Ok, I just had my very first Aikido lesson yesterday, and the minute we wrapped for the hour I felt crazy soreness in my thighs. I could barely make the walk back to my dorm (wincing the whole way, nearly collapsing a few times cuz I couldn%26#039;t hold myself up properly), and it hasn%26#039;t gotten any better today. I%26#039;ve been limping about all day, and I%26#039;m in severe pain going up AND down stairs, and when I%26#039;m kneeling down. I%26#039;m just hoping this kind of pain is normal for first time, out of shape Aikido beginners, and whether or not it%26#039;s going to hurt less once I%26#039;ve been training for a while? Did I overdo it in my first lesson or something?
I mean, I%26#039;m worried because my next class is only tomorrow night (two nights a week) and I don%26#039;t think that%26#039;%26#039;ll leave enough time to rest my legs and get them back to normal. I probably won%26#039;t even last through the lesson :(... *gulp*|||Get ready for an essay! LOL
First off - ask yourself this: is the pain from just working muscle groups you don%26#039;t normally work or is it from an injury?
Second - Yes, this is very normal. Everyone I%26#039;ve ever seen start class (be it Aikido or when I was a kid, Karate) was sore the next day. Its just like any other activity... If you are not used to the work out, your body takes a while to adjust.
Third - pain is not your enemy - its a learning tool to help you understand your body%26#039;s limitations. You have to accept a bit of pain before you get to know the line between being ok and being injured and its good to know where that line is. That%26#039;s one of the points of training.
You have to be willing to give a little pain to learn what that line in another person feels like to you as the person performing a technique.
Where is that line between compassionate control and needless malice? Its the line between injured and not injured - its not the line between pain and no pain.
Fourth - Dealing with pain - whether its from injury, a paper cut or anything else. As a kid, I was sparing with another student my age in karate, we both went for a punch and our fist collided. We both broke fingers and were in huge pain at the time. Sensei walked over to us and leaned over our agonized 14 year old bodies and said %26quot;Pain is nothing more than intense pleasure.%26quot; He then smiled and walked away.
We both just kind of sat up and looked at each other. The statement Sensei had made was so baffling at the time to me that my mind stopped listening to my body and just tried to analize what he had said. All of a sudden, I had forgotten about the pain I was feeling because I was concentrating on something else rather than letting the pain dominate my mind.
We both finished class - I guess neither of us wanted to quit for whatever reason. Then our dads took us to the clinic and we got splints. Call it mind over matter, call it masochism, call it stupidity still, it was a powerful lesson.
My current Sensei said the other day that to really learn Aikido, you have to at some point become a bit obsessed with it.
There is the power of the mind for you. If you stop because of injury, that is smart, but if you stop because of pain, you are never going to learn to differentiate between the pain from soreness and pain from injury.
I%26#039;ve never forgotten these kinds of comments I%26#039;ve heard through the years and I think my ability to judge between pain and actually injury has gotten better because of it. The mind is the big part of pain really. Its not that it isn%26#039;t there, but if you allow your body to dictate how your mind deals with pain, you will not be able to deal with pain. Yes, its unpleasant, but I%26#039;d rather deal with the worst physical pain than a minor emotional pain any day of the week. Besides, the more you train, the less minor pains will bother you. Injuries, sure, but pain, no.
Fifth - Ukemi - the art of %26#039;taking the fall%26#039; so to speak. Underrated in importance quite often from what I see written on the internet.
When you are training, your job as Uke is to take the fall, but that doesn%26#039;t mean to just give it to your partner. Sensei CONSTANTLY talks about the art or Ukemi being the other half of Aikido. Ukemi is about moving to a safe place, protecting yourself and admitting that your own safety is more important than trying to %26#039;win%26#039;. In fact, if you walk away unharmed, you won as self defense is SELF defense which doesn%26#039;t necessarily require destroying the attacker.
Let me ask you this - if you were in a fight and had to choose between getting a punch in there while breaking your arm, what would you choose? If you would break YOUR OWN arm by making a stupid move, you are in for lots of injuries. If on the other hand, you hold the punch to save yourself, you will avoid being injured.... AND in a position to reverse the situation.
I would say that as a beginner (at least this is how it was for me for a while) Its all about taking it easy because the techniques are difficult and the Ukemi more so - push yourself to the point of pain so you can learn, but not so far that you get injured. Its a fine line, but that%26#039;s the point of training, to get better and better at that balancing act. Learn the mechanics, think about foot placement. Think about the step one, step two, step three aspect. Your body hasn%26#039;t integrated the techniques much yet so let it do so!
Your senior students should be aware of this and adjust far more to protect you. If they are not taking inexperience into account, sooner or later, you will get injured - don%26#039;t train with those people.
Bottom line - don%26#039;t look for the throw or look for the fall - let it happen naturally. Its just going to take a while for your body and brain to learn how to handle that so just ease up and give it time.
On the other hand.............
If its just general soreness, don%26#039;t worry about it. My first class put me in the same boat. Now I can honestly say that I haven%26#039;t been sore from physical activity for years. My body is just used to it now I guess - just as your will be.
It didn%26#039;t take long either - at the beginning, I trained about twice a week - after a month, I wasn%26#039;t sore anymore. Now I train around 4 to 8 times a week depending on my schedule and still no soreness. Results may vary, but stick with it and you will get there.
Don%26#039;t let the inner ghosts (your worries apprehensions and such stop you - that is what loosing is because true victory is victory over yourself - THAT is the real lesson that will serve you in all aspects of your life)
The %26#039;Way%26#039; IS the goal. The path IS the destination, and the only way to fail to follow the %26#039;Way%26#039; is to stop training. Its not about rank or skill its about tenacity and determination - the inner ghosts (like pain for one or the %26quot;what%26#039;s the point, I suck at this and am never going to be Bruce Lee%26quot; kinds of thinking - the %26quot;Am I going to make it through the next lesson? the %26quot;I haven%26#039;t given my legs enough rest.%26quot; - the %26#039;:(... *gulp*) are the real enemy and they never give up. Defeat them and you have passed the truly important tests of character and spirit. They will be back, but you have defeated them once, you can defeat them again.
Welcome to a different way of thinking - I hope it helps you to know you aren%26#039;t alone.|||Glad to help and good luck with your training - it only gets more and more fun! Report Abuse
|||I never got to write a comment on this one, but I think you did a very good job Justin explaining this to her. A+ in my book for an answer, ive been a Sensei 28 years now and that was a great answer. Report Abuse
|||it%26#039;s very possible that you%26#039;re just sore because you%26#039;re not used to the type of physicality that%26#039;s involved in Aikido or Martial Arts in general.
Once your legs feel better, try stretching befor you go to class, or just before class starts.
after about a week or two, you should adjust pretty well to the discipline.
you%26#039;ll be alright it just takes getting used to, especially if you%26#039;ve never had any prior Martial Arts experience, but the stretching should help you a little more.|||You may have overdone it the first time..You%26#039;ll need to warm up properly and maybe walk/Jog/Swim to get into condition,cos You%26#039;ll need it for any martial arts training...|||Don%26#039;t worry. I%26#039;m a first dan in taekwondo (first degree black), but I remember my very first martial art class. I had pretty much the same experience you did. I gets better though. Just drink plenty of water to flush out your muscles. Your muscles just aren%26#039;t used to martial arts yet. After awhile, about 2 months, the hurting will stop. Make sure to stretch and warm up well and get plenty of sleep. Before going to your next lesson, I suggest stretching alot before you even go, then tell your instructor about your concerns.
:-)|||You%26#039;re using muscles you haven%26#039;t really used before, and you%26#039;re going to be sore until you get them into shape. Same thing happened to me in aikido, but it gets better over time.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Is Aikido a good martial art?
I was thingking about taking aikido... that or taekwondo...
what do u think?|||Depends on what you personally feel comfortable using and can adapt to,but my choice would be aikido as it is similar to my base style Jiu-jitsu but with more emphasis on evasion ,locks and throws.
Just my humble opinion best wishes :)***|||it%26#039;s a great martial art if you have the patience to master it.
aikido is very technical, which makes that it will usually take you 6-8 years before you really master the basics of the art to a level that%26#039;s fairly practical. aikido is all about evasion and using the opponent%26#039;s initiative. the techniques taught in aikido are usually very hard to really master practically, but if you master them they can cause serious damage. but the philosophy of aikido is peace.|||the better question to ask is:
%26quot;Is Aikido the right art for me?%26quot;
You can go around in circles alll day contemplating if a given style is the right one for you BUT the only way to know is to check out local dojos and give them a try.
The only way to know is to DO. The only way to DO is to actually watch a class then give it a try for a month or so.
Beware schools that don%26#039;t cator to that idea. Relish schools that do regardless if you end up as a student or not.
The style isn%26#039;t important... the school isn%26#039;t directly important (its justs a lens)... The student IS important.
The lesson is where the value is at - the environment is just that - the environment in which the lesson is taught.
Learn nuclear physics in a bathroom or learn high fashion in a highrise penthouse.. what%26#039;s really more useful and valuable?
Your answer to that question, Stephen Hawkings or paris hilton, respectively, speaks volumes.
Martial ARTs (ie - jutsu, method, practice, art) is paris hilton.
Martial WAY (ie - do, way, practice, mind-set) is Stephen Hawkings.
paris hilton is the superfluous
Stephan Hawkings is real understanding|||Aikido is a very good martial art, but the ability to unlock the secrets of Aikido lie with the teacher and the student. As much of Aikido is based on Chin Na, I have not seen many aikido places so if you find one with a good schedule, great.
TKD places I am more wary of, too many are strip mall belt factories. Near my home we have the oldest TKD schools in the USA, they turn out a good product.
This all depends on your goals, what do you want from a martial art ?|||I suggest you try them both out. I dabbled in Aikido when I was a fair bit younger and found it too passive for what I wanted from an art (So I went to Muay Thai) . As I%26#039;ve gotten older I realise it is a very effective style f you have the time and dedication to learn it. This is not an art you will pick up and become a %26quot;weapon%26quot; with quickly. It%26#039;s more of a journey.
TKD - As someone else pointed out, check into the schools as unfortunately a lot of the substance has been replaced by %26quot;pumping students out%26quot;. (I received a flyer in the mail just recently for a new school near me which %26quot;promises%26quot; you will be a black belt within a year!)
Good luck with finding the style for you.|||depends on who%26#039;s expression of it your studying... but its sposed to take 10 years to %26quot;master%26quot; the basics... and i think good teachers of it are few.. i do an aikido type art and can talk for days bout it but its best for you to go expierence it and decide for your self you may think its sh!t... or you may think its the sh!t|||it is and to is tkd. it is not the system that makes the fighter but rather the fighter that makes the system. ask yourself what do you hope to gain from studying a martial art and then make your decision. tkd can be used in competition. as far as I know there are no competitions for akido. I%26#039;m pretty sure its just learned for self-defense|||I really don%26#039;t think you%26#039;d like it, it is useful, but takes many yrs. to use, where as most karate systems have techniques that can be used right away. Now any martial art at it%26#039;s highest levels can be unbelieveable, but my point is you need have have something that can use early in the game, I%26#039;d like to be able to defend myself within my own lifetime. BOTTOM LINE, find some form of karate.|||The best way to decide which martial art to take up is to go visit a dojo. Many dojos will even let you try a few classes before making a decision. Both Aikido and TKD are fine styles. Go and see which is the best for you. Good luck.|||aikido would be great for you .........it emphasizes evasion and circular/spiral redirection of an attacker%26#039;s aggressive force into throws, pins, and immobilizations as a primary strategy rather than punches and kicks
what do u think?|||Depends on what you personally feel comfortable using and can adapt to,but my choice would be aikido as it is similar to my base style Jiu-jitsu but with more emphasis on evasion ,locks and throws.
Just my humble opinion best wishes :)***|||it%26#039;s a great martial art if you have the patience to master it.
aikido is very technical, which makes that it will usually take you 6-8 years before you really master the basics of the art to a level that%26#039;s fairly practical. aikido is all about evasion and using the opponent%26#039;s initiative. the techniques taught in aikido are usually very hard to really master practically, but if you master them they can cause serious damage. but the philosophy of aikido is peace.|||the better question to ask is:
%26quot;Is Aikido the right art for me?%26quot;
You can go around in circles alll day contemplating if a given style is the right one for you BUT the only way to know is to check out local dojos and give them a try.
The only way to know is to DO. The only way to DO is to actually watch a class then give it a try for a month or so.
Beware schools that don%26#039;t cator to that idea. Relish schools that do regardless if you end up as a student or not.
The style isn%26#039;t important... the school isn%26#039;t directly important (its justs a lens)... The student IS important.
The lesson is where the value is at - the environment is just that - the environment in which the lesson is taught.
Learn nuclear physics in a bathroom or learn high fashion in a highrise penthouse.. what%26#039;s really more useful and valuable?
Your answer to that question, Stephen Hawkings or paris hilton, respectively, speaks volumes.
Martial ARTs (ie - jutsu, method, practice, art) is paris hilton.
Martial WAY (ie - do, way, practice, mind-set) is Stephen Hawkings.
paris hilton is the superfluous
Stephan Hawkings is real understanding|||Aikido is a very good martial art, but the ability to unlock the secrets of Aikido lie with the teacher and the student. As much of Aikido is based on Chin Na, I have not seen many aikido places so if you find one with a good schedule, great.
TKD places I am more wary of, too many are strip mall belt factories. Near my home we have the oldest TKD schools in the USA, they turn out a good product.
This all depends on your goals, what do you want from a martial art ?|||I suggest you try them both out. I dabbled in Aikido when I was a fair bit younger and found it too passive for what I wanted from an art (So I went to Muay Thai) . As I%26#039;ve gotten older I realise it is a very effective style f you have the time and dedication to learn it. This is not an art you will pick up and become a %26quot;weapon%26quot; with quickly. It%26#039;s more of a journey.
TKD - As someone else pointed out, check into the schools as unfortunately a lot of the substance has been replaced by %26quot;pumping students out%26quot;. (I received a flyer in the mail just recently for a new school near me which %26quot;promises%26quot; you will be a black belt within a year!)
Good luck with finding the style for you.|||depends on who%26#039;s expression of it your studying... but its sposed to take 10 years to %26quot;master%26quot; the basics... and i think good teachers of it are few.. i do an aikido type art and can talk for days bout it but its best for you to go expierence it and decide for your self you may think its sh!t... or you may think its the sh!t|||it is and to is tkd. it is not the system that makes the fighter but rather the fighter that makes the system. ask yourself what do you hope to gain from studying a martial art and then make your decision. tkd can be used in competition. as far as I know there are no competitions for akido. I%26#039;m pretty sure its just learned for self-defense|||I really don%26#039;t think you%26#039;d like it, it is useful, but takes many yrs. to use, where as most karate systems have techniques that can be used right away. Now any martial art at it%26#039;s highest levels can be unbelieveable, but my point is you need have have something that can use early in the game, I%26#039;d like to be able to defend myself within my own lifetime. BOTTOM LINE, find some form of karate.|||The best way to decide which martial art to take up is to go visit a dojo. Many dojos will even let you try a few classes before making a decision. Both Aikido and TKD are fine styles. Go and see which is the best for you. Good luck.|||aikido would be great for you .........it emphasizes evasion and circular/spiral redirection of an attacker%26#039;s aggressive force into throws, pins, and immobilizations as a primary strategy rather than punches and kicks
Like Aikido Throws: Should I do Judo or Hapkido?
So I got some feedback about Hapkido Throws vs Aikido Throws but I think Aikido is out of the question at this point. So I was wondering: if I like the Aikido throwing techniques, especially Iriminage and Kotegaeshi, would Judo or Hapkido be best for me?|||Hapkido would be the closer of the two but again, Judo has also descended from Jujutsu so many of it%26#039;s techniques are very similar to those of Aikido and Hapkido.
If you have decided between Judo and Hapkido you%26#039;re going to have to decide whether you want more striking and defense based style or more competition based fighting.
Hapkido does not have open competition in mind of it%26#039;s training, instead it focuses on preparing it%26#039;s students for defense in real life situations.
Judo can be quite effective when taught properly for defense but it is limited in it%26#039;s striking and scope of defense considering it%26#039;s primary objective is for competition at most schools.
I suggest that you go and visit each school and compare the two after a few classes in each style. Decide not only which you like best but which had the best instruction. Good luck and enjoy your training.|||May this one ask, please, why aikido would be out of the question at this point as you intend on studying an art and you already have a preference for aikido so why not simply chose to study aikido?
Hapkido using many similar joint locks but with a very different aim in mind (i.e., breaking joints and disabling ones opponent rather than simply controlling a situation and resolving it peacefully).
Judo has become more of a sport that a defense system and in the real world, grabbing another is often the first major mistake.
Be well and may you be lead to make a wise decision that is of benefit to yourself and to others.|||If you like the throws of Aikido, then Hapkido would be the best choice for you.
Hapkido and Aikido are sister arts, as they descend from Daito-Ryu Aiki-jujittsu.Takeda Sokaku taught Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of Aikido, and Choi Yong Sul, the founder of Hapkido.
While the arts are different, the throwing techniques will be quite similar. |||Hapkido is the most similar to Aikido than to the throws of Kodokan Judo.
Contrary to popular belief, Judo does not have %26#039;take-downs%26#039;, wrestling has take downs and Judo is not wrestling.
Judo relies on Kuzushi (balance) and all the %26#039;jitsus%26#039; rely on %26#039;leverage%26#039;. All the jitsus place leverage on the joints while Judo seeks %26#039;off-balance%26#039; before applying a throw. This was one of Dr. Jigoro Kano%26#039;s big distinctions between Ju-do and Ju-jitsu.|||Not really Judo for Iriminage and kotegaeshi. Judo kuzushi relies heavily on gi grabbing and takedowns as opposed to joint throws. I don%26#039;t know enough about Hapkido, as I%26#039;ve never learned that but I%26#039;ve seen something very similar to Iriminage. The equivalent of Irimi nage would probably be entering and attacking the throat in Hapkido. Kotegaeshi or wrist turning lock is definitely found in Hapkido as well as many other systems.||| There are many ways of throwing using Aikido.Judo is closer than Hapkido in ways of throwing.Check out Krav Maga.|||i can%26#039;t tell you what to join but why do you want to join martial arts
to throw someone??
instead of being able to fight back?
If you have decided between Judo and Hapkido you%26#039;re going to have to decide whether you want more striking and defense based style or more competition based fighting.
Hapkido does not have open competition in mind of it%26#039;s training, instead it focuses on preparing it%26#039;s students for defense in real life situations.
Judo can be quite effective when taught properly for defense but it is limited in it%26#039;s striking and scope of defense considering it%26#039;s primary objective is for competition at most schools.
I suggest that you go and visit each school and compare the two after a few classes in each style. Decide not only which you like best but which had the best instruction. Good luck and enjoy your training.|||May this one ask, please, why aikido would be out of the question at this point as you intend on studying an art and you already have a preference for aikido so why not simply chose to study aikido?
Hapkido using many similar joint locks but with a very different aim in mind (i.e., breaking joints and disabling ones opponent rather than simply controlling a situation and resolving it peacefully).
Judo has become more of a sport that a defense system and in the real world, grabbing another is often the first major mistake.
Be well and may you be lead to make a wise decision that is of benefit to yourself and to others.|||If you like the throws of Aikido, then Hapkido would be the best choice for you.
Hapkido and Aikido are sister arts, as they descend from Daito-Ryu Aiki-jujittsu.Takeda Sokaku taught Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of Aikido, and Choi Yong Sul, the founder of Hapkido.
While the arts are different, the throwing techniques will be quite similar. |||Hapkido is the most similar to Aikido than to the throws of Kodokan Judo.
Contrary to popular belief, Judo does not have %26#039;take-downs%26#039;, wrestling has take downs and Judo is not wrestling.
Judo relies on Kuzushi (balance) and all the %26#039;jitsus%26#039; rely on %26#039;leverage%26#039;. All the jitsus place leverage on the joints while Judo seeks %26#039;off-balance%26#039; before applying a throw. This was one of Dr. Jigoro Kano%26#039;s big distinctions between Ju-do and Ju-jitsu.|||Not really Judo for Iriminage and kotegaeshi. Judo kuzushi relies heavily on gi grabbing and takedowns as opposed to joint throws. I don%26#039;t know enough about Hapkido, as I%26#039;ve never learned that but I%26#039;ve seen something very similar to Iriminage. The equivalent of Irimi nage would probably be entering and attacking the throat in Hapkido. Kotegaeshi or wrist turning lock is definitely found in Hapkido as well as many other systems.||| There are many ways of throwing using Aikido.Judo is closer than Hapkido in ways of throwing.Check out Krav Maga.|||i can%26#039;t tell you what to join but why do you want to join martial arts
to throw someone??
instead of being able to fight back?
Where can i find online free lessons for Aikido?
You can try http://www.themmanews.com i%26#039;m not sure what kinds of videos they host there.|||YouTube is as close to free as you will get online. But it will only teach you what the movements LOOK like, not what they feel like, or how to actually DO them.|||I%26#039;m sure youtube has some lessons. Youtube has Jiujitsu lessons, muay thai lessons, and probably alot of other arts. I%26#039;m sure you%26#039;ll find what you%26#039;re looking for there.|||You%26#039;re not going to get much as far as free online martial arts lessons. You need an instructor. It%26#039;s not as simple as copying what you see on video.|||It%26#039;s best to learn in person. You will have no idea if you are doing the techniques wrong or not if you do it all online. Head on over to http://www.fightjunkie.net/forum for a community that is all about the fighting arts.
Which is more practical Aikido or Krav Maga?
I%26#039;m going to start taking martial arts. After much information gathering, I%26#039;ve narrowed my choice down to two very different styles, Aikido and Krav Maga. I love Aikido%26#039;s flow, balance beauty and use of leverage and redirecting you%26#039;re enemies attacks rather than going punch for punch. I%26#039;m not a very big guy so Aikido seems the better choice. However, Krav Maga uses multiple styles and seems to be more like %26quot;dirty street fighting%26quot; and more like life in the real world. Which would be more practical or useful in a real brawl?|||Well if you have a Krav Maga and an Aikido place by you, then you should sit and watch a couple of sessions. Even as an Expert in Krav Maga I%26#039;m not going to give you a recruiting speech on Krav Maga is better than Aikido, in fact, no professional in the martial arts field would ever do that, at least the ones I have known for over 30 years. Is Aikido effective....yes, is Krav Maga effective...yes, is Judo effective...yes, is boxing effective....yes, is high school wrestling effective.......yes. Now, let%26#039;s talk about the average situation, most of the time someone will grab you, push you, or come up from behind, Aikido has some effective techniquess, and so does Krav Maga. Now, you have to defend yourself on the street with your girlfriend, maybe your wife and children, what would be more effective on %26quot;Street Thugs%26quot; or criminals who have spent years in prison and do nothing but lift weights??? Is Aikido the answer? Is Krav Maga the answer? Now, how is the curiculum in the school you choose to pick? What is the quality of the Instructor/Sensei? Are you doing %26quot;real world screnarios%26quot; %26quot;multiple attackers%26quot; are you wearing protective gear and getting hit, and hitting back? All of these should be included in your choice. Now, I will stop about Aikido, because I have never studied it, so let%26#039;s talk about Krav Maga:
Within 12 weeks you will be able to:
Be able to instinctively defend against strikes from a myriad of angles.
Be able to release from grabs, hair pulls,and chokes from all angles.
Be consciously aware of your surroundings, safety, and impending danger, recognizing danger sooner so that you will be able to anticipate and ideally prevent an attack from happening.
Have increased hand/eye and right-side/left-side body coordinations.
You will be in the best shape of your life.
Krav Maga builds core strength. The stronger your core muscles, the better able you%26#039;ll be able to put all of your body weight behind your punches, kicks, and other strikes.
You can say Krav Maga is like %26quot;dirty street fighting%26quot; and it is not an Asian Martial Art. Krav Maga utilizes the best from several martial arts, that have been know to work on the street and in a combat environment.
Your choice, there is no wrong choice, it is up to you.
To find a certified IKMA Instructor or more information on Krav Maga
www.israelikrav.com|||aikido|||ok heres the deal of you want to redrict and disarm your oopents then train and master akido but if your in for a rough time on streets then do Krav Maga either way its your chjosse on what to but freakliy i tell you this if you want the best of both styles the do both of them.
good luck|||Krav Maga because it%26#039;s more realistic and offer more option when it come to real fight. Aikido is extremely hard to use in real fight due to have to grab the opponent which isn%26#039;t alway successful or good idea. Krav Maga also teach some stuff that Aikido have or some that work better.|||More important than any style is your quality and frequency of training.
You see what I mean. If you hear that Krav is more practical and then you go out and buy Bob%26#039;s discount Krav Mag DVD because there are no good schools around then you just screwed yourself up because your heart was set on a style
As a generalization, Akido as a style is very difficult to grasp, I do not believe a student can use this in the streets for combat until they have had years of training, where as Krav is a quick short training program to teach troops en masse.
Check out all the schools in your area. Do not limit yourself to a style. Instead find a quality training location, you will be much happier in the long run.
If you need tips on what a %26quot;good school%26quot; is please visit old Yahoo questions.|||aikido because japanese martial art r cool|||Definately Krav Maga (not sure it%26#039;s spelled right) but you can take someone 3 times your size down before they even know what hit %26#039;em. Doesn%26#039;t matter your size or physical strength...Krav Maga will make you a MACHINE! Also, there%26#039;s not that same stigma attached to using it if you have to like there is with so many other martial arts. MUCH, MUCH more practical. And sexy too!!!|||The only useful martial art is the one that you put in the time and effort to learn to use properly. Both Aikido and Krav Maga are great martial arts, but it is up to the practitioner to use them properly. Take some free lessons and decide which will work better for you. In the future you may want to learn the other one as well.|||krav maga all the way ,,i am a kung fu black belt and i believe that krav maga is the best back alley . balls to the wall technique out there ..i love the art part of kung fu ..but krav maga has the martial down...too bad in the city of three million people i live in nobody teaches it or i would learn it too.
Within 12 weeks you will be able to:
Be able to instinctively defend against strikes from a myriad of angles.
Be able to release from grabs, hair pulls,and chokes from all angles.
Be consciously aware of your surroundings, safety, and impending danger, recognizing danger sooner so that you will be able to anticipate and ideally prevent an attack from happening.
Have increased hand/eye and right-side/left-side body coordinations.
You will be in the best shape of your life.
Krav Maga builds core strength. The stronger your core muscles, the better able you%26#039;ll be able to put all of your body weight behind your punches, kicks, and other strikes.
You can say Krav Maga is like %26quot;dirty street fighting%26quot; and it is not an Asian Martial Art. Krav Maga utilizes the best from several martial arts, that have been know to work on the street and in a combat environment.
Your choice, there is no wrong choice, it is up to you.
To find a certified IKMA Instructor or more information on Krav Maga
www.israelikrav.com|||aikido|||ok heres the deal of you want to redrict and disarm your oopents then train and master akido but if your in for a rough time on streets then do Krav Maga either way its your chjosse on what to but freakliy i tell you this if you want the best of both styles the do both of them.
good luck|||Krav Maga because it%26#039;s more realistic and offer more option when it come to real fight. Aikido is extremely hard to use in real fight due to have to grab the opponent which isn%26#039;t alway successful or good idea. Krav Maga also teach some stuff that Aikido have or some that work better.|||More important than any style is your quality and frequency of training.
You see what I mean. If you hear that Krav is more practical and then you go out and buy Bob%26#039;s discount Krav Mag DVD because there are no good schools around then you just screwed yourself up because your heart was set on a style
As a generalization, Akido as a style is very difficult to grasp, I do not believe a student can use this in the streets for combat until they have had years of training, where as Krav is a quick short training program to teach troops en masse.
Check out all the schools in your area. Do not limit yourself to a style. Instead find a quality training location, you will be much happier in the long run.
If you need tips on what a %26quot;good school%26quot; is please visit old Yahoo questions.|||aikido because japanese martial art r cool|||Definately Krav Maga (not sure it%26#039;s spelled right) but you can take someone 3 times your size down before they even know what hit %26#039;em. Doesn%26#039;t matter your size or physical strength...Krav Maga will make you a MACHINE! Also, there%26#039;s not that same stigma attached to using it if you have to like there is with so many other martial arts. MUCH, MUCH more practical. And sexy too!!!|||The only useful martial art is the one that you put in the time and effort to learn to use properly. Both Aikido and Krav Maga are great martial arts, but it is up to the practitioner to use them properly. Take some free lessons and decide which will work better for you. In the future you may want to learn the other one as well.|||krav maga all the way ,,i am a kung fu black belt and i believe that krav maga is the best back alley . balls to the wall technique out there ..i love the art part of kung fu ..but krav maga has the martial down...too bad in the city of three million people i live in nobody teaches it or i would learn it too.
How long will it take to be able to use aikido effectively?
As with any new pursuit everyone comes with different capabilities and talents. If you were to begin piano lessons, for example, who could say when you might be able to play a particular concerto? It is the same with Aikido. Some may have a feel for it sooner than others but usually it is those that must work at it that become the most proficient.|||A lot of Aikido guys say 10 years on avarage for you to %26quot;get it%26quot; but everyone is different so for some it will take longer and some quicker and the teacher will also have something to do with it|||The longer you learn the less aggressive you will become.|||In all honesty Aikido takes many years of practice to become effective.|||short answer it all depends on you and how well you pick up on technique and how often you train you must train every day yes even the days you dont have class.|||A long time. By the time your body is proficient with the techniques and principles though, I fear that you might find aikido%26#039;s realistic self-defense applications to be a bit lacking. Of course, if you are interested in the art outside of self defense purposes, then by all means pursue it. However, the aikido that I%26#039;ve come in contact with is ho-hum at best and very impractical outside of the rather rigid system of the class.
Good luck.
Good luck.
Is it true that they teach aikido to the police ?
i play aikido and ppl keep telling me that its not very practical. If thats true, why do they teach it to the police ?
im not sure that this is true tho
so if u know if thats true plz tell me|||Some departments still do. It all depends on their C.Q.B. instructor or any policies their dept. has. Most nowadays tend to favor Jujitsu type instruction primarily for the joint restraint techniques, however, aikido has been taught in many depts including the military.
Aikido is not only a very effective and potentially devestating art both in form and actual application, but it also holds the pure art and discipline so important. Especially in a field such as law enforcement.
I think a foundation such as aikido, combined with some more modern techniques not only makes the officers more effective, but it helps to create more discipline and tact when they have to use that force.
I think if you enjoy it, continue to study your art. YES! Some depts do use an aikido foundation. Who knows, perhaps you could bring your training to a local dept. yourself and become a very good instructor and law enforcement officer.
Hope this helps.
policetac@yahoo.com
P.S. Do a Yahoo search on your art. Cross reference w/other martial arts. There%26#039;s a lot of really goode info out there.|||I can%26#039;t speak for all Police departments, but as a Krav Maga instructor I have given LEO (Law Enforcement Only) seminars, I have also attended Combat SAMBO seminars where there were many participants were Police.
There are many ways to give the Police the skills they need for disarmament, in Krav Maga and SAMBO we deal with modern weapons and disarmament techniques involving gun, knife, bat, etc.
Aikido training, I don%26#039;t know...I can tell you what I have been a part of. Anything is possible and as arts evolve, the scope of the arts training does also.
im not sure that this is true tho
so if u know if thats true plz tell me|||Some departments still do. It all depends on their C.Q.B. instructor or any policies their dept. has. Most nowadays tend to favor Jujitsu type instruction primarily for the joint restraint techniques, however, aikido has been taught in many depts including the military.
Aikido is not only a very effective and potentially devestating art both in form and actual application, but it also holds the pure art and discipline so important. Especially in a field such as law enforcement.
I think a foundation such as aikido, combined with some more modern techniques not only makes the officers more effective, but it helps to create more discipline and tact when they have to use that force.
I think if you enjoy it, continue to study your art. YES! Some depts do use an aikido foundation. Who knows, perhaps you could bring your training to a local dept. yourself and become a very good instructor and law enforcement officer.
Hope this helps.
policetac@yahoo.com
P.S. Do a Yahoo search on your art. Cross reference w/other martial arts. There%26#039;s a lot of really goode info out there.|||I can%26#039;t speak for all Police departments, but as a Krav Maga instructor I have given LEO (Law Enforcement Only) seminars, I have also attended Combat SAMBO seminars where there were many participants were Police.
There are many ways to give the Police the skills they need for disarmament, in Krav Maga and SAMBO we deal with modern weapons and disarmament techniques involving gun, knife, bat, etc.
Aikido training, I don%26#039;t know...I can tell you what I have been a part of. Anything is possible and as arts evolve, the scope of the arts training does also.
My local aikido school doesnt hold class very often, will I be able to make up for that at home and progress..
normally?|||You may be able to progress but it may seem like you%26#039;re working in small circles|||No you can%26#039;t.
You cannot train alone unless you are a senior grade with years of practice - and then all you can do is some of the exercises and katas. That%26#039;s better than nothing, but not good enough to keep from sliding backwards in skill level.
To make progress in Aikido, you need to train regularly. At least twice a week. Three times a week or more is like overdrive. Once a week is barely treading water. It isn%26#039;t enough to make decent progress.
Aikido takes many years to learn. It is subtle.
The only %26quot;martial art%26quot; you can learn fast is %26quot;baseball bat%26quot; or .357 magnum. That%26#039;s why Sam Colt invented the his revolver and called it a %26quot;Peacemaker%26quot;. Because any man or woman could use point and pull a trigger.|||I%26#039;m not sure how often your Aikido classes are held? If it is once a week, then be sure to get there on time and try to get as much as possible out of class. If the instructor can stay after class, then use that time to answer any questions you have. If it is two times per week, then you should have an easier time. Consistency is important, multiple classes are good if possible. I see many of my students having two classes per week and making progress. It is very difficult to practice alone, aside from improving your posture, I would not attempt it.
If I were you, I%26#039;d talk to my instructor about perhaps having additional classes. If he or she cannot hold additional classes, maybe an upper level student could start a class under the instructor%26#039;s direction. Definitely talk to your instructor about it and ask his/her advice about how to get more practice. Good luck!|||It depends on what your goal is and what your dojo%26#039;s affiliation is. If you%26#039;re affiliation is Ki-Aikido and you%26#039;re more into Ki development, then there are exercises which can be done solo and with proper training will lead to progress even if you only practice at home. But if you%26#039;re affiliation is Hombu, Yoshinkan or Tomiki, which puts more emphasis on physical techniques, then your options are limited at home. But from personal experience, in the long run, I%26#039;d have to say no, you can%26#039;t really make up for it at home. You can work on physical conditioning and the solo forms at home, even the breakfalls and rolling exercises. But when it comes to proper application of techniques, you will need a live trained partner to train with for you to progress any further. Even I have that problem myself. I used to train 6 days a week 6 hrs max nonstop for three and a half years back in college and when I moved to another city to start working, I had a hard time finding a decent dojo who would train as hard and meet as many times a week as my old one. The only ones readily available were McDojo types and the ones that weren%26#039;t only met twice a week for 2 hrs per session and worse of all, their fees cost somewhere around twice to as much as four times the amount compared to the fees in my old dojo. Needless to say, when I visit my old dojo while on vacation, my sensei would only allow me on the mat if I wore a belt one rank lower, because I could no longer keep up with his class. It%26#039;s a standard procedure in his dojo for returning students, since he bases rank and skill level on your current performance regardless of previous rank and only allows you to wear your actual rank belt on the mat after you%26#039;ve gotten back to your old form, it%26#039;s his way of motivating you to get back in shape and keep you from getting c0cky and set a bad example for the junior students. I even once joined a McDojo just to get time on the mat to practice, but that turned out to be a bad idea since their class%26#039; slower pace and diluted forms only ended up affecting my skills and slowing me down. My advice is for you to try and talk to a classmate or two from your class to meet at home during weekends so you can train together on your free time, you can pool your money to buy some mats or improvise with whatever equipment is available so you can practice throws in safety. If you have the determination, I%26#039;m sure you can find a way to train outside of the dojo.|||you can only practice break falls,forward rolls,foot movements,shomen-uchi and yokomen-uchi strikes, breathing exercises,sword work, and the jo staff. But if I were you I would talk with some of the people that take class with you and see if they wanted to practice at each others homes when you do not have class.|||You can only practice those footsteps and ukemi alone. You need to have partner to practice technique with.
Regular practice is very important for u to improve your aikido techniques.
Which aikido association your previous aikido dojo was with? Maybe you can continue practicing in other dojo nearby...|||You can make progress alone but only after you have learned how to learn. By that I mean you have a good grasp of the basics, you have a good understanding of the internal concepts and you have learned how to watch, imitate, and develop your technique.
I achieved this after I became 2nd kyu and my progress has skyrocketed since. But without this skill you cannot learn anything on your own.|||The only way you can make up time when your school is not open is by practicing at home diligently. There is no real way to make class time up unless you are at the Dojo with your instructor. The next best thing is to keep practicing at home so that you may hone your skills and show your instructor that you are serious about your training and want to progress up the ranks.
You cannot train alone unless you are a senior grade with years of practice - and then all you can do is some of the exercises and katas. That%26#039;s better than nothing, but not good enough to keep from sliding backwards in skill level.
To make progress in Aikido, you need to train regularly. At least twice a week. Three times a week or more is like overdrive. Once a week is barely treading water. It isn%26#039;t enough to make decent progress.
Aikido takes many years to learn. It is subtle.
The only %26quot;martial art%26quot; you can learn fast is %26quot;baseball bat%26quot; or .357 magnum. That%26#039;s why Sam Colt invented the his revolver and called it a %26quot;Peacemaker%26quot;. Because any man or woman could use point and pull a trigger.|||I%26#039;m not sure how often your Aikido classes are held? If it is once a week, then be sure to get there on time and try to get as much as possible out of class. If the instructor can stay after class, then use that time to answer any questions you have. If it is two times per week, then you should have an easier time. Consistency is important, multiple classes are good if possible. I see many of my students having two classes per week and making progress. It is very difficult to practice alone, aside from improving your posture, I would not attempt it.
If I were you, I%26#039;d talk to my instructor about perhaps having additional classes. If he or she cannot hold additional classes, maybe an upper level student could start a class under the instructor%26#039;s direction. Definitely talk to your instructor about it and ask his/her advice about how to get more practice. Good luck!|||It depends on what your goal is and what your dojo%26#039;s affiliation is. If you%26#039;re affiliation is Ki-Aikido and you%26#039;re more into Ki development, then there are exercises which can be done solo and with proper training will lead to progress even if you only practice at home. But if you%26#039;re affiliation is Hombu, Yoshinkan or Tomiki, which puts more emphasis on physical techniques, then your options are limited at home. But from personal experience, in the long run, I%26#039;d have to say no, you can%26#039;t really make up for it at home. You can work on physical conditioning and the solo forms at home, even the breakfalls and rolling exercises. But when it comes to proper application of techniques, you will need a live trained partner to train with for you to progress any further. Even I have that problem myself. I used to train 6 days a week 6 hrs max nonstop for three and a half years back in college and when I moved to another city to start working, I had a hard time finding a decent dojo who would train as hard and meet as many times a week as my old one. The only ones readily available were McDojo types and the ones that weren%26#039;t only met twice a week for 2 hrs per session and worse of all, their fees cost somewhere around twice to as much as four times the amount compared to the fees in my old dojo. Needless to say, when I visit my old dojo while on vacation, my sensei would only allow me on the mat if I wore a belt one rank lower, because I could no longer keep up with his class. It%26#039;s a standard procedure in his dojo for returning students, since he bases rank and skill level on your current performance regardless of previous rank and only allows you to wear your actual rank belt on the mat after you%26#039;ve gotten back to your old form, it%26#039;s his way of motivating you to get back in shape and keep you from getting c0cky and set a bad example for the junior students. I even once joined a McDojo just to get time on the mat to practice, but that turned out to be a bad idea since their class%26#039; slower pace and diluted forms only ended up affecting my skills and slowing me down. My advice is for you to try and talk to a classmate or two from your class to meet at home during weekends so you can train together on your free time, you can pool your money to buy some mats or improvise with whatever equipment is available so you can practice throws in safety. If you have the determination, I%26#039;m sure you can find a way to train outside of the dojo.|||you can only practice break falls,forward rolls,foot movements,shomen-uchi and yokomen-uchi strikes, breathing exercises,sword work, and the jo staff. But if I were you I would talk with some of the people that take class with you and see if they wanted to practice at each others homes when you do not have class.|||You can only practice those footsteps and ukemi alone. You need to have partner to practice technique with.
Regular practice is very important for u to improve your aikido techniques.
Which aikido association your previous aikido dojo was with? Maybe you can continue practicing in other dojo nearby...|||You can make progress alone but only after you have learned how to learn. By that I mean you have a good grasp of the basics, you have a good understanding of the internal concepts and you have learned how to watch, imitate, and develop your technique.
I achieved this after I became 2nd kyu and my progress has skyrocketed since. But without this skill you cannot learn anything on your own.|||The only way you can make up time when your school is not open is by practicing at home diligently. There is no real way to make class time up unless you are at the Dojo with your instructor. The next best thing is to keep practicing at home so that you may hone your skills and show your instructor that you are serious about your training and want to progress up the ranks.
Is it true that they teach aikido to the police ?
i play aikido and ppl keep telling me that its not very practical. If thats true, why do they teach it to the police ?
im not sure that this is true tho
so if u know if thats true plz tell me|||Some departments still do. It all depends on their C.Q.B. instructor or any policies their dept. has. Most nowadays tend to favor Jujitsu type instruction primarily for the joint restraint techniques, however, aikido has been taught in many depts including the military.
Aikido is not only a very effective and potentially devestating art both in form and actual application, but it also holds the pure art and discipline so important. Especially in a field such as law enforcement.
I think a foundation such as aikido, combined with some more modern techniques not only makes the officers more effective, but it helps to create more discipline and tact when they have to use that force.
I think if you enjoy it, continue to study your art. YES! Some depts do use an aikido foundation. Who knows, perhaps you could bring your training to a local dept. yourself and become a very good instructor and law enforcement officer.
Hope this helps.
policetac@yahoo.com
P.S. Do a Yahoo search on your art. Cross reference w/other martial arts. There%26#039;s a lot of really goode info out there.|||I can%26#039;t speak for all Police departments, but as a Krav Maga instructor I have given LEO (Law Enforcement Only) seminars, I have also attended Combat SAMBO seminars where there were many participants were Police.
There are many ways to give the Police the skills they need for disarmament, in Krav Maga and SAMBO we deal with modern weapons and disarmament techniques involving gun, knife, bat, etc.
Aikido training, I don%26#039;t know...I can tell you what I have been a part of. Anything is possible and as arts evolve, the scope of the arts training does also.
im not sure that this is true tho
so if u know if thats true plz tell me|||Some departments still do. It all depends on their C.Q.B. instructor or any policies their dept. has. Most nowadays tend to favor Jujitsu type instruction primarily for the joint restraint techniques, however, aikido has been taught in many depts including the military.
Aikido is not only a very effective and potentially devestating art both in form and actual application, but it also holds the pure art and discipline so important. Especially in a field such as law enforcement.
I think a foundation such as aikido, combined with some more modern techniques not only makes the officers more effective, but it helps to create more discipline and tact when they have to use that force.
I think if you enjoy it, continue to study your art. YES! Some depts do use an aikido foundation. Who knows, perhaps you could bring your training to a local dept. yourself and become a very good instructor and law enforcement officer.
Hope this helps.
policetac@yahoo.com
P.S. Do a Yahoo search on your art. Cross reference w/other martial arts. There%26#039;s a lot of really goode info out there.|||I can%26#039;t speak for all Police departments, but as a Krav Maga instructor I have given LEO (Law Enforcement Only) seminars, I have also attended Combat SAMBO seminars where there were many participants were Police.
There are many ways to give the Police the skills they need for disarmament, in Krav Maga and SAMBO we deal with modern weapons and disarmament techniques involving gun, knife, bat, etc.
Aikido training, I don%26#039;t know...I can tell you what I have been a part of. Anything is possible and as arts evolve, the scope of the arts training does also.
My local aikido school doesnt hold class very often, will I be able to make up for that at home and progress..
normally?|||You may be able to progress but it may seem like you%26#039;re working in small circles|||No you can%26#039;t.
You cannot train alone unless you are a senior grade with years of practice - and then all you can do is some of the exercises and katas. That%26#039;s better than nothing, but not good enough to keep from sliding backwards in skill level.
To make progress in Aikido, you need to train regularly. At least twice a week. Three times a week or more is like overdrive. Once a week is barely treading water. It isn%26#039;t enough to make decent progress.
Aikido takes many years to learn. It is subtle.
The only %26quot;martial art%26quot; you can learn fast is %26quot;baseball bat%26quot; or .357 magnum. That%26#039;s why Sam Colt invented the his revolver and called it a %26quot;Peacemaker%26quot;. Because any man or woman could use point and pull a trigger.|||I%26#039;m not sure how often your Aikido classes are held? If it is once a week, then be sure to get there on time and try to get as much as possible out of class. If the instructor can stay after class, then use that time to answer any questions you have. If it is two times per week, then you should have an easier time. Consistency is important, multiple classes are good if possible. I see many of my students having two classes per week and making progress. It is very difficult to practice alone, aside from improving your posture, I would not attempt it.
If I were you, I%26#039;d talk to my instructor about perhaps having additional classes. If he or she cannot hold additional classes, maybe an upper level student could start a class under the instructor%26#039;s direction. Definitely talk to your instructor about it and ask his/her advice about how to get more practice. Good luck!|||It depends on what your goal is and what your dojo%26#039;s affiliation is. If you%26#039;re affiliation is Ki-Aikido and you%26#039;re more into Ki development, then there are exercises which can be done solo and with proper training will lead to progress even if you only practice at home. But if you%26#039;re affiliation is Hombu, Yoshinkan or Tomiki, which puts more emphasis on physical techniques, then your options are limited at home. But from personal experience, in the long run, I%26#039;d have to say no, you can%26#039;t really make up for it at home. You can work on physical conditioning and the solo forms at home, even the breakfalls and rolling exercises. But when it comes to proper application of techniques, you will need a live trained partner to train with for you to progress any further. Even I have that problem myself. I used to train 6 days a week 6 hrs max nonstop for three and a half years back in college and when I moved to another city to start working, I had a hard time finding a decent dojo who would train as hard and meet as many times a week as my old one. The only ones readily available were McDojo types and the ones that weren%26#039;t only met twice a week for 2 hrs per session and worse of all, their fees cost somewhere around twice to as much as four times the amount compared to the fees in my old dojo. Needless to say, when I visit my old dojo while on vacation, my sensei would only allow me on the mat if I wore a belt one rank lower, because I could no longer keep up with his class. It%26#039;s a standard procedure in his dojo for returning students, since he bases rank and skill level on your current performance regardless of previous rank and only allows you to wear your actual rank belt on the mat after you%26#039;ve gotten back to your old form, it%26#039;s his way of motivating you to get back in shape and keep you from getting c0cky and set a bad example for the junior students. I even once joined a McDojo just to get time on the mat to practice, but that turned out to be a bad idea since their class%26#039; slower pace and diluted forms only ended up affecting my skills and slowing me down. My advice is for you to try and talk to a classmate or two from your class to meet at home during weekends so you can train together on your free time, you can pool your money to buy some mats or improvise with whatever equipment is available so you can practice throws in safety. If you have the determination, I%26#039;m sure you can find a way to train outside of the dojo.|||you can only practice break falls,forward rolls,foot movements,shomen-uchi and yokomen-uchi strikes, breathing exercises,sword work, and the jo staff. But if I were you I would talk with some of the people that take class with you and see if they wanted to practice at each others homes when you do not have class.|||You can only practice those footsteps and ukemi alone. You need to have partner to practice technique with.
Regular practice is very important for u to improve your aikido techniques.
Which aikido association your previous aikido dojo was with? Maybe you can continue practicing in other dojo nearby...|||You can make progress alone but only after you have learned how to learn. By that I mean you have a good grasp of the basics, you have a good understanding of the internal concepts and you have learned how to watch, imitate, and develop your technique.
I achieved this after I became 2nd kyu and my progress has skyrocketed since. But without this skill you cannot learn anything on your own.|||The only way you can make up time when your school is not open is by practicing at home diligently. There is no real way to make class time up unless you are at the Dojo with your instructor. The next best thing is to keep practicing at home so that you may hone your skills and show your instructor that you are serious about your training and want to progress up the ranks.
You cannot train alone unless you are a senior grade with years of practice - and then all you can do is some of the exercises and katas. That%26#039;s better than nothing, but not good enough to keep from sliding backwards in skill level.
To make progress in Aikido, you need to train regularly. At least twice a week. Three times a week or more is like overdrive. Once a week is barely treading water. It isn%26#039;t enough to make decent progress.
Aikido takes many years to learn. It is subtle.
The only %26quot;martial art%26quot; you can learn fast is %26quot;baseball bat%26quot; or .357 magnum. That%26#039;s why Sam Colt invented the his revolver and called it a %26quot;Peacemaker%26quot;. Because any man or woman could use point and pull a trigger.|||I%26#039;m not sure how often your Aikido classes are held? If it is once a week, then be sure to get there on time and try to get as much as possible out of class. If the instructor can stay after class, then use that time to answer any questions you have. If it is two times per week, then you should have an easier time. Consistency is important, multiple classes are good if possible. I see many of my students having two classes per week and making progress. It is very difficult to practice alone, aside from improving your posture, I would not attempt it.
If I were you, I%26#039;d talk to my instructor about perhaps having additional classes. If he or she cannot hold additional classes, maybe an upper level student could start a class under the instructor%26#039;s direction. Definitely talk to your instructor about it and ask his/her advice about how to get more practice. Good luck!|||It depends on what your goal is and what your dojo%26#039;s affiliation is. If you%26#039;re affiliation is Ki-Aikido and you%26#039;re more into Ki development, then there are exercises which can be done solo and with proper training will lead to progress even if you only practice at home. But if you%26#039;re affiliation is Hombu, Yoshinkan or Tomiki, which puts more emphasis on physical techniques, then your options are limited at home. But from personal experience, in the long run, I%26#039;d have to say no, you can%26#039;t really make up for it at home. You can work on physical conditioning and the solo forms at home, even the breakfalls and rolling exercises. But when it comes to proper application of techniques, you will need a live trained partner to train with for you to progress any further. Even I have that problem myself. I used to train 6 days a week 6 hrs max nonstop for three and a half years back in college and when I moved to another city to start working, I had a hard time finding a decent dojo who would train as hard and meet as many times a week as my old one. The only ones readily available were McDojo types and the ones that weren%26#039;t only met twice a week for 2 hrs per session and worse of all, their fees cost somewhere around twice to as much as four times the amount compared to the fees in my old dojo. Needless to say, when I visit my old dojo while on vacation, my sensei would only allow me on the mat if I wore a belt one rank lower, because I could no longer keep up with his class. It%26#039;s a standard procedure in his dojo for returning students, since he bases rank and skill level on your current performance regardless of previous rank and only allows you to wear your actual rank belt on the mat after you%26#039;ve gotten back to your old form, it%26#039;s his way of motivating you to get back in shape and keep you from getting c0cky and set a bad example for the junior students. I even once joined a McDojo just to get time on the mat to practice, but that turned out to be a bad idea since their class%26#039; slower pace and diluted forms only ended up affecting my skills and slowing me down. My advice is for you to try and talk to a classmate or two from your class to meet at home during weekends so you can train together on your free time, you can pool your money to buy some mats or improvise with whatever equipment is available so you can practice throws in safety. If you have the determination, I%26#039;m sure you can find a way to train outside of the dojo.|||you can only practice break falls,forward rolls,foot movements,shomen-uchi and yokomen-uchi strikes, breathing exercises,sword work, and the jo staff. But if I were you I would talk with some of the people that take class with you and see if they wanted to practice at each others homes when you do not have class.|||You can only practice those footsteps and ukemi alone. You need to have partner to practice technique with.
Regular practice is very important for u to improve your aikido techniques.
Which aikido association your previous aikido dojo was with? Maybe you can continue practicing in other dojo nearby...|||You can make progress alone but only after you have learned how to learn. By that I mean you have a good grasp of the basics, you have a good understanding of the internal concepts and you have learned how to watch, imitate, and develop your technique.
I achieved this after I became 2nd kyu and my progress has skyrocketed since. But without this skill you cannot learn anything on your own.|||The only way you can make up time when your school is not open is by practicing at home diligently. There is no real way to make class time up unless you are at the Dojo with your instructor. The next best thing is to keep practicing at home so that you may hone your skills and show your instructor that you are serious about your training and want to progress up the ranks.
If aikido is so deadly how come you don't see it in MMA?
Please don%26#039;t give me the %26quot;true aikidoka are so spiritual and deadly they never use it unless it%26#039;s life and death%26quot; nonsense.|||It%26#039;s primarily a combination of 2 things:
1) Most Aikido dojos don%26#039;t train for real fight conditions. While many dojos will eventually encourage the %26quot;attacker%26quot; to provide resistance to the %26quot;defender%26quot;%26#039;s counterattack when both have proven to be skilled (and therefore know how to be safe), they still know what attack is coming in before it happens. Very few Aikido dojos do anything that approaches actual sparring, so most Aikido practitioners don%26#039;t develop the practical reflexes needed to apply their art in real combat.
2) A large portion of Aikido is small-joint manipulation, which almost all MMA organizations ban as one of their first rules. That would be like throwing a Muay Thai guy into a boxing match. They still have some moves that work, but not many.|||1. Many of the moves are not legal in MMA
2. Many of the moves are 0 to 60 breaks, unlike armbars they%26#039;re designed to break, no option of submission
3. It%26#039;s against the philosophy of the art to compete
4. The majority of dojo have bad technique and don%26#039;t train with any aliveness or resistance
5. The strikes it defends against are outdated, they were used mainly by armored samurai
6. It works at a different distance with the idea that this person is pissed and really trying to harm you while you%26#039;re keeping distance so their strikes are going to be larger to close the distance
7. Much of the different systems focus on many grabs on the gi
8. It doesn%26#039;t go to the ground because the belief is that if they%26#039;re down there you can stomp them or leave
I%26#039;m not saying it%26#039;s ineffective. However the majority of places don%26#039;t train effectively, don%26#039;t have good technique, and many of the techniques just aren%26#039;t practical in a sporting venue.|||Aikido is not a %26quot;deadly art%26quot; it is a system of throws and joint locks that are mostly incompatible within the MMA arena due to the rules in MMA and also the way most Aikidoka train does not prepare them for handling a fight, many people train Aikido as if they are dancing with a compliant partner more then as a martial art.
And many of the people who train Aikido don%26#039;t realize that Morihei Ueshiba the founder believed that you should have a black belt in some other martial art such as karate or judo before training Aikido as it is not complete on it%26#039;s own.|||Aikido is a defensive art and hard to use offensively. many of the finishing moves are also illegal. As are the traditional Tae Kwan Do finishing moves. That is why most of the MMA fights you see go to the ground and end up in submission.
Not to take away from the athletic ability of the MMA folks. MMA fighting in the ring is still not the same as life and death situations. So you can%26#039;t use the same techniques or you would run out of competitors. It also doesn%26#039;t make a good show If you just reduce it to points for the best technique.
So it ends up with it is what it is. Just as you would not fight the same way Boxing bare handed as you do now in a ring with great big gloves on the whole style of Boxing changes.
There seems so much argument over this it seems just common sense to me. Sport is sport not combat. It is like sport pistol vs combat shooting you need whole different approach when the target is shooting back.
To say Akido doesn%26#039;t work is a stretch. Is it the best art for self defense I don%26#039;t have enough knowledge about it to say it is not. I do know many other arts use many of the locks and throws used in Akido.|||Not everything has to be in MMA to be proven a good martial art. Martial Arts teach you not to fight and are for discipline, You honestly think Aikido would be used as a sport? It%26#039;s to leverage- based, Plus, the martial arts you usually see in the octagon is usually BJJ, Muy thai, Judo, Styles of Karate, etc. Know why? they are for fitness and sports, they usually concentrate on one person, and the majority of them are external arts.|||Aikido is a traditional discipline where the practitioners do not believe in competition. What you often see in Aikido are demonstrations between members of the same Aikido school who attack a skilled aikidoka and then he floors them with locks and throws. I think that the philosophy of Aikido is extremely incompatible with the UFC. Aikido is the way of harmony and the UFC is the way of making a lot of money by beating your opponent to a pulp or making him submit. A lot of aikidokas would lose in the UFC precisely because they don%26#039;t train to be as fierce as the UFC fighters.|||This is my opinion; I lay no claim on my statements as fact.
Most people who practice aikido do not professionally compete and therefore do not train at the level of professional fighters.
I believe Aikido works on absolute split second timing. The techniques become extremely low percentage when a person tries to force a technique when the timing is not perfect. For this reason, the learning curve is very gradual. Other martial arts offer a quicker learning curve and rely somewhat on techniques that can be %26quot;forced%26quot;.
I believe that MMA sporting events limit the scope of potential outcomes down to three possibilities. K.O., submission, or win by scorecard based on striking. Now Aikido doesn%26#039;t focus intently on striking, so K.O. and scorecard are not compatible. Submissions are present in Aikido, but other arts train in a greater range of submissions so they tend to offer MMA competitors more tools to pull out.
What is missing from MMA events that we find in unrestricted fights is the ability to deescalate, to deflect, and to remove one%26#039;s self from a conflict. Aikido does focus on this aspect of a fight. It focuses on ending conflict by deescalating, redirecting an attack, and maintaining safe distance from an attack.|||THIS IS only A Guess.
- it probably works a lot with moves that are not allowed in mma, for example small joint manipulation and striking vital spots; spine, eyes, groin, and throat. In short, Akdio is probably dirty fighting. That%26#039;s the same reason hopkido is not in mma-- at least the style i did--and we don%26#039;t believe in competing.|||There is a difference between sport martial art (MMA) and traditional. MMA takes hard styles and puts them together. Like muay thai, BJJ, boxing, etc.. Aikido is soft, Yet deadly. DO NOT EVER let UFC or MMA decide which martial art is good or bad! Its the practitioner not the art.|||I%26#039;m no expert, but who told you Aikido is %26quot;soo deadly%26quot;
I mean it could be, but the point of Aikido is to diffuse the situation as fast as possible with little harm to the attacker.
I could go on, but that%26#039;s why God invented Google!|||It is not made for sports but for fights. Aikido itself does not even fight for belts just spars at half speed.
The tv show Human Weapon did a good show on Aikido and they asked that question.|||because most MMA fighter only use Muay Thai, Wrestling or boxing, and Brazilian Jiu jitsu. my guess is that since Akido is a traditional martial art it really isn%26#039;t meant for the UFC octagon.|||Aikido along with Aiki-jujutsu, Judo and Daito Ryu are extremely deadly.
Judo and Daito Ryu practitioners would easily take down and have full control of any MMA fighter.|||because in the world of MMA it does not work....|||its too awesome of a style for it
1) Most Aikido dojos don%26#039;t train for real fight conditions. While many dojos will eventually encourage the %26quot;attacker%26quot; to provide resistance to the %26quot;defender%26quot;%26#039;s counterattack when both have proven to be skilled (and therefore know how to be safe), they still know what attack is coming in before it happens. Very few Aikido dojos do anything that approaches actual sparring, so most Aikido practitioners don%26#039;t develop the practical reflexes needed to apply their art in real combat.
2) A large portion of Aikido is small-joint manipulation, which almost all MMA organizations ban as one of their first rules. That would be like throwing a Muay Thai guy into a boxing match. They still have some moves that work, but not many.|||1. Many of the moves are not legal in MMA
2. Many of the moves are 0 to 60 breaks, unlike armbars they%26#039;re designed to break, no option of submission
3. It%26#039;s against the philosophy of the art to compete
4. The majority of dojo have bad technique and don%26#039;t train with any aliveness or resistance
5. The strikes it defends against are outdated, they were used mainly by armored samurai
6. It works at a different distance with the idea that this person is pissed and really trying to harm you while you%26#039;re keeping distance so their strikes are going to be larger to close the distance
7. Much of the different systems focus on many grabs on the gi
8. It doesn%26#039;t go to the ground because the belief is that if they%26#039;re down there you can stomp them or leave
I%26#039;m not saying it%26#039;s ineffective. However the majority of places don%26#039;t train effectively, don%26#039;t have good technique, and many of the techniques just aren%26#039;t practical in a sporting venue.|||Aikido is not a %26quot;deadly art%26quot; it is a system of throws and joint locks that are mostly incompatible within the MMA arena due to the rules in MMA and also the way most Aikidoka train does not prepare them for handling a fight, many people train Aikido as if they are dancing with a compliant partner more then as a martial art.
And many of the people who train Aikido don%26#039;t realize that Morihei Ueshiba the founder believed that you should have a black belt in some other martial art such as karate or judo before training Aikido as it is not complete on it%26#039;s own.|||Aikido is a defensive art and hard to use offensively. many of the finishing moves are also illegal. As are the traditional Tae Kwan Do finishing moves. That is why most of the MMA fights you see go to the ground and end up in submission.
Not to take away from the athletic ability of the MMA folks. MMA fighting in the ring is still not the same as life and death situations. So you can%26#039;t use the same techniques or you would run out of competitors. It also doesn%26#039;t make a good show If you just reduce it to points for the best technique.
So it ends up with it is what it is. Just as you would not fight the same way Boxing bare handed as you do now in a ring with great big gloves on the whole style of Boxing changes.
There seems so much argument over this it seems just common sense to me. Sport is sport not combat. It is like sport pistol vs combat shooting you need whole different approach when the target is shooting back.
To say Akido doesn%26#039;t work is a stretch. Is it the best art for self defense I don%26#039;t have enough knowledge about it to say it is not. I do know many other arts use many of the locks and throws used in Akido.|||Not everything has to be in MMA to be proven a good martial art. Martial Arts teach you not to fight and are for discipline, You honestly think Aikido would be used as a sport? It%26#039;s to leverage- based, Plus, the martial arts you usually see in the octagon is usually BJJ, Muy thai, Judo, Styles of Karate, etc. Know why? they are for fitness and sports, they usually concentrate on one person, and the majority of them are external arts.|||Aikido is a traditional discipline where the practitioners do not believe in competition. What you often see in Aikido are demonstrations between members of the same Aikido school who attack a skilled aikidoka and then he floors them with locks and throws. I think that the philosophy of Aikido is extremely incompatible with the UFC. Aikido is the way of harmony and the UFC is the way of making a lot of money by beating your opponent to a pulp or making him submit. A lot of aikidokas would lose in the UFC precisely because they don%26#039;t train to be as fierce as the UFC fighters.|||This is my opinion; I lay no claim on my statements as fact.
Most people who practice aikido do not professionally compete and therefore do not train at the level of professional fighters.
I believe Aikido works on absolute split second timing. The techniques become extremely low percentage when a person tries to force a technique when the timing is not perfect. For this reason, the learning curve is very gradual. Other martial arts offer a quicker learning curve and rely somewhat on techniques that can be %26quot;forced%26quot;.
I believe that MMA sporting events limit the scope of potential outcomes down to three possibilities. K.O., submission, or win by scorecard based on striking. Now Aikido doesn%26#039;t focus intently on striking, so K.O. and scorecard are not compatible. Submissions are present in Aikido, but other arts train in a greater range of submissions so they tend to offer MMA competitors more tools to pull out.
What is missing from MMA events that we find in unrestricted fights is the ability to deescalate, to deflect, and to remove one%26#039;s self from a conflict. Aikido does focus on this aspect of a fight. It focuses on ending conflict by deescalating, redirecting an attack, and maintaining safe distance from an attack.|||THIS IS only A Guess.
- it probably works a lot with moves that are not allowed in mma, for example small joint manipulation and striking vital spots; spine, eyes, groin, and throat. In short, Akdio is probably dirty fighting. That%26#039;s the same reason hopkido is not in mma-- at least the style i did--and we don%26#039;t believe in competing.|||There is a difference between sport martial art (MMA) and traditional. MMA takes hard styles and puts them together. Like muay thai, BJJ, boxing, etc.. Aikido is soft, Yet deadly. DO NOT EVER let UFC or MMA decide which martial art is good or bad! Its the practitioner not the art.|||I%26#039;m no expert, but who told you Aikido is %26quot;soo deadly%26quot;
I mean it could be, but the point of Aikido is to diffuse the situation as fast as possible with little harm to the attacker.
I could go on, but that%26#039;s why God invented Google!|||It is not made for sports but for fights. Aikido itself does not even fight for belts just spars at half speed.
The tv show Human Weapon did a good show on Aikido and they asked that question.|||because most MMA fighter only use Muay Thai, Wrestling or boxing, and Brazilian Jiu jitsu. my guess is that since Akido is a traditional martial art it really isn%26#039;t meant for the UFC octagon.|||Aikido along with Aiki-jujutsu, Judo and Daito Ryu are extremely deadly.
Judo and Daito Ryu practitioners would easily take down and have full control of any MMA fighter.|||because in the world of MMA it does not work....|||its too awesome of a style for it
Wouldn't Aikido be more useful in a realistic situation?
I mean nobody even gets a hand on steven seagal!|||Aikido is what the Japanese teach their riot police....
So I guess it works in realistic situations :)
Oh and Steven seagal is a 7th Dan black belt... in Aikido that basically makes him a god.... Like floating off the floor stuff....
I%26#039;ve done Aikido and know what these people can do.... hell, it%26#039;s effective.....
Okay even if you get a grapple, one pressure points or a twist of the wrist by an Aikido expert will get a guy down,,, I don%26#039;t think muscle will protect against having your wrist broken.... or finger snapped for that matter.
Please don%26#039;t get a UFC fight mixed with a real life situation... As UFC are controlled with rules..... but in real life anything goes to protect yourself. That includes breaking something... if need be.... And yes that applies for any martial art...
Oh and one more thing... Our teacher got 3 people on the floor without any problems and thats with us trying to kick, punch or grapple the crap out of him.... My teacher is a 4th Dan Black Belt.
Basically when steven seagal flips someone in his films, that is the stunt man doing it to make him look good... Plus !!! more importantly if the stunt man doesn%26#039;t flip... that means his tendons would have torn or his arm would have been broken in real life....
Give it a go and see what you think yourself...
You have to try it to believe it :) plug plug|||Ninedemonsgod is incorrect. If a guy punches at you, you dont grab his arm or hand, you go twords the chest and pull him to the ground. Aikido is hepful, but I do agree it would be excellent if you added another style. Knowing grapples and devestating punches and kicks? You will become very strong. Report Abuse
|||There is no one martial are that is good in every situation. The problem with aikido is that it is much too traditional to evolve to a modern world. You really have to study several arts, or a MMA, to be an all-around fighter.
And Seagal is an actor, and he is in movies. I would rather study whatever Neo studied, if movie martial arts were anywhere realistic.|||Gee I wouldn%26#039;t really trust Aikido. It is alright to add to other style. However my view is Aikido is too much of a %26quot;hit or miss%26quot; style because so many technique include grabbing person%26#039;s arm or hands while they%26#039;re punching. If you have tried grab someone hands while they punches you, you will realize how hard it is to pull this off.|||Understand your question? Seagal is the real deal? Did you know he actually lived in the Far East, studied form the masters...a lot of stuff he plays in the movies actually parallels his life. You thinking about sudying Aikido? Nice...a whole mind/body martial art...|||wrestling is more practical.in a fight it is very easy to get someone on the ground if you tangle with a wrestler and he gets you on the ground its all over for you.it is however very hard to stay on your feet if someone is trying to get you on the ground
So I guess it works in realistic situations :)
Oh and Steven seagal is a 7th Dan black belt... in Aikido that basically makes him a god.... Like floating off the floor stuff....
I%26#039;ve done Aikido and know what these people can do.... hell, it%26#039;s effective.....
Okay even if you get a grapple, one pressure points or a twist of the wrist by an Aikido expert will get a guy down,,, I don%26#039;t think muscle will protect against having your wrist broken.... or finger snapped for that matter.
Please don%26#039;t get a UFC fight mixed with a real life situation... As UFC are controlled with rules..... but in real life anything goes to protect yourself. That includes breaking something... if need be.... And yes that applies for any martial art...
Oh and one more thing... Our teacher got 3 people on the floor without any problems and thats with us trying to kick, punch or grapple the crap out of him.... My teacher is a 4th Dan Black Belt.
Basically when steven seagal flips someone in his films, that is the stunt man doing it to make him look good... Plus !!! more importantly if the stunt man doesn%26#039;t flip... that means his tendons would have torn or his arm would have been broken in real life....
Give it a go and see what you think yourself...
You have to try it to believe it :) plug plug|||Ninedemonsgod is incorrect. If a guy punches at you, you dont grab his arm or hand, you go twords the chest and pull him to the ground. Aikido is hepful, but I do agree it would be excellent if you added another style. Knowing grapples and devestating punches and kicks? You will become very strong. Report Abuse
|||There is no one martial are that is good in every situation. The problem with aikido is that it is much too traditional to evolve to a modern world. You really have to study several arts, or a MMA, to be an all-around fighter.
And Seagal is an actor, and he is in movies. I would rather study whatever Neo studied, if movie martial arts were anywhere realistic.|||Gee I wouldn%26#039;t really trust Aikido. It is alright to add to other style. However my view is Aikido is too much of a %26quot;hit or miss%26quot; style because so many technique include grabbing person%26#039;s arm or hands while they%26#039;re punching. If you have tried grab someone hands while they punches you, you will realize how hard it is to pull this off.|||Understand your question? Seagal is the real deal? Did you know he actually lived in the Far East, studied form the masters...a lot of stuff he plays in the movies actually parallels his life. You thinking about sudying Aikido? Nice...a whole mind/body martial art...|||wrestling is more practical.in a fight it is very easy to get someone on the ground if you tangle with a wrestler and he gets you on the ground its all over for you.it is however very hard to stay on your feet if someone is trying to get you on the ground
Can anyone please tell me more about aikido?
I never did any martial arts before, and somehow i am interested in aikido because it is not too aggressive, but there are a lot of things that i am confused, what do people really do in aikido? kicking? punching?does it require a lot of strength? do people do meditation as part of their study?what do people usually learn once they start it? and how long will it take to apply it and do well in it? (i;ve heard that it takes longer than karate,TKD etc..)
Sorry, it seems i am asking too many questions....and thanks for take your time answering them :)|||Japanese art of self-defense. It employs locks and holds and utilizes the principle of nonresistance to cause an opponent%26#039;s own momentum to work against him or her. Aikido emphasizes the importance of achieving complete mental calm and control of one%26#039;s own body to master an opponent%26#039;s attack. There are no offensive moves. It traces its origins to Japanese martial (samurai) traditions dating to the 14th century, and it was developed as a modern form in the early 20th century by Ueshiba Morihei|||no stength involved at all really, a fair amount of movement though.Its very traditional but also uses a lot of the opponents strength against them. Its a lot of fun, go for it|||It%26#039;s basically a gentler form of jiu jitsu, developed by a master when he got a bit old for all the big movements. It is quite technical and uses joint locks and throws, rather than kicks and punches.
It is pretty good as a self defence art, although limited in having quite a strict and traditional approach in many clubs. Steven Segal moves are largely aikido based.
It would take a long time to get good at it, because the movements are often small and intricate, whereas with striking arts like kickboxing and karate there is less emphasis on technique and more on result (i.e. quickly avoiding an attack/ landing your own attack).
It requires less strength than judo or jiu jitsu - as it was designed as a form of jiu jitsu that could be practised by an eighty odd year old Japanese bloke. Do not underestimate the power which can be generated from circular movements and joint locks, though!
Meditation is not a general requirement, but it does feature in many Japanes martial arts as you progress to the Dan grades (black belt and beyond)
If you want something similar, that is a bit more energetic and slightly less technical, try ninjitsu, jiu-jitsu or freestyle karate.|||www.aikido.com|||Aikido incorporates a wide range of techniques which use principles of energy and motion to redirect, neutralise and control attackers.
Embukai (demonstration) using two opponentsAlthough the nomenclature varies between styles some techniques common to nearly all aikido styles are listed below (using Aikikai terminology):[1]
Ikky艒- (first technique) a redirection of an attack using the attacker%26#039;s own shoulder, pinning them at the ulnar nerve on the medial arm.
Niky艒- (second technique) pressure applied to a combinations of nerves and wrist bones that immobilizes the opponent.
Sanky艒- (third technique) a twisting technique that utilizes the attacker%26#039;s wrist, elbow, and shoulder simultaneously.
Yonky艒- (fourth technique) a very painful compression of the radial nerve against the periosteum of the forearm bone.
Shih艒nage- (four-direction throw) is a wrist-lock and throw technique.
Koky奴nage- (breathe throw) relies heavily on timing, movement and leading the opponent%26#039;s mind to achieve a throw that can involve no touching at all.
Kotegaeshi- (wrist-return) a wrist-throw that utilizes the stretching of the extensor digitorum.
However Ueshiba once warned against an overemphasis on studying only the physical aspect of techniques. Ueshiba said:[2]
There is no set form in Aikido... It is the study of the spirit. One must not get caught up in set form, because in doing so, one is unable to perform the function sensitively. In Aikido, first we begin with the cleansing of the ki of one%26#039;s soul. Following this, the rebuilding of one%26#039;s spirit is essential. Through the physical body, the performance of kata is that of haku (the lower self). We study kon (the higher self/the spirit). We must advance by harmoniously uniting the higher and lower selves. The higher self must make use of the lower self.
Training
Training is done through mutual technique, where the focus is on entering and harmonising with the attack, rather than on meeting force with force. Uke, the receiver of the technique, usually initiates an attack against nage (also referred to as tori or shite depending on aikido style), who neutralises this attack with an aikido technique.
Uke and nage have equally important roles. The role of uke is to be honest and committed in attack, to use positioning to protect oneself, and to learn proper technique through the imbalanced feeling created by the technique. The role of nage is to blend with and neutralise uke%26#039;s attack without leaving an opening to further attacks. Simultaneously nage will be studying how to create a feeling of being centered (balanced) and in control of the application of the aikido technique. Therefore, students must practise as both uke and nage in order to learn proper technique.
One of the first things taught to new students is how to respond appropriately when a technique is applied, and fall safely to the ground at the correct time. Both tumbling, and later break-falls, are an important part of learning aikido. This assures uke%26#039;s safety during class and permits sincere execution of the technique. The word for this skill is ukemi, which literally means %26quot;receiving%26quot;. Thus uke actively receives the technique, rather than simply being controlled.
Because the techniques of aikido can be very harmful if applied too strongly on an inexperienced opponent, the level of practice possible depends on the ability of uke to receive the technique, as much as it depends on the ability of nage to apply it. When nage gains control and applies a technique, it is prudent for uke to fall in a controlled fashion, both to prevent injury and to allow uke to feel the mechanics that make the technique effective. Similarly, it is the responsibility of nage to prevent injury to uke by employing a speed and force of application that is appropriate for the abilities of uke. Constant communication is essential so that both aikid艒ka may take an active role in ensuring safe and productive practice.
Movement, awareness, precision, distance and timing are all important to the execution of techniques as students progress from rigidly defined exercises to more fluid and adaptable applications. Eventually, students take part in jiyu-waza (free technique) and/or randori, where the attacks are less predictable. Most schools employ training methods wherein uke actively attempts to employ counter-techniques, or kaeshi-waza.
Ueshiba did not allow competition in training because some techniques were considered too dangerous and because he believed that competition did not develop good character in students.[citation needed] Most styles of aikido continue this tradition, although Shodokan Aikido began holding competitions shortly after its formation.[3] In the Ki Society there are forms (taigi) competitions held from time to time.
Defence
Aikido techniques are largely designed towards keeping the attacker off balance and leading their mind. Manipulation of uke%26#039;s balance by entering is often referred to as %26quot;taking the centre%26quot;. It is sometimes said that aikido contains only defence, and the attacks that are performed are not really aikido. From a historical perspective this claim is questionable, but many if not most aikid艒ka have the defence techniques as the focus of their training. Much of aikido%26#039;s repertoire of defences can be performed either as throwing techniques (nage-waza) or as pins (katame-waza), depending on the situation.
Each technique can be executed in many different ways. For example, a technique carried out in the irimi style consists of movements inward, toward the uke, while those carried out in the tenkan style use outward sweeping motions, and tenshin styles involve a slight retreat from or orbit around the point of attack. An uchi (%26quot;inside%26quot;) style technique takes place towards the front of uke, whereas a soto (%26quot;outside%26quot;) style technique takes place to his side; an omote version of a technique is applied in front of him, whereas an ura version is applied using a turning motion; and most techniques can be performed when either uke or nage (or both) are kneeling. Thus from less than 20 basic techniques, there are literally thousands of possible actions depending on the attack and the situation. Ueshiba said there are 2,664 techniques.[citation needed]
There is also the matter of atemi, or strikes employed during an aikido technique. The role and importance of atemi is a matter of some minor current debate in aikido, but it is clear that they were practiced by the founder. Some view atemi as strikes to %26quot;vital points%26quot; that can be delivered during the course of a technique%26#039;s application, to increase effectiveness. Others consider atemi to be methods of distraction, particularly when aimed at the face. For instance, if a movement would expose the aikido practitioner to a counter-blow, he or she may deliver a quick strike to distract the attacker or occupy the threatening limb. (Such a strike will also usually break the target%26#039;s concentration, making them easier to throw than if they are able to focus on resisting.) Atemi can be interpreted as not only punches or kicks but also, for instance, striking with a shoulder or a large part of the arm. Some throws are arguably effected through an unbalancing or abrupt application of atemi. Many sayings about atemi are attributed to Morihei Ueshiba, although their precise content can vary considerably depending on who tells them. [4]
The use of atemi is dependent on the organisation and, to some extent, the individual dojo. Some dojo teach the strikes that are integral to all aikido techniques as mere distractions used to make the application of an aikido technique easier, while others teach that strikes are to be used for more destructive reasons. Ueshiba himself wrote, while describing the aikido technique shomen%26#039;uchi ikky艒 (the first immobilization technique), %26quot;...first smash the eyes.%26quot; Thus, one possible opening movement for ikky艒 is a knife-hand thrust towards the face, to make uke block and thus expose his or her arm to the joint control - as though moving to smash uke%26#039;s eyes. Whether the intent is to disable or merely to distract, a sincere atemi should force uke to respond in a manner that makes the application of the technique more effective.
Kiai (audible exhalations of energy) were also used and taught by Ueshiba and are used in most traditional aikido schools.
Attacks
In the early days when Ueshiba began teaching to the public, students tended to be proficient in another martial art. Due to this, attacks per se are generally not focused on in contemporary aikido dojo. Students will learn the various attacks from which an aikido technique can be practiced. Although attacks seldom are studied to the same extent as some arts, good attacks are needed to study correct and effective application of technique. Honest attacks are considered important. An honest attack would be an attack with full intention or a strong grab or immobilizing hold. The speed of an attack may vary depending on the experience and ranking of nage.
Aikido attacks used in normal training include various stylized strikes and grabs such as sh艒men%26#039;uchi (a vertical strike to the head), yokomen%26#039;uchi (a lateral strike to the side of the head and/or neck), mune-tsuki (a punch to the stomach), ry艒te-dori (a two handed grab) or kata-dori (a shoulder grab). Many of the -uchi strikes resemble blows from a sword or other weapon.
Rand艒ri
One of the central martial philosophies of aikido is to be able to handle multiple-attacker circumstances fluidly. Rand艒ri, or jiy奴waza (freestyle) practice against multiple opponents, is a key part of the curriculum in most aikido schools and is required for the higher level ranks. Rand艒ri is mostly intended to develop, like an exercise, a person%26#039;s ability to perform without thought, with their mind and body coordinated. The continued practice of having one opponent after another coming at you without rest develops your awareness and the connection between mind and body.
Shodokan Aikido rand艒ri differs in that it is not done with multiple persons, but between two people with both participants able to attack, defend and resist at will. As in judo, the role of uke and nage does not exist.
Another tenet of aikido is that the aikidoka should gain control of their opponent as quickly as possible, while causing the least amount of damage possible to either party.
Weapons
Weapons training in aikido usually consists of j艒 (approx. 50 inch tall staff), bokken (wooden sword), and wooden tant艒 (knife). Both weapons-taking and weapons-retention are sometimes taught, to integrate the armed and unarmed aspects of aikido.
Many schools use versions of Morihiro Saito%26#039;s weapons system: aiki-j艒 and aiki-ken.
Clothing
The aikid艒gi used in aikido is similar to the keikogi used in most other modern bud艒 arts; simple trousers and a wraparound jacket, usually white.
To the keikogi, some systems add the traditional garment hakama. The hakama is usually black or dark blue and in most dojo is reserved for practitioners with dan (black belt) ranks.
Although some systems use many belt colours similar to the system in judo, the most common version is that dan ranks wear a black belt, and ky奴 ranks white - sometimes with an additional brown belt for the highest ky奴 ranks.
Ki
The Japanese character for ki, (Qi in Chinese) is a symbolic representation of a lid covering a pot full of rice. The steam being contained within, is ki. This same word is applied to the ability to harness one%26#039;s own %26#039;breath power%26#039;, %26#039;power%26#039;, or %26#039;energy%26#039;. Teachers describe ki as coming from the hara, situated in the lower abdomen, about two inches below and behind the navel. In training these teachers emphasize that one should remain %26quot;centered%26quot;. Very high ranking teachers are said to sometimes reach a level of ki that enables them to execute techniques without touching their opponent%26#039;s body.
The spiritual interpretation of ki depends very much on what school of aikido one studies, as some emphasize it more than others. Ki Society dojo, for example, tend to spend much more time on ki-related training activities than do, for example, Yoshinkan dojo. The importance of ki in aikido cannot be denied - the name of the martial art, after all, can be translated as %26quot;the meeting of ki%26quot;. But what ki is, is debated by many within the discipline. Ueshiba himself appears to have changed his views over time -- for example, Yoshinkan Aikido, which largely follows Ueshiba%26#039;s teachings from before the war, is considerably more martial in nature, reflecting a younger, more violent and less spiritual man. Within this school, ki perhaps could be better thought of as having its original Chinese meaning of breath, and aikido as coordination of movement with breath to maximize power. As Ueshiba evolved and his views changed, his teachings took on a much more ethereal feel, and many of his later students (almost all now high ranking sensei within the Aikikai) teach about ki from this perspective.
Body
Aikido training is for all-around physical fitness, flexibility, and relaxation. The human body in general can exert power in two ways: contractive and expansive. Many fitness activities, for example weight-lifting, emphasize the former, which means that specific muscles or muscle groups are isolated and worked to improve tone, mass, and power. The disadvantage of this, however, is that whole body movement and coordination are rarely stressed. Thus, while muscle size and power may increase, there is no emphasis on the ways in which those muscles can work together most efficiently. Also, this sort of training tends to increase tension, decrease flexibility, and stress the joints. The result may be aesthetically pleasing, but when done to excess may actually be detrimental to overall health.
The second type of power, expansive, is mostly stressed in activities such as dance or gymnastics. In these activities, the body must learn to move in a coordinated manner and with relaxation. Aikido also mostly stresses this sort of training. While both types of power are important, it is interesting to note that a person who masters the second type of power can, in a martial context, often overcome a person who is much bigger or stronger. The reason for this is that the contractive power is only as great as the mass and power of your individual muscles. Expansive power, however, as used in aikido, can be much greater than your size may lead you to believe. This is because you move with your whole body. Rather than stressing and tensing only a few muscles, you learn to relax and move from the centre of your body, where you are most powerful. Power is then extended out naturally through the relaxed limbs, which become almost whip-like in their motion. Needless to say, the power behind an entire person%26#039;s body will be more than that of someone%26#039;s arm or leg alone.
Hence, aikido develops the body in a unique manner. Aerobic fitness is obtained through vigorous training. Flexibility of the joints and connective tissues is developed through various stretching exercises and through the techniques themselves. Relaxation is learned automatically, since without it the techniques will not function. A balanced use of contractive and expansive power is mastered, enabling even a small person to pit his entire body%26#039;s energy against their opponent.
With this, different masters stress different aspects of training. Some masters stress importance of body posture while executing the technique in order to coordinate different parts of the body, while others deal with the physical aspects of it. With each way, comes a different means of interpretation of the same basic principles of the art which is discussed in more detail above.
Mind
Aikido training does not consider the body and mind as independent entities. The condition of one affects the other. For example, the physical relaxation learned in aikido also becomes a mental relaxation. Likewise, the confidence that develops mentally is manifested in a more confident style. Psychological or spiritual insight learned during training must become reflected in the body, else it will vanish under pressure, when more basic, ingrained patterns and reflexes take over. Aikido training requires the student to squarely face conflict, not to run away from it. Through this experience, an aikido student may learn to face other areas of life in a similarly proactive fashion, rather than with avoidance and fear.
Ranking
The vast majority of aikido styles use the ky奴/dan ranking system common to gendai bud艒, however the actual requirements for each belt level differs between styles, so they are not necessarily comparable or interchangeable. Some organisations of aikido use coloured belts for ky奴 levels, and some do not.
Styles
The major styles of aikido each have their own honbu dojo in Japan, have an international breadth, and were founded by direct students of Morihei Ueshiba. Although there has been an explosion of %26quot;independent styles%26quot; generally only the first six listed are considered major.
Aikikai is the largest aikido organisation, and is led by the family of the founder. Numerous sub-organisations and teachers affiliate themselves with this umbrella organisation, which therefore encompasses a wide variety of aikido styles, training methods and technical differences. These sub-organisations are often centred around prominent shihan and are usually organised at the national level, although sub-national and inter-national sub-organisations exist.
Yoshinkan Founded by Gozo Shioda, has a reputation for being the most rigidly precise. Students of Yoshinkan aikido practise basic movements as solo kata, and this style has been popular among the Japanese police. The international organisation associated with the Yoshinkan style of aikido is known as the Yoshinkai, and has active branches in many parts of the world.
Yoseikan was founded by Minoru Mochizuki, who was an early student of Ueshiba and also of Jigoro Kano at the Kodokan. This style includes elements of aiki-bud艒 together with aspects of karate, judo and other arts. It is now carried on by his son, Hiroo Mochizuki, the creator of Yoseikan Budo.
Shodokan Aikido (often called Tomiki Aikido, after its founder) use sparring and rule based competition in training as opposed to most others. People tend to compete to train rather than to train to compete. Kenji Tomiki, an early student of Ueshiba and also of judo%26#039;s Jigoro Kano, believed that introducing an element of competition would serve to sharpen and focus the practice since it was no longer tested in real combat. This latter view was the cause of a split with Ueshiba%26#039;s family who firmly believed that there was no place for competition in aikido training. Tomiki said that at no point did Ueshiba actually cast him out.
The Ki Society, founded by former chief instructor of the Aikikai Hombu dojo, Koichi Tohei, emphasizes very soft flowing techniques and has a special program for the development of ki. It also has a special system of ki-ranks alongside the traditional ky奴 and dan system. This style is also called Shin Shin Toitsu Aikido (or Ki-Aikido).
Iwama style emphasizes the relation between weapon techniques and barehand techniques riai. Since the death of its founder Morihiro Saito, the Iwama style has been practiced by clubs within the Aikikai and an independent organisation headed by Hitohiro Saito. Morihiro Saito was a long time uchideshi of Ueshiba, beginning in 1946 and staying with him through his death. Many consider that Morihiro Saito was the student who spent most time directly studying with Ueshiba. Morihiro Saito said he was trying to preserve and teach the art exactly as the founder of aikido taught it to him. Technically, Iwama-ry奴 seems to resemble the aikido Ueshiba was teaching in the early 1950s mainly in the Iwama dojo. The technical repertoire is large. The new, separate from Aikikai, Iwama-ry奴 Aikido has been renamed Iwama Shin Shin Aikishurenkai.
Shin%26#039;ei Taido Founded by the late Noriaki Inoue, nephew of Morihei Ueshiba.
Yoshokai Aikido, begun by then-hachidan Takashi Kushida of Yoshinkan aikido.
Tendoryu Aikido Headed by Kenji Shimizu.
Shin Budo Kai headed by Shizuo Imaizumi.
Kokikai Aikido, founded by Shuji Maruyama in 1986.
Seidokan Aikido, founded by Rod Kobayashi.
Nippon Kan Headed by Gaku Homma.
Nishio Aikido a part of the Aikikai although techically well defined according to its head Shoji Nishio.
Takemusu Aiki Tomita Academy. Academy for the development of Takemusu Aiki founded in 1992 by Takeji Tomita.
Aiki Manseido Headed by Kanshu Sunadomari. Independent style centred in Ky奴sh奴, Japan.
Fugakukai International Aikido. Has roots in the Shodokan style, but without the competition element.
The above styles can trace their lineage through senior students back to the founder of aikido, Morihei Ueshiba. Two further well known martial arts use the name aikido but do not have this direct connection. They are Korindo Aikido founded by Minoru Hirai and Nihon Goshin Aikido founded by Shodo Morita. These schools, with some historical justification, suggest that the name aikido is not the exclusive domain of arts derived from the teachings of Morihei Ueshiba.
Sorry, it seems i am asking too many questions....and thanks for take your time answering them :)|||Japanese art of self-defense. It employs locks and holds and utilizes the principle of nonresistance to cause an opponent%26#039;s own momentum to work against him or her. Aikido emphasizes the importance of achieving complete mental calm and control of one%26#039;s own body to master an opponent%26#039;s attack. There are no offensive moves. It traces its origins to Japanese martial (samurai) traditions dating to the 14th century, and it was developed as a modern form in the early 20th century by Ueshiba Morihei|||no stength involved at all really, a fair amount of movement though.Its very traditional but also uses a lot of the opponents strength against them. Its a lot of fun, go for it|||It%26#039;s basically a gentler form of jiu jitsu, developed by a master when he got a bit old for all the big movements. It is quite technical and uses joint locks and throws, rather than kicks and punches.
It is pretty good as a self defence art, although limited in having quite a strict and traditional approach in many clubs. Steven Segal moves are largely aikido based.
It would take a long time to get good at it, because the movements are often small and intricate, whereas with striking arts like kickboxing and karate there is less emphasis on technique and more on result (i.e. quickly avoiding an attack/ landing your own attack).
It requires less strength than judo or jiu jitsu - as it was designed as a form of jiu jitsu that could be practised by an eighty odd year old Japanese bloke. Do not underestimate the power which can be generated from circular movements and joint locks, though!
Meditation is not a general requirement, but it does feature in many Japanes martial arts as you progress to the Dan grades (black belt and beyond)
If you want something similar, that is a bit more energetic and slightly less technical, try ninjitsu, jiu-jitsu or freestyle karate.|||www.aikido.com|||Aikido incorporates a wide range of techniques which use principles of energy and motion to redirect, neutralise and control attackers.
Embukai (demonstration) using two opponentsAlthough the nomenclature varies between styles some techniques common to nearly all aikido styles are listed below (using Aikikai terminology):[1]
Ikky艒- (first technique) a redirection of an attack using the attacker%26#039;s own shoulder, pinning them at the ulnar nerve on the medial arm.
Niky艒- (second technique) pressure applied to a combinations of nerves and wrist bones that immobilizes the opponent.
Sanky艒- (third technique) a twisting technique that utilizes the attacker%26#039;s wrist, elbow, and shoulder simultaneously.
Yonky艒- (fourth technique) a very painful compression of the radial nerve against the periosteum of the forearm bone.
Shih艒nage- (four-direction throw) is a wrist-lock and throw technique.
Koky奴nage- (breathe throw) relies heavily on timing, movement and leading the opponent%26#039;s mind to achieve a throw that can involve no touching at all.
Kotegaeshi- (wrist-return) a wrist-throw that utilizes the stretching of the extensor digitorum.
However Ueshiba once warned against an overemphasis on studying only the physical aspect of techniques. Ueshiba said:[2]
There is no set form in Aikido... It is the study of the spirit. One must not get caught up in set form, because in doing so, one is unable to perform the function sensitively. In Aikido, first we begin with the cleansing of the ki of one%26#039;s soul. Following this, the rebuilding of one%26#039;s spirit is essential. Through the physical body, the performance of kata is that of haku (the lower self). We study kon (the higher self/the spirit). We must advance by harmoniously uniting the higher and lower selves. The higher self must make use of the lower self.
Training
Training is done through mutual technique, where the focus is on entering and harmonising with the attack, rather than on meeting force with force. Uke, the receiver of the technique, usually initiates an attack against nage (also referred to as tori or shite depending on aikido style), who neutralises this attack with an aikido technique.
Uke and nage have equally important roles. The role of uke is to be honest and committed in attack, to use positioning to protect oneself, and to learn proper technique through the imbalanced feeling created by the technique. The role of nage is to blend with and neutralise uke%26#039;s attack without leaving an opening to further attacks. Simultaneously nage will be studying how to create a feeling of being centered (balanced) and in control of the application of the aikido technique. Therefore, students must practise as both uke and nage in order to learn proper technique.
One of the first things taught to new students is how to respond appropriately when a technique is applied, and fall safely to the ground at the correct time. Both tumbling, and later break-falls, are an important part of learning aikido. This assures uke%26#039;s safety during class and permits sincere execution of the technique. The word for this skill is ukemi, which literally means %26quot;receiving%26quot;. Thus uke actively receives the technique, rather than simply being controlled.
Because the techniques of aikido can be very harmful if applied too strongly on an inexperienced opponent, the level of practice possible depends on the ability of uke to receive the technique, as much as it depends on the ability of nage to apply it. When nage gains control and applies a technique, it is prudent for uke to fall in a controlled fashion, both to prevent injury and to allow uke to feel the mechanics that make the technique effective. Similarly, it is the responsibility of nage to prevent injury to uke by employing a speed and force of application that is appropriate for the abilities of uke. Constant communication is essential so that both aikid艒ka may take an active role in ensuring safe and productive practice.
Movement, awareness, precision, distance and timing are all important to the execution of techniques as students progress from rigidly defined exercises to more fluid and adaptable applications. Eventually, students take part in jiyu-waza (free technique) and/or randori, where the attacks are less predictable. Most schools employ training methods wherein uke actively attempts to employ counter-techniques, or kaeshi-waza.
Ueshiba did not allow competition in training because some techniques were considered too dangerous and because he believed that competition did not develop good character in students.[citation needed] Most styles of aikido continue this tradition, although Shodokan Aikido began holding competitions shortly after its formation.[3] In the Ki Society there are forms (taigi) competitions held from time to time.
Defence
Aikido techniques are largely designed towards keeping the attacker off balance and leading their mind. Manipulation of uke%26#039;s balance by entering is often referred to as %26quot;taking the centre%26quot;. It is sometimes said that aikido contains only defence, and the attacks that are performed are not really aikido. From a historical perspective this claim is questionable, but many if not most aikid艒ka have the defence techniques as the focus of their training. Much of aikido%26#039;s repertoire of defences can be performed either as throwing techniques (nage-waza) or as pins (katame-waza), depending on the situation.
Each technique can be executed in many different ways. For example, a technique carried out in the irimi style consists of movements inward, toward the uke, while those carried out in the tenkan style use outward sweeping motions, and tenshin styles involve a slight retreat from or orbit around the point of attack. An uchi (%26quot;inside%26quot;) style technique takes place towards the front of uke, whereas a soto (%26quot;outside%26quot;) style technique takes place to his side; an omote version of a technique is applied in front of him, whereas an ura version is applied using a turning motion; and most techniques can be performed when either uke or nage (or both) are kneeling. Thus from less than 20 basic techniques, there are literally thousands of possible actions depending on the attack and the situation. Ueshiba said there are 2,664 techniques.[citation needed]
There is also the matter of atemi, or strikes employed during an aikido technique. The role and importance of atemi is a matter of some minor current debate in aikido, but it is clear that they were practiced by the founder. Some view atemi as strikes to %26quot;vital points%26quot; that can be delivered during the course of a technique%26#039;s application, to increase effectiveness. Others consider atemi to be methods of distraction, particularly when aimed at the face. For instance, if a movement would expose the aikido practitioner to a counter-blow, he or she may deliver a quick strike to distract the attacker or occupy the threatening limb. (Such a strike will also usually break the target%26#039;s concentration, making them easier to throw than if they are able to focus on resisting.) Atemi can be interpreted as not only punches or kicks but also, for instance, striking with a shoulder or a large part of the arm. Some throws are arguably effected through an unbalancing or abrupt application of atemi. Many sayings about atemi are attributed to Morihei Ueshiba, although their precise content can vary considerably depending on who tells them. [4]
The use of atemi is dependent on the organisation and, to some extent, the individual dojo. Some dojo teach the strikes that are integral to all aikido techniques as mere distractions used to make the application of an aikido technique easier, while others teach that strikes are to be used for more destructive reasons. Ueshiba himself wrote, while describing the aikido technique shomen%26#039;uchi ikky艒 (the first immobilization technique), %26quot;...first smash the eyes.%26quot; Thus, one possible opening movement for ikky艒 is a knife-hand thrust towards the face, to make uke block and thus expose his or her arm to the joint control - as though moving to smash uke%26#039;s eyes. Whether the intent is to disable or merely to distract, a sincere atemi should force uke to respond in a manner that makes the application of the technique more effective.
Kiai (audible exhalations of energy) were also used and taught by Ueshiba and are used in most traditional aikido schools.
Attacks
In the early days when Ueshiba began teaching to the public, students tended to be proficient in another martial art. Due to this, attacks per se are generally not focused on in contemporary aikido dojo. Students will learn the various attacks from which an aikido technique can be practiced. Although attacks seldom are studied to the same extent as some arts, good attacks are needed to study correct and effective application of technique. Honest attacks are considered important. An honest attack would be an attack with full intention or a strong grab or immobilizing hold. The speed of an attack may vary depending on the experience and ranking of nage.
Aikido attacks used in normal training include various stylized strikes and grabs such as sh艒men%26#039;uchi (a vertical strike to the head), yokomen%26#039;uchi (a lateral strike to the side of the head and/or neck), mune-tsuki (a punch to the stomach), ry艒te-dori (a two handed grab) or kata-dori (a shoulder grab). Many of the -uchi strikes resemble blows from a sword or other weapon.
Rand艒ri
One of the central martial philosophies of aikido is to be able to handle multiple-attacker circumstances fluidly. Rand艒ri, or jiy奴waza (freestyle) practice against multiple opponents, is a key part of the curriculum in most aikido schools and is required for the higher level ranks. Rand艒ri is mostly intended to develop, like an exercise, a person%26#039;s ability to perform without thought, with their mind and body coordinated. The continued practice of having one opponent after another coming at you without rest develops your awareness and the connection between mind and body.
Shodokan Aikido rand艒ri differs in that it is not done with multiple persons, but between two people with both participants able to attack, defend and resist at will. As in judo, the role of uke and nage does not exist.
Another tenet of aikido is that the aikidoka should gain control of their opponent as quickly as possible, while causing the least amount of damage possible to either party.
Weapons
Weapons training in aikido usually consists of j艒 (approx. 50 inch tall staff), bokken (wooden sword), and wooden tant艒 (knife). Both weapons-taking and weapons-retention are sometimes taught, to integrate the armed and unarmed aspects of aikido.
Many schools use versions of Morihiro Saito%26#039;s weapons system: aiki-j艒 and aiki-ken.
Clothing
The aikid艒gi used in aikido is similar to the keikogi used in most other modern bud艒 arts; simple trousers and a wraparound jacket, usually white.
To the keikogi, some systems add the traditional garment hakama. The hakama is usually black or dark blue and in most dojo is reserved for practitioners with dan (black belt) ranks.
Although some systems use many belt colours similar to the system in judo, the most common version is that dan ranks wear a black belt, and ky奴 ranks white - sometimes with an additional brown belt for the highest ky奴 ranks.
Ki
The Japanese character for ki, (Qi in Chinese) is a symbolic representation of a lid covering a pot full of rice. The steam being contained within, is ki. This same word is applied to the ability to harness one%26#039;s own %26#039;breath power%26#039;, %26#039;power%26#039;, or %26#039;energy%26#039;. Teachers describe ki as coming from the hara, situated in the lower abdomen, about two inches below and behind the navel. In training these teachers emphasize that one should remain %26quot;centered%26quot;. Very high ranking teachers are said to sometimes reach a level of ki that enables them to execute techniques without touching their opponent%26#039;s body.
The spiritual interpretation of ki depends very much on what school of aikido one studies, as some emphasize it more than others. Ki Society dojo, for example, tend to spend much more time on ki-related training activities than do, for example, Yoshinkan dojo. The importance of ki in aikido cannot be denied - the name of the martial art, after all, can be translated as %26quot;the meeting of ki%26quot;. But what ki is, is debated by many within the discipline. Ueshiba himself appears to have changed his views over time -- for example, Yoshinkan Aikido, which largely follows Ueshiba%26#039;s teachings from before the war, is considerably more martial in nature, reflecting a younger, more violent and less spiritual man. Within this school, ki perhaps could be better thought of as having its original Chinese meaning of breath, and aikido as coordination of movement with breath to maximize power. As Ueshiba evolved and his views changed, his teachings took on a much more ethereal feel, and many of his later students (almost all now high ranking sensei within the Aikikai) teach about ki from this perspective.
Body
Aikido training is for all-around physical fitness, flexibility, and relaxation. The human body in general can exert power in two ways: contractive and expansive. Many fitness activities, for example weight-lifting, emphasize the former, which means that specific muscles or muscle groups are isolated and worked to improve tone, mass, and power. The disadvantage of this, however, is that whole body movement and coordination are rarely stressed. Thus, while muscle size and power may increase, there is no emphasis on the ways in which those muscles can work together most efficiently. Also, this sort of training tends to increase tension, decrease flexibility, and stress the joints. The result may be aesthetically pleasing, but when done to excess may actually be detrimental to overall health.
The second type of power, expansive, is mostly stressed in activities such as dance or gymnastics. In these activities, the body must learn to move in a coordinated manner and with relaxation. Aikido also mostly stresses this sort of training. While both types of power are important, it is interesting to note that a person who masters the second type of power can, in a martial context, often overcome a person who is much bigger or stronger. The reason for this is that the contractive power is only as great as the mass and power of your individual muscles. Expansive power, however, as used in aikido, can be much greater than your size may lead you to believe. This is because you move with your whole body. Rather than stressing and tensing only a few muscles, you learn to relax and move from the centre of your body, where you are most powerful. Power is then extended out naturally through the relaxed limbs, which become almost whip-like in their motion. Needless to say, the power behind an entire person%26#039;s body will be more than that of someone%26#039;s arm or leg alone.
Hence, aikido develops the body in a unique manner. Aerobic fitness is obtained through vigorous training. Flexibility of the joints and connective tissues is developed through various stretching exercises and through the techniques themselves. Relaxation is learned automatically, since without it the techniques will not function. A balanced use of contractive and expansive power is mastered, enabling even a small person to pit his entire body%26#039;s energy against their opponent.
With this, different masters stress different aspects of training. Some masters stress importance of body posture while executing the technique in order to coordinate different parts of the body, while others deal with the physical aspects of it. With each way, comes a different means of interpretation of the same basic principles of the art which is discussed in more detail above.
Mind
Aikido training does not consider the body and mind as independent entities. The condition of one affects the other. For example, the physical relaxation learned in aikido also becomes a mental relaxation. Likewise, the confidence that develops mentally is manifested in a more confident style. Psychological or spiritual insight learned during training must become reflected in the body, else it will vanish under pressure, when more basic, ingrained patterns and reflexes take over. Aikido training requires the student to squarely face conflict, not to run away from it. Through this experience, an aikido student may learn to face other areas of life in a similarly proactive fashion, rather than with avoidance and fear.
Ranking
The vast majority of aikido styles use the ky奴/dan ranking system common to gendai bud艒, however the actual requirements for each belt level differs between styles, so they are not necessarily comparable or interchangeable. Some organisations of aikido use coloured belts for ky奴 levels, and some do not.
Styles
The major styles of aikido each have their own honbu dojo in Japan, have an international breadth, and were founded by direct students of Morihei Ueshiba. Although there has been an explosion of %26quot;independent styles%26quot; generally only the first six listed are considered major.
Aikikai is the largest aikido organisation, and is led by the family of the founder. Numerous sub-organisations and teachers affiliate themselves with this umbrella organisation, which therefore encompasses a wide variety of aikido styles, training methods and technical differences. These sub-organisations are often centred around prominent shihan and are usually organised at the national level, although sub-national and inter-national sub-organisations exist.
Yoshinkan Founded by Gozo Shioda, has a reputation for being the most rigidly precise. Students of Yoshinkan aikido practise basic movements as solo kata, and this style has been popular among the Japanese police. The international organisation associated with the Yoshinkan style of aikido is known as the Yoshinkai, and has active branches in many parts of the world.
Yoseikan was founded by Minoru Mochizuki, who was an early student of Ueshiba and also of Jigoro Kano at the Kodokan. This style includes elements of aiki-bud艒 together with aspects of karate, judo and other arts. It is now carried on by his son, Hiroo Mochizuki, the creator of Yoseikan Budo.
Shodokan Aikido (often called Tomiki Aikido, after its founder) use sparring and rule based competition in training as opposed to most others. People tend to compete to train rather than to train to compete. Kenji Tomiki, an early student of Ueshiba and also of judo%26#039;s Jigoro Kano, believed that introducing an element of competition would serve to sharpen and focus the practice since it was no longer tested in real combat. This latter view was the cause of a split with Ueshiba%26#039;s family who firmly believed that there was no place for competition in aikido training. Tomiki said that at no point did Ueshiba actually cast him out.
The Ki Society, founded by former chief instructor of the Aikikai Hombu dojo, Koichi Tohei, emphasizes very soft flowing techniques and has a special program for the development of ki. It also has a special system of ki-ranks alongside the traditional ky奴 and dan system. This style is also called Shin Shin Toitsu Aikido (or Ki-Aikido).
Iwama style emphasizes the relation between weapon techniques and barehand techniques riai. Since the death of its founder Morihiro Saito, the Iwama style has been practiced by clubs within the Aikikai and an independent organisation headed by Hitohiro Saito. Morihiro Saito was a long time uchideshi of Ueshiba, beginning in 1946 and staying with him through his death. Many consider that Morihiro Saito was the student who spent most time directly studying with Ueshiba. Morihiro Saito said he was trying to preserve and teach the art exactly as the founder of aikido taught it to him. Technically, Iwama-ry奴 seems to resemble the aikido Ueshiba was teaching in the early 1950s mainly in the Iwama dojo. The technical repertoire is large. The new, separate from Aikikai, Iwama-ry奴 Aikido has been renamed Iwama Shin Shin Aikishurenkai.
Shin%26#039;ei Taido Founded by the late Noriaki Inoue, nephew of Morihei Ueshiba.
Yoshokai Aikido, begun by then-hachidan Takashi Kushida of Yoshinkan aikido.
Tendoryu Aikido Headed by Kenji Shimizu.
Shin Budo Kai headed by Shizuo Imaizumi.
Kokikai Aikido, founded by Shuji Maruyama in 1986.
Seidokan Aikido, founded by Rod Kobayashi.
Nippon Kan Headed by Gaku Homma.
Nishio Aikido a part of the Aikikai although techically well defined according to its head Shoji Nishio.
Takemusu Aiki Tomita Academy. Academy for the development of Takemusu Aiki founded in 1992 by Takeji Tomita.
Aiki Manseido Headed by Kanshu Sunadomari. Independent style centred in Ky奴sh奴, Japan.
Fugakukai International Aikido. Has roots in the Shodokan style, but without the competition element.
The above styles can trace their lineage through senior students back to the founder of aikido, Morihei Ueshiba. Two further well known martial arts use the name aikido but do not have this direct connection. They are Korindo Aikido founded by Minoru Hirai and Nihon Goshin Aikido founded by Shodo Morita. These schools, with some historical justification, suggest that the name aikido is not the exclusive domain of arts derived from the teachings of Morihei Ueshiba.
Question for Aikido Yudansha (Black Belts) only?
I studied at an Aikikai Aikido Dojo for 18 months but was never told what to think or how to develop Ki. I did the %26quot;jumbi taiso%26quot; rowing and the seat extension stuff to no effect.
Please explain how to extend Ki. I no longer study but am curious to see if I can get a response from someone who Knows.|||These answers are all so interesting and common, but don%26#039;t give you what your really looking for. No zen answers today by me. Ki (chi, jivat, pnuema, ruach, the Force) is the life force. Biology can not measure it empirically or define it. Yet, we all know it exists, we%26#039;re alive duh! It is everywhere and connected to all things, but only things that can store it can subject it to the duality of an inner space thereby creating Kokyu (Breath, neshemah, prana). This allows for animation of that thing thus bringing together matter %26amp; spirit...where then soul (tamashii) then exists (I+you=we).
The classical undo %26amp; taiso that are practiced originate from Shinto ritual, and are still practiced today at Shinto jinja. They are rigid and confined by the culture of their origin. They do work, but other forms work better. What really works best is what works for you. Everyone is an individual and their centers of being (Head (shin), Heart (kokoro), Belly (hara)) are variously utilized. Once it is determined your own nature then %26quot;exercises%26quot; can be applied to best grow and flow your Ki into a particular matrix that works best for you and what you are doing. By varying the exercises you can optimize yourself to perform certain tasks here on the prime material plane.
However to get you on the path substantially I recommend spreading your stance a bit, bend your knees, feel the ground under your feet, check your body %26amp; release tension, own the space around you, breath deeply into the ground and your body, set your intention to do something, take everything you just calibrated, and do your intention. You do that sincerely and with passion then Ki will begin to fill (yuki (like yudansha)) you and your manifestation. Beyond this a true master teacher would need to get to know you to help more. Or wait for a book by me later that gives many exercises to choose %26amp; experiment with. No, don%26#039;t ask, its not done yet.|||Ki is not something you develop within two years or twenty, and it is different for each person. This is what I believe. Many aiki techniques that use ki take years to perfect. It is only through diligent practice and a clear mind (in other words, leaving your troubles at the door) that you can begin to make progress. The rest, I think, is just an issue of patience and a good eye. Aiki has really taught me to learn in a different way- by watching others, you pick up subtleties you wouldn%26#039;t be able to figure out by your own. Ki for me is less about power than it is a manifestation of a skilled movement.|||I hope that in my attempt I do not confuse you even more. In my way of thinking Ki is Energy, the Force that governs and runs all things. It is Nature herself (but that%26#039;s just me) It is a real and true energy that links everything to everything else. For me, this is the foundation of how to tap into and share this energy. Sit, stand, lay against a tree or the grass, relax and feel the world around you. Relize that you are not apart from it but apart of it. When you relize this you open yourself to the flow of Ki. Devleoping Ki is , in my view, differant for everyone. Don%26#039;t think about it as something that has instructions and each and every one of us can just follow step one, step two and so on. I get asked how I do this or how I do that and in all honesty I, sometimes, can not give a good answer. I just can. I do not ask myself why I can do I just know that I can do, for me that is enough. They say I did what you did and it dosen%26#039;t work for me. I tell them then we need to find a way that will work for you, and my way isn%26#039;t it.
Try to feel the flow of energies surrounding you. Be one with it not outside it. Imagine moving this energy around you. Treat it like a semi-solid / plyable watery substance. Move it were you want it. Don%26#039;t control it but blend with it. It is not about controling this energy as much as working with it.
Anyway, I hope I haven%26#039;t totaly confused you. For me that is how I am able to do it.|||There%26#039;s a lot of controversy within Aikido concerning what exactly is Ki and how you extend it.
Personally, I subscribe to the more realistic understanding of Ki: that it%26#039;s not some magick force or supernatural power. Rather, think of it as bioelectric energy (which all living things generate %26amp; emit). I wouldn%26#039;t go so far as to call it %26quot;the Force%26quot; or %26quot;soul%26quot; or %26quot;consciousness%26quot;...but more like %26quot;energy%26quot; that all living things produce. It%26#039;s hard to describe, but we all emit energy fields...boundry layers, and you can perceive another thing entering or disrupting your personal boundry layer (beyond the mere sense of touch). Within your boundry layer, you are in control: this is where your sense of balance, fine motor control, perception, self-control, etc. lies and where in Aikido lies its secret. By consciously exanding your boundry layer beyond just a few inches from your skin, that%26#039;s what %26quot;extending Ki%26quot; is.
Think of Ki extension as imagining an unbreakable circle around you that is approximately your own arm span in diameter. Within this circle, you maintain your balance and control. It%26#039;s the conscious act of unifying mind %26amp; body to the point where your sense of physical self-awareness fills this entire circle. It%26#039;s your %26quot;protective bubble.%26quot; That way, your sense of balance %26amp; control is greatly increased in that your awareness is not limited to your body, but to a radius of approximately 6-10 feet around you.
Hope this helps.|||the ki-aikido branch of aikido focuses primarily on the development and use of ki. From day one, students are introduced to maintaining one point, relaxing, and extending ki.
There are several ways to help extend your ki. One is to relax completely. Another is to keep weight underside (as if your outstreched arm is resting on a table). Focusing in the forward direction and keeping/ focusing on one point %26quot;(two fingers below navel) is also important.
Basically, each person can do one of the above-mentioned and have the rest naturally achieved. Some can keep one point and extend, some have to focus forward, etc. Find which one works for you.
Many of these can be achieved through mental imaging techniques which include visualizing light, water, or wind shooting from your finger tips or body in the forward direction. You never extend ki behind you in aikido.
Other than this, you just practice and have another person in ki-aikido test the strength/ stability of your ki. This will improve your familiarity with extension and then it will become second nature.
There are many more detailed explanations about how to extend ki on the Ki society website (organization for ki-aikido). I don%26#039;t know it off the top of my head, but you could easily find it on google.|||This is the best way I have heard it described in all the years I%26#039;ve been training.
Think of it like water. You breathe in, compressing the water, and when you exhale you %26quot;extend%26quot; the water out.
It takes a lot of practice. Sometimes you really tap into it and you can feel it very strongly, other times not as much.
Regardless of how long you practice, we are all still students in the end.
Edit:
I highly recommend this book.
Beyond the Known: The Ultimate Goal of the Martial Arts by Tri Thong Dang.
Here%26#039;s a link: http://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Known-Ultim...
Train well.|||ki works in circles
if your really attuned it works in a sphere
if you are super attuned you will see that it doesnt work in circles or as a sphere its more like magnatism which seems to be circular or in a sphere but really isnt (this is way to hard to explain at this point)
start with circles then move on to spheres then if you are lucky you will see the third thing the thing that i cant really explain i hope that didnt confuse you
Please explain how to extend Ki. I no longer study but am curious to see if I can get a response from someone who Knows.|||These answers are all so interesting and common, but don%26#039;t give you what your really looking for. No zen answers today by me. Ki (chi, jivat, pnuema, ruach, the Force) is the life force. Biology can not measure it empirically or define it. Yet, we all know it exists, we%26#039;re alive duh! It is everywhere and connected to all things, but only things that can store it can subject it to the duality of an inner space thereby creating Kokyu (Breath, neshemah, prana). This allows for animation of that thing thus bringing together matter %26amp; spirit...where then soul (tamashii) then exists (I+you=we).
The classical undo %26amp; taiso that are practiced originate from Shinto ritual, and are still practiced today at Shinto jinja. They are rigid and confined by the culture of their origin. They do work, but other forms work better. What really works best is what works for you. Everyone is an individual and their centers of being (Head (shin), Heart (kokoro), Belly (hara)) are variously utilized. Once it is determined your own nature then %26quot;exercises%26quot; can be applied to best grow and flow your Ki into a particular matrix that works best for you and what you are doing. By varying the exercises you can optimize yourself to perform certain tasks here on the prime material plane.
However to get you on the path substantially I recommend spreading your stance a bit, bend your knees, feel the ground under your feet, check your body %26amp; release tension, own the space around you, breath deeply into the ground and your body, set your intention to do something, take everything you just calibrated, and do your intention. You do that sincerely and with passion then Ki will begin to fill (yuki (like yudansha)) you and your manifestation. Beyond this a true master teacher would need to get to know you to help more. Or wait for a book by me later that gives many exercises to choose %26amp; experiment with. No, don%26#039;t ask, its not done yet.|||Ki is not something you develop within two years or twenty, and it is different for each person. This is what I believe. Many aiki techniques that use ki take years to perfect. It is only through diligent practice and a clear mind (in other words, leaving your troubles at the door) that you can begin to make progress. The rest, I think, is just an issue of patience and a good eye. Aiki has really taught me to learn in a different way- by watching others, you pick up subtleties you wouldn%26#039;t be able to figure out by your own. Ki for me is less about power than it is a manifestation of a skilled movement.|||I hope that in my attempt I do not confuse you even more. In my way of thinking Ki is Energy, the Force that governs and runs all things. It is Nature herself (but that%26#039;s just me) It is a real and true energy that links everything to everything else. For me, this is the foundation of how to tap into and share this energy. Sit, stand, lay against a tree or the grass, relax and feel the world around you. Relize that you are not apart from it but apart of it. When you relize this you open yourself to the flow of Ki. Devleoping Ki is , in my view, differant for everyone. Don%26#039;t think about it as something that has instructions and each and every one of us can just follow step one, step two and so on. I get asked how I do this or how I do that and in all honesty I, sometimes, can not give a good answer. I just can. I do not ask myself why I can do I just know that I can do, for me that is enough. They say I did what you did and it dosen%26#039;t work for me. I tell them then we need to find a way that will work for you, and my way isn%26#039;t it.
Try to feel the flow of energies surrounding you. Be one with it not outside it. Imagine moving this energy around you. Treat it like a semi-solid / plyable watery substance. Move it were you want it. Don%26#039;t control it but blend with it. It is not about controling this energy as much as working with it.
Anyway, I hope I haven%26#039;t totaly confused you. For me that is how I am able to do it.|||There%26#039;s a lot of controversy within Aikido concerning what exactly is Ki and how you extend it.
Personally, I subscribe to the more realistic understanding of Ki: that it%26#039;s not some magick force or supernatural power. Rather, think of it as bioelectric energy (which all living things generate %26amp; emit). I wouldn%26#039;t go so far as to call it %26quot;the Force%26quot; or %26quot;soul%26quot; or %26quot;consciousness%26quot;...but more like %26quot;energy%26quot; that all living things produce. It%26#039;s hard to describe, but we all emit energy fields...boundry layers, and you can perceive another thing entering or disrupting your personal boundry layer (beyond the mere sense of touch). Within your boundry layer, you are in control: this is where your sense of balance, fine motor control, perception, self-control, etc. lies and where in Aikido lies its secret. By consciously exanding your boundry layer beyond just a few inches from your skin, that%26#039;s what %26quot;extending Ki%26quot; is.
Think of Ki extension as imagining an unbreakable circle around you that is approximately your own arm span in diameter. Within this circle, you maintain your balance and control. It%26#039;s the conscious act of unifying mind %26amp; body to the point where your sense of physical self-awareness fills this entire circle. It%26#039;s your %26quot;protective bubble.%26quot; That way, your sense of balance %26amp; control is greatly increased in that your awareness is not limited to your body, but to a radius of approximately 6-10 feet around you.
Hope this helps.|||the ki-aikido branch of aikido focuses primarily on the development and use of ki. From day one, students are introduced to maintaining one point, relaxing, and extending ki.
There are several ways to help extend your ki. One is to relax completely. Another is to keep weight underside (as if your outstreched arm is resting on a table). Focusing in the forward direction and keeping/ focusing on one point %26quot;(two fingers below navel) is also important.
Basically, each person can do one of the above-mentioned and have the rest naturally achieved. Some can keep one point and extend, some have to focus forward, etc. Find which one works for you.
Many of these can be achieved through mental imaging techniques which include visualizing light, water, or wind shooting from your finger tips or body in the forward direction. You never extend ki behind you in aikido.
Other than this, you just practice and have another person in ki-aikido test the strength/ stability of your ki. This will improve your familiarity with extension and then it will become second nature.
There are many more detailed explanations about how to extend ki on the Ki society website (organization for ki-aikido). I don%26#039;t know it off the top of my head, but you could easily find it on google.|||This is the best way I have heard it described in all the years I%26#039;ve been training.
Think of it like water. You breathe in, compressing the water, and when you exhale you %26quot;extend%26quot; the water out.
It takes a lot of practice. Sometimes you really tap into it and you can feel it very strongly, other times not as much.
Regardless of how long you practice, we are all still students in the end.
Edit:
I highly recommend this book.
Beyond the Known: The Ultimate Goal of the Martial Arts by Tri Thong Dang.
Here%26#039;s a link: http://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Known-Ultim...
Train well.|||ki works in circles
if your really attuned it works in a sphere
if you are super attuned you will see that it doesnt work in circles or as a sphere its more like magnatism which seems to be circular or in a sphere but really isnt (this is way to hard to explain at this point)
start with circles then move on to spheres then if you are lucky you will see the third thing the thing that i cant really explain i hope that didnt confuse you
Where can i take Aikido lesons in the state of Kentucky?
They%26#039;re all over the place. Search here:
http://www.aikiweb.com/search/search.htm...
Dojo Aikido Louisville Aikikai (single)
Address: 320 Distillery Commons; Louisville, KY 40206 (Map)
Country: United States
Instructors: Dale A. Matthews, 4th dan
Phone: (502) 585-AIKI (2454)
Schedule: M-F 5:30pm; Sa 10am
E-mail: sensei@aikidojo.com
URL: http://www.aikidojo.com
Affiliation: ASU
Admin: [?] Last Updated: September 15th, 1999
Dojo Aikido of Ashland, KY; Kyowva Aikikai (single)
Address: 5405 Roberts Dr; Ashland, KY 41102 (Map)
Country: United States
Contact: 2625 Jackson Ave.
Instructors: Tom Berry, 4th dan
Phone: (606) 615-3440
Fax: (606) 324-2138
Schedule: MWF 6-8pm
E-mail: tomkath@alltel.net
URL: http://www.aikidoofashlandky.com
Style: Aikikai
Affiliation: USAF East
Admin: [?] Last Updated: April 4th, 2007
Dojo Aikido of Louisville, Inc. (single)
Address: 10306 Taylorsville Road; Louisville, KY 40299 (Map)
Country: United States
Instructors: Tony Graziano; David Meisner; Carlos Perez
Phone: (502) 931-3460
Schedule: TuWF 6-8pm; Sa 9-10:30am
E-mail: tonyg@aikidooflouisville.com
URL: http://www.aikidooflouisville.com
Affiliation: ASU
Admin: [?] Last Updated: June 22nd, 2007
Dojo Aikido of Owensboro, Inc. (single)
Address: 801 Old Hartford Rd; Owensboro, KY 42302-0681 (Map)
Country: United States
Contact: PO Box 681
Instructors: Daniel Caslin, Rick Triplett
Phone: (502) 683-0440
Fax: (502) 684-3859
E-mail: vision@aikidoofowensboro.com
URL: http://aikidoofowensboro.com
Affiliation: Independent
Admin: [?] Last Updated: August 19th, 2004
Dojo Bluegrass Budokai (single)
Address: 26 North Main Street; Winchester, KY 40392-4093 (Map)
Country: United States
Contact: PO Box 4093
Instructors: Craig Caudill, 3rd dan
Phone: (859) 771-8313
Schedule: M-F 6-9pm; Sa 9am-12pm
E-mail: info@bluegrassbudokai.com
URL: http://www.bluegrassbudokai.com
Affiliation: Shinjinkai
Admin: [?] Last Updated: September 11th, 2006
Dojo Okolona Aikido (single)
Address: Rachel Dr; Louisville, KY 40219 (Map)
Country: United States
Contact: 1114 Rachel Drive
Instructors: John Kilpatrick, 4th dan
Phone: (502) 969-6983
E-mail: aiki@win.net
URL: http://www.okolonaaikido.org
Style: Aikikai
Affiliation: USAF East
Admin: [?] Last Updated: May 17th, 2006
Dojo Ronin Bushido Aikido (single)
Address: 100 Lewis Dr.; Richmond, KY 40475 (Map)
Country: United States
Instructors: Ron Boyd, 5th dan
Phone: (859) 623-0218
Schedule: MTuTh
E-mail: ronboyd@adelphia.net
URL: http://www.roninbushido.org
Affiliation: Independent
Admin: [?] Last Updated: December 13th, 2005
Dojo University of Kentucky Aikido Club (single)
Address: Alumni Gym, Avenue of Champions %26amp; South Limestone; Lexington, KY
Country: United States
Instructors: Keisuke Mizuno; Charles Yeomans; Chris Sweat
Phone: (859) 269-4305
E-mail: chris@uk-aikido.org
URL: http://www.uk-aikido.org/
Style: Aikikai and Yoshinkan
Affiliation: ASU
Admin: [?] Last Updated: November 11th, 2002
Dojo University of Louisville Aikido Club (Kentuckiana Aikikai) (single)
Address: U of L Humana Gym - Presidents Blvd.; Louisville, KY 40217 (Map)
Country: United States
Contact: 1936 Payne St., Louisville, KY 40206
Instructors: Patrick Hardesty, 5th dan
Phone: (502) 583-3005
Schedule: M 8:30pm; Tu 6pm; W 7:30pm; F 5pm
E-mail: aikido@nowright.com
URL: http://uoflaikido.com
Style: Aikikai
Affiliation: USAF East
http://www.aikiweb.com/search/search.htm...
Dojo Aikido Louisville Aikikai (single)
Address: 320 Distillery Commons; Louisville, KY 40206 (Map)
Country: United States
Instructors: Dale A. Matthews, 4th dan
Phone: (502) 585-AIKI (2454)
Schedule: M-F 5:30pm; Sa 10am
E-mail: sensei@aikidojo.com
URL: http://www.aikidojo.com
Affiliation: ASU
Admin: [?] Last Updated: September 15th, 1999
Dojo Aikido of Ashland, KY; Kyowva Aikikai (single)
Address: 5405 Roberts Dr; Ashland, KY 41102 (Map)
Country: United States
Contact: 2625 Jackson Ave.
Instructors: Tom Berry, 4th dan
Phone: (606) 615-3440
Fax: (606) 324-2138
Schedule: MWF 6-8pm
E-mail: tomkath@alltel.net
URL: http://www.aikidoofashlandky.com
Style: Aikikai
Affiliation: USAF East
Admin: [?] Last Updated: April 4th, 2007
Dojo Aikido of Louisville, Inc. (single)
Address: 10306 Taylorsville Road; Louisville, KY 40299 (Map)
Country: United States
Instructors: Tony Graziano; David Meisner; Carlos Perez
Phone: (502) 931-3460
Schedule: TuWF 6-8pm; Sa 9-10:30am
E-mail: tonyg@aikidooflouisville.com
URL: http://www.aikidooflouisville.com
Affiliation: ASU
Admin: [?] Last Updated: June 22nd, 2007
Dojo Aikido of Owensboro, Inc. (single)
Address: 801 Old Hartford Rd; Owensboro, KY 42302-0681 (Map)
Country: United States
Contact: PO Box 681
Instructors: Daniel Caslin, Rick Triplett
Phone: (502) 683-0440
Fax: (502) 684-3859
E-mail: vision@aikidoofowensboro.com
URL: http://aikidoofowensboro.com
Affiliation: Independent
Admin: [?] Last Updated: August 19th, 2004
Dojo Bluegrass Budokai (single)
Address: 26 North Main Street; Winchester, KY 40392-4093 (Map)
Country: United States
Contact: PO Box 4093
Instructors: Craig Caudill, 3rd dan
Phone: (859) 771-8313
Schedule: M-F 6-9pm; Sa 9am-12pm
E-mail: info@bluegrassbudokai.com
URL: http://www.bluegrassbudokai.com
Affiliation: Shinjinkai
Admin: [?] Last Updated: September 11th, 2006
Dojo Okolona Aikido (single)
Address: Rachel Dr; Louisville, KY 40219 (Map)
Country: United States
Contact: 1114 Rachel Drive
Instructors: John Kilpatrick, 4th dan
Phone: (502) 969-6983
E-mail: aiki@win.net
URL: http://www.okolonaaikido.org
Style: Aikikai
Affiliation: USAF East
Admin: [?] Last Updated: May 17th, 2006
Dojo Ronin Bushido Aikido (single)
Address: 100 Lewis Dr.; Richmond, KY 40475 (Map)
Country: United States
Instructors: Ron Boyd, 5th dan
Phone: (859) 623-0218
Schedule: MTuTh
E-mail: ronboyd@adelphia.net
URL: http://www.roninbushido.org
Affiliation: Independent
Admin: [?] Last Updated: December 13th, 2005
Dojo University of Kentucky Aikido Club (single)
Address: Alumni Gym, Avenue of Champions %26amp; South Limestone; Lexington, KY
Country: United States
Instructors: Keisuke Mizuno; Charles Yeomans; Chris Sweat
Phone: (859) 269-4305
E-mail: chris@uk-aikido.org
URL: http://www.uk-aikido.org/
Style: Aikikai and Yoshinkan
Affiliation: ASU
Admin: [?] Last Updated: November 11th, 2002
Dojo University of Louisville Aikido Club (Kentuckiana Aikikai) (single)
Address: U of L Humana Gym - Presidents Blvd.; Louisville, KY 40217 (Map)
Country: United States
Contact: 1936 Payne St., Louisville, KY 40206
Instructors: Patrick Hardesty, 5th dan
Phone: (502) 583-3005
Schedule: M 8:30pm; Tu 6pm; W 7:30pm; F 5pm
E-mail: aikido@nowright.com
URL: http://uoflaikido.com
Style: Aikikai
Affiliation: USAF East
In AIkido, how long will you reach dan or the black belt rank?
If you just started aikido this summer and you got promoted to yellow belt, but you%26#039;re only going to take the summer aikido %26#039;cause you still have school, how long will you think you%26#039;re gonna reach black belt? I%26#039;m a freshman or freshwoman? whatever, in high school, but if I reach college already I won%26#039;t be able to study aikido during the summer %26#039;cause college has summer class. So how long will it take for me to reach black belt?|||The goal of any martial art is not to get a black belt, but to learn what the heck you%26#039;re doing. Aikido is a way of life: self defense, inner peace, peace with all creatures and nature, and peace with the world. Some schools will not award it until you%26#039;ve practiced for at least 10 years, others will award it much sooner: but it all depends on how fast you%26#039;re able to learn. Aikido for most people, is considered the most difficult to master of any martial art. In my aikido dojo, there are only two belts, white and black. Don%26#039;t go for the destination, but the journey.|||well if you go every week day all year and progress at an avrage rate the time expected to reach 1st dan is about 6 to 7 years. so if you take out nearrly 9 months for school, i don%26#039;t know, with having to relearn things and lost time you are probably looking at 15 years or so. look martial arts requires strong detication. it%26#039;s can%26#039;t be taken up as a hobbey and expected to achive greatness, you either need to apply yourself fully or understand that you are not there for greatness. and a little piece of advice, don%26#039;t worry so much about the rank, i%26#039;ve seen 2end degrees been taken out by avrage people off the street, because they only were thinking about getting that next belt, not the technique. if you worry about the technique instead of the rank you%26#039;ll find your self grow at a more impressive rate.|||It depends on how good at you are, it%26#039;s possible that if you really devote yourself to it then you can reach black belt before college.|||Martial arts are experientially based learning, you have to do it and succeed/fail so it depends on your learning ability (physical and mental).
All the philosophical stuff aside, check your syllabus. All IAF recognised clubs have a syllabus that states a minimum number of hours/days practice between each grading. In our organisation 7-10 years is about right.
All the philosophical stuff aside, check your syllabus. All IAF recognised clubs have a syllabus that states a minimum number of hours/days practice between each grading. In our organisation 7-10 years is about right.
Should i take both martial arts class at the same time? aikido & karate?
I%26#039;m thinking of taking both of the class but still undecided. The classes are 1/2 units each and two hours long, 1 day per week. Would it be a good idea to take or no? Any suggestions are welcome.|||First of all the guy with the bare knuckles. What the hell do Karate and Boxing have to do with each other. Secondly Aikido teaches you how to defend against attackers. Karate teached you how to kick high and brake pine boards and cinderblocks.
Now onto the question. It is fine to take 2 different martial arts at once. But do them on seperate nights. That way you don%26#039;tfeel conflicted when one teaches you to do somthing differently than the other. Rather than Karate, if you%26#039;re looking for a striking art. Try Tai Boxing if you are looking morefor take downs and submissions Aikido should be enough for now. But if you%26#039;ve never trained Judo would be better. Or Juijitsu. Remember if you are expecting it to be like a Steven Segal or Bruce Lee Movie it%26#039;s not going to be. It%26#039;s hard work and it will be a great experience. Just be sure you know it is what you want and stick with it. You will not master anything in a year.|||I would say take two different arts but at different nights. For example, I would take Muay thai on mondays wednesdays and fridays, and then Grappling or val tudo on the alternate days. That way, by you taking two different martial arts ( one emphasizing on stand up, and the other countering and gound fighting) you are on your way to being well rounded. Most martial arts is stand up only; you also need something to defend yourself on the ground. Trust me, it wouldn%26#039;t hurt to learn basic amateur wrestling or jujitsu. You%26#039;ll thank me later when you do get into a fight with a good standing striker and your get him on his back and he doesn%26#039;t know what to do...|||Well, I do this martial arts called Han Mu Do. It is a mixture of different kinds of martial arts, including Aikido and Karate. You should try it out.|||I think you should take only one of it because if you take both of them you probably will had tension|||It%26#039;s not a good idea. You need to be an advanced student to be able to take 2 different martial arts at the same time. Otherwise, you%26#039;ll only confuse yourself, you%26#039;ll mix them up and won%26#039;t learn a thing. First focus on one. After you%26#039;re really good at one, then you might take another.|||just one at a time so you can have undivided attention|||Take Karate. Aikido is useless. Don%26#039;t believe me? Try go to boxing gym and ask for a bare knuckles fight then try to grab their hands as they hit you.|||i would only start with one so that your body has learn only one trait instead of two, because karate and aikido is very different and it%26#039;s going to slow your progress if you try to make both school of techniques a second nature for your body.
Also, if you%26#039;re going to take karate i would suggest that you take a judo class, just because in the earlier days of karate, when it was just coming out of okinawa, the judo masters of the main land japan thought karate was a great MA and some try to cross train their students in judo and karate. So i think judo might have changed a bit during that time to be more accepting to the fusion between karate and judo.
also i%26#039;d think aikido would compliment the internal chinese ma better than karate would, but if it%26#039;s from the same school maybe they have a way to have the karate and aikido mix together into one system fluently.|||I have sent my children to Karate.
But as an adult I would recommend Aikido.
It is a powerful art form, that looks amazing. Those that practise it seem to command respect and attention.
I am friends with a 5 Dan Master, his grandson also my friend went to china to spend time with an old teacher. I see these people and am impressed and in awe with them.
Karate is good for defence, aikido is good for a lifestyle.
Now onto the question. It is fine to take 2 different martial arts at once. But do them on seperate nights. That way you don%26#039;tfeel conflicted when one teaches you to do somthing differently than the other. Rather than Karate, if you%26#039;re looking for a striking art. Try Tai Boxing if you are looking morefor take downs and submissions Aikido should be enough for now. But if you%26#039;ve never trained Judo would be better. Or Juijitsu. Remember if you are expecting it to be like a Steven Segal or Bruce Lee Movie it%26#039;s not going to be. It%26#039;s hard work and it will be a great experience. Just be sure you know it is what you want and stick with it. You will not master anything in a year.|||I would say take two different arts but at different nights. For example, I would take Muay thai on mondays wednesdays and fridays, and then Grappling or val tudo on the alternate days. That way, by you taking two different martial arts ( one emphasizing on stand up, and the other countering and gound fighting) you are on your way to being well rounded. Most martial arts is stand up only; you also need something to defend yourself on the ground. Trust me, it wouldn%26#039;t hurt to learn basic amateur wrestling or jujitsu. You%26#039;ll thank me later when you do get into a fight with a good standing striker and your get him on his back and he doesn%26#039;t know what to do...|||Well, I do this martial arts called Han Mu Do. It is a mixture of different kinds of martial arts, including Aikido and Karate. You should try it out.|||I think you should take only one of it because if you take both of them you probably will had tension|||It%26#039;s not a good idea. You need to be an advanced student to be able to take 2 different martial arts at the same time. Otherwise, you%26#039;ll only confuse yourself, you%26#039;ll mix them up and won%26#039;t learn a thing. First focus on one. After you%26#039;re really good at one, then you might take another.|||just one at a time so you can have undivided attention|||Take Karate. Aikido is useless. Don%26#039;t believe me? Try go to boxing gym and ask for a bare knuckles fight then try to grab their hands as they hit you.|||i would only start with one so that your body has learn only one trait instead of two, because karate and aikido is very different and it%26#039;s going to slow your progress if you try to make both school of techniques a second nature for your body.
Also, if you%26#039;re going to take karate i would suggest that you take a judo class, just because in the earlier days of karate, when it was just coming out of okinawa, the judo masters of the main land japan thought karate was a great MA and some try to cross train their students in judo and karate. So i think judo might have changed a bit during that time to be more accepting to the fusion between karate and judo.
also i%26#039;d think aikido would compliment the internal chinese ma better than karate would, but if it%26#039;s from the same school maybe they have a way to have the karate and aikido mix together into one system fluently.|||I have sent my children to Karate.
But as an adult I would recommend Aikido.
It is a powerful art form, that looks amazing. Those that practise it seem to command respect and attention.
I am friends with a 5 Dan Master, his grandson also my friend went to china to spend time with an old teacher. I see these people and am impressed and in awe with them.
Karate is good for defence, aikido is good for a lifestyle.
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