methods

• Control and throws (front and reverse)
• Attack the “mountain range” (fist structure)
• Hon-gyaku / Gyaku
• Differences between hon-gyaku and gyaku
• Finger bone methods
• Hooking hand techniques

● Using Meridians

• Using meridian flow to immobilize
• Disrupting movement and balance
• Meridians and muscle channels (front and back)

● Reversing Techniques

• Counter to Aiki-age
• Counter to kote-gaeshi
• Breaking balance the instant you enter

● Taikyoku Shosui-ryu Training

• Continuing “form imitation” – what to practice
• Shosui hand methods
• Returning the opponent’s force to the ground
• Using the opponent’s movement
• Why training is done within a circle
• Training to “lose to the air”
• Throwing without strength
• Softness creating reactive force

● Paralysis & Explosive Power

• “Kanashibari” (immobilization)
• Breaking posture and stopping movement
• Throwing through immobilization
• Fa-jin (explosive release of power)

● Softness-Based Counters

• What is “yawara”
• Why karate and striking arts were abandoned
• Pursuing Laozi’s “hard strength, soft weakness”
• Techniques that return force to the ground rather than meeting it
• “Chihiro” – drawing circular motion

About the Instructor

Shosui Iwaki
Born in 1936 in Toyama Prefecture. Began Shito-ryu karate at age 18. At 30, encountered Tenshin Koryu Kenpo and studied under its 11th-generation head. Later studied martial theory under historian Teiichi Shimada, arresting techniques under Masami Onoe, and movement/handling under Yoshio Kunimatsu.

In July 1989, he received full transmission (inka) of Tenshin-ryu Kenpo from the late Yoshiaki Ueno, 9th-generation head of Shinto Tenshin-ryu Kenpo.

After years of training focused on striking and lethal techniques, he began to question his path and turned toward eliminating strength entirely—pursuing the concept of yawara (softness). He currently teaches as the headmaster of Taikyoku Shosui-ryu.